NPR News: 07-04-2026 4PM EDT

Jeanine Herbst· Host0:01

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Huge crowds attended one of a series of funeral ceremonies today for Iran's supreme leader who was killed by US Israeli airstrikes in February. A spokesperson for the funeral preparation says it was delayed this long because of the war. NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi has more.

Hadil El-Shalchi0:19

Iranian state media showed massive crowds at the Imam Khomeini Grand Musalla, a large prayer complex where the casket of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was displayed draped with the Iranian flag. Recitations from the Quran echoed through the space, as well as chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel." Some carried signs that said, "Kill Trump." The funeral comes during a fragile on-again, off-again ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran. US and Iranian negotiators met separately this week with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan. The Strait of Hormuz continues to be a flashpoint in the talks, and the pivotal waterway remains Iran's strongest bargaining chip. Hadil El-Shalchi, NPR News, Istanbul.

Jeanine Herbst· Host1:00

Fourth-of-July celebrations are getting underway in cities and towns across the country today, but a dangerous heat wave is forcing schedule changes, prompting some cancellations and raising concerns about heat-related illnesses. NPR's Brian Mann has more.

Brian Mann1:15

For a lot of Americans, like eight-year-old Logan Longsworth from New Jersey, this holiday is just about having fun.

Logan Longsworth· Soundbite1:21

How I'm gonna be celebrating the Fourth of July is I'm gonna light some firecrackers and stuff like that, and we also saw the Statue of Liberty.