Iran's Khamenei buried in Mashhad four months after US-Israeli strikes killed him

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for nearly 37 years, was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad early Friday. His burial followed nearly a week of extensive funeral ceremonies that brought daily life to a standstill in Tehran and other cities.

Khamenei died from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on February 28, marking the start of a significant Middle East conflict. He ruled Iran with an iron grip, maintaining a confrontational stance toward the West. His final resting place is the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites. He is only the second Iranian ruler to be buried there, the first being Nader Shah in 1747.

Funeral processions saw massive crowds gather to pay their respects. State media broadcast visuals of mourners lining the routes and displaying anti-Trump banners. While Khamenei's eldest son, Mostafa, led the funeral prayers, his second son and successor, Mojtaba, was notably absent. The other three sons were present.

The burial took place amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. This followed U.S. strikes on civilian tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington blamed on Tehran. Iran retaliated, escalating the conflict. This occurred despite a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, establishing a 60-day ceasefire and a roadmap for negotiations.

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The coffin of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is carried by mourners to the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, Iraq, Wednesday, July 8, 2026.