United News of Bangladesh

Iran's senior leaders and several sons of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in public on Sunday to attend funeral prayers in Tehran, marking one of the first major public gatherings of top officials since the recent war with Israel. The event also saw renewed calls from mourners and speakers for revenge against U.S. President Donald Trump. The appearance of Iran's top leadership before hundreds of thousands of mourners highlighted growing confidence about their security after the conflict, during which Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed the 86-year-old Khamenei, several members of his family and other senior officials. During the war, Israeli forces also targeted other high-profile Iranian figures, in some cases reportedly using their public appearances to locate them for attacks. However, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear at the ceremony. He is believed to be in hiding after reportedly being wounded in the strike that killed his father. Israel has also threatened to target him as Iran continues negotiations with the United States on a permanent end to the conflict and issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. Among the mourners was 42-year-old nurse Ziba Naderi, who said the country should follow the guidance of its new leader. "I heard the calls for revenge, but our leader should decide what we need to do," she said. "We must follow his instructions." Funeral prayers at Tehran's Grand Mosalla were led by 97-year-old Shiite cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Several senior Iranian officials attended the ceremony, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Ahmad Vahidi and Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force. Khamenei's sons Masoud, Meysam and Mostafa also appeared publicly for the first time since the war. The venue displayed posters and graffiti calling for the deaths of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Poet Mohammad Rasouli, who hosted the event before the prayers, led chants of "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!" Speaking through loudspeakers, he questioned why Trump was "still alive," drawing loud cheers from the crowd. It was one of the strongest public threats against the U.S. president made during the funeral events. At the same time, Trump was speaking in Washington during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Referring to recent U.S. military actions, Trump said, "We've had tremendous success. You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military." Sunday's funeral drew a much larger crowd than Saturday's events. Thousands of mourners dressed in black carried banners praising Khamenei while some called for retaliation against Trump. "I came here to demand revenge," said 29-year-old grocery worker Gholamreza Sabooni. "They killed our leader, so Trump should be killed." U.S. authorities have monitored Iranian threats against Trump and other American officials for years, particularly after Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force. Iran has repeatedly denied plotting to assassinate Trump, although hard-line groups have frequently circulated propaganda depicting him as a target. During the recent conflict, Trump also warned that the United States could destroy Iran's civilization if tensions escalated further. Iranian authorities said Khamenei's body will be taken to several cities in Iran and neighboring Iraq before being driven through the streets of Tehran on Monday. National mourning will continue until Thursday, when he will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace. Authorities have closed roads, restricted airspace and suspended many daily activities during the mourning period. No official estimate of attendance at the funeral ceremonies has been released, though similar memorial events were also held across Iran. Negotiations with the United States aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war have been postponed until after the funeral ceremonies. Many mourners said Iran should maintain a firm stance in future diplomacy. "Our foreign policy should ensure that the blood of our martyred leader is respected and that no country can act against Iran without facing a serious response," said mourner Mohammad Reza Sharifi.

Iran on Saturday began a dayslong state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike at the start of the recent war. He was 86. Thousands of mourners gathered at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, where Khamenei's casket was displayed in a glass case. Many people were seen crying, chanting slogans calling for revenge, and beating their chests in a traditional Shiite mourning ritual. Large banners and billboards featuring Khamenei's image were displayed across the capital as crowds paid their final respects. "I came to say goodbye to my beloved leader," said 27-year-old mourner Hananeh Mousavi, who attended the ceremony with her mother. She said she never imagined witnessing such a day. Khamenei's casket was placed above those of several family members who were also killed in the strike. His black turban, symbolizing his claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad, rested on top of the coffin. The funeral stage at the Grand Mosalla was designed to resemble the venue where Khamenei often delivered speeches at his Tehran compound, which was destroyed in the Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28. Iranian authorities expect millions of people to join the funeral processions, drawing comparisons with the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Organizers distributed cold drinks and sprayed water on mourners to help them cope with the summer heat. Ali Kazemi, who traveled from the northwestern city of Tabriz, said he attended the funeral to demonstrate support for his country and religion. A large turnout is expected to strengthen the government's position as it seeks to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict with the United States while tensions with Israel remain high. The funeral began on July 4, the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Although Iranian authorities did not comment on the timing, crowds at the ceremony chanted anti-American slogans. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, said Iran wanted to reach a settlement after the conflict and remarked that the United States had given the country "a week off for a funeral." Some mourners at the ceremony also displayed banners directed at Trump. Khamenei's body will later be taken to several cities in Iran as well as neighboring Iraq as part of the funeral ceremonies. Authorities have closed roads, restricted airspace and disrupted normal activities in Tehran during the mourning period. It remains unclear whether Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, will make a public appearance during the funeral. His wife was among the family members killed in the attack. On Thursday, Iran's joint military command warned Israel and the United States against any actions that could further escalate tensions during the funeral period, following reported Israeli threats against Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran is preparing for a dayslong funeral and burial ceremony for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, months after he was killed during the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The ceremonies, beginning Saturday in Tehran, are expected to draw large crowds as authorities seek to demonstrate public support for the country's leadership. Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 40 years, was killed on Feb. 28 after the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes. His funeral was postponed because of the ongoing conflict. The event is seen as a major test for Iran's leadership following months of unrest and a nationwide crackdown on anti-government protests. Officials are expected to encourage government workers, supporters and paramilitary groups to participate in the funeral processions. However, large crowds also raise concerns about possible stampedes, similar to deadly incidents during previous state funerals in Iran. The ceremonies will also take place during a fragile ceasefire and an interim agreement between Iran and the United States, which has reduced tensions enough for senior Iranian officials to appear publicly. It remains unclear whether Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's son, will attend the ceremonies. He is believed to have been injured in the attack that killed his father and has not appeared in public since. Khamenei's body will lie in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, it will be carried through the streets of Tehran before being taken to the holy city of Qom, about 120 kilometers south of the capital, where ceremonies will continue on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the body will be taken to Karbala in neighboring Iraq, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, an important religious site for Shiite Muslims. The same day also marks the anniversary of the nationwide protests against Khamenei's rule, during which thousands of people were reportedly killed in a security crackdown. The final stop will be Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, where Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine. The shrine, dedicated to Imam Reza, the eighth imam in Shiite Islam, is one of the religion's holiest sites and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Several prominent Shiite clerics, including former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in 2024, are also buried there. Authorities are taking precautions to avoid a repeat of deadly crowd crushes seen at previous high-profile funerals. During the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989, millions gathered in Tehran. The crowd overwhelmed security, causing Khomeini's coffin to fall into the crowd. Reports at the time said at least eight people were killed and around 11,000 were injured. A similar tragedy occurred during the funeral of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, when a stampede killed at least 56 people and injured more than 2,000. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a permanent agreement to end the Iran war continue. An interim deal reached in June opened a 60-day period for negotiations covering Iran's nuclear programme and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Technical-level talks began in Qatar this week, but progress has been slowed by major differences between the two sides and renewed exchanges of fire involving Iran and the United States over the strategic waterway.

Iran will hold funeral and burial ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in early July, state media reported on Saturday, as efforts to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the ongoing regional conflict continue. According to Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB, funeral processions, farewell ceremonies and the burial of Khamenei are scheduled to take place between July 4 and July 9. Khamenei was killed in the initial phase of the conflict launched by Israel and the United States against Iran in late February. He was subsequently succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. State media said the funeral ceremonies will begin in Tehran before moving to the holy city of Qom, a major center of Shiite religious scholarship, and later to Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace. He is expected to be buried at the Imam Reza Shrine, one of the most revered sites in Shiite Islam. Funeral rites for Khamenei’s daughter and son-in-law, who were also killed in the February attack, will be held on the same day, the report said. Khamenei led Iran for more than three decades after succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, following Khomeini’s death in 1989. During his tenure, Khamenei significantly expanded the influence of Iran’s Shiite clerical establishment and strengthened the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which evolved into one of the country’s most powerful military, political and economic institutions. The Revolutionary Guard became a key pillar of Iran’s security apparatus, overseeing the country’s ballistic missile program and maintaining a broad presence across various sectors of the national economy.   

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Sunday held a rally protesting a heinous attack on Iran by the United States and Israel and the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The rally began at 3:00 pm at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Thousands of leaders and activists joined the programme, where Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam was present as the chief guest. Will extend full support to all reasonable govt steps: Jamaat Ameer Speaking at the rally, Azharul Islam strongly condemned the attack on Iran and the killing of its supreme leader and hundreds of civilians. “This attack is not only against Iran and the Muslim world; it is against democracy, humanity and human rights.” He also said that those who believe in democracy cannot remain silent and must condemn this attack. The Jamaat leader also urged the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take appropriate action. “If tensions in the Middle East prolong, life in other parts of the world, including Bangladesh, will become difficult,” he warned. He called for an immediate end to the war for the sake of global peace and stability. Among others, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Publicity Affairs Secretary Advocate Motiur Rahman Akand, and Nurul Islam Bulbul, MP, also spoke at the rally.

The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and a senior security adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were killed in airstrikes conducted by the United States and Israel, state media reported Sunday. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, who became the Guard’s top commander after Israel killed his predecessor during the 12-day June war, was among those killed. Also killed was Ali Shamkhani, a long-standing figure in Iran’s security establishment, who had been wounded in the June conflict, IRNA said. Council formed to govern Iran after Khamenei’s killingA council has been formed to govern Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The council, enshrined in Iranian law, consists of the sitting president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council selected by the Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and resolves disputes with parliament. Iranian reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are members of the council. Iranian law mandates that the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible,” select a new supreme leader. Debris from aerial interception sparks fire at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Dubai authorities said debris from an aerial interception caused a fire at the city’s Jebel Ali Port, a major global transshipment hub. The Dubai Media Office stated that emergency crews responded immediately to the blaze on one of the port’s berths and worked to contain it. The sprawling Jebel Ali, located between Dubai’s two man-made palm-shaped islands, is the world’s busiest port outside East Asia. Debris from the interception also struck the Palm Jumeirah. Officials reported that debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire on the facade of the Burj Al Arab hotel. The media office also noted that Dubai International Airport was damaged and four employees were injured. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatens “most-intense offensive operation” everIran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned Sunday that it would launch its “most-intense offensive operation” in response to Khamenei’s death. “The most-intense offensive operation in the history of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will begin in moments, targeting (Israel) and American terrorist bases,” it said. Mourners raised a black flag over the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and a major Shiite pilgrimage site. Global shipping firm instructs vessels in Persian Gulf to shelterA global shipping company has ordered its vessels in and bound for the Persian Gulf to seek shelter due to rising military tensions and restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. CMA CGM said on its website that it had suspended passage through the Suez Canal, a key route connecting the Red and Mediterranean seas. “Vessels will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope,” the company said. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard promises “regret-inducing punishment”The Revolutionary Guard vowed Sunday that a “severe, decisive and regret-inducing punishment” would follow Khamenei’s death. The Guard, which answered only to Khamenei, said after state media confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death: “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and what it called the vast popular Basij forces will powerfully continue the path of their leader in defending his legacy, standing firm against internal and external plots and delivering what it described as a lesson-giving punishment to aggressors against the Islamic homeland.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday warned that any military attack by the United States would spark a “regional war,” sharply escalating rhetoric amid rising tensions following Washington’s threats over Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. The warning, delivered as US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships operate in the Arabian Sea, marked Khamenei’s most direct threat so far. The vessels were deployed by President Donald Trump after Iran’s security forces moved forcefully to suppress weeks of unrest across the country. It remains uncertain whether Washington will resort to military action. Trump has repeatedly said Iran is interested in negotiations, while also raising concerns about Tehran’s nuclear programme as a key unresolved issue. Addressing a crowd at his Tehran compound during events marking the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the 86-year-old leader accused the United States of seeking to dominate Iran’s natural resources. “The Americans must know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said. He added that Iran did not seek conflict, but warned that any attack or harassment would be met with a severe response from the Iranian nation. Trump, asked about the warning, told reporters that US naval forces were positioned nearby and expressed hope for a negotiated settlement. He said if no deal was reached, it would become clear whether Khamenei’s threat was credible. Khamenei also hardened his stance on the protests, describing them as “sedition” akin to a coup attempt. While he had earlier acknowledged that some protesters were driven by economic grievances, he now accused demonstrators of targeting state institutions, security forces, banks and religious sites in an effort to destabilise the country. Human Rights Activists New Agency, a US-based group that tracks developments inside Iran, said more than 49,500 people have been detained since the protests began in late December and estimated at least 6,713 deaths, mostly among demonstrators. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figures, citing Iran’s restrictions on internet access. Iranian authorities have put the death toll far lower, reporting 3,117 fatalities as of Jan 21, including civilians and security personnel, while labelling others “terrorists.” Past unrest has seen official figures widely questioned. Meanwhile, Iran had planned live-fire military drills in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The US military warned Tehran against threatening American forces or disrupting commercial shipping during the exercises. In a separate development, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist organisations. The move came after the EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror group over its role in the crackdown. Qalibaf, a former Guard commander, made the announcement as lawmakers wore Guard uniforms in solidarity. The designation is largely symbolic, mirroring a 2019 Iranian law used after the United States labelled the Guard a terrorist organisation. Lawmakers later chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in parliament. Trump has outlined two red lines that could trigger US military action: the killing of peaceful protesters or mass executions of detainees. He has also renewed focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, which the US struck during a brief war with Iran last June. Speaking over the weekend, Trump declined to say whether he had decided on a course of action, but said Iran was “seriously talking” to the United States about reaching a deal to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced the beginning of battle in a post on X, declaring, “In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins.” The name Haidar refers to Ali, regarded by Shia Muslims as the first Imam and rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. In a separate post on his English-language X account, Khamenei called for a forceful retaliation against Israel. “We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,” he stated. Source: CNN

Sirens and loud explosions echoed through Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, just hours after former President Donald Trump met with his top national security advisers at the White House to weigh potential U.S. involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Vice President JD Vance, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), indicated that Trump might take additional steps to halt Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. “He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment,” Vance wrote. Trump faces a crucial choice as Israel seeks more US support to cripple Iran’s nuclear program Trump himself made several statements on social media, calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and issuing a pointed warning about Iran’s leadership. He claimed that the U.S. knows the location of Iran’s supreme leader but has chosen not to target him—“at least not for now.”  But the US president says "we" are not going to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - "at least not for now" Source: The Washington Post and BBC

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that the U.S. knows the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but has chosen not to target him “for now.” He called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” amid the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, now entering its fifth day. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump posted on social media. “He’s an easy target, but we won’t take him out—at least not yet. But missile attacks on civilians and U.S. troops must stop. Our patience is running out.” Returning early from the G7 summit, Trump said he was seeking a “real end” to the conflict and total abandonment of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he criticized Iran’s leaders for not agreeing to a deal, saying he was “not in the mood to negotiate.” Despite U.S. intelligence maintaining that Iran isn’t actively building a nuclear bomb, Trump dismissed those assessments, insisting Tehran was close. He also rejected a proposed Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, though he appeared to be edging toward deeper American involvement as U.S. military assets reposition in the region. US intelligence says Iran isn’t building nuclear weapons, but Trump rejects their assessment Israel claims its strikes have devastated Iran’s air defenses and is seeking U.S. support—including bunker-busting bombs—to destroy key nuclear facilities like Fordo, which lies deep underground. While Trump has not ruled out diplomacy, he signaled a harder stance, calling for immediate evacuations in Tehran and warning that “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox News to reaffirm that the U.S. remains “postured defensively” in the region, as Trump’s MAGA base grows divided over potential U.S. military escalation. Some Trump-aligned voices, such as Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have expressed concern, while allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham are urging a more aggressive approach. Source: With inputs from agency