Holy city, industrial hub, and center of Shia scholarship in Iran
The United States has expanded secondary sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, targeting airports, service providers and fuel suppliers from Sept. 23. Iranian carriers face grounded operations abroad as foreign airports and firms risk losing access to the dollar system. Several countries have begun enforcing restrictions, including Georgia, Iraq and Turkey, while Beijing denounces the move as illegal. Iran’s aging fleet already struggles amid years of sanctions, with international routes dwindling and pilgrims and travelers facing longer journeys.
The IAEA has called for a robust verification system and full access to Iran's nuclear sites as part of ongoing talks to end the regional war, following a resumed dialogue between Tehran and Washington and a push for inspections to proceed alongside a broader ceasefire.
The United States and Iran have not yet agreed to direct talks, with delegations set to travel to Qatar to discuss an interim framework while Iranian funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei proceed. Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the Hormuz Strait, uranium enrichment, and sanctions, as mediators urge progress within a two-month window.
Authorities have mobilised for a three-day state funeral for Ali Khamenei, with millions expected to attend. Tehran lies in a hush as shops close and airspace tightens. The funeral will travel to Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad, with a Saudi-led war context looming over the proceedings.
Iran is coordinating a multi-city funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Mojtaba Khamenei absent from public view. State media show three sons near the coffins as crowds gather, while officials plan mass processions to Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad amid a fragile ceasefire and renewed tensions with the US and Israel.
Mourners are gathering in Tehran for the state funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has organised a week of public ceremonies across cities and in neighboring Iraq, as the regime frames the event as a referendum on its rule while warning against external interference.
Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies unfold across Mashhad, Tehran and beyond as Iran’s leadership figures gather for a six‑day event. Mojtaba Khamenei remains absent, fueling questions about his health and authority as regional leaders project unity amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
Khamenei’s coffin nears final burial after a week of funeral ceremonies spanning Iran and Iraq. Najaf and Karbala host large processions; Iran’s deadly regional posture and ties with Iraq underscore the regional flare. The burial will conclude in Mashhad.
Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad closes a week of state-led mourning and public displays amid renewed clashes between the US and Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of public view after his father’s death, and security measures center on limiting exposure as regional tensions intensify.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since taking the role after his father’s death in February. State media say talks with the US continue as Tehran hints at potential footage releases; meanwhile, Iran signals conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as regional conflicts escalate.