Tehran Times

2026-07-06 20:22
Millions of mourners stream through Tehran as national funeral procession honors martyred Leader

TEHRAN — A monumental sea of people filled the primary avenues of Iran's capital on Monday, marking a historic and deeply somber final national funeral procession for the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Authorities described the turnout as the most massive public gathering witnessed in modern Iranian history. Millions of citizens converged from various regions to pay their final respects to a prominent figure whose sudden departure has profoundly impacted the entire country, transforming the metropolis into a vast arena of collective mourning, civic solidarity, and strategic resolve.
- Millions join historic funeral prayers for Iran’s martyred Leader
- Farewell ceremony in Iran sparks global social media debate

By Fardin Molaei

Global media frame Iran's largest funeral as geopolitical referendum

TEHRAN – As the Islamic Republic of Iran enters the third and most significant day of the funeral procession for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the global media narrative has shifted from reporting the sheer, staggering scale of the crowds to analyzing the profound political and geopolitical symbolism of a nation mourning its assassinated leader.
By Garsha Vazirian

A divine canvas of grief through Tehran's blistering heat

TEHRAN — To say it was historical doesn't do it justice. That word feels too clinical for the civilizational gravity of what unfolded here on July 6.
By Maedeh Zaman Fashami

Tehran: Ocean of the Awakened Ummah for the Martyr Leader

TEHRAN- Let me begin by saying that this is not a news report, nor a statistical account of participants or a description of how the ceremony was organized. It is a narrative about ordinary people—housewives, students, and retirees—who came out into the streets to bid farewell to a man they feel eternally indebted to. From Mr. Vessali, a father of a martyr, to Ebrahim, who came to the funeral procession of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution despite his disability, saying, “I came to tell Sayyid Ali: You’re the best!”
By Wesam Bahrani

Millions in Iraq prepare to bid farewell to martyred Ayatollah Khamenei

TEHRAN – Iraq is making final preparations for a historic one-day funeral commemoration for Iran’s martyred Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, with millions expected to take part in ceremonies in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Millions on the streets, millions online: social media captures Iran's farewell to martyred Leader

TEHRAN – As millions of mourners poured into the streets of Tehran on Monday to bid farewell to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, social media platforms became an equally important arena where images, eyewitness accounts, and competing narratives unfolded in real time.

Politics

Global correspondents chronicle historic scale at Leader's monumental funeral in Tehran

TEHRAN — The massive human landscape filling the central arteries of the Iranian capital on July 6 forced the global press corps to confront an unexpected geopolitical reality.
From sunrise to sunset: witnessing a historic day in Tehran

TEHRAN – About an hour after sunrise on Monday, I joined the growing crowds making their way toward Enqelab Square. Thousands of mourners were already filling the streets, walking quietly but steadily toward what would become one of the largest funeral processions in Iran’s contemporary history.
A brave nation bids farewell to Ayatollah Khamenei

TEHRAN - The streets of Tehran have never seen anything quite like this. Millions of mourners, shoulder to shoulder, filling every avenue leading to the heart of the city. Black-clad crowds stretching as far as the eye can see. The sound of sorrowful chants mixing with the rhythmic beating of chests in traditional mourning.

Sports

Iran defeat Palestine at FIBA U18 Asia Cup WABA qualifiers

TEHRAN – Iran defeated Palestine 97-87 at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup WABA qualifiers on Tuesday.
Iran come 12th at AVC Girls' U18 Volleyball Championship

TEHRAN - Iran lost to Hong Kong 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 25-16, 12-15) at AVC Girls' U18 Volleyball Championship 11th-12th place on Tuesday.
Mehdi Tartar takes charge of Persepolis

TEHRAN -Mehdi Tartar has been named as new head coach of Persepolis football club.

Culture

Seven singers release “Farewell” album for Martyr Leader

TEHRAN – Simultaneously with the farewell and funeral ceremonies of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the music album “Farewell” will be released.
Behrouz Afkhami making documentary on Martyr Leader’s farewell, funeral ceremonies

TEHRAN – Iranian filmmaker Behrouz Afkhami is making a new documentary about the farewell and funeral ceremonies of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khameni.
“Eyes of Minab” art installation greets foreign dignitaries at Leader’s farewell ceremony

TEHRAN – A memorial dedicated to the martyred children of Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab has been placed at the entrance of the hall where foreign officials are paying their respects to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, at the Tehran’s Mosalla.

Economy

Difference in objective function; a framework for understanding economic thought of martyred Leader

TEHRAN- The former governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), emphasizing that the economic thought of the martyred Ayatollah Khamenei can be interpreted not as a replacement for the science of economics, but as an effort to define "a comprehensive governance objective function," believes: In this objective function, the economy holds a central position, but not all decisions are evaluated solely based on a single economic variable; rather, their effects on justice, security, independence, social capital, public culture, and the long-term interests of the country are also taken into account.
ICCIMA head message on occasion of martyred Leader funeral

TEHRAN- Samad Hassanzadeh, the Head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), referring to the millions-strong presence of Iran's appreciative people in the glorious farewell to the sacred body of the martyred leader, stated: "The great community of economic activists, producers, industrialists, and entrepreneurs of the country also considers itself alongside the great Iranian nation in honoring this historic epic, and firmly believes that the grandeur of the people's presence in this glorious farewell will be a lasting asset for the authority, cohesion, and future of this land."
Iran-Qatar trade resumed with reopening of Al Ruwais port to Iranian goods

TEHRAN- Iran's Commercial Attaché in Doha announced the reopening of Qatar's Al Ruwais port to Iranian goods and the resumption of maritime trade between the two countries.

Society

DOE chief highlights Leader’s collective responsibility policy for environmental protection

TEHRAN – Elaborating on the late Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s mindset on the environment, the head of the Department of Environment (DOE), Shina Ansari, said the Leader’s environmental policies underlined the collective responsibility of each individual to protect the natural environment.
HQ for medicinal herbs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences ink MOU

TEHRAN – The headquarters for developing traditional medicine and medicinal herbs and the Pharmaceutical Technology Incubator Center affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen the innovation, research, and commercialization chain, support knowledge-based companies, and develop technological infrastructure.
Martyred Leader contributes to release of prisoners for 20 years

TEHRAN – Over the past two decades, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, contributed to the continuous release of prisoners of unintentional crimes, allocating a sum of 1.65 billion rials (around 97,000 dollars).

Tourism

Sanandaj Church: A testament to faith, history, and Kurdish heritage

TEHRAN - Hidden within one of the oldest quarters of Sanandaj, the capital of Iran's Kordestan province, Sanandaj Church stands as a remarkable symbol of religious coexistence, cultural diversity, and architectural beauty.
Historic plaza in Isfahan to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Authorities in Isfahan have approved a restoration and revitalization project for the historic urban plaza facing the renowned Abbasi Hotel, a landmark that forms part of the city's rich architectural and cultural heritage.
Chabahar launches restoration of historic neighborhood

TEHRAN – Chabahar authorities have launched the restoration of its historic Sorkh Rig neighborhood as part of a broader strategy to preserve the southeastern Iranian port city's historical identity, cultural heritage and indigenous architecture, the council's chairman said.

International

The clenched fist and the geometric fusion of Resistance

TEHRAN — The bodies lay at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla on July 3; yet another spectacle was the people paying their respects.
Sedition in Lebanon, or a calculated agenda of betrayal?

TEHRAN - Throughout history, political turmoil and national betrayal have often been linked, and Lebanon today is no exception. It faces a dangerous moment where its own officials are making deals that serve Israeli interests.
The modern golem of Silicon Valley demands a ritual sacrifice of innocence

TEHRAN — The little boys and little girls of the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school had just settled into their morning lessons when the sky split open. It was February 28, the opening day of the American-Israeli campaign against Iran, and three Tomahawk cruise missiles, one by one, tore through the roof, collapsing concrete onto the children's desks.