Iran DELAYS state funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei hours before three-day ceremony was due to begin at Tehran grand mosque as Israel and US continue to pound the city
By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
Published: 04:58 EST, 4 March 2026 | Updated: 10:02 EST, 4 March 2026
A three-day state funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has been 'postponed' hours before it was due to begin, Iranian state media reports.
The ceremony was supposed to unfold this evening at the grand mosque in Tehran but, with Israeli and American strikes continuing to pound the city, will now be rearranged.
Organisers claimed it was delayed 'in anticipation of unprecedented turnout', and reportedly want to wait until the necessary infrastructure is in place.
Iranian TV reported: 'The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later.'
Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of Iran’s Islamic Propagation Council, earlier announced there would be a three-day farewell ceremony followed by a funeral procession.
The official said the public will be able to pay their respects to the body of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall starting at 10pm (6:30pm UK time).
'The Mosalla (prayer hall) will be receiving visitors and the dear people can attend and take part in the farewell ceremony and mark a strong presence once again,' he said in comments carried by Iranian media.
An official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday was announced in Iran in the wake of Khamenei's death.
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