Iran has postponed the farewell ceremony for former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to the anticipated mass turnout and the need to prepare appropriate facilities. The event had been scheduled for Wednesday night in Tehran, but officials said a new date and time will be announced soon. Authorities cited widespread public demand from across the country as the primary reason for the delay.

The ceremony is expected to last three days at Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall in Tehran, where his body will lie in state for mourners to pay their respects. The government has also declared 40 days of national mourning, in line with Shiite tradition, during which additional memorial events are expected nationwide.

There are conflicting reports about the burial site, though many indicate he may be laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, a city of deep religious and personal significance to him. State funerals in Iran are typically large, highly organized events attended by senior clerics, military commanders, lawmakers and foreign dignitaries, blending religious observance with political symbolism.