Ali Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad draws millions as Iran bids farewell to former Supreme Leader killed by US and Israel

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who was killed by US and Israel, along with his grand daughter, son-in-law, daughter amd wife, will be buried at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on Thursday.

His family members, including toddler granddaughter, will also be buried besides him, symbolising the end of his long rule from 1989 to 2026.

Advertisement

Earlier, 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.

According to Iranian state media, millions of people have flooded the streets leading to the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad to bid Khamenei farewell ahead of his burial.

Bodies of the former Iranian Supreme Leader and his family members arrived at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport in Madhhad from Iraq in a plane escorted by fighter jets.

The bodies were taken to holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq ahead of the final funeral procession and burial ceremonies.

According to the state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Khamenei’s body was 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.

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 lesupr and his son, 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).

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.

(With agency inputs)