Burial Planned in Mashhad
Iran’s slain Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, will be laid to rest in the holy city of Mashhad, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years, was reportedly killed at the age of 86 during a wave of US-Israeli attacks over the weekend.
He was originally from Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, where his father is buried at the revered Imam Reza Shrine.
Farewell Ceremony in Tehran
Before the burial, a large public farewell ceremony will be held in Tehran, according to a statement released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) via its Telegram account.
Authorities have not yet announced the official date for the burial.
Interim Leadership Council Takes Charge
Following Khamenei’s death, authority has temporarily been transferred to a three-man interim council pending the selection of a successor.
The council comprises:
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The sitting president
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The head of the judiciary
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A jurist from the Guardian Council, which oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates
The successor will be chosen by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body responsible for appointing and supervising the Supreme Leader.
However, Fars reported that for security reasons, the Assembly’s final meeting to elect a new leader may be delayed until after Khamenei’s burial.
Strikes on Religious and Political Sites
Iranian media further reported that buildings associated with the Assembly of Experts in the holy city of Qom were struck by US-Israeli attacks on Tuesday.
The Assembly’s main headquarters in Tehran was reportedly hit the day before, raising further concerns about security during the transition period.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad carries symbolic weight, returning the longtime leader to his hometown and one of Iran’s most sacred religious centers.
As preparations for the funeral proceed, attention now shifts to the Assembly of Experts and the critical decision of who will guide the Islamic Republic through its next chapter.
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