Iran's Ghalibaf Breaks Down In Tears While Paying Respects To Khamenei | Watch
Iran's Ghalibaf Breaks Down In Tears While Paying Respects To Khamenei | Watch Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 23:02 IST Authorities expect large-scale
Iran's Ghalibaf Breaks Down In Tears While Paying Respects To Khamenei | Watch Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 23:02 IST Authorities expect large-scale public participation in the coming days, with millions of mourners likely to take part in processions before Khamenei’s burial next week. Footage broadcast by Iranian state television showed Ghalibaf, who is also Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, visibly overcome with emotion as he stood in front of Khamenei’s coffin. Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Friday broke down in tears while paying his respects to Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the start of a week-long funeral programme in Tehran, where the leader’s body is lying in state. Footage broadcast by Iranian state television showed Ghalibaf, who is also Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, visibly overcome with emotion as he stood in front of Khamenei’s coffin.
He was seen uncontrollably sobbing while joined by other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as they paid their respects. WATCH: Iran’s Ghalibaf cries during the farewell ceremony of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/3G1i7Fowxl— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 3, 2026 Images from the ceremony showed mourners gathering at the Grand Mosalla complex in Tehran, where the casket was draped in the colours of the Islamic Republic. The venue has become the central point of public mourning ahead of the state funeral. Authorities expect large-scale public participation in the coming days, with millions of mourners likely to take part in processions before Khamenei’s burial next week. Massive Funeral Set To Draw Millions Khamenei’s funeral, initially delayed due to the war, will begin officially on Saturday as Iran observes a fragile ceasefire following a preliminary deal with the US aimed at halting hostilities.
The former Supreme Leader, who died aged 86, was killed on February 28 at his residence in Tehran during the opening phase of a US-Israeli strike campaign. His body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla complex, which hosts major religious and national events. Officials say between 15 and 20 million people are expected to attend the ceremonies, which would make it one of the largest state funerals in Iran’s history. Public holidays have been declared in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, while major traffic restrictions and partial airspace closures are in place. The capital’s offices have been shut from Saturday to Monday to facilitate the events. Following the Tehran ceremonies, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before his final burial at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on July 9.
