NPR News: 07-03-2026 1PM EDT

Louise Schiavone· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Iranian government is preparing for the days-long funeral of the Iranian supreme leader, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last February. The official ceremonies will begin tomorrow, and as NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi reports, not all Iranians feel that this is a moment to note.

Hadil Al-Shalchi0:21

There will be memorial ceremonies and processions for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran and the city of Qom. Then the remains will be taken to Shia holy sites in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. He will be buried next Thursday in his birthplace of Mashhad. Iranian authorities are expected to shut down streets and the airspace. Some Iranians say the funeral is a time to say good riddance to the authoritarian leader who led the country since 1989. A 38-year-old doctor who wants to remain anonymous for fear of government retaliation says she hopes this funeral will mark the end of a dark chapter in Iranian history. "I don't care about which pit the body will be dumped in," she says. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul.

Louise Schiavone· Host1:03

In Washington, DC, nearly 5,000 National Guard troops are on hand from 20 different states as part of President Trump's anti-crime task force and to provide security as part of the America 250 celebrations. The number of troops in the city has essentially doubled in the past month, causing concern for many residents. NPR's Cat Lonsdorf has more.

Cat Lonsdorf1:25

Protesters surrounded a large park in DC