Mashhad is the capital of Razavi Khorasan Province and the second largest city in Iran. Known as a major Shia religious center hosting the shrine of Imam Reza and a key cultural hub in northeastern Iran. Recently, Mashhad has been the site of reported Israeli strikes, air defense activations, and was designated as the burial site for Supreme Leader Khamenei. Last updated Jul 5th, 2026
Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned U.S. strikes carried out over the past 48 hours on southern coastal provinces and two bridges along the Mashhad railway line in the east.
The ministry called them a war crime and a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, along with clauses one and five of the war-cessation Memorandum of Understanding.
Passenger trains on the Tehran-Mashhad route are disrupted after a strike hit part of the rail line early Thursday, Iran's railway authority says via state media.
Khamenei is expected to be buried in Mashhad today.
Mojtaba Khamenei was barred from his father Ali Khamenei's burial in Mashhad, with security officials fearing Israel could kill him or trace his hideout through the appearance. - NYT
Iran took extraordinary measures this spring to protect Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assigning military escorts and making last-minute travel changes, the NYT reports.
The steps followed ...
Iran took extraordinary measures this spring to protect Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assigning military escorts and making last-minute travel changes, the NYT reports.
The steps followed warnings the U.S. relayed through regional states that Israel might assassinate the two officials in the middle of negotiations.
In one incident, Ghalibaf's plane made an emergency landing in Mashhad after Iranian security forces flagged intelligence that Israel intended to attack the aircraft. According to the warning, two Israeli fighter jets had crossed into Iranian airspace near the border with Iraq.
Khamenei's funeral procession will span five days, starting July 4 in Tehran and ending with burial in Mashhad on July 9, according to Iranian state media.
After a new mural honoring deceased Islamic regime figures was unveiled in Mashhad, which also featured the face of Mojtaba Khamenei, Israel in Persian asked:
