The body of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of his funeral, state media reported on Friday.
“The body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla,” IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex’s official name.
Iraqi president arrives in Tehran
Iraqi President Nizar Amidi has arrived in Tehran to participate in the ceremony paying respects to the martyred leader Ayatollah Khamenei, IRIB posted on X.
PM Shehbaz departs for Iran to attend Khamenei’s funeral
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a one-day visit to Iran to attend the funeral of the late supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Shaheed, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) wrote on X.
In a post on X, the PMO said the prime minister is accompanied by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
During his visit, the premier will attend the funeral in Tehran and express condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan. He will also reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran in what he described as a period of grief.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leaves Islamabad on Friday for a one-day visit to Iran, where he is due to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. PHOTO: PMO
PM Shehbaz is scheduled to depart from Tehran for Istanbul later for a bilateral visit to Turkey, the PMO said on X.
Iraqi delegation pays tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran
Iraqi delegation paid their respects to martyred Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran, IRNA News Agency reported.
Iran’s acting defence minister says Tehran has ‘no trust’ in US
Iran’s Acting Minister of Defence Seyyed Majid Ibn Reza has said that Tehran does not trust the United States despite signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at restoring regional stability, Press TV reported.
He said the agreement with Washington was reached to support regional peace efforts and followed requests from friendly neighbouring countries.
“However, given the United States’ long history of failing to honor its commitments, Iran has no trust in the other party,” he said.
“Iran’s armed forces remain on full alert and will respond proportionately to any violation of the agreement,” he said.
Senate chairman arrives in Tehran to attend Khamenei’s funeral
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has arrived in Tehran with a high-level delegation to attend the funeral prayers and burial of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to PTV, which shared the update on X.
Iranian officials welcomed the Pakistani delegation upon its arrival in Tehran.
Speaking to the media, Gilani described Ayatollah Khamenei as an influential and respected figure in the Islamic world. He said Pakistan and Iran share longstanding historical, religious, cultural and brotherly ties.
Gilani added that Pakistan would reiterate its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Iran during the visit, PTV said on X.
Israel planned to assassinate Iranian negotiators, Washington Post reports
Senior US officials feared that Israel intended to assassinate Iran’s top negotiators while the Trump administration was pursuing a high-stakes diplomatic effort to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post reported on X, citing current and former US officials familiar with the matter.
Iranian lawmaker calls for review of nuclear doctrine after Israeli threat
An Iranian lawmaker has called on Tehran to reconsider its nuclear doctrine following an Israeli threat to assassinate Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said in a post on X that recent remarks by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz constituted “a valid and compelling reason” to review Iran’s nuclear doctrine.
Rezaei also referred to Article Eight of the Islamabad Accord, saying the latest developments warranted a reassessment of the provision, though he did not elaborate on what changes such a review might entail.
His comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with officials on both sides continuing to exchange sharp rhetoric.
Iran prepares to bury supreme leader with week of mass mourning
Iran’s ruling clerics are preparing days of mass funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a show of public devotion to the Islamic Republic and proof that its revolutionary fervor still burns strong.
The funeral events will begin over the weekend in Tehran, with mass processions planned next week in Qom and Mashhad and ceremonies in Iraq.
A billboard depicting Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei at Valiasr Square in Tehran, Iran. Photo: Reuters
“The large public turnout at the funeral procession of the martyred leader and the other martyrs will, in effect, be another referendum for the Islamic Republic,” Qom Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi declared to state media.
Read: Iran warns US, Israel against attacks ahead of funeral processions for Khamenei
If they do see it as a referendum, authorities are not leaving the result to chance.
They hope to mobilise millions of supporters to flood Iran’s cities, laying on transport, accommodation and food, to proclaim the might of their theocratic state after it survived what they saw as an existential war.
Khamenei’s death and the succession of his son Mojtaba as Iran’s third supreme leader, in a conflict with its greatest foes, mark an epochal moment in the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history. Mojtaba, dangerously wounded in the strike that killed his father, has not been seen in any new image since the war began.
Israeli soldier injured in southern Lebanon clashes, army says
An Israeli reserve soldier was severely injured during clashes in southern Lebanon, the army said on Friday.
In a statement, the military said the incident occurred on Thursday during “a close-quarters encounter” in southern Lebanon, without providing further details.
Last week, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement aimed at facilitating a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and reducing hostilities along the border.
However, Israel has decided to postpone its withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon, citing an alleged need to “wait until a joint monitoring mechanism is established with Beirut.”
Since March 2, Israel has been conducting a military offensive in Lebanon that has killed at least 4,298 people, injured 12,196 others, and displaced over 1 million people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Former US-Iran negotiator urges Washington to accelerate Tehran talks
A former US-Iran negotiator has urged Washington to move swiftly to sustain momentum in negotiations with Tehran after the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concludes, Al Jazeera reported.
Alan Eyre, a distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute, said the current pace of negotiations has been too slow, calling for more frequent and longer rounds of talks.
“This is a pretty desultory process so far. I understand they have to take time off for the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei, but after that is over, I hope that the US side really picks up the pace,” Eyre said.
Trump says Iran has agreed to ‘just about everything we need’ in talks
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that negotiations with Iran are progressing, adding that he believes Tehran has agreed to nearly all of Washington’s key demands.
“We’re negotiating …I think they’ve agreed to just about everything we need,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC.
Trump reiterated that the US is not seeking regime change in Iran, saying Washington’s objective remains preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“We’re not looking for regime change. I’m looking for something very simple: they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Trump also defended recent US military action against Iran, saying the country had been “totally defeated militarily”.
Read more: US won’t resume military action in Iran unless necessary: VP JD Vance
“I’ve defeated them militarily. They’re totally defeated militarily. They have some missiles left, we could wipe them out too, and I hit them three times last week very hard because they sent a drone into a ship,” he said.
Qatari and Pakistani mediators said Thursday that the next round of US-Iran talks would be held “at the earliest possible time,” after the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, with funeral ceremonies scheduled to run from July 4 through July 9.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneAFPRead More