Rail disruption comes hours before Ali Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad
TEHRAN: Iran suspended train services between Tehran and Mashhad on Thursday after reported US strikes damaged the route, state television said, just hours before former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was due to be buried in the eastern holy city.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways blamed what it called a “criminal attack by the US-Israeli enemy” on the railway line and said repair teams had been sent to the affected area. Authorities also began arranging road transport for passengers stranded by the suspension.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards accused the United States of targeting two bridges in eastern provinces leading toward Mashhad. State TV said the Guards described the strikes as an attempt to overshadow Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies.
Funeral reaches final stage
Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad, his hometown, marks the final stage of a multi-day funeral that began in Tehran and continued through Qom, Najaf and Karbala.
The late leader, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, the opening day of the Middle East war.
Ceasefire faces renewed pressure
The railway disruption came as Washington and Tehran exchanged fire for the second consecutive night despite a ceasefire and memorandum of understanding aimed at advancing a long-term peace deal.
US Central Command said American forces struck around 90 Iranian military targets, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed retaliatory attacks against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The renewed violence has raised fresh concerns over the stability of the ceasefire as Iran prepares for Khamenei’s burial under heightened security.
