Iran Prepares for Ayatollah Khamenei’s Funeral

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a significant development unfolded as Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, a prominent figure in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, surfaced ahead of the funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media released photos showing Vahidi participating in discussions about the late leader’s funeral. Vahidi was also seen alongside Khamenei’s casket during a private service near the supreme leader’s former residence in Tehran.

Experts consider Vahidi influential in shaping Iran’s assertive approach to negotiating a potential end to hostilities with the United States. He is believed to be closely connected to the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained hidden since reportedly being injured in an Israeli strike on February 28. This attack resulted in the elder Khamenei’s death. Vahidi last made a public appearance on February 8, preceding the onset of the Iran war.

Iranian state media broadcast footage of a mourning ceremony near the husseiniyah at Khamenei’s compound in Tehran. An Israeli airstrike at the war’s commencement claimed the lives of Khamenei and some relatives. State media depicted the body lying in a coffin on a stage, surrounded by red tulips and decorative paper butterflies hanging above.

Mourners, clad in black, were identified by state media as families of those lost in the Iran War and the 2025 conflict. They tossed scarves and other items to touch the coffin, reflecting Iranian customs. Photos showed Khamenei’s casket wrapped in a red flag displaying “Ya Hussein” in white calligraphy, a Shiite phrase linked to the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson in the 7th century. The flag, previously at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, Iraq, represents both spilled blood and a call for retribution.

On Friday morning, Khamenei’s casket was borne through the Grand Mosalla in Tehran by security forces. Religious leaders passed by the coffins of Khamenei and his family members, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.

Starting Saturday, Iran is set to conduct an extended funeral for Khamenei, transporting his body to various cities within Iran and Iraq. To honor Khamenei’s life, marked by decades of stringent leadership over Iran and defiance against Western influence, authorities plan to close streets, airspace, and daily activities in Tehran.