Iran began a funeral procession on Monday through its capital, Tehran, for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 86-year-old leader was killed on February 28 in an airstrike at the start of the war launched by Israel and the United States, along with members of his family.
Procession Details
Khamenei's flag-draped coffin, and those of his family members, are being carried on board a truck through the streets of Tehran on their way to Mehrabad International Airport. Iranian state television reported the procession had started, and authorities have shut down streets, airspace, and daily life for the mourning period.
Mourning began on Saturday and will end on Thursday, when Khamenei is to be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace. The theocracy plans to see large crowds attend the ceremony across the city to show popular support for the government.
War and Negotiations
Meanwhile, the United States is pressing ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rolling back its disputed nuclear program, and reaching a permanent end to the war. Talks appear to be on hold until after the burial.
According to Iranian mourners and signs they carry, there have been increasing threats to avenge Khamenei's death, with calls for the killing of both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Public Mourning and Security
Authorities have implemented extensive security measures, closing streets and airspace to accommodate the large crowds expected to participate in the funeral ceremonies. The procession is a key event in the mourning period, which has drawn significant public participation.
Khamenei's death marks a critical moment for Iran, as the country navigates both internal mourning and external pressures related to the ongoing conflict and nuclear negotiations.
