Tehran, July 10: Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest on Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, where thousands of supporters gathered to pay their final respects, according to Press TV.
The burial took place at the Dar al-Dhikr prayer hall after Khamenei’s coffin was carried around the shrine of Imam Reza as part of the funeral rites. Funeral prayers were led by his eldest son, Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei.
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Khamenei’s body was transported by air to Mashhad due to large crowds gathered along the funeral route between Danesh Intersection and the Imam Reza Shrine. State television broadcast footage showing mourners lining the route and surrounding the funeral convoy.
State media also showed participants carrying banners critical of US President Donald Trump during the procession, reflecting official accusations against the United States over Khamenei’s death. CNN reported that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not expected to attend the public funeral ceremonies.
Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28, an incident that was followed by a broader conflict across West Asia. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the Supreme Leader of Iran.
Last month, the United States and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at reducing hostilities and initiating a 60-day dialogue on issues including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he no longer considered the ceasefire process with Iran to be active. Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said he had no interest in continuing diplomatic engagement with Tehran and described further negotiations as a “waste of time.”