Iran Buries Khamenei Killed in U.S.-Israeli Strikes

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- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28, which the source says triggered the war with Iran
- Foreign dignitaries gathered in Tehran on Friday to pay respects at Khamenei's state funeral
- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended as a key mediator, per the source
Why it matters: Pakistan's attendance by a sitting prime minister — described in the source as a 'key mediator' — signals that even amid open war with the US and Israel, Iran retains diplomatic channels with neighboring Muslim-majority powers. The funeral becomes a stage for those relationships at a moment when Iran's leadership is in transition.


