The funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drew thousands of mourners in Tehran, where three of his sons appeared beside his coffin during funeral prayers. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has reportedly succeeded his father as Iran’s Supreme Leader, was notably absent from the public ceremony, fueling continued speculation about his condition.
State television broadcast images of Mostafa Khamenei, Meysam Khamenei, and Masoud Khamenei standing behind their father’s coffin alongside the coffins of four other family members at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla. The ceremony marked the beginning of a week-long series of memorial events planned across Iran and neighboring Iraq.
According to reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the February 28 attack, during which his father and several family members were killed. Reports have suggested that Mojtaba was injured during the strikes carried out by Israel and the United States, although Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed his condition.
The funeral was attended by senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who joined prayers for the late leader. Emotional scenes unfolded as Masoud Khamenei was seen in tears while mourners gathered in large numbers to pay their final respects.
Authorities reported that millions of people are expected to participate in the nationwide funeral processions. Tehran’s metro system recorded around seven million passenger trips overnight as crowds traveled to the capital for the ceremony.
Following the events in Tehran, the funeral procession will continue to the holy city of Qom, followed by visits to the sacred Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. The late leader will then return to Mashhad, where he is expected to be buried near the shrine of one of Shia Islam’s revered Imams.
While the funeral has become a major national event, attention remains focused on the absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, whose public appearance is being closely watched as Iran enters a new political chapter.
