Khamenei’s funeral procession in Tehran will last up to 12 hours
Thousands of mourners poured on to the streets of Tehran as the funeral procession for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei began this morning.
Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin, and those of his family killed in an airstrike at the start of the war launched by Israel and the US, sat on board a truck.
The truck crept through crowds of black-clad mourners, who reached out to touch the grating. Some threw scarves and other items for attendants to brush against the coffin, a common practice in Iran seen as a blessing.
Attendants sprayed misted water across the crowds to cool them in the summertime temperatures. The official in charge of the ceremony said the procession will last 10 to 12 hours.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 07:20
7 OPEC+ countries agree to expand monthly oil production modestly
A handful of countries in the OPEC+ oil-producing alliance plan to increase their outputs modestly next month, which would bring more oil online after fuel prices have fallen to levels not seen since before the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies — collectively known as OPEC+ — announced on Sunday that seven countries would expand oil production by a combined total of 188,000 barrels per day in August. It was the fifth consecutive month OPEC+ agreed to raise oil outputs.
The participating countries in Sunday’s decision are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 07:00
Yemen condemns Iran for bringing Houtis to Khamenei’s funeral
The Yemeni government has issued a statement condemning Iran for chartering a flight to bring a Houthi delegation to Tehran for slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral.
Yemeni president Rashad al-Alimi called the flight “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and a blatant challenge to international law,” in the statement on his official website.
He said allowing international flights without the government’s approval set a dangerous precedent which exacerbated Yemen’s political division.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 06:49
Millions of mourners gather as Khamenei’s funeral procession begins in TehranMillions of mourners gather as Khamenei’s funeral procession begins in Tehran
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 06:31
Mourners at Khamenei’s funeral call for revenge
Mourners hold anti U.S. signs as people gather on the day of a funeral procession for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Reuters)
An American flag set on fire by the mourners, burns near a sign depicting U.S. President Donald Trump, as people gather on the day of a funeral procession for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Reuters)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 06:20
Netanyahu claims Christians in Lebanon sought Israeli annexation
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had asked to be annexed by Israel to protect themselves from Hezbollah.
“Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel, because we protect them against the Hezbollah, Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them, and we do the same things with Christians everywhere,” Netanyahu told Fox News, without naming which villages had sought annexation.
Earlier on Friday, residents of Christian villages in the Marjeyoun district rejected reports claiming they had sought annexation, saying in a statement that they had “no power nor the legal right” to make decisions of such magnitude.
The villages reaffirmed their “loyalty to their national identity” and their “attachment to their Lebanese flag”.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 06:00
UN’s blue helmets to leave behind a Lebanon in a tailspin into death and destruction
Under terms agreed by the UN Security Council, the ‘blue helmets’ will begin to withdraw from the war-torn region at the end of this year. Experts tell Oisin Mcilroy that a lack of oversight will see the area plunge further into a cycle of bloodshed
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 05:40
Iranian hardline newspaper calls for avenging Ali Khamenei’s killing
Hardline Iranian newspapers have called for avenging Ali Khamenei’s killing in their editions published this morning.
The Asr-e Iranian newspaper devoted its front page to the demand, using the headline: “Blood for blood”, according to Iran International.
It said that the revenge was “the right of the people and the duty of officials.”
Nobonyad newspaper asked: “Why shouldn’t we kill the one who killed our leader?”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 05:20
Iran shuts Tehran’s airspace for Khamenei’s funeral procession
Iran has completely shut the airspace above Tehran today for the funeral procession of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Regular flights at Mehrabad airport and Imam Khomeini airport will be suspended during public ceremonies in the capital, according to Iran’s civil aviation organisation.
Mehrabad airport is expected to resume normal operations tomorrow, while Imam Khomeini airport will remain closed.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 05:00
Oil slips to $71 a barrel after OPEC+ agrees to raise output targets
Oil prices inched lower this morning after OPEC+ agreed to further increase its output targets from August, while exports from key producers via the Strait of Hormuz are recovering, potentially adding to global supplies.
Brent crude futures slid 24 cents, or 0.33 per cent, to $71.88 a barrel after settling 0.45 per cent higher on Friday. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.58 a barrel, down 11 cents, or 0.16 per cent.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar6 July 2026 04:40