Millions expected in Tehran for funeral of Ali Khamenei

More than 10 million people, including representatives from more than 100 countries, expected in Tehran for funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed along with family members at the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Israel has attacked multiple sites in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah. infrastructure and fighters, despite agreeing with Lebanon last month to a framework agreement to end the conflict in the country.
Pezeshkian says people’s mourning evidence of Khamenei’s ‘greatness’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says the mourning of the Iranian people was the “best evidence of the greatness, dignity, and strength of the martyred leader of the revolution”, the state-run ISNA news agency has reported.

Pezeshkian also noted “the anger of America and Israel over this mourning”.
Russia ready to continue strategic partnership with Iran: Medvedev
Moscow is ready to continue its strategic partnership with Iran following the war with the US and Israel, says Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev.

The former Russian president was speaking in Tehran, where he is leading the Russian delegation at the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Speaking to the Tasnim news agency, Medvedev said the Strait of Hormuz gave Iran unprecedented leverage during the war.
India ends gas restrictions as Middle East LNG supply resumes
India has lifted curbs on suppliers of liquefied natural gas after the resumption of supply from the Middle East, according to an Indian government notification.

Emergency government measures were invoked in March to divert gas supplies from non-priority sectors to key consumers because of ‌disruption to LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
‘China, others to receive special treatment in Hormuz’- Iranian envoy to Beijing
Iran’s ambassador to China says the Chinese and other friendly countries will receive special treatment in the Strait of Hormuz.

Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said there will be a new arrangement to facilitate China and others in Hormuz “in coordination with Oman”.

Part of this arrangement will be the imposition of fees on vessels passing through the strait, according to the ambassador.

“The application of this fee will not contradict the international laws of the sea.”

The envoy made the remarks in a speech at the World Peace Forum held in Beijing on Saturday.

At least 16 killed in Gaza in 48 hours: Gaza health officials
At least sixteen Palestinians have been reportedly killed in Gaza over the past two days, according to latest figures released by Gaza’s health ministry.

They include nine bodies retrieved from collapsed buildings.

The ministry says 16 injured people have been registered at various hospitals.

‘They want revenge for Khamenei’s killing’
The Grand Mosalla of Tehran, where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered some of his most important speeches over the years, has today become the focal point of national mourning.

Large crowds are passing through the open square to pay their respects to the supreme leader who was assassinated by the US and Israel on February 28 this year, in the holy month of Ramadan.

The atmosphere is deeply emotional.

Some mourners are in tears, while others wave Iranian flags and hold up portraits of the late supreme leader and recite prayers.

The sentiments here have also taken on a political tone, with chants of “death to America and death to Israel” echoing through the crowds.

Many of the mourners present here are calling for revenge for Khamenei’s killing.

The funeral is also a moment of political consolidation for the country’s new leadership, which is projecting unity at a time of uncertainty.

It’s an opportunity for them to reaffirm continuity of authority and signal stability.

Reza Pahlavi slams funeral of ‘deceased dictator’ Khamenei
The exiled former crown prince of Iran has addressed foreign dignitaries who travelled to Tehran to pay their respects to Khamenei, calling him a “deceased dictator” that is not mourned by the people.

“Iran is mourning more than 40,000 sons and daughters slaughtered on January 8 and 9 by Khamenei, Ghalibaf, and their machinery of repression,” Pahlavi said on X, referring to protests over economic grievances that were violently repressed.

“The regime is spending vast amounts of the Iranian people’s wealth to stage this propaganda spectacle, yet not a single democratic leader attended,” he added.

“What you see today is not a nation in grief for its ruler. It is a nation filled with righteous anger, and that anger and heroic bravery will bring down what remains of this criminal regime.”