Funeral Preparations
Foreign dignitaries are arriving in Iran for a week of events leading to the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad.
12Global News Podcast
Iran Prepares 'Funeral of Century' for Late Supreme Leader
Foreign dignitaries arrive for the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes, as a fragile ceasefire holds.
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Iran prepares 'funeral of century' for late Supreme leader
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What to know before you press play.
Scale of Mourning
Iranian authorities anticipate that millions of people will attend the funeral ceremonies.
3Context of Death
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed more than four months prior in strikes launched by the United States and Israel.
1Ceasefire Status
The funeral occurs while Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire following a preliminary deal to halt their conflict in June.
4Strategic Bargaining
Control over shipping through the Hormuz Strait served as Iran's key bargaining chip to end US and Israeli strikes.
5Ask GenPod next
Keep the question moving.
“What are the terms of the preliminary ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States?”
“How has the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei impacted Iranian domestic politics?”
“What is the strategic significance of the Hormuz Strait for global shipping?”
Background reading
The context behind the episode.
Geopolitical Context
The Role of the Hormuz Strait
Control over shipping through the Hormuz Strait was identified as Iran's key bargaining chip to end US and Israeli strikes in Iran. An exclusive report from the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas highlights the strategic importance of this waterway.
5Questions
Questions to carry into the episode.
Where will Ayatollah Ali Khamenei be laid to rest?
He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday after lying in state.
2What is the current status of the conflict between Iran and the United States?
Iran and the United States are observing a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt their conflict in June.
4How did Ayatollah Ali Khamenei die?
He was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel more than four months before the funeral.
1Sources and disclosure
Where this guide comes from.
This guide is based on the Global News Podcast episode titled 'Iran prepares 'funeral of century' for late Supreme leader', published on 2026-07-03.
- Publisher show notes
Foreign dignitaries arrive in Iran for a week of events ahead of the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, more than four months after he was killed in strikes launched by the US and Israel.
- Publisher show notes
He will be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday after lying in state.
- Publisher show notes
Iranian authorities say millions are expected to attend.
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It comes as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt their conflict in June.
- Publisher show notes
As control over shipping through the Hormuz Strait has proven to be Iran’s key bargaining chip to end US and Israeli strikes in Iran, we have an exclusive report from the Strait itself, from the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
- Publisher show notes
Also: The UN accuses the paramilitary Rapid Support Force of executions, torture and sexual violence in Sudan; an elected mayor in Japan is the first to take maternity leave; a police hunt is underway for the suspect behind a parcel bomb attack in Monaco -- now believed to be a woman disguising herself as a man; and a volunteer has stumbled across a rare copy of the US Declaration of Independence in the UK.
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Photo: The coffin of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei displayed during a farewell ceremony for him at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, Iran. Credit: REUTERS. Foreign media in Iran operate under guidelines set by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which regulates press activity and permissions.
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