The Iranian government has announced the burial arrangements for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack on February 28. According to Mohammad-Amin Tavakkolizadeh, Tehran's deputy mayor for social and cultural affairs, Khamenei will be laid to rest in the northeastern city of Mashhad at the holy shrine of Imam Reza, in accordance with his will and the recommendations of his family.
A series of extensive farewell ceremonies are being organized to honor the former leader. Plans include a 24-hour funeral procession in Tehran, which may take place at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini or the Grand Mosalla. Following the events in the capital, the body will be transferred to Qom and Mashhad for similar commemorative ceremonies. These events are scheduled to commence in the second half of June, with officials anticipating that up to 20 million people may participate in the Tehran ceremonies.
The transition of power followed the late leader's death, with Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, being selected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran in early March.
Amid these preparations, uncertainty looms over the diplomatic relationship between Tehran and Washington. A report from the semi-official Fars news agency indicated that message exchanges between Iran and the US have been halted for several days. The report noted that the final message sent from Tehran to Washington was a "clear" communication regarding Lebanon that has since garnered global attention.
However, US President Donald Trump has contradicted these reports. In a post on Truth Social this Tuesday, Trump stated that negotiations between the US and Iran "have been going on continuously," describing reports of a suspension as "false and erroneous."
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
