The remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be transported by helicopter from Tehran to Qom for burial on July 5, 2026 [1].

This movement marks a critical transition for the Islamic Republic, as the burial of the Supreme Leader in the religious capital of Shia Islam signals the formal conclusion of his era of leadership.

The helicopter is scheduled to depart from the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum at 10 a.m. local time [3]. The remains will then be taken to the Imam Reza shrine in Qom [4]. A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance said the body will be flown to Qom by helicopter [5].

The transport is part of a larger funeral itinerary that includes five cities [6]. This follows a lying-in-state period in Tehran where millions of people gathered for the viewing [7].

President Ebrahim Raisi said, "We will accompany the late Ayatollah on his final journey to the holy city of Qom" [8].

While some reports suggest the body may travel by ground convoy after a brief helicopter lift, official state sources maintain the flight will be the primary means of transport to the holy city [5, 9]. Qom serves as the traditional burial site for senior clerics due to its status as the center of Shia scholarship [2].

“The Supreme Leader's body will be flown to Qom by helicopter”

The burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Qom is more than a religious rite; it is a choreographed display of state continuity. By utilizing a multi-city procession and transporting the remains to the heart of Shia clerical power, the Iranian government seeks to legitimize the transition of power and maintain social stability during a period of high leadership volatility.