Thousands Gather in Mashhad to Bid Farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack, was laid to rest at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Thousands of supporters gathered to pay their final respects during the funeral ceremony. The funeral rites were conducted at the Dar al-Dhikr Prayer Hall, where Khamenei's coffin was carried around the tomb of Imam Reza as part of the final religious rituals. The funeral prayers were led by his eldest son, Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei, who offered the traditional prayers over the deceased. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the large crowd gathered between Danesh Square and the Imam Reza Shrine made it necessary to transport Khamenei's body by air to the holy shrine. State media broadcast images showing massive crowds of mourners lining the funeral route in Mashhad and surrounding the procession carrying the former Supreme Leader's body to offer their final farewell. The state broadcaster also showed mourners displaying banners critical of US President Donald Trump during the procession, reflecting Tehran's position that it holds the American President responsible for Khamenei's death. Meanwhile, CNN reported that Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not expected to appear at public ceremonies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 this year in US-Israeli attacks that triggered a broader conflict across the West Asia region. Following his death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Last month, the United States and Iran agreed to a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in the region and opening a 60-day window for technical negotiations. The proposed discussions included issues related to the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme. However, on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire arrangement with Iran was, in his view, effectively over and stated that he no longer wished to pursue diplomatic talks with Tehran. Speaking to reporters during the NATO Summit in Turkey, Trump said he believed the peace process had come to an end. He added that he would speak with US negotiators, acknowledged that Iranian representatives wanted negotiations, but maintained that any further engagement would have to come on his terms and described additional dealings with Iran as a waste of time.