Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Laid to Rest Amid Mourning and Geopolitical Tensions
Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Monday to participate in the funeral procession of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed last week. The multi-day funeral continued as the coffin was transported to the holy city of Qom for further ceremonies.
Notably, Khamenei's son and designated successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared publicly since the killing, according to CNN. In contrast, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a rare public appearance at the funeral, after years of estrangement from the late leader.
Despite the turmoil, diplomacy appears to be continuing. Iran's top negotiator stated that implementing a recent agreement with the United States is 'difficult, but achievable.' Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met with the head of Hamas's political bureau at the funeral, reaffirming Iran's support for regional armed groups it backs.
Israeli forces carried out fresh attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, killing at least six Palestinians and four Lebanese, even as US-brokered ceasefires remain technically in place. A UN human rights body labeled the detention of Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safia 'arbitrary' and called for his immediate release.
In a separate development, Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, leaving two vessels with significant damage but no casualties, according to a US official cited by Axios.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran that either they reach a deal with Washington or the United States will 'finish the job,' renewing the threat of military action. US-Iran indirect talks concluded last week without a feasible outcome, despite a 60-day ceasefire agreed in the wake of joint US-Israel strikes against Iran in February.
