Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Funeral ceremonies for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have officially begun in Tehran, with millions of mourners and delegations from more than 100 countries expected to participate.

The event has become one of the largest political and religious gatherings in Iran’s recent history, while diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue in the background and tensions remain in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Here are the latest updates:

• Official funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei began at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, where thousands gathered before dawn to pay their respects.

• Iranian state media showed Khamenei’s coffin alongside those of family members killed during the opening stages of the US-Israel war on Iran.

• More than 10 million mourners are expected in Tehran, with some Iranian officials estimating attendance could exceed 20 million during the six-day funeral period.

• Delegations from more than 100 countries have arrived in Iran, including leaders and senior officials from Pakistan, Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Russia and China.

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir represented Pakistan at the ceremony.

• Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the memorandum of understanding with the United States could create opportunities for broader economic cooperation with friendly countries.

• President Donald Trump said Iran appeared eager to reach a political settlement and claimed Washington had paused certain operations during the funeral period.

• French President Emmanuel Macron announced the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle had returned to France, ending its deployment linked to the conflict.

• Israeli forces carried out fresh strikes in southern Lebanon, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged international pressure to ensure implementation of the Lebanon framework agreement.

• Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to recover, although shipping analysts say conditions remain fragile despite improving vessel movements.