Iran Death Toll Surpasses 1,000 Amid Ongoing Israeli-American Strikes

Funeral Ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Postponed Amid Ongoing Conflict

A funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme leader, has been postponed due to ongoing explosions and attacks. The ceremony was scheduled to take place late on Wednesday and was expected to last several days.

According to reports from Tehran, the city of Qom, western Iran, and Isfahan province have been targeted by Israeli air strikes. The attacks have caused damage to residential units and buildings associated with the Basij, a volunteer police paramilitary force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The death toll since the US-Israeli assault began on Saturday has reached 1,045, according to Iranian state media. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that damage due to attacks was visible at two buildings near the Isfahan nuclear site, but there has been no damage to facilities containing nuclear material and no risk of radiological release.

Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and US military bases across the Gulf region. The Israeli defense minister has threatened to target anyone appointed as Iran’s next supreme leader.

Funeral arrangements are ongoing and are expected to draw large crowds, posing a potential threat from US-Israeli attacks on a gathering of mass mourning. In 1989, approximately 10 million people attended Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s funeral.

Senior Iranian officials are working to elect Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s replacement, with potential candidates ranging from hardliners to reformers. The Guardian Council and Assembly of Experts have been involved in the process.

The situation in Iran remains fluid, with ongoing conflict and violence reported across the country.

Source: Al Jazeera