Turkish VP attends state funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz on Friday attended a state ceremony in Tehran for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28. The ceremony was held at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque in the Iranian capital. Yılmaz was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklıkaya, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tehran Hicabi Kırlangıç, and Turkish lawmakers.

Delegation and international attendance

After reciting a prayer in front of Khamenei’s coffin, Yılmaz and the Turkish delegation left the venue. Heads of government and parliament, foreign ministers, and special representatives from nearly 100 countries attended the condolences ceremony.

Funeral schedule

Funeral ceremonies for the late supreme leader are taking place on July 3-9 in several cities across Iran. The Tehran ceremony is the first in a week of events, with the main funeral procession scheduled for July 6. The rites will then move to Qom on July 7, followed by ceremonies in Iraq on July 8, and the final burial at the Imam Ali Reza Shrine in Mashhad on July 9. Türkiye’s participation reflects Ankara’s diplomatic engagement with Tehran amid ongoing negotiations on the US-Iran memorandum, even as tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz and regional security.