News imageThe Global Story, The Global Story, Is a long-term peace with Iran possible?

The Global Story

The Global Story

Is a long-term peace with Iran possible?

10 July 2026

Available for over a year

The coffin of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s former supreme leader, killed by Israel in February, has been on a procession tour this week of holy sites in Iraq and Iran. Huge crowds gathered wherever it went, the coffin was passed over a sea of hands, and three of Khamenei’s sons wept over the coffin in Tehran.

Meanwhile, the US and Iran have launched new strikes throughout the week. The peace between the US and Iran is fragile, at best. At worst, it could be over. We speak to Parham Ghobadi, from the BBC’s Persian Service.

(Photo: Burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Mashhad. Credit: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters)

Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Aron Keller

Sound engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins