Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral will take place after four months, information revealed regarding keeping the body safe without chemicals

Tehran. Nearly four months after the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he is being cremated with state honours. Iranian officials say it could be one of the largest public events in the country’s history. Amidst the delay in the last rites due to security concerns, the most talked about issue is how his body was kept safe for so long.

Funeral postponed due to war

According to officials, Khamenei, 86, died on February 28 during US and Israeli missile attacks on his residence in Tehran. His funeral was initially planned for March, but the event had to be postponed several times due to the regional security situation and ongoing military tensions.

The Iranian administration says that this decision was necessary considering the circumstances and during this time the body was kept safe in accordance with religious traditions and legal standards.

No embalming, resort to cold storage

Many questions were raised regarding the preservation of the mortal remains for four months. Meanwhile, according to information quoting Iranian officials and experts, chemical embalming (chemical preservation) was not used to preserve the body. Instead, refrigerated cold storage system was adopted.

However, Iran did not officially reveal where the body was kept. An Iranian official said only that he was protected with full respect and in accordance with religious and legal standards.

What did the experts say?

According to Euronews, Iman Attarzadeh, a spokesman for the Special Headquarters for Funeral Arrangements, said that the body was kept safe in accordance with Islamic rules and legal procedures and was neither buried nor transferred to any other place.

Meanwhile, while talking to Fox News Digital, Dr. Omar Mohammed, an expert on anti-terrorism matters, said that based on the available information, it is likely that the body was kept in refrigerated cold storage. According to him, chemical embalming is generally not considered acceptable in Islamic tradition, while Shia religious law allows delayed burial under special circumstances.

Programs will run for nine days in five cities

According to officials, funeral and funeral ceremonies will be held in five cities of Iran and Iraq from July 3 to July 9. It is estimated that around two crore people may participate in these. Apart from this, delegations from more than 100 countries are also expected to attend the ceremony.

The official mourning ceremony in Tehran began at the Grand Mosallah complex, where tributes were paid in the presence of foreign representatives.

Flag of Imam Hussain’s Dargah on the coffin

During the funeral procession, Khamenei’s coffin was covered with the red sacred flag that once flew over the shrine of Imam Hussein. According to the Iranian government, this flag is considered a symbol of resistance, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to truth. It is said that Khamenei’s family traces its lineage to Imam Hussein.