The funeral of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei commenced on Sunday as thousands of mourners entered the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran after waiting through the night. State TV showed three of his sons — Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud — praying beside his coffin. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son who succeeded him as supreme leader, was notably absent from the ceremony.
The six-day funeral procession comes more than four months after Khamenei was killed in February by the first airstrike of a war launched by the US and Israel, ending his 37-year reign. The event is drawing unprecedented crowds, with early estimates suggesting up to 30 million people may attend events across Iran and neighboring Iraq.
Mourners are expected to gather at Shia religious sites in Iraq as part of the week-long observances. The coffins of four other family members were also present during the prayers, according to state media. The scale of the funeral reflects deep public devotion to the theocratic state and revolutionary zeal, even amid ongoing war.
The absence of the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has drawn attention, raising questions about security concerns or internal political dynamics. His brothers took the lead in the public ceremonies, signaling a potential shift in the family's public posture during this period of national mourning and conflict.
The funeral's massive turnout underscores the enduring influence of Khamenei's legacy, even as Iran navigates the realities of war and leadership transition. Analysts note that the event serves both as a religious observance and a display of national unity under pressure.