Ali Khamenei's Funeral Postponed Amid Expected Turnout

The farewell ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who reportedly died at the age of 86, has been postponed. The ceremony was originally scheduled for Wednesday evening in Tehran but was canceled shortly before it was set to begin, as announced by Iranian state television.

The postponement is attributed to the anticipated unprecedented turnout, with millions expected to attend, necessitating additional time to manage the infrastructure and crowd effectively. Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Development Coordination Council, indicated that a new date for the ceremony will be announced later.

Despite the postponement, a tribute ceremony is expected to be held in the capital, while arrangements for transportation to Mashhad, Khamenei's birthplace, remain in place. The situation in Tehran is heightened due to ongoing security concerns following a missile attack on February 28, 2026, which targeted military installations.