Iranian state media has claimed that between 41 million and 43 million people attended the six-day funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing it as the largest funeral and public procession in world history.

According to Iranian broadcaster Press TV, the mourning ceremonies were held across five major cities in Iran and Iraq — Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, Najaf and Karbala.

Ali Khamenei, who Iranian media said was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran, was laid to rest four months later.

The official ceremonies began last week at the Grand Mosque religious complex in Tehran, where thousands of mourners paid their final respects to his coffin.

Delegations from Iran’s regional allies, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad from Gaza, Hezbollah from Lebanon and the Houthis from Yemen, also attended the ceremonies.

Khamenei was later buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad after his body passed through several cities.

Iranian media said the large turnout reflected public loyalty to the country’s national and religious leadership, while authorities enforced strict security measures throughout the ceremonies.

However, the attendance figures reported by Iranian state media have not been independently verified by international organisations or other independent sources.