Iran is preparing for the funeral ceremonies of its slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, while Israel has issued a stark warning that it could target whoever succeeds him if Tehran continues its hostile policies.
Iranian state media reported that the funeral ceremony for Khamenei will begin in Tehran at 18:30 GMT and continue for three days before a formal funeral procession. The long-time leader was killed when joint US-Israeli military strikes began on Saturday, dramatically escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Succession battle intensifies
Attention is now turning to who will replace Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader. According to a report by The New York Times citing Iranian officials, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as the leading contender to assume the powerful role, with a decision possibly expected soon.
The position of supreme leader holds ultimate authority in Iran, overseeing the military, judiciary and key political institutions.
Israel issues direct warning
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would consider any successor continuing Iran’s confrontational policies a legitimate target.
Katz said any future Iranian leader who maintains what he described as plans “to destroy Israel, threaten the United States and suppress the Iranian people” would become “an unequivocal target for elimination.”
The warning signals that Israel’s strategy toward Iran may not end with Khamenei’s death and could extend to the country’s next leadership.
Region on edge
Khamenei’s death has triggered heightened tensions across the Middle East, with fears that leadership uncertainty in Tehran could fuel further instability.
The funeral ceremonies are expected to draw massive crowds in Iran’s capital as the country mourns the leader who dominated its political and religious establishment for decades.
At the same time, global observers are closely watching the succession process, which could reshape Iran’s domestic politics and its relationship with regional and global powers.
As the ceremonies begin, the world’s attention is fixed on Tehran — where mourning, political transition and rising geopolitical tensions are unfolding simultaneously.
