Funeral procession of Ali Khamenei reaches Mashhad for burial; Iran's new supreme leader unlikely to attend
Mashhad, July 9
The funeral procession of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in US-Israeli joint strikes earlier this year, reached the holy city of Mashhad on Thursday for his burial at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, with Iran's state broadcaster reporting massive crowds of mourners gathering for the final rites.
According to the state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Khamenei's body was being transported by air to the holy shrine, due to heavy crowds between the Danesh intersection and the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza.
State media also aired visuals showing large crowds lining the funeral route in Mashhad to pay their final respects to the slain leader.
Massive crowds of mourners surround the convoy carrying the body of the former Supreme Leader to bid a final farewell.
The broadcaster also showed the crowd displaying anti-Trump banners during the funeral procession, referring to Tehran holding the US President accountable for the former leader's death.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that the country's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is unlikely to attend the public ceremonies.
CNN, citing a regional source, reported that Mojtaba Khamenei is unlikely to make an appearance at the funeral ceremonies on the advice of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to CNN, Khamenei is not expected to be at any of the events, including the private burial ceremony that members of Khamenei's family are expected to attend.
IRIB also reported that the burial ceremony "will be held with the presence of members of the (supreme) leader's household", without specifying who would attend.
Ali Khamenei was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, earlier this year, leading to a widespread conflict in the West Asia region.
Last month, the US and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the hostilities in the region and opening a 60-day dialogue window for technical talks, including discussions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.
However, on Wednesday, Trump said that the ceasefire agreement with Iran has effectively concluded for him, declaring that he no longer wishes to engage in diplomatic dealings with Tehran.
Speaking to journalists at the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump categorically stated that the peace process was over and he would not deal with Iran any longer.
"To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum... They're led by sick people... I'll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate - they're good people, but they have to come back to me. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," he said.
Following Ali Khamenei's death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's tragic to see such massive public mourning for a leader who was largely seen as repressive by the West. The crowd sizes are undeniable, but I wonder how much of it is genuine grief versus state-managed displays. The new leader skipping the funeral is very telling - security concerns are obviously paramount.
As an Indian, I feel we should be careful not to take sides here. Yes, Iran is an important partner for us - Chabahar port, energy imports, and connectivity to Afghanistan. But the US is our strategic ally. The region is a powder keg, and India's diplomacy needs to be extra sharp to navigate this. Also, Trump's comments are shockingly undiplomatic. 😔
The 14-point MoU had given some hope for peace in West Asia. And now Trump says it's 'over'? This is exactly the kind of unpredictability that destabilizes the entire region. The US needs to understand that Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan - they have a sophisticated political system and regional influence. India should push for dialogue alongside Russia and China.
Let's be real here - this is a dangerous escalation. The US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei were a massive violation of international law. Now Trump calling Iranians 'scum' while their leader is being buried? That's just pouring fuel on the fire. The new leader is smart to stay away from public events given the threats.
I'm honestly scared for the Indian diaspora in the Gulf if this spirals. Remember the 1990 Kuwait invasion? We had to airlift 1.7 lakh people. The government should already be working on contingency plans. Also, it's interesting how CNN is the one reporting that the new leader
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