Iran’s former supreme leader Khamenei to be buried on July 9

TLE Desk: Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US airstrikes earlier this year, will be buried on July 9 in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, Iranian state television announced, reports AFP.

The burial had initially been scheduled for March but was postponed due to the war that erupted following the February 28 strikes.

According to state media, national funeral ceremonies will begin in Tehran on July 4 and continue for three days before moving to the holy city of Qom on July 7. The final burial ceremony will take place in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown, on July 9.

The start of the funeral proceedings on July 4 coincides with the United States’ Independence Day celebrations, which this year mark the country’s 250th anniversary.

Ali Khamenei led Iran for nearly 37 years, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the Islamic Republic’s history.

Following his death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed supreme leader in early March, becoming the third person to hold the position since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

Mojtaba Khamenei was reportedly wounded in the same strikes that killed his father and several senior Iranian officials. Since assuming office, he has not appeared publicly and has communicated through statements issued in his name.

The funeral ceremonies are expected to draw large crowds and senior officials from across Iran as the country continues to navigate the political and security challenges that followed the conflict earlier this year.