Iran Begins Week Of Mourning For Slain Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran’s clerical leadership is preparing days of funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed alongside family members in US and Israeli strikes earlier this year. Events begin in Tehran over the weekend, followed by processions in Qom and Mashhad, with ceremonies also planned in Iraq’s shrine cities. His son Mojtaba, wounded in the same strike, has succeeded him as supreme leader and has not appeared publicly since the war began.

Authorities Mobilize Resources For Turnout

Officials are offering hotel discounts, diverting transport networks, and preparing schools and mosques to house mourners, hoping large crowds will signal continued public loyalty to the government. A senior cleric described the turnout as effectively a referendum on the Islamic Republic.

Public Sentiment Appears Mixed

Analysts note that support for the government has weakened after years of economic sanctions and the violent suppression of protests earlier this year, some of which included chants against Khamenei himself. Some residents said they planned to leave the city rather than attend the funeral, describing heavy militia presence, while others, including younger supporters, described the days as deeply painful. Security remains tight, with airspace restrictions in place across several cities.