Iran has launched week-long funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with thousands of mourners and senior government officials gathering in Tehran on Sunday. However, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who was recently appointed as the country's new supreme leader, was notably absent from the service, EDnews reports via BBC
Ali Khamenei’s three other sons — Masoud, Mostafa and Meysam — attended the ceremony alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior military commanders and other top officials.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence has fueled speculation about his condition, following unconfirmed reports that he may have been injured during recent US-Israeli air strikes that reportedly killed his father. Iranian authorities have not commented on his whereabouts.
Official funeral ceremonies began on Friday and will continue across Iran and Iraq throughout the week. Iranian officials estimate that between 12 million and 20 million people could participate in the events, which state media have described as the “funeral of the century.”
Ali Khamenei’s body is lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla mosque, where the funeral prayers were led by senior Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani. Sunday was declared a public holiday to allow public participation before the funeral procession moves through Tehran on Monday.
The ceremonies are taking place amid heightened regional tensions despite a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Security has been significantly increased, while large crowds have gathered in the capital, with authorities warning of possible crowd-related risks.
According to Iranian state media, thousands of people have sought medical assistance due to the large crowds and high temperatures, though no fatalities linked to the funeral events have been reported.
Following the procession in Tehran, Khamenei’s coffin is scheduled to travel to Qom, then to a major Shia religious site in Iraq, before his burial in his hometown of Mashhad later this week.
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