03.03.2026 23:05
Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who lost his life in the attacks by the US and Israel, will be buried on Friday in his birthplace of Mashhad. Mashhad, one of Iran's holy cities, is home to the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth of the twelve imams.
The religious leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28 during the attacks launched by the U.S. in collaboration with Israel against Iran. A 40-day national mourning was declared in Iran due to his death, and Khamenei's funeral program has been announced.
According to Iran's semi-official news agency Fars, Khamenei's body will be buried in the city of Mashhad, where the "Eighth Imam," Imam Reza's shrine is located, following the ceremonies to be held in the capital Tehran.
The timing and detailed program of the ceremonies will be announced by the authorities later.
CHILD OF A AZERBAIJANI TURK FAMILY
Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, Khamenei's father, Ayatollah Javad Khamenei, was a cleric of Azerbaijani descent. His family belonged to the Azerbaijani Turkish community in Iran.
Khamenei, known as one of the closest collaborators of Ayatollah Khomeini, became a key figure in the construction of the new regime by holding critical positions such as Minister of Defense and President for two terms during the post-revolutionary period.
THE STRONGEST NAME IN IRAN FOR 37 YEARS
Since 1989, Ali Khamenei has held the position of "Leader," the highest decision-making authority in Iran, leaving significant marks on the country's internal and foreign policies throughout his political career.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY OF MASHHAD
Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran, is considered one of the country's holy sites. The most important reason for the growth of this settlement, formerly known as Sanabad, is the presence of the shrine of Ali al-Ridha, who is regarded as the eighth imam in the "12 Imams" lineage in Shia belief. Mashhad, one of the most important centers for religious tourism in Iran, hosts millions of visitors every year.
The city's name, Sanabad, was later changed to "Mashhad-i Imam Reza," meaning "the place where Imam Reza was martyred"; it is currently known simply as "Mashhad."
U.S.-ISRAEL ATTACKS ON IRAN
While negotiations were ongoing between the governments of Tehran and Washington, Israel and the U.S. launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, where U.S. bases are located, in addition to Israel.
In the U.S.-Israel attacks, many high-ranking officials were killed, including Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Iranian Red Crescent announced that 787 people lost their lives in the U.S.-Israel attacks.