Tehran: Iran has postponed the funeral ceremony for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, which was initially planned to commence on Wednesday night. This decision comes amid escalating tensions and ongoing attacks involving Israel and the United States. The US recently confirmed the sinking of an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean, near the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
According to Thai News Agency, the Iranian government had intended to hold a public funeral ceremony for Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini prayer hall, beginning at 10:00 PM local time. However, the event was delayed to accommodate the large number of mourners expected to attend the three-day mourning period and to ensure proper infrastructure and facilities. While the postponement coincides with heavy airstrikes by US and Israeli forces, resulting in over 1,000 fatalities in Iran, officials have not directly linked the delay to the ongoing conflict. No new date has been announced for the funeral, but it will be disclosed at a later time.
In terms of leadership succession, reports suggest that the selection of a new Supreme Leader is nearing completion despite an attack on an assembly hall in Tehran. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's 56-year-old son, is considered a potential successor due to his connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). There are indications that Mojtaba may have been chosen in a confidential meeting, but an official announcement is being delayed due to concerns over potential assassination attempts by Israel and the US.
On the sixth day of hostilities, the US and Israel continued targeting Iranian military infrastructure, focusing on high-level decision-makers and senior officials' residences in Tehran. In retaliation, Iran launched over 2,500 missiles and drones at US bases in the Gulf and targets in Israel, with reports of a drone strike near the US consulate in Dubai.
US Defense Secretary Peeth Hexeth confirmed that a US submarine recently sank an Iranian warship, marking the first such incident since World War II. The attack took place off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, where the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, carrying 180 crew members, was returning from a naval parade in India. Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister reported that 87 bodies were recovered, 32 crew members were rescued, and about 60 remain missing. This event underscores the US military's capability to target Iranian naval forces globally, having destroyed over 20 Iranian warships to date.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that Israeli and US airstrikes have resulted in at least 1,097 civilian deaths in Iran, including 180 children, and over 5,400 injuries. The strikes have impacted more than 19 provinces, with Tehran experiencing the highest casualties, followed by Kermanshah and Isfahan. Additionally, at least nine medical and rescue facilities have been damaged, complicating efforts to assist the injured.
Meanwhile, the US Senate is considering a bipartisan bill to limit the administration's ability to unilaterally escalate military operations against Iran. This legislation, requiring congressional approval for further military action, follows the Trump administration's airstrike in Tehran that resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader. However, the bill is expected to face a veto from President Trump if it passes through both houses of Congress.