Three sons of Iran’s slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led funeral prayers for their father on Sunday, while the man who has succeeded him as the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained absent from public view, fuelling further speculation over his condition.
State television broadcast images of Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud Khamenei standing in prayer behind the coffins of their father and four other family members at the vast Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran. The coffins had been placed in the courtyard of the religious complex as thousands gathered to pay their final respects.
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed alongside several members of his family in a US and Israeli airstrike on 28 February, during the conflict that erupted between Iran, Israel and the United States. The war lasted several weeks before ending in a fragile ceasefire, leaving widespread destruction and thousands dead across the region.
The funeral has become a major national event, with Iranian authorities organising a week-long series of ceremonies. After lying in state for senior officials and foreign dignitaries, Khamenei’s coffin was displayed under glass together with those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and his 14-month-old granddaughter.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of mourners—including soldiers, seminary students and civilians—filled the Mosalla complex, waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans condemning the United States and Israel. State media said the ceremony was extended by an hour due to the overwhelming turnout.
Despite widespread expectations, Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend the funeral and no official photographs or video of him have been released since the attack that claimed his father’s life.
According to sources close to his inner circle, Mojtaba was reportedly injured during the strike, suffering serious facial injuries and significant damage to one or both legs. His continued absence has intensified public curiosity, with many mourners expressing disappointment that they were unable to see the country’s new Supreme Leader.
One woman interviewed by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said she had waited until the last moment in the hope Mojtaba would appear, describing it as her only wish during the ceremony.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf were among senior leaders who attended the prayers. During the emotional service, Masoud Khamenei was seen wiping away tears with a traditional keffiyeh as funeral prayers were recited.
Authorities estimate that millions are expected to participate in funeral processions throughout the week. Following ceremonies in Tehran, Khamenei’s remains will be taken to the holy city of Qom, before travelling to the Shi’ite shrines of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. His final burial will take place in Mashhad, near the shrine of one of Shi’ite Islam’s revered Imams.
The conflict that claimed Khamenei’s life reportedly killed more than 3,000 people, including senior Iranian political and military figures, while causing extensive damage to military facilities and critical infrastructure.
Although a ceasefire remains in place, tensions continue to simmer across the region. Iran has described the agreement as a strategic victory, while the interim deal has reportedly led to the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and temporary relief from some financial sanctions. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said ongoing peace negotiations had been briefly paused to allow the funeral events to take place.
