Khamenei’s funeral and regional fallout

US-Iran War Live Updates: Khamenei’s funeral procession got underway in Tehran, with IRIB reporting a large turnout of mourners. Press TV said the procession departed from the Grand Mosalla, where the body had lain in state for two days, and covered roughly 10 hours over a 10km route through Damavand Street, Imam Hussein Square, Enqelab Street and Square, Azadi Street and Square, and Shahid Lashgari Highway near Mehrabad airport, before continuing on to Qom for further rites.At the funeral prayers, Army Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told Fars News Agency that avenging Khamenei’s death would remain the Army’s priority, pledging loyalty to his ideals and firm support for new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Separately, Mojtaba Khamenei reappointed Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as judiciary chief. Mohseni-Ejei had earlier vowed to expedite trials of those detained in anti-government protests since December, alleging collusion with Israel and the US.

On regional diplomacy, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, meeting Hamas Leadership Council head Mohammad Darwish, said Iran-US tensions persisted despite their MoU, calling its implementation “difficult, but possible.” He ruled out recognising Israel, insisted the memorandum guarantee regional territorial integrity and an end to hostilities against allied resistance groups, and said Iran would keep backing the “axis of resistance.” On Lebanon, he said stability there requires Iran’s involvement, with Tehran seeking to end the Lebanon war under the same MoU.

A Fars source said the US had pulled at least 11 aerial refuelling aircraft from the region, seen by observers as a strategic shift.

Israel maintained its stance: Defence Minister Israel Katz, per Channel 13, said Israel killed Khamenei over an alleged plan to destroy Israel and threatened future Iranian leaders similarly. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi hit back, warning of an “immediate, powerful response” to threats against Iran’s leadership.

Follow along for the latest on the war in West Asia.