Iran State TV: Late Supreme Leader Khamenei to Be Buried on July 9

Central Message

(CNA, Tehran, 13th - International News Summary) Iran's state television reported today that Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader who ruled for nearly 37 years and was killed in an Israeli and U.S. airstrike on February 28, will be buried on July 9.

According to AFP, the funeral, originally scheduled for March in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad, a holy city in northeastern Iran, was postponed due to the ongoing war.

State-run Press TV reported that the office responsible for preserving and publishing Khamenei's writings announced the funeral events: a public viewing of the body will be held in the capital Tehran on July 4–5; funeral processions will take place in Tehran on July 6 and in the holy city of Qom on July 7; and the body will be interred at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9.

The state funeral begins on July 4, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day. This year marks the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late leader, assumed the role of Supreme Leader in early March, becoming the third Supreme Leader since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979.

Mojtaba was injured in the same airstrike that killed his father and numerous other officials. Since his appointment, he has not made any public appearances and has only communicated through statements issued in his name. (Translation: Ho Hung-Ju) 1150613