Iran on Friday buried its former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 131 days after he was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike that triggered the start of the war in West Asia. The burial took place in the early hours of July 10 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown.

His official X account confirmed the burial in a post announcing that the late leader had been laid to rest at the Dar al-Zikr section of the revered shrine.

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“The sacred body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, was laid to rest in the early hours of Friday, 10 July 2026 (19 Tir 1405 in the Iranian calendar), at the Dar al-Zikr section of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him),” the post read.

Thousands gather for final farewell to Ali Khamenei

Large numbers of mourners gathered in Mashhad as Khamenei’s coffin was taken to the Imam Reza Shrine, one of the holiest places for Shia Muslims in Iran. Videos and photographs from the ceremony showed people lining the route, mourning and beating their chests as the funeral procession moved towards the shrine.

The burial brought to a close more than four months of official mourning following Khamenei’s death.

Large numbers of mourners gathered in Mashhad as Khamenei's coffin was taken to the Imam Reza Shrine | X/@Khamenei_m
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Burial follows months after war began

Khamenei was killed along with close members of his family in an Israeli strike on February 28, the opening day of the US-Israeli war against Iran.

He had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini a decade after the Islamic Revolution. During his more than three decades in office, Khamenei remained the country’s highest authority, wielding significant influence over Iran’s political, military and economic institutions.

Several senior Iranian leaders attended Friday’s burial ceremony, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and Khamenei’s eldest son, Mostafa Khamenei.

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Notably absent was Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. He has not appeared in public since the February strike that killed his father. Although written statements attributed to him have been released since then, no photographs, videos or audio recordings of him have been made public.

FAQs:

Where was Ali Khamenei buried?

He was buried at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, his hometown.

Who attended Ali Khamenei’s burial?

Senior Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, attended the ceremony.