Iran is bracing for one of the largest public gatherings in its history as millions of mourners pour into cities across the country for the week‑long funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The scale of the event — spread across five cities in Iran and Iraq — has prompted authorities to quietly prepare thousands of graves, reflecting deep concern that crowd surges, chaos or even targeted attacks could lead to mass casualties.
According to reports cited by German outlet WELT, a classified Iranian contingency assessment warned that anywhere between 1,500 and 3,000 people could die in a worst‑case scenario. The fear isn’t unfounded: Iran has seen deadly stampedes before, most notably during Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s funeral in 1989, when uncontrolled crowds led to dozens of deaths.
Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was killed four months ago in an Israeli airstrike during the opening phase of the Iran–Israel conflict. His death triggered a major political transition, with leadership passing to his son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The funeral has now become both a national mourning event and a moment of political messaging for the Islamic Republic.
Tehran has rolled out sweeping security measures. Roads are sealed, airspace restrictions are in place, and mourners must pass through multiple layers of security before entering the Grand Mosalla, where Khamenei’s coffin lies in state. Armed police, intelligence units and Basij volunteers are stationed across the capital as Iran remains on high alert, wary of further Israeli strikes or foreign interference.
Crowds have already begun chanting anti‑US and anti‑Israel slogans, turning the funeral into a show of unity and defiance. For Iran’s leadership, the coming days will test not only its ability to manage millions of mourners, but also its grip on stability during a sensitive political moment.