Iran Delays Ali Khamenei's Burial

Iranian officials are delaying the burial of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, sparking a war with Iran. The delay, which flouts long-standing tradition, is attributed to the regime's fear of potential Israeli airstrikes, nationalist counter-demonstrations, and the need to account for the public absence of the newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The last state funeral for Ali Khamenei's predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989, saw millions mourn, a stark contrast to the current situation. Iranian authorities are now considering Iran===Mashhad, a remote city, as a possible burial location due to its security advantages. A temporary truce between the United States and Iran, agreed on April 8, is set to expire soon.