The funeral rites are occurring less than three weeks after Iran and the United States concluded a preliminary agreement to cease hostilities and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for 20% of worldwide oil and gas traffic.
Both nations have set a two‑month deadline to finalize an agreement encompassing Iran’s nuclear program, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and a durable cease‑fire.
Qatar, the mediation facilitator, reported that Iranian and U.S. negotiators achieved “positive progress” during last week’s indirect talks in Doha, following a four‑day exchange of strikes, and that their next meeting will be arranged after the Khamenei events conclude.
On Tuesday, a funeral procession and prayers will be held in Qom, the central city and hub of Iran’s Shia clerical community.
The ceremonies will subsequently travel to the Iraqi holy cities of Karbala and Najaf on Wednesday.
The events will conclude on Thursday with Khamenei’s interment at the Imam Reza shrine in his hometown of Mashhad, in north‑eastern Iran.


