{"id":1683,"date":"2026-07-03T14:51:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T14:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/07\/03\/middle-east-live-iranian-president-pays-respects-at-khameneis-remains\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T14:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T14:51:36","slug":"middle-east-live-iranian-president-pays-respects-at-khameneis-remains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1683","title":{"rendered":"Middle East live: Iranian president pays respects at Khamenei\u2019s remains"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"t-content t-content--article t-content--liveblog\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-main\">\n<div class=\"a-status-tag a-status-tag--breaking\">Live<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">Middle East live: Iranian president pays respects at Khamenei\u2019s remains<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T03:05:21+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 05:05<\/time><\/span><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T14:40:23+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 16:40<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                        <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/france-24\/\" title=\"FRANCE 24\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                FRANCE 24<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/417a8fa2-76d0-11f1-af6c-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-03T110012Z-927789818-RC2A6MAZG41K-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/417a8fa2-76d0-11f1-af6c-005056a97e36\/w:388\/p:16x9\/2026-07-03T110012Z-927789818-RC2A6MAZG41K-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/417a8fa2-76d0-11f1-af6c-005056a97e36\/w:720\/p:16x9\/2026-07-03T110012Z-927789818-RC2A6MAZG41K-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/417a8fa2-76d0-11f1-af6c-005056a97e36\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/2026-07-03T110012Z-927789818-RC2A6MAZG41K-RTRMADP-3-IRAN-CRISIS-KHAMENEI.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and other senior Iranian officials at a farewell ceremony for Ali Khamenei in Tehran.\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, Iranian military commander Mohsen Rezaee and Head of Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei attend a farewell ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, July 3, 2026.        \u00a9 Majid Asgaripour, WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main\" data-article-content>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday paid his respects at the remains of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country&#8217;s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Iran\u2019s slain supreme leader was lying in state in Tehran\u2019s Grand Mosalla religious complex at the start of week-long funeral ceremonies across the country. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.            <\/p>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<div id=\"em-WBMZ564314-F24-EN-20260703\" class=\"m-em-liveblog\" data-liveblog>\n<div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T14:40:23+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 16:40<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Israel military says struck Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon<\/h2>\n<p>Israel&#8217;s military has said it struck several Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon a day earlier in response to attacks on its troops in the area.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The IDF struck approximately 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and a truck used to transfer weapons in southern Lebanon,&#8221; the military said in a statement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The sites were in the areas of the south Lebanon towns of Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounine, and Baraachit, and &#8220;were used by Hezbollah to advance attacks against IDF soldiers operating in the Security Zone,&#8221; the army said.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Israel and Lebanon signed a US-sponsored framework agreement last week to pave the way for peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Israeli officials have repeatedly ruled out withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon, maintaining that any withdrawal would happen only after Hezbollah has been disarmed across Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T13:47:58+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 15:47<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Saudi deputy foreign minister pays respects to Iran&#8217;s late supreme leader, Iranian media say<\/h2>\n<p>Saudi \u2060Deputy Foreign \u200bMinister Waleed \u200bEl Khereiji and his delegation paid their \u200brespects \u200cto \u2060Iran&#8217;s late Supreme Leader \u200cAyatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian \u2060media reported.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Khamenei was killed on \u200bFebruary 28 \u200cduring an Israeli and US war \u200cagainst the Islamic \u200bRepublic that prompted Iranian attacks on Gulf states \u200bhosting US \u200bmilitary bases, \u200bincluding Saudi Arabia. The conflict \u200bkilled thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T13:45:40+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 15:45<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Over 600,000 displaced Lebanese return home amid ceasefire, IOM says<\/h2>\n<p>More than 640,000 displaced people in Lebanon have returned home, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have wound down following a deal to end the Middle East war.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>In a report on Thursday, the IOM said about 500,000 other people remain displaced, based on data collected in coordination with local authorities since June 22.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T12:30:58+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 14:30<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Pakistani PM, Afghan FM pay respects to Khamenei, Iran state TV says<\/h2>\n<p>Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid his respects at the coffin of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, state TV footage showed.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Sharif, whose country has been mediating US-Iran talks to permanently end their conflict, was accompanied by army chief Asim Munir and a delegation as they visited the coffin.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><span>Afghanistan&#8217;s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi\u00a0also paid his respects, state TV reported.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T11:07:48+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 13:07<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Iranian president pays tribute to Khamenei at Tehran&#8217;s Grand Mosalla<\/h2>\n<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has paid his respects at the remains of slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials, including the country&#8217;s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>State television showed Pezeshkian praying at Khamenei&#8217;s coffin, where a black turban had been placed, which is worn by clerics to signify descent from the Prophet Mohammed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.eu.getarena.im\/cm\/6a479780356b71dcaa7c3d4a.png\"><\/p>\n<p><em>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and Head of Judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei attend a farewell ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T05:47:33+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 07:47<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>In photos: Mourners pay respects to slain leader Khamenei at Tehran&#8217;s Grand Mosalla<\/h2>\n<p>Senior Iranian political and military officials, multi-faith religious leaders and mourners paid their respects to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as they filed past the caskets of the slain supreme leader and members of his family killed in airstrikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in Tehran&#8217;s Grand Mosalla religious complex Friday.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.eu.getarena.im\/cm\/6a474b38e3b7cd02ff880f85.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><em>Foreign religious leaders and other mourners walk past the coffins of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his slain family members during a viewing ceremony at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.eu.getarena.im\/cm\/6a474bb9e3b7cd02ff880f88.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><em>The casket of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&#8217;s granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, is displayed alongside the caskets of family members killed in the first Israeli strikes at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.eu.getarena.im\/cm\/6a474c4fe3b7cd02ff880f8b.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><em>IRGC members pay their respects on the esplanade of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran, July 3, 2026. (Photo: Vahid Salemi, AP)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T05:32:07+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 07:32<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>New IRGC chief Gen. Vahidi makes first public appearance since war <\/h2>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s new IRGC chief emerged from hiding to pay his respects to the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Tehran prepares Friday for the days-long funeral ceremonies.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Photos published online by Iranian state media showed Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting about the funeral of Khamenei, 86, then sitting alongside his casket as the country held a smaller service for him Thursday night near the supreme leader&#8217;s former home in downtown Tehran.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Vahidi has become a major player in formulating Iran\u2019s tough stance in negotiating a possible permanent end to the war with the US, experts say. He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran\u2019s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Febraury 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, the elder Khamenei.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Vahidi himself hasn\u2019t been seen publicly since February 8, weeks before the Iran war began.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Video published by Iranian state media showed the mourning ceremony for Khamenei near the husseiniyah at his compound in Tehran.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.eu.getarena.im\/cm\/6a47494ec36fea5c3db074e8.jpg\"><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T04:46:10+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 06:46<\/time>                        <\/p>\n<ul id=\"posts-summary\">\n<li><a href=\"#post=YstGfK5uJ1B1Ho43kCdM\">Supreme leader&#8217;s body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral: state media<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post=btsvUOXItKun7C5nt4bb\">New IRGC chief Gen. Vahidi makes first public appearance since war <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T03:01:34+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 05:01<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Supreme leader&#8217;s body arrives at Tehran religious complex for funeral: state media<\/h2>\n<p>The body of Iran&#8217;s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes, arrived at Tehran&#8217;s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of his funeral, state media reported Friday.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla,&#8221; IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex&#8217;s official name.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T02:59:15+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 04:59<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Preparations for funeral of Iran&#8217;s supreme leader in full swing, 15-20 million expected<\/h2>\n<p>Preparations for the funeral of Iran&#8217;s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei were in full swing on Friday, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony. Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between the United States and Iran on ending the Middle East war, said its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be at the funeral in Tehran on Saturday. China, Afghanistan and Iran&#8217;s neighbours in the Caucasus region said they would also be sending representatives.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Tehran&#8217;s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had called on Thursday for a massive turnout at the event as a way to avenge the supreme leader&#8217;s death in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war. &#8220;The nation&#8217;s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world,&#8221; said Ghalibaf, who is also Iran&#8217;s parliament speaker.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Khamenei&#8217;s funeral, initially delayed at the height of the war, will take place as Iran and the United States observe a fragile ceasefire after signing a preliminary deal to halt the conflict. Khamenei, a spiritual figure for many Shias, was killed at the age of 86 in strikes on his compound in the centre of the Iranian capital. He will lie in state for three days at the colossal Grand Mosalla, which has been draped in banners featuring images and quotes of Khamenei. The bodies of his slain relatives will also be presented.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The ceremonies are expected to draw between 15 and 20 million mourners, according to officials, which would make it the biggest state funeral in the country&#8217;s history.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T02:57:33+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 04:57<\/time><\/p>\n<h2>Thursday&#8217;s headline<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-07-03T02:56:36+00:00\">03\/07\/2026 &#8211; 04:56<\/time>                        <\/p>\n<p>Hello and welcome to this live blog covering the situation in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260702-middle-east-live-iran-says-to-use-frozen-funds-in-qatar-to-buy-required-goods\" target=\"_self\">Yesterday&#8217;s key developments:<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260703-syria-rules-out-military-intervention-in-lebanon-despite-us-pressure\" target=\"_self\">Syria has sought to reassure Lebanon it would not intervene in the country<\/a>, during a visit by Syria&#8217;s foreign minister to Beirut.<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/the-new-york-times\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">The New York Times<\/a> says that US officials believed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israel<\/a> may have been planning to kill Iranian negotiators while they were engaged in talks with Washington this spring. The US believed that two senior Iranians were particular targets\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Abbas Araghchi, Iran\u2019s foreign minister, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Israelis called\u00a0for a state commission of inquiry into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/hamas\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Hamas<\/a>&#8216;s October 7, 2023 attack, as the country marked 1,000 days since the deadliest event in its history\u00a0with a series of commemorations and protests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Lebanese President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/joseph-aoun\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Joseph Aoun<\/a> defended negotiations with Israel, saying they were not a betrayal and he would not surrender &#8220;a single inch of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/lebanon\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s territory&#8221;, according to the presidency.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__below-main\">\n<div class=\"t-content__tags\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran\">    Iran<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/qatar\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Qatar\">    Qatar<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"USA\">    USA<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/steve-witkoff\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Steve Witkoff\">    Steve Witkoff<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/jared-kushner\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Jared Kushner\">    Jared Kushner<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/lebanon\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Lebanon\">    Lebanon<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Live Middle East live: Iranian president pays respects at Khamenei\u2019s remains Middle East Issued on:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}