Ali Akbar Pour-Jamshidian, the Secretary of the National Committee for Organizing the Farewell and Funeral Ceremonies for the martyred Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Khamenei, announced that the funeral proceedings will be held under the direction of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei.

Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Interior headquarters, Pour-Jamshidian described the upcoming funeral ceremony for the martyred leader in Iran as a "looming historic event." He urged the media to "fully shoulder their responsibilities and duties to document this event as an eternal historical record for future generations and eras."

He noted that the funeral ceremonies for the martyred leader will also include members of his family, stating: "Given the circumstances witnessed by the country and the government over the past months, which made it impossible to organize major national and global ceremonies, the funeral proceedings were postponed and scheduled at a later interval. Now, based on the vision of the family of his eminence, the martyred leader, and the measures taken by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Al-Husseini Khamenei, these ceremonies are scheduled to take place in the coming days."

Representatives and Scholars from 90 Countries to Tehran

Pour-Jamshidian announced that so far, "senior officials and heads of state from more than 30 countries, alongside scholars, intellectuals, and religious leaders of various faiths and denominations from over 90 countries, have submitted official requests to participate and pay their respects before the body of the martyred Leader of the Revolution."

He added, "Alongside official delegations, massive public convoys from neighboring countries, particularly Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, have expressed their readiness to participate in these ceremonies. Coordination is currently underway via the concerned international committee to arrange their widespread presence."

Pour-Jamshidian continued, stating that on Friday, July 3, a central and official ceremony will be held in Tehran, where heads of state, senior officials, religious leaders, and scholars from various countries around the world will pay their respects before the pure body of the martyred leader.

He stated that the public ceremonies will begin on July 4. Within this framework, the doors of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla (prayer hall) in Tehran will be opened to those wishing to bid farewell to the martyred Leader of the Revolution and his honorable family members, starting from 6:00 AM on Saturday.

Pour-Jamshidian added that authorities have declared July 4 and 5 as official holidays in Tehran Province, and July 6 as a nationwide holiday across the country, coinciding with the funeral procession in the capital, in order to facilitate citizens' participation in the farewell ceremonies for the martyred leader.

The Secretary of the National Committee explained that the funeral prayer over the pure body of the martyred leader and his honorable family members will be performed on July 5 at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran. Meanwhile, the official funeral procession will take place on July 6 in the capital, with the participation of massive crowds from various parts of Iran and several countries in the region.

He pointed out that citizens from neighboring countries will participate in these ceremonies to express their affection for the Iranian people and the martyred leader, calling on citizens to show generosity and hospitality in welcoming them. He also urged institutions and organizations located along the funeral route to keep their doors open to participants so they can access drinking water, prayer spaces, and service facilities.

Pour-Jamshidian confirmed that one of the Grand Marjas (senior religious authorities) will lead the funeral prayer for the martyred leader at the Holy Jamkaran Mosque. He noted that the prayer will be held at this mosque due to its vast space, as befits the grandeur of the occasion and the large volume of expected participation.

More than 300 Foreign Journalists Prepare to Cover the Funeral

Pour-Jamshidian announced that thousands of Iranian journalists, photographers, directors, and cultural and media institutions are working on preparations to cover and document this event as an exceptional historical milestone. On the international level, he added that more than 300 foreign journalists have completed the necessary arrangements to attend and provide media coverage of the ceremonies.

He noted that the burial ceremony for the pure body of the martyred leader will be limited to a restricted service to ensure it is conducted in a calm and organized atmosphere inside the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali bin Musa al-Rida (peace be upon him) in the holy city of Mashhad.

Regarding the holding of funeral ceremonies in Iraq, Pour-Jamshidian explained that according to the scheduled timeline, the pure bodies will be transported to Iraq on July 8. An official reception ceremony will be held at either Baghdad or Najaf international airports, attended by senior Iraqi officials and political and military leaders, headed by the Iraqi Prime Minister. Processions and funeral ceremonies will also be organized in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, leading to the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him).

He pointed out that "these programs are expected to be executed according to the specified schedule, through cooperation between the executive authorities in both Iran and Iraq, and with broad public participation."

He explained that holding part of these ceremonies in Iraq is due to the jurisprudential status and religious leadership (marja'iyya) that the martyred leader enjoyed. He noted that following his martyrdom, the Iraqi people, government, parliament, and prominent tribal leaders requested a farewell ceremony in Iraq, considering him their Marja al-Taqlid (source of emulation). This request was approved by the National Committee and the office of the martyred leader. He added that the arrangements made will allow the pure body to fulfill this wish by being taken in a procession through the holy cities of Iraq.

Pour-Jamshidian concluded by announcing that "preparations are underway to dispatch a high-level Iranian delegation to accompany the pure bodies to Iraq," emphasizing that there are no obstacles preventing various segments of the Iranian public who wish to attend these ceremonies inside Iraq from doing so.