Funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Begins Amid Calls for US, Israeli Accountability

The funeral for Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, began on July 4 (local time). The funeral, held about four months after his death in airstrikes by the United States and Israel, is scheduled to last for a week. The Iranian government anticipates approximately 20 million mourners in the capital, Tehran, with delegations from about 100 countries expected to attend.

Circumstances indicating Israel's attempt to assassinate Iran's peace negotiation team in April have surfaced. The negotiation team, upon receiving intelligence of an Israeli aircraft attack while returning from negotiations with the United States, abruptly halted their flight and returned by land. This attempt appeared to target key figures who survived the airstrikes, including Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf. The Israeli side has denied the report's contents. However, Iran has previously targeted and eliminated its officials involved in behind-the-scenes negotiations with the United States through precision airstrikes, and there are allegations that Khamenei's second son, Mojtaba, also died in an airstrike. It remains unknown whether Mojtaba will appear at the funeral.

Amidst international tension surrounding Khamenei's death, attention is focused on Iran's internal situation and the succession line.