Live: Tehran Gears Up for Ali Khamenei's State Funeral as World Leaders Converge

Arrangements for the funeral of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were advancing at full pace on Friday (July 3, 2026). Authorities are anticipating a turnout running into the millions for the official ceremony on Saturday (July 4, 2026), alongside a significant gathering of foreign dignitaries from around the world. Pakistan, which has been playing a central role as a go-between in the United States–Iran dialogue aimed at bringing the West Asia conflict to a close, confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Tehran to be present at the funeral. China, Afghanistan, and countries in the Caucasus that neighbour Iran have also announced they will be sending official representatives to take part in the ceremony.

Iran's incumbent Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral rites of his late father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, owing to serious security concerns. This was disclosed by Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, who serves as the Supreme Leader's official representative in India. Elahi explained that credible threats emanating from Israel, combined with the danger of surveillance, make it too risky for Mojtaba Khamenei to appear publicly at the funeral ceremony. The development follows a stern warning issued by Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday (July 1, 2026), in which he called on US President Donald Trump to "muzzle its pets" — a pointed reference to Israel — after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death".