Middle East live: Iranian president pays respects at Khamenei’s remains
Middle East live: Iranian president pays respects at Khamenei’s remains
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Iran’s slain supreme leader was lying in state in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex at the start of week-long funeral ceremonies across the country. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
Israel military says struck Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon
Israel’s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area.
“The IDF struck approximately 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and a truck used to transfer weapons in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.
The sites were in the areas of the south Lebanon towns of Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounine, and Baraachit, and “were used by Hezbollah to advance attacks against IDF soldiers operating in the Security Zone,” the army said.
Israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials have repeatedly ruled out withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon, maintaining that any withdrawal would happen only after Hezbollah has been disarmed across Lebanon.
Saudi deputy foreign minister pays respects to Iran’s late supreme leader, Iranian media say
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji and his delegation paid their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported.
Khamenei was killed on February 28 during an Israeli and US war against the Islamic Republic that prompted Iranian attacks on Gulf states hosting US military bases, including Saudi Arabia. The conflict killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.
Over 600,000 displaced Lebanese return home amid ceasefire, IOM says
More than 640,000 displaced people in Lebanon have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have wound down following a deal to end the Middle East war.
In a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22.
Pakistani PM, Afghan FM pay respects to Khamenei, Iran state TV says
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid his respects at the coffin of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, state TV footage showed.
Sharif, whose country has been mediating US-Iran talks to permanently end their conflict, was accompanied by army chief Asim Munir and a delegation as they visited the coffin.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also paid his respects, state TV reported.
Iranian president pays tribute to Khamenei at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has paid his respects at the remains of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
State television showed Pezeshkian praying at Khamenei’s coffin, where a black turban had been placed, which is worn by clerics to signify descent from the Prophet Mohammed.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and Head of Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei attend a farewell ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters)
In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla
Senior Iranian political and military officials, multi-faith religious leaders and mourners paid their respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they filed past the caskets of the slain supreme leader and members of his family killed in airstrikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex Friday.
Foreign religious leaders and other mourners walk past the coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his slain family members during a viewing ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)
The casket of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, is displayed alongside the caskets of family members killed in the first Israeli strikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)
IRGC members pay their respects on the esplanade of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)
New IRGC chief Gen. Vahidi makes first public appearance since war
Iran’s new IRGC chief emerged from hiding to pay his respects to the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Tehran prepares Friday for the days-long funeral ceremonies.
Photos published online by Iranian state media showed Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting about the funeral of Khamenei, 86, then sitting alongside his casket as the country held a smaller service for him Thursday night near the supreme leader’s former home in downtown Tehran.
Vahidi has become a major player in formulating Iran’s tough stance in negotiating a possible permanent end to the war with the US, experts say. He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Febraury 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, the elder Khamenei.
Vahidi himself hasn’t been seen publicly since February 8, weeks before the Iran war began.
Video published by Iranian state media showed the mourning ceremony for Khamenei near the husseiniyah at his compound in Tehran.
Supreme leader’s body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral: state media
The body of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of his funeral, state media reported Friday.
“The body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla,” IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex’s official name.
Preparations for funeral of Iran’s supreme leader in full swing, 15-20 million expected
Preparations for the funeral of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were in full swing on Friday, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony. Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war, said its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be at the funeral in Tehran on Saturday. China, Afghanistan and Iran’s neighbours in the Caucasus region said they would also be sending representatives.
Tehran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had called on Thursday for a massive turnout at the event as a way to avenge the supreme leader’s death in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. “The nation’s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world,” said Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s parliament speaker.
Khamenei’s funeral, initially delayed at the height of the war, will take place as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the conflict. Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shias, was killed at the age of 86 in strikes on his compound in the centre of the Iranian capital. He will lie in state for three days at the colossal Grand Mosalla, which has been draped in banners featuring images and quotes of Khamenei. The bodies of his slain relatives will also be presented.
The ceremonies are expected to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to officials, which would make it the biggest state funeral in the country’s history.
Thursday’s headline
Hello and welcome to this live blog covering the situation in the Middle East.
Yesterday’s key developments:
- Syria has sought to reassure Lebanon it would not intervene in the country, during a visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Beirut.
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The New York Times says that US officials believed Israel may have been planning to kill Iranian negotiators while they were engaged in talks with Washington this spring. The US believed that two senior Iranians were particular targets – Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament.
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Israelis called for a state commission of inquiry into Hamas‘s October 7, 2023 attack, as the country marked 1,000 days since the deadliest event in its history with a series of commemorations and protests.
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended negotiations with Israel, saying they were not a betrayal and he would not surrender “a single inch of Lebanon‘s territory”, according to the presidency.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
If in a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The fact that israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah really puts things into perspective.
Think about it: in a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22. That speaks volumes.
The bigger issue here is iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. That changes the calculation.
On one hand israel’s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area. But at the same time israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Think about it: israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. That speaks volumes.
Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji and his delegation paid their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported. Meanwhile in a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Meanwhile israel’s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area.
In other words saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji and his delegation paid their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported. Curious to see how this develops.
The detail about iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is something people should sit with.
Basically israel’s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
If israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
On one hand iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. But at the same time israel’s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area.
On one hand saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji and his delegation paid their respects to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported. But at the same time in a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22.
20 million. The real figures are likely much higher.