Reza Masoudi, the mayor of District 5 of the city of Shiraz in southern Iran, has been found dead at his home, sparking the temporary suspension of city council activities while police hunt the killers.

During a routine Shiraz City Council meeting on Sunday, proceedings were abruptly adjourned upon the breaking news of Masoudi's death.

Colonel Hamid Aframon from the Fars province police said the body of the mayor was found in his home under suspicious circumstances.

"The cause for Mayor Masoudi's death will be determined following the completion of ongoing investigations," Colonel Aframon noted. The Fars province police chief has already issued directives to follow up on the high-profile case.

Further details provided by Afshin Mohammadi, Deputy Prosecutor of Shiraz, confirmed his murder revealing that initial crime scene investigations pointed to signs of conflict.

"The examination of the body and the scene indicates that the incident occurred around midday on Sunday," said Mohammadi.

He also highlighted that the specialized murder investigation and crime scene teams from Fars province are actively working on the case to uncover more details regarding the mayor of district 5.