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Iran officially began six days of public funeral ceremonies for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday morning, state television reported, as thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran. Khamenei was killed in a joint United States-Israeli air strike on his official residence on February 28, according to multiple sources.

The funeral comes amid a fragile pause in hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States, with wider implications for West Asia, as reported by The Hindu. The state burial was delayed due to the active war situation and security risks, and is being held almost four months after Iran formally acknowledged the Supreme Leader's death on March 1.

Coverage Comparison

Both Deutsche Welle and The Hindu — World report that Khamenei died in a joint US-Israeli air strike on February 28, 2026. They agree that the funeral is a multi-day event with international participation, and that the burial will take place in Mashhad. However, they differ on some specifics: Deutsche Welle emphasizes the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, while The Hindu highlights representatives from around 30 countries and lists a broader set of attendees.

Deutsche Welle notes that mourners carried red banners — a symbol of vengeance — and describes the procession route to Qom, Iraq, and Mashhad. The Hindu provides a more detailed schedule, including a farewell ceremony on Saturday and Sunday, and a procession on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Key Claims

  • Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli air strike on February 28, 2026. This is reported by both Deutsche Welle and The Hindu.
  • The funeral ceremonies will last six days, with the coffin lying in state until Monday, followed by processions to Qom and Iraq, and burial in Mashhad on Thursday, as detailed by Deutsche Welle.
  • Representatives from around 30 countries are expected to attend, according to The Hindu, though the official number has not been released.
  • Khamenei will be buried near the tomb of Imam Reza in Mashhad, as reported by The Hindu.
  • Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are attending, as confirmed by both outlets. Medvedev is attending on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, according to Deutsche Welle.
  • Thousands of mourners carried red banners as a symbol of vengeance, as witnessed by an AFP journalist and reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • General Ahmad Vahidi, a high-ranking general from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was seen publicly for the first time in months during the funeral preparations, as reported by The Hindu.
  • Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and family members of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanese Iran-backed Islamist militia Hezbollah, are in attendance, as reported by The Hindu.
  • An Indian delegation, including Governor of Bihar Syed Ata Hasnain and Deputy Foreign Minister Pabitra Margherita, is attending, as reported by The Hindu.