DUBAI: The funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, on July 9, state media reported on Saturday.

Khamenei was killed on the first day of Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran on Feb 28. The 86-year-old leader had been at the helm of Iran for 36 years.

The funeral arrangements will include ceremonies on July 7 in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, state media said.

Islamic law requires the deceased to be buried as soon as possible, and ideally within 24 hours of dea­­th, but exceptions are allowed, for example in time of war. During his rule, Khamenei built Iran into a powerful anti-US force, spreading its military sway across the ME.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026