New Delhi, June 13 -- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the longest-serving Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be laid to rest on July 9, the state media announced on Saturday. According to the announcement, Ali Khamenei's funeral will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in his hometown, in the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, on July 9.

The 86-year-old who ruled Iran for nearly 37 years was killed on February 28, in the opening hours of the US-Israeli attack on Tehran. Ali Khamenei will be buried 131 days after he was killed, something unusual under Islamic law, which requires the deceased to be buried as soon as possible, and ideally within 24 hours of death. But exceptions are allowed, for example, in time...