Iran announces public holidays for Khamenei funeral

 Tehran Sets Aside Three Days

Iranian authorities have announced three public holidays in Tehran for Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies. According to recent reporting, the farewell ceremonies and prayers are scheduled for July 4 and July 5 at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, with the funeral procession set for July 6, and Tehran province will be off for all three days.

That gives the capital a prolonged mourning period rather than a single ceremonial day. It also reflects the scale of the state preparations for a funeral expected to draw large crowds and senior officials.

Funeral Events Stretch Beyond One Day

The public holidays are part of a wider funeral schedule that extends beyond Tehran. Reporting says Khamenei’s body will lie in state on July 4 and July 5, the main procession in Tehran will take place on July 6, another ceremony is planned in Qom on July 7, and burial is scheduled in Mashhad on July 9.

That timetable is unusual in length and shows how the funeral is being treated as a major national and religious event rather than a brief state ceremony.

The Holidays Appear Partly Regional

The holiday announcement appears to be centered mainly on Tehran during the capital ceremonies. Recent coverage says Tehran would observe July 4, July 5, and July 6 as public holidays, while the rest of the country would join for the funeral day on July 6.

That distinction matters because it suggests Iran is treating the most intensive mourning period as a Tehran-focused event, while still giving the funeral procession a wider national character.

The Funeral Has Been Delayed for Months

The funeral is taking place more than three months after Khamenei’s death on February 28, 2026. Reuters reported earlier this month that the ceremonies had been delayed by the wartime situation, despite Islamic custom generally favoring prompt burial.

That delay helps explain why the state is now preparing a larger, multi-stage ceremony with holidays attached. The extended timeline has turned the funeral into a major political and symbolic event.

What Comes Next

The next phase is the public mourning itself, starting in Tehran on July 4. The key questions now are how large the turnout will be, how the ceremonies will be managed across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, and whether the funeral becomes a broader political moment as well as a religious one.