Day 127 | Iran begins weeklong funeral for late Supreme Leader
The Islamic Republic of Iran has commenced a multi-day state funeral for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following months of delays caused by the conflict, the coffins containing the bodies of Khamenei and his relatives have been placed on display in Tehran, initiating a series of mass processions scheduled to take place across multiple locations between July 4 and July 9.
Iranian authorities are preparing for massive crowds, with turnout estimates projected in the millions as the processions move through major religious and political hubs.
International attendance
The state ceremonies have drawn numerous foreign representatives and high-ranking domestic officials to the capital.
Diplomatic delegations from several nations, including China and India, have arrived in Tehran to pay their final respects.
Domestically, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made a rare public appearance during the early ceremonies.
However, significant internal focus remains on whether Iran's newly named Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will personally attend his father’s funeral, as his public appearances have remained strictly limited.
Military warnings
The mass gatherings are unfolding under a highly fortified defense posture.
An Iranian army general issued a direct warning to the United States and 'Israel', cautioning both nations against executing any military operations or drone strikes while the funeral processions are underway.
Concurrently, the US military confirmed that it has expanded its operational footprint in the Middle East.
The Pentagon announced that a second Marine Expeditionary Unit, typically consisting of more than 2,000 Marines, has officially entered the theater of operations to bolster regional security and maintain surveillance over vital transit lanes.
Thousands gather in Tehran ahead of Khamenei funeral
- Authorities imposed extensive traffic restrictions across the capital.
- Large crowds walked several kilometers to reach the heavily secured venue.
Thousands of mourners began entering Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Saturday morning to participate in the funeral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, eyewitnesses reported ahead of the official commencement of the state procession.
The main courtyard of the vast religious and cultural complex quickly filled to capacity as citizens gathered to pay their respects.
In anticipation of the massive turnout, municipal and security authorities have instituted sweeping traffic restrictions across major thoroughfares in the capital.
Extensive security and transit restrictions
The scale of the gathering has fundamentally altered logistics in central Tehran.
Due to the strict security cordons and vehicular bans surrounding the Grand Mosalla, standard transportation links have been halted.
As a result, a massive influx of participants has shifted to pedestrian movement.
On-the-ground reports indicate that large groups of mourners are navigating the urban restrictions by walking several kilometers through the cordoned zones to reach the funeral venue.
The gathering marks the beginning of a highly fortified, weeklong schedule of national mourning events and trilateral coordination tracking designed to manage the high-profile succession and regional defense postures following the leader's death.
'The Golden Age of America is beginning,' Trump says
- Trump said recent economic indicators show a strong U.S. economy.
- Trump stated that S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow posted their best quarter since his previous presidency, boosting 401(k) accounts.
- He credited his tax policies and record exports for higher disposable income and a smaller trade deficit.
- Trump also said trillions of dollars in new investments are creating factories, jobs, and domestic production.
In a statement released via the social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump praised the current state of the United States economy, characterizing it as experiencing significant growth across multiple sectors.
According to Trump, the stock market recently concluded its strongest quarterly performance since his previous presidential term.
He noted that the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average are all experiencing upward movement, which he stated is directly increasing the value of retirement savings and 401(k) accounts for citizens across the country.
Tax policies, manufacturing investment
The statement also focused on specific legislative and fiscal measures, directly crediting the administration's Working Families Tax Cuts with placing more capital directly into the hands of American families.
Trump further asserted that international and domestic trade dynamics have shifted favorably.
He stated that the United States trade deficit is consistently shrinking, driven by US exports hitting record volumes month after month.
The statement notes that the nation is currently manufacturing, producing, and selling goods at unprecedented levels.
Capital inflow, labor outlook
Concluding his assessment, Trump tied the current industrial output to large-scale capital accumulation secured under his administration's policy framework.
The statement asserts that trillions of dollars in new investments have been successfully drawn into the domestic economy.
According to Trump, this influx of capital is actively resulting in the establishment of more factories, the creation of additional jobs, and expanded economic opportunities for citizens.
"The Golden Age of America is beginning — and we are just getting started!" Trump concluded in the statement.
Macron, Starmer ready for Hormuz military protection mission
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the newly established technical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, calling the preliminary agreement a vital stepping stone toward reinforcing long-term regional stability in the Middle East.
To support the diplomatic breakthrough and ensure the immediate safety of commercial trade routes, Macron announced that France has already dispatched specialized naval assets to the region.
The deployment includes two advanced minesweepers and two multi-mission frigates tasked with eliminating underwater ordnance and ensuring secure transit through the highly contested waterway.
The strategic response expanded further following a joint policy declaration issued by President Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The two leaders formally announced that France and the United Kingdom stand ready to organize and deploy a comprehensive, multinational military mission to enforce and protect freedom of navigation within the Strait of Hormuz.
The joint statement emphasized that restoring unrestricted commercial shipping is a matter of critical global interest.
The proposed Anglo-French naval framework aims to pool international resources, coordinate military planning, and establish a protective umbrella for merchant vessels passing through the Persian Gulf’s primary economic choke point.
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Read more: Day 126 | Next indirect US-Iran talks to take place after Khamenei’s funeral
