Iran Begins Six-Day Funeral for Late Supreme Leader Khamenei Amid Fragile Truce
Iran has begun a six-day funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nearly four months after he was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike that sparked a war between the two countries.
US President Donald Trump, speaking near Mount Rushmore, said the United States had 'knocked the hell out of Iran' and granted a 'week off for a funeral' because 'we're nice.' The funeral ceremonies, which started on July 4 — the 250th anniversary of US independence — include events in Qom, a holy city south of Tehran, and will conclude on July 9 with burial in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad.
Khamenei, who ruled Iran for 36 years, was killed on February 28, the day the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The delay in burial was attributed to the state of war. A fragile truce, signed last month, has seen occasional exchanges of fire, though tensions have eased in recent days.
Millions of mourners are expected to attend the ceremonies. In Tehran, posters and billboards display Khamenei's image, and some protesters held a flag reading '#KillTrump.'
Iran's current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend his father's funeral due to security concerns, his representative in India said, citing Israeli threats and surveillance risks.
A notable element of the funeral is a small coffin placed beside Khamenei's — containing the body of his 14-month-old granddaughter, who was also killed in the US-Israeli strikes. Other deceased relatives are also present.
