Iran Buries Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Hometown Amid Fresh US-Iran Tensions

Iran on Friday buried its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Imam Reza Shrine in his hometown of Mashhad, bringing to a close six days of funeral ceremonies held across Iran and Iraq.

The burial comes more than four months after Khamenei was killed in an airstrike at the start of the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, and as renewed military exchanges between Tehran and Washington continue to heighten tensions across the Middle East.

State broadcaster IRIB confirmed that Khamenei was laid to rest in the memorial hall of the revered Imam Reza Shrine, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites.

Thousands of mourners gathered in Mashhad as the late leader's flag-draped coffin was carried into the shrine, while crowds outside joined funeral prayers amid tight security.

There was no public appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran's Supreme Leader. His absence has drawn attention throughout the funeral ceremonies, with reports indicating he has remained out of public view since reportedly sustaining injuries during the February 28 airstrike that killed his father.

Among senior Iranian officials present at the burial were Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Khamenei's eldest son, Mostafa Khamenei.

The burial coincided with a second consecutive day of military exchanges between Iran and the United States.

Iranian authorities said US strikes killed at least 17 people, while state media reported that one strike targeted a section of the railway linking Tehran and Mashhad, disrupting rail services and forcing passengers to continue their journeys by road.

Iran also announced renewed attacks on US military assets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while Jordanian authorities reported intercepting several missiles launched from Iran.

However, a US defence official said Iranian missiles and drones were either intercepted or caused no significant damage, adding that no American personnel were injured.

The funeral unfolded amid heightened regional tensions, with many mourners chanting anti-American and anti-Israel slogans and calling for retaliation over Khamenei's death.

Reports also emerged that Israel had shared intelligence with the United States regarding an alleged new Iranian plot targeting US President Donald Trump, although neither government has publicly confirmed the claims.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel was prepared to strike Iran again if necessary, saying the country was ready for a "third" military campaign should Tehran pose a renewed threat.

The renewed hostilities have also affected maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategic oil shipping routes, following recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf.

The latest developments have raised fresh concerns over the prospects of another wider regional conflict, despite previous diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States.