Iran buries Khamenei as renewed fighting tests shaky ceasefire deal

By Emma De Ruiter Published on 10/07/2026 - 6:57 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Khamenei's flag-covered coffin was carried aloft into the shrine of Imam Reza in his home city of Mashhad in eastern Iran as a sea of people waited outside and listened to prayers, with no sign of a public appearance by his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei. Former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest on Friday on the last of a marathon six days of funeral ceremonies, as two days of US and Iranian attacks raised fears of a return to all-out war. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The "body of the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution was buried in the memorial hall of the shrine of Imam Reza," state broadcaster IRIB reported. Khamenei's flag-covered coffin was carried aloft into the shrine of Imam Reza in his home city of Mashhad in eastern Iran as a sea of people waited outside and listened to prayers. His burial came after a second day of tit-for-tat attacks by Washington and Tehran's forces, with Iranian officials reporting that US strikes killed 17 people and state media saying one targeted a railway line between Tehran and Mashhad. The Islamic republic said it had resumed attacks targeting US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while sirens also blared in Jordan, where the military said it had intercepted eight missiles launched from Iran. Khamenei was killed alongside close family members on the first day of the US-Israeli war against Iran on 28 February. His burial in Mashhad was closely watched for signs of his successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who has yet to appear in public since being appointed. A truck carrying the coffins of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family during the final stage of funeral ceremonies in Mashhad. Mohammad Hasan Salavati/Shahraranews via AP Parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, powerful chief justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Khamenei's eldest son Mostafa Khamenei were all present at the shrine, with some senior figures weeping over Khamenei's coffin, state TV images showed. But as on other days of the funeral process, there was no sign of Mojtaba Khamenei, who since being named has only communicated through written statements and is said to have been wounded in the 28 February strikes. Khamenei ruled Iran for nearly 37 years before being killed in the US and Israeli airstrikes that started the war. The funeral processions began last Saturday, with authorities shutting down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran and other cities as throngs commemorated the man who led Iran for decades with an iron fist while confronting the West. Trump said Wednesday that the interim ceasefire agreement was “over.” He said he would allow negotiations to continue but thought negotiators were “wasting their time.” Negotiations to reach a final deal were due to start after the funeral for Khamenei. The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Iran reports casualties and infrastructure damage after US strikes as tensions in the Gulf rise US forces launch new strikes on Iran to curb threat to Hormuz, military says Gulf states brace again for fiery US-Iran showdown as tensions spiral Iran war Mojtaba Khamenei Ali Khamenei