Jon Gambrell

Massive crowds in Tehran began a multiday funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a February airstrike at the outset of the Iran war. The event strengthened the position of his successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as Iran seeks leverage in negotiations with the United States over ending the conflict and asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz. Mourners called for revenge against the U.S. and Israel as Iranian officials warned France and the United Kingdom over potential joint patrols in the waterway. The body will travel through multiple cities before burial in Mashhad, with nationwide ceremonies and heavy security accompanying the mourning period.