Original Source
Iran Holds Funeral for Ali Shamkhani; Supreme Leader's Funeral Postponed
Iran Holds Funeral for Defense Advisor Ali Shamkhani
Iran held a funeral for its senior defense advisor, Ali Shamkhani, who was killed on the first day of Israeli-U.S. strikes in West Asia. Shamkhani died alongside Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many others. Shamkhani had previously survived an attack in Tehran in June 2025 and remained central to Iranian policymaking during challenging military confrontations and diplomatic endeavors.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Funeral Postponed
While the funeral for Shamkhani, the 70-year-old former Revolutionary Guard commander and Secretary of Iran's newly established Defense Council, was held, the date for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's funeral remains unannounced. The original plan, confirmed on March 1st, included a three-stage procession through Tehran and Qom, followed by Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad. However, the ceremony was postponed by Iranian authorities, citing security and crowd concerns. It was again postponed on March 4th.
Hesitation Among Foreign Dignitaries for Khamenei's Funeral
Foreign dignitaries, particularly figures linked to Hezbollah and the Houthis, have reportedly expressed hesitation about attending the Supreme Leader's funeral. This comes after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran while attending former President Ebrahim Raisi's funeral, highlighting the volatile situation surrounding high-profile events in Iran.
*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-03-15)*
