Latest war news. Iran: Khamenei’s body paraded through Tehran, with crowds shouting ‘revenge’

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has claimed that his country assassinated Khamenei for allegedly leading a “plan to destroy” Israel and has once again threatened to “eliminate” any Iranian leader who attempts to promote such actions. This has been reported by the international media. The minister made these remarks in response to the funeral procession currently taking place in Tehran, as reported by the Israeli broadcaster. Katz added that Israel remains ready to defend itself at any time and against any threat. Al-Jazeera notes that Katz had previously claimed that Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba, was “condemned to death”, sparking a fierce protest from Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Trump “has committed the United States to silencing its lapdogs in Tel Aviv”, adding: “Any threat against our people and our leadership will receive an immediate and decisive response.”

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and chief negotiator, Mohammar Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that peace in Lebanon cannot be sustained unless Iran fulfils what he describes as its role as a stabilising force in the region. This was reported by Al-Jazeera. Ghalibaf made these remarks during a meeting in Tehran with Muhammad Fneish, a senior Hezbollah official who had travelled to Iran to attend Khamenei’s funeral. According to Iranian media, he stated that Tehran had placed Lebanon at the centre of the negotiations that led to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States. “We placed particular emphasis on Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he said. He also praised Hezbollah’s struggle against Israel in support of Iran during the Israeli-American war, describing it as a “turning point in history” that demonstrated the “unbreakable bond” between Iran and the groups of the “axis of resistance”.

A puppet depicting Donald Trump, which had been hanged, also appeared in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession currently taking place in Tehran. US federal authorities have been monitoring Iranian threats against Trump and other administration officials for years, stemming from Trump’s 2020 order to kill General Qassem Soleimani, who was head of the elite Quds Force. Iran has repeatedly denied plotting to kill Trump, although propaganda footage has long suggested otherwise. Trump, for his part, promised during the conflict to destroy Iranian civilisation. “Today, as we gather here for our leader’s funeral, it is a very difficult day,” said one woman taking part in the procession. “We are not here to say goodbye to him; we are here to seek revenge, and we will take our revenge.”

The funeral ceremonies for the former leader Ali Khamenei began this morning in Tehran, with vehicles carrying his body and those of his family members. They will continue tomorrow in the holy city of Qom, on Wednesday in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, and on Thursday in Mashhad, his hometown, where he will be buried. The relevant authorities and state television have warned the public of the risk of possible incidents, such as stampedes, during the ceremony. General Hassan Hassanzadeh, who is in charge of the funeral ceremonies, as quoted by local media, has called on the public to take part peacefully in the procession, which will take place in Azadi Square, in the south-west of the capital. Those attending the funeral in Tehran, dressed in black, are carrying red flags and the flag of the Lebanese Hezbollah – which is supported by Iran – as well as banners and placards bearing the image of the late leader and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. Some are shouting ‘Death to the United States’ and ‘Death to Israel’, calling for revenge for Khamenei’s death during the Israeli-American attacks on 28 February. Along the route of the procession, which is expected to last between 10 and 12 hours, there are police cars, aid workers and stalls selling food and water.

The funeral procession for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and three members of his family has begun in Tehran. This was announced by state television. “The funeral procession for the revered body of the Imam and martyred leader began a few moments ago in the capital,” the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) wrote on Telegram, adding that “a huge crowd of mourners is taking part”. Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February, the first day of US and Israeli air strikes on Iranian territory.

The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated during a meeting with a senior Hezbollah official that he considered himself “a fighter before a diplomat”, emphasising that Iran must negotiate whilst maintaining its “readiness for combat”. The remarks, reported by the Iranian media, were made during a meeting with Mohammad Fneish, a former Lebanese minister and a leading figure in the Hezbollah movement. “I am first a fighter and then a diplomat. In the Islamic Republic, alongside diplomacy, we also have our strength and our readiness for combat,” said Ghalibaf. “We must negotiate whilst preserving the spirit of struggle, preparedness and sacrifice.” The Iranian leader added that the so-called “resistance front” remains a central element of Tehran’s strategy and that, in his view, “the enemy has realised that peace in the region is not possible except through the Islamic Republic”.

Iran will completely close Tehran’s airspace today as part of the funeral proceedings for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This was reported by the ISNA news agency, according to Anadolu. Yesterday, flights continued without restrictions across the country, but today Tehran’s airspace will be completely closed during the main funeral procession. According to the schedule announced by the Civil Aviation Organisation, scheduled flights at Tehran’s Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini international airports will be suspended tomorrow, to coincide with the public ceremonies taking place in the capital. On Tuesday, however, Mehrabad Airport will resume normal operations, whilst Imam Khomeini Airport will remain closed. The authorities have also announced that on 9 July, during the final burial ceremony, airspace over the north-eastern city of Mashhad and operations at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport will also be completely suspended.

The official funeral ceremony for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei began a few minutes ago, after the vehicle carrying the late leader’s body was spotted on the road. Also present are other vehicles carrying members of his family, including his daughter Boshra, his son-in-law Mesbaholhoda Bagheri, his granddaughter Zahr Mohammadi Golpaygani, and Zahra Haddad Adel, the wife of his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei.