TEHRAN — Iran will begin funeral ceremonies for its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on July 4 in Tehran, with burial scheduled for July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad, state media reported Saturday.Khamenei was killed on Feb. 28 during the opening day of Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran. The 86-year-old cleric had led the Islamic Republic for 36 years.According to Iranian media, the funeral process will start in Tehran before moving to the city of Qom on July 7 for additional ceremonies.The final burial will take place in Mashhad, the northeastern city where Khamenei was born.During his decades in power, Khamenei oversaw Iran’s expansion of regional influence through groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.He remained a vocal critic of the United States throughout his leadership, while disputes over Iran’s nuclear program continued through multiple US administrations.Iranian authorities said the airstrike that killed Khamenei destroyed his compound in central Tehran.Following his death, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeded him as supreme leader.Iranian media reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the same strike and that his wife was also killed during the attack.The funeral announcement comes as diplomatic efforts continue to end the conflict between Iran and the United States.Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that Tehran and Washington had agreed on a framework for a peace deal after more than three months of war and could sign an initial agreement within 24 hours.
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