Iran has postponed the state funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, citing expectations of an unprecedented turnout, state television reported on Wednesday.
The farewell ceremony, which had been scheduled for Wednesday evening in Tehran, was cancelled just hours before it was due to begin. Authorities said a new date for the event would be announced later.
Khamenei, 86, was reportedly killed over the weekend during joint US-Israeli strikes targeting key military and government installations in Tehran, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian officials had indicated that a tribute ceremony would be held in the capital before his body would be transported to the holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace, for burial.
However, organisers later confirmed the postponement, pointing to the anticipated participation of millions of mourners and the need to put in place adequate infrastructure to manage the crowd.
Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, which is coordinating the funeral arrangements, said the delay was necessary to ensure proper planning for the expected large-scale attendance.
Tehran has been under sustained missile strikes since Saturday, February 28, 2026, with reported attacks on strategic military and government facilities.
Although officials did not directly link the postponement to the ongoing security situation, the capital remains on high alert amid continued tensions and strikes.
