Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini

| native_name = {{lang|fa|آرامگاه سید روح‌الله خمینی}}

| native_name_lang = fa

| image = Seyed Ruhollah Khomeini's tomb in 2023.jpeg

| image_upright = 1.4

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| caption = The mausoleum complex in June 2023

| religious_affiliation = Shia Islam

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| organisational_status = {{ubl|Mausoleum|Cultural and tourist center|Madrasa|Shopping mall|Carpark|Islamic museum}}

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| functional_status = Active

| religious_features_label = Dedicated in honor of

| religious_features = Ruhollah Khomeini

| location = Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, Tehran, Tehran province

| country = Iran

| map_type = Tehran

| map_size = 250

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| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the tomb in Tehran

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| coordinates = {{coord|35.5492|51.3665|region:IR_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

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| architect = Parviz Moayyed

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Islamic architecture}}

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| funded_by = Government of Iran

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| groundbreaking = 19 July 1989

| year_completed = 2025

| construction_cost = {{circa}}{{USD}}2 bn

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| dome_quantity = One

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| minaret_quantity = Four

| minaret_height = {{cvt|91|m}}

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| site_area = {{cvt|2000|ha|acre}}

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| shrine_quantity = Many

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| materials = Concrete; marble

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| website = {{URL|astaan.ir}} {{in lang|fa}}

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The Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini ({{langx|fa|آرامگاه سید روح‌الله خمینی}}; {{langx|ar|ضريح روح الله الخميني}}), also known as the Holy Shrine, or the Haram Motahhar, is a Shi'ite Islamic mausoleum that houses the tombs of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his wife Khadijeh Saqafi, and his second son Ahmad Khomeini; and some political figures, such as former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani,{{cite web |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/tehran/attractions/holy-shrine-of-imam-khomeini/a/poi-sig/1118982/361025 |title=Holy Shrine of Imam Khomeini |work=Lonely Planet |date= |access-date= }} former Vice President Hassan Habibi, Lieutenant General Ali Sayad Shirazi, Iranian Revolution figure Sadeq Tabatabaei, and MP Marzieh Hadidchi. The mausoleum is located to the south of Tehran in the Behesht-e Zahra (Paradise of Zahra) cemetery.

The mausoleum is the centerpiece in a funerary complex spread over {{convert|2000|ha|acre}},{{cite web |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/2816 |title=Ustan-i Imam Khumayni |work=ArchNet.org |date= |access-date= }} that houses the tombs, a cultural and tourist center, a university for Islamic studies, a seminary, a shopping mall, a 20,000-car park,{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2D81439F93BA35754C0A966958260 |title=Khomeini's Tomb Attracts Pilgrims |work=The New York Times |date=8 July 1990 |access-date= |author=Shenon, Philip |url-access=subscription }} and a branch of the National Museum of Iran.{{cite news |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-s-archaeological-society-criticizes-national-museum-at-khomeini-mausoleum-/30779848.html |title=Iran's Archaeological Society Criticizes 'National Museum' At Khomeini Mausoleum |work=Radio Farda |date=12 August 2020 |access-date=7 May 2025 }} Construction commenced in 1989 following Khomeini's death on 3 June of that year, took over 35 years to complete, and the Iranian government reportedly devoted {{USD}}2 billion to the development. In May 2025 it was announced that the official commemoration will be held on 4 June 2025.{{cite web |url=https://iqna.ir/en/news/3492964/muslim-world-personalities-to-be-invited-to-imam-khomeini-commemoration-ceremony |title=Muslim World Personalities to Be Invited to Imam Khomeini Commemoration Ceremony |work=International Quran News Agency |date=6 May 2025 |access-date=7 May 2025 }}

The site is a place of pilgrimage for followers of Khomeini. It is used symbolically by government figures, and is on occasion visited by foreign dignitaries.{{cite news |url=http://www.farsinet.com/news/jun97.html |work=FarsiNet News |title=News related to Iran, Iranians and Persians |date=June 1997 |access-date= }} Every year, Khomeini's death anniversary is marked on 4 June at the mausoleum in a ceremony that is attended by governmental officials, foreign ambassadors, and others. Khomeini's grandson, Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, is in charge of caring for the mausoleum.{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20080210-khomeinis-grandson-speaks-out-iran-military |title=Khomeini's grandson speaks out on Iran military |work=France 24 |date=2008-02-10 |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625103447/http://www.france24.com/en/20080210-khomeinis-grandson-speaks-out-iran-military |archive-date=2009-06-25 }}

Architecture

The tomb was designed by Mohammed Tehrani. The exterior of the shrine complex is a highly recognizable landmark. It has a gold dome sitting on a high drum, surrounded by four free-standing minarets that are {{convert|91|m}} high.{{cite web |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/06/08/ayatollah-khomeinis-mausoleum-symbol-iranian-pride/102626714/ |title=Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum: A symbol of Iranian pride |date=2017-06-08 |access-date= }} The shrine is surrounded by a large rectangular plaza which has been designed to hold vast numbers of visitors. With its size, inclusion of a qibla wall and a maqsura, the tomb resembles a mosque, but has been called an Hussainia.{{cite book |author=Kaplan, Robert |title=Ends of the Earth, A journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century |publisher=Random House |year=1996 |page=179 |isbn= }}

Non-Muslims are allowed inside the complex.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mehr-e-khavar.com/brief.htm |title=Mehr-e-Khavar Iran In Brief |access-date=2008-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625124956/http://www.mehr-e-khavar.com/brief.htm |archive-date=2009-06-25 |url-status=dead }}

Incidents

On 20 June 2009, a suicide bomb attack occurred near the site of the mausoleum, in which the attacker was killed and three pilgrims were injured.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSEVA057756 |title=Bomber killed at Khomeini shrine - Iran media |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-06-20 |access-date=2021-07-24}}

On 7 June 2017, the mausoleum was attacked by three gunmen{{cite news |title=7 killed in twin attacks on Iranian parliament and Khomeini's tomb, Hostage situation underway |url=http://www.muslimglobal.com/2017/06/some-people-held-hostage-in-iran-s.html |date=June 2017 |access-date=7 June 2017 |work=Muslim Global}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/middleeast/iran-parliament-shooting/index.html?adkey=bn |title=Iran Attacks: Shooting inside Iran's Parliament |work=CNN |date=7 June 2017 |access-date= }} while a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the mausoleum.{{cite news |title=Iran attacks: 'IS' hits Parliament and Khomeini mausoleum |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40184641 |access-date=7 June 2017 |work=BBC |date=7 June 2017}} One female militant attacker was captured.{{cite news |title=Invasion four terrorist to Khomeini Shrine/ One woman was captured |url=http://fa.alalam.ir/news/1979526 |access-date=7 June 2017 |work=fa.alalam.ir |lang=fa}} Government officials later claimed to have thwarted a third attack. One person died and five people were injured. Others attacked the parliament building at the same time.{{cite news |author=Erdbrink, Thomas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/world/middleeast/isis-attack-khomeini-tomb.html |title=Finding Bravado, and Worry, at an Iranian Shrine Where ISIS Struck |work=The New York Times |date=14 June 2017 |access-date=7 May 2025 }}