Iran has begun several days of public funeral ceremonies for its slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran to pay their last respects.
The funeral, which started on Saturday, drew senior government officials, religious leaders and foreign dignitaries from different parts of the world. Many mourners dressed in black chanted slogans and called for revenge over Khamenei’s death.
Despite the mourning, indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States are expected to continue after a brief pause. The negotiations, held through mediators in Doha, Qatar, are aimed at reducing tensions and finding solutions to disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security.
United States President Donald Trump said the talks were making progress and expressed hope that both countries would reach an agreement.
Qatar, which is mediating the discussions, also described the recent negotiations as productive and said another round of talks would begin as soon as the funeral ceremonies end.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in the Gulf region. Iran has warned the United Kingdom and France against sending military forces to the Strait of Hormuz after both countries announced plans to support an international mission to protect commercial shipping in the strategic waterway.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, insisted that security in the Strait of Hormuz should remain the responsibility of countries bordering the waterway and warned against foreign military presence.
The situation has also affected international shipping, with reports indicating that several commercial vessels either turned back or changed their routes after approaching the Strait of Hormuz due to security concerns.
At the same time, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to meet in Washington to discuss developments in the Middle East, including Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security.
Although diplomatic efforts are continuing, major issues such as Iran’s nuclear stockpile and long-term monitoring arrangements are yet to be resolved.
