Iran braces for possible stampede as Khamenei funeral begins; report warns of up to 3,000 deaths

Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility of a mass-casualty incident during the week-long funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with contingency plans reportedly estimating between 1,500 and 3,000 deaths due to the expected crush of mourners.

According to Germany’s Die Welt, which cited a classified document and municipal sources in Tehran, officials have drawn up emergency plans as millions are expected to attend funeral processions across Iran. The report said a confidential letter from the Iranian Red Crescent and the National Crisis Management Organisation to First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref projected a potential death toll of between 1,500 and 3,000 people.

Six-day funeral ceremonies begin

Iran officially began six days of public funeral ceremonies for Khamenei on Saturday, according to state television. Following events in Iran, the funeral procession will continue in Iraq before his final burial.

Authorities expect between 15 million and 20 million people to participate in the ceremonies in Tehran alone over the next three days.

Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic from 1989 until his death at 86, was killed on the opening day of the US-Israel war against Iran on February 28.

The ceremonies are also expected to draw attention to Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed Supreme Leader a week after his father’s death but has yet to make a public appearance.

By Friday evening, hundreds of supporters had already gathered outside Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, waiting for it to open to mourners on Saturday morning.

Funeral route spans Iran and Iraq

Khamenei’s body will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday before a funeral procession through the capital on Monday. It will then be taken to the Shia holy city of Qom on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the body will be moved to Karbala in Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, a revered figure in Shia Islam. The date also coincides with the anniversary of anti-government protests against Khamenei’s rule, during which thousands were reportedly killed by security forces.

After the ceremonies in Karbala, the body will return to Iran and be taken to Mashhad, the country’s second-largest city.

Trump comments on Iran

US President Donald Trump said Iran was keen to reach an agreement with Washington and claimed the United States had inflicted heavy damage on Tehran during the conflict.

“We knocked the hell out of Iran. They are dying to settle. They want to settle so badly,” Trump said.

“We gave them a week off for a funeral because we’re nice, that’s true,” he added.

Burial at Imam Reza shrine

Iranian authorities have said Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.

The shrine, dedicated to Imam Reza, the eighth Imam in Shia Islam, is one of the religion’s holiest sites and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. It is also the burial place of several prominent Shia figures, including former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024.