Ali Khamenei burial in Mashhad delayed after Iraq route stalls

The burial schedule for Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, was pushed back from its original plan on Thursday (9/7) morning and was expected to take place at around 14.30 local time. Khamenei's coffin had arrived in Mashhad after being brought from Iraq, with a fighter jet escorting the aircraft carrying it. The delay followed large crowds that packed ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, making it difficult for the funeral procession to leave. In Teheran, train travel to Mashhad also stopped operating. CNN Indonesia, citing Al Jazeera, reported that Khamenei's body had earlier lain in state in Teheran since Saturday (4/7), then was flown to Iraq before returning to Iran for burial.