Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader for decades, has passed away, leaving a legacy of concentrated power and regional proxy influence.
Iran projects global unity while intensifying domestic crackdown on dissidents and civil society, with thousands arrested since February.
Ayatollah Khamenei's body will undergo a four-day funeral procession visiting holy sites in Iran and Iraq, drawing millions.
US officials feared Israel might assassinate Iranian negotiators, potentially derailing peace talks.
Foreign dignitaries from China, Russia, Pakistan and elsewhere converge in Tehran for funeral rites of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
US and Iran are holding indirect talks in Qatar amid rising ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and persistent disagreements.
Iran is reportedly challenging a 1968 pact with Oman that governs shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
A US official claims a deal with Iran to halt attacks and ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran has not confirmed.
US Navy intercepts multiple drones near Strait of Hormuz, heightening regional security concerns.
Iran is reportedly using its control of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in peace talks with the US, risking a ceasefire.