Funeral Procession and Burial at Imam Reza Shrine
Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a joint US-Israel strike on February 28, 2026, was laid to rest at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 10, 2026. Thousands of supporters gathered to pay their final respects, with the burial ceremony held at the Dar al-Dhikr prayer hall after his coffin was carried around the tomb of Imam Reza.
The funeral prayers were led by his eldest son, Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei, who performed the ritual prayers over the body. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Khamenei's body had to be transported by air to the holy shrine due to the massive crowds packed between the Danesh intersection and the Imam Reza Shrine. State media aired visuals showing vast crowds of mourners lining the funeral route in Mashhad and surrounding the convoy carrying the former Supreme Leader's body.
Public Sentiment and Political Context
During the procession, the crowd displayed anti-Trump banners, highlighting Tehran's stance of holding US President Donald Trump accountable for Khamenei's death. Meanwhile, CNN reported that the country's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was unlikely to attend the public ceremonies.
Ali Khamenei's assassination triggered a widespread conflict across the West Asia region. Following his death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Ceasefire Agreement and US Stance
Last month, the US and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in the region and opening a 60-day dialogue window for technical talks, including discussions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.
However, US President Donald Trump stated on July 9, 2026, that the ceasefire agreement with Iran has effectively concluded for him, declaring that he no longer wishes to engage in diplomatic dealings with Tehran. Speaking to journalists at the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump categorically stated that the peace process was over. "To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum... They're led by sick people... I'll speak to our negotiators. They want to negotiate -- they're good people, but they have to come back to me. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," Trump said.
