Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad early Friday, July 10, marking the end of six days of funeral ceremonies held across Iran and Iraq.
The final rites took place at the shrine after his coffin was carried through the streets of Mashhad, where thousands of mourners gathered to bid farewell. Funeral prayers were performed before the burial ceremony at the holy site, which is the resting place of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam.
Khamenei’s remains arrived in Mashhad after being flown back from Iraq following farewell ceremonies in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, more than 10 million people attended the funeral events held in the two Iraqi cities.
The ceremonies concluded amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran facing renewed US strikes following the February 28 attack that killed Khamenei along with several members of his family and senior officials.
Updates here
Funeral procession resumes inside Imam Reza shrine
12:11 am IST: Following the funeral prayers, mourners carried Khamenei’s coffin through the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad as the final stage of the funeral procession continued. Videos shared by Iranian media showed crowds accompanying the coffin inside the shrine complex ahead of the burial ceremony.
Funeral prayers offered for Khamenei in Mashhad
12 am IST: Funeral prayers for Khamenei were held at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Iranian media reported that the prayers were led by his eldest son, Ayatollah Sayyid Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, before senior clerics, family members and mourners.
Khamenei’s coffin enters Imam Reza shrine courtyard
11:55 pm IST: Iranian media reported that Khamenei’s coffin entered one of the courtyards of the Imam Reza shrine following the funeral prayers. The remains were carried by mourners towards the burial site, where the final burial ceremony is scheduled to take place.
Helicopter transfers Khamenei’s remains to Imam Reza shrine
9:36 pm IST: Videos shared by Iranian media on social media showed the mortal remains of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being transferred by helicopter to the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad ahead of the final burial ceremony.
The transfer came after the funeral procession concluded, with the remains being moved to the shrine where the funeral prayers and burial were scheduled to take place.
Vehicle carrying Khamenei’s remains leaves funeral route
8:38 pm IST: The vehicle carrying the mortal remains of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei left the main funeral procession route in Mashhad on Wednesday and proceeded towards the Imam Reza shrine for the funeral prayer and burial ceremony, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.
The movement took place as scheduled after the public procession, with the vehicle heading to the holy shrine where the final rites were set to be held.
Iraq ceremonies drew over 10 million mourners
7:40 pm IST: More than 10 million people gathered in Iraq for the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
The agency reported that organisers said the ceremonies in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala drew over 10 million mourners, with no security incidents recorded throughout the events.
Kashmir leader Mehbooba Mufti expresses solidarity with Iran
7 pm IST: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed solidarity with Iran on Thursday following the funeral of Khamenei.
In a post on X, Mufti said the funeral had “barely” concluded before the United States resumed bombing Iran. She claimed that “even twenty million mourners” paying tribute to Khamenei had not deterred the attacks.
Mufti also referred to 14-month-old Shaheeda Zahra Mohammadi, saying seeing the child’s coffin beside her grandfather’s had “broken” her heart. “Our hearts go out to Iran,” she wrote.
Burial site confirmed near Imam Reza shrine’s Radiant Courtyard
6:48 pm IST: The burial site of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been confirmed near the Radiant Courtyard at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Shrine authorities said the coffin will be taken there after the funeral procession and prayers, where a private burial ceremony will be held in the presence of his family.
Watch: Fighter jets patrol skies over Mashhad during funeral
6:20 pm IST:.
Iran FM thanks Iraq for hosting Khamenei funeral
6:06 pm IST: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi thanked the Iraqi government and people for hosting the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
In a message, Araqchi expressed gratitude to Iraqi authorities, senior religious leaders, tribal chiefs, shrine custodians, security forces, the Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) and volunteers for organising the ceremonies. He said the participation of millions of Iraqis reflected the strong religious, historical and cultural ties between the neighbouring countries.
Final procession carries Khamenei’s coffin to shrine
6 pm IST: Khamenei’s coffin was carried through the streets of Mashhad on Thursday as thousands of mourners joined the final funeral procession. The procession is making its way towards the shrine of Imam Reza.
Watch: Mourning recitations beside Khamenei’s coffin
5:30 pm IST:
Streets of Mashhad fill with mourners
3:30 pm IST: Thousands of mourners gathered on the streets of Mashhad on Thursday ahead of the funeral procession and burial of Khamenei. The city witnessed a heavy security presence as crowds carrying Iranian flags and banners assembled for the final farewell before he is laid to rest.
Mourners welcome Khamenei’s remains at Mashhad Airport
2:53 pm IST:
Photos: Final funeral ceremonies draw crowds to Mashhad
2:50 pm IST:
Watch: Fighter jets escort aircraft carrying Khamenei’s remains
2:25 pm IST: Iranian fighter jets escorted the aircraft carrying the mortal remains of Khamenei and members of his family as it approached Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport in Mashhad.
Watch: Mashhad Airport prepares to receive Khamenei’s remains
2 pm IST:
Tehran–Mashhad rail services suspended after US strikes
1:15 pm IST: Iran suspended passenger train services between Tehran and Mashhad on Thursday after what state media described as US strikes on a section of the railway line, hours before the burial of Khamenei, according to Tasnim News Agency.
Iranian Railways said operations on the route were halted after the attack, with technical teams deployed to repair the damaged section. Authorities said stranded passengers would be transported to Mashhad by road while restoration work continues.
Watch: Khamenei’s body flown from Iraq to Mashhad for burial
12:54 pm IST:
