Hezbollah and Hamas Leaders Attend Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral in Tehran, Meet Iranian Foreign Minister

A number of senior Hezbollah and Hamas officials attended the funeral ceremony for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran on Saturday, 4 July 2026. The presence of delegations from the two Iran-backed groups was a focal point of the final tribute to the figure who led the Islamic Republic of Iran for more than three decades. Alongside attending the funeral proceedings, the Hezbollah and Hamas delegations also held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran has for years provided support to Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi group in Yemen. The United States and several Western nations designate all three as terrorist organisations, making Tehran’s relationship with them one of the reasons Iran faces international sanctions. The Hezbollah delegation attending the funeral procession comprised several officials from the organisation as well as family members of those killed or wounded. The group was led by senior Hezbollah official and former Lebanese minister Mohammed Fneish. Their presence demonstrated Hezbollah’s respect for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with whom the group has long maintained close ties. Simultaneously, Hamas also sent a high-level delegation to Tehran. In a statement, Hamas said the group was led by the head of its political bureau, Mohammed Darwish. The delegation also included other political bureau members, including Bassem Naim. The attendance of Hamas leaders at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral reaffirms the long-standing relationship between Iran and the group. In July 2024, the then political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli operation at his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Thousands of citizens crowded the Grand Mosalla religious complex for the funeral procession. The ceremony is scheduled to continue until Sunday, 5 July 2026, with the government declaring a national holiday to allow the public to pay their respects.