Khamenei funeral – Iran began a procession Monday through Tehran for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorities shutting down streets and airspace as the theocracy plans large crowds and the U.S. keeps nuclear, war, and Strait of Hormuz talks paused u
A flag-draped coffin left the streets of central Tehran on Monday as Iran began a highly controlled procession for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei, 86, died and is to be buried Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace. His coffin—along with the coffins of his family members killed Feb. 28 in an airstrike at the start of the war launched by Israel and the United States—was carried on board a truck as the mourning moved through the capital.
The route is set to take the coffins through Tehran on their way to Mehrabad International Airport. Iranian state television reported that the procession had started.
Iran’s theocracy is planning large crowds to attend ceremonies across the city, presenting the turnout as popular support for the government. Streets, airspace and daily life have been shut down for the mourning period, which authorities say will end Thursday.
The timing has landed against the backdrop of stalled diplomacy. The United States is pressing ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz. rolling back its disputed nuclear program. and reaching a permanent end to the war. Those talks appear to be on hold until after Khamenei’s burial.
The sequence is clear in both directions: Tehran is closing down the city for mourning through Thursday, and Washington is holding its diplomacy while the country moves into its final farewell.
Iran Tehran Khamenei funeral Imam Reza shrine Mehrabad International Airport Strait of Hormuz nuclear talks Israel United States war