Iran's Late Supreme Leader Khamenei to be Buried July 9

The funeral for the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, who led the country for nearly 37 years, is set to take place on July 9, Iranian state television reported. Khamenei was reportedly killed in an Israeli and US airstrike on February 28.

The funeral, originally planned for March in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad, was postponed due to ongoing conflict. The office responsible for preserving and publishing Khamenei's works announced that a farewell ceremony will be held in the capital, Tehran, from July 4-5. Funeral rites are scheduled for July 6 and 7 in Tehran and the holy city of Qom, respectively.

The state funeral begins on July 4, coinciding with the United States' Independence Day. This year also marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeded him as Supreme Leader in early March, becoming the third supreme leader since the Islamic Republic was founded in 1979. Mojtaba was reportedly injured in the airstrike that claimed his father's life and those of numerous other officials. He has not appeared publicly since his appointment, communicating his positions only through statements issued in his name.