Body of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei arrives in Qom

Millions across the country have turned out in the past three days to honour his leadership after he was killed in a US-Israeli strike on the first day of the war.The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has arrived in the holy city of Qom, ahead of a planned procession on Tuesday, reported state television.State TV showed pictures of a helicopter carrying Khamenei’s body landing in the city south of the capital Tehran.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Millions attend funeral prayers for Iran’s Khamenei and familylist 2 of 3What is the religious and political messaging behind Khamenei’s funeral?list 3 of 3Sons of Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei attend funeral, but Mojtaba is absentend of listEarlier, huge numbers of Iranians filled the streets of the capital for the third successive day for the funeral procession.A truck carrying the bodies of Khamenei and four family members killed in the US-Israeli strike on February 28 inched its way to Azadi Square in the west of the city.State TV showed crowds stretching along major boulevards in Tehran and said millions turned out for the event, comparable to the giant funeral of Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.Millions of mourners joined the funeral procession in Tehran, July 6, 2026 [AFP]Clad in black, mourners threw petals onto the coffins, including the tiny casket of Khamenei’s granddaughter, who was only 14 months old when she was killed, according to state media.“The US and Israel aimed to divide Iran. But our leader prevented that division. Iranians are here to appreciate what he has done for Iran,” a man who identified himself as Hamid told Al Jazeera.Another mourner, Marzieh, said she showed up to honour Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly 40 years.“We came here to tell our martyred leader that his blood is not wasted. We came here to renew our allegiance to him,” she said.Mojtaba absentThere was still no sign of Khamenei’s successor and son, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since before his appointment a week after his father’s death.