Iran bids farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid tensions with US
Hundreds of thousands of mourners in Mashhad attended the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, set against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.
In Mashhad, Iran's holiest city, the burial of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took place on 9 July at the Imam Reza Shrine. Vast crowds of mourners filled the streets as the coffin was carried to its final resting place. Officials estimated that more than one million people attended the event.
Images from Mashhad showed people weeping, praying, and accompanying the funeral vehicle throughout the route. Some participants displayed banners with threats against US President Donald Trump, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding the ceremony.
Khamenei's burial marks the end of an era in Iranian politics and occurs amid one of the most serious confrontations between Iran and the United States in recent years. The procession took place at a particularly volatile moment for the region, with relations between Tehran and Washington deteriorating further in recent days. Security was visibly reinforced around the shrine as crowds filled nearby streets and squares.
