Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jun 14: Iran has announced the funeral schedule for its late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies set to begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad on July 9, according to state media reports.

Khamenei, 86, was killed on February 28 during Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran. He had led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.

State media said funeral ceremonies will also be held on July 7 in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran. While Islamic law generally requires burial within 24 hours of death, exceptions are permitted during wartime and other extraordinary circumstances.

During his decades in power, Khamenei transformed Iran into a major regional force opposed to US influence, extending Tehran’s reach across the Middle East through allied groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. He was also known for taking a hard line against domestic unrest.

Khamenei remained a vocal critic of the United States throughout his tenure, while successive US administrations failed to resolve long-running disputes with Tehran over its nuclear programme.

According to reports, the airstrike that killed Khamenei destroyed his central Tehran compound. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, who was injured in the attack and whose wife was also killed, succeeded him as Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Iran and the United States had agreed on a framework for a peace deal after more than three months of conflict and were expected to sign an initial agreement within the next 24 hours.