{"id":63101,"date":"2026-06-13T07:08:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T11:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-tensions-escalate-as-iran-sets-funeral-for-late-supreme-leader-lionheart-capital-eyes-1b-venezuelan-oil-merger\/63101\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T07:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T11:08:16","slug":"middle-east-tensions-escalate-as-iran-sets-funeral-for-late-supreme-leader-lionheart-capital-eyes-1b-venezuelan-oil-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/middle-east-tensions-escalate-as-iran-sets-funeral-for-late-supreme-leader-lionheart-capital-eyes-1b-venezuelan-oil-merger\/63101\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle East Tensions Escalate as Iran Sets Funeral for Late Supreme Leader; Lionheart Capital Eyes $1B Venezuelan Oil Merger"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Iran schedules state funeral for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei<\/strong> to begin <strong>July 4 in Tehran<\/strong>, with burial set for <strong>July 9 in Mashhad<\/strong>; the event follows his death in February and has been delayed due to security and religious considerations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lionheart Capital<\/strong> signs a non-binding agreement to merge its SPAC, Lionheart Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/CUB\">CUB<\/a>), with <strong>Keo Energy<\/strong> in a deal valuing the Venezuelan oil firm at approximately <strong>$1 billion<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)<\/strong> issue urgent evacuation orders for <strong>20 villages in southern Lebanon<\/strong>, including Ghazaniyeh and Zarariyeh, citing Hezbollah ceasefire violations and imminent military action.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Israeli airstrikes hit Siddiqin<\/strong> and other areas in the Tyre District, resulting in at least one reported fatality as regional hostilities intensify despite a fragile truce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Iran Announces Funeral Dates for Late Supreme Leader<\/h2>\n<p>The Iranian government has officially scheduled the state funeral for the late Supreme Leader <strong>Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/strong>, with ceremonies beginning <strong>July 4 in Tehran<\/strong>. According to state media, the burial is planned for <strong>July 9<\/strong> at the Imam Reza Shrine in <strong>Mashhad<\/strong>, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.<\/p>\n<p>Khamenei was killed in <strong>February 2026<\/strong> during a series of Israeli and U.S. strikes, ending his 37-year reign. The funeral, which has been postponed for months due to active military hostilities and logistical challenges, is expected to draw as many as <strong>20 million mourners<\/strong>. Authorities have declared a period of national mourning to coincide with the processions, which will also pass through the city of <strong>Qom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Lionheart Capital Pursues $1 Billion Venezuelan Oil Listing<\/h2>\n<p>Miami-based investment firm <strong>Lionheart Capital<\/strong> is moving to list a Venezuelan oil producer on the <strong>Nasdaq<\/strong> through a merger with its blank-check vehicle, Lionheart Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/CUB\">CUB<\/a>). The deal with <strong>Keo Energy<\/strong> aims for a valuation of roughly <strong>$1 billion<\/strong>, potentially making it the first Venezuelan oil entity to list on a major U.S. exchange in decades.<\/p>\n<p>Lionheart Holdings (<a href=\"\/stock\/CUB\">CUB<\/a>), which raised <strong>$230 million<\/strong> in its 2024 IPO, is reportedly negotiating an equity facility to raise up to <strong>$2.25 billion<\/strong> over the next 24 months to revitalize Venezuelan upstream assets. The transaction remains subject to strict regulatory approval from both <strong>Caracas and Washington (OFAC)<\/strong> due to ongoing sanctions. Shareholders are scheduled to vote on a merger deadline extension next week.<\/p>\n<h2>Escalating Conflict in Southern Lebanon<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Israeli army<\/strong> issued a fresh wave of evacuation warnings on Saturday, ordering residents of <strong>20 towns and villages<\/strong> in southern Lebanon to move north of the <strong>Zahrani River<\/strong> immediately. The warnings targeted locations including <strong>Ghazaniyeh, Zarariyeh, Kothriyeh al-Riz, and Sa&#39;ir al-Gharbiyeh<\/strong>, with the IDF citing &quot;Hezbollah&#39;s violation of the ceasefire agreement&quot; as the catalyst for forceful military action.<\/p>\n<p>Following the warnings, an Israeli airstrike targeted the town of <strong>Siddiqin<\/strong> in the Tyre District. Local reports indicate that the strikes have caused significant damage to residential and government buildings, with at least one person killed in the nearby municipality of <strong>Maarakeh<\/strong>. Since the expansion of the military campaign in March, Lebanese authorities report over <strong>3,700 fatalities<\/strong> and the displacement of more than <strong>1.2 million people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Iran schedules state funeral for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to begin July 4 in Tehran, with burial 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