WANA (Jun 30) – Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Secretary of the National Funeral Committee and Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement, announced the official details for the farewell and funeral ceremonies of the late leader of Iran.

 

Speaking at a press conference today at the Ministry of Interior, he stated that more than 30 countries have requested to attend the ceremonies, and religious leaders and scholars from over 90 countries have expressed readiness to participate.

 

Pourjamshidian explained that the ceremonies will take place over the coming days in Iraq and three Iranian provinces, following the guidelines of the Supreme National Security Council, the Leader’s office, and the wishes of the “martyr’s family”.

 

The government has established the National Committee for the Farewell and Funeral Ceremonies, headed by the First Vice President, with the Ministry of Interior serving as secretary.

 

Multiple specialized sub-committees—including logistics, security, infrastructure, media, and international affairs—have been formed to manage the large-scale events in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and Iraq. Provincial committees have also been set up across the country to facilitate the travel of citizens wishing to attend the main ceremonies.

 

Regarding the events in Iraq, Pourjamshidian noted that a national committee led by the Iraqi Prime Minister has been established. Following a recent joint visit to Iraq with Dr. Araghchi, where they met with top Iraqi officials, including the President and Speaker of Parliament, high-level coordination was finalized.

 

The ceremonies will include a formal reception and a circumambulation (Tawaf) of the holy sites in Najaf and Karbala. This decision honors the religious authority of the late leader, which Iraqi citizens, tribes, and officials explicitly requested.

 

He added that the leader had deeply wished to visit the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussain during his lifetime, and though it did not happen then, his body will now be taken to these holy sanctuaries.

 

The official title of the ceremonies has been designated as “The Send-off of Iran’s Mr. Martyr”. Pourjamshidian emphasized that the magnificent event aims to demonstrate the growing power and authority of Iran to the world, project national unity across all political and religious factions under the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, and foster solidarity across the Islamic nation while renewing allegiance to the Supreme Leader.

 

The funeral ceremony schedule:

  • Friday, July 3: Official tribute ceremony in Tehran for foreign heads of state, officials, and international religious leaders.
  • Saturday, July 4: Public farewell begins at 6:00 AM at the Tehran Grand Mosalla.
  • Sunday, July 5: Mass funeral prayers will be held at the Tehran Mosalla over the bodies of the late leader and his family.
  • Monday, July 6: The main funeral procession will take place in Tehran along an east-west corridor (from Damavand Street through Imam Hossein, Enghelab, and Azadi Squares to Shahid Lashkari Highway).
  • Tuesday, July 7: Public funeral procession and prayer services in the holy city of Qom.
  • Wednesday, July 8: The bodies will be transferred to Iraq for official state receptions, followed by procession and circumambulation (Tawaf) rituals in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
  • Thursday, July 9: Final funeral procession and burial in the holy city of Mashhad.

 

To ensure smooth logistics for the millions expected to attend, the government has announced specific public holidays: Tehran Province will be closed on July 4 and 5; the entire country will be closed for the main procession on July 6; Qom will be closed on July 7; and Khorasan Razavi Province will be closed on July 8.

 

Pourjamshidian strongly urged the public to use public transportation instead of personal vehicles to avoid traffic gridlock. He announced that the subway system will operate 24 hours a day and will be completely free of charge during the days of the ceremonies.

 

The Secretary confirmed that there will be no internet restrictions during the events. He also noted that widespread global interest has been recorded, with numerous domestic and international filmmakers requesting to document the historic event, and over 300 foreign journalists already applying for credentials to cover the processions.