In Tehran, a tightly choreographed display of grief and defiance unfolded as three sons of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei appeared publicly at his funeral — while the man named to succeed him, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained conspicuously absent.
For a second straight day, crowds numbering in the thousands packed the Grand Mosalla religious complex for funeral ceremonies for Khamenei and four family members killed on 28 February in Israeli airstrikes based on US intelligence.
The funerals are not only laying to rest the figure who led the Islamic republic for more than three-and-a-half decades; they are also being used by authorities as a public test of endurance after five weeks of war with Israel and the US. Iran’s theocratic system, in place since 1979, survived the conflict despite the loss of key figures, and officials have leaned heavily on the ceremonies to project resilience.
Parliament speaker and chief negotiator with the US Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, among the most prominent faces of the post-Ali Khamenei era, wrote on X that the “proud and invincible nation of Islamic Iran unanimously” had paid tribute to its “martyr”.
Organisers have scheduled a funeral procession tomorrow in Tehran, followed by ceremonies in the clerical hub of Qom on Tuesday and Iraq on Wednesday. The rites are set to culminate with burial in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Thursday.
Today’s proceedings drew attention for the presence of Ali Khamenei’s eldest son Mostafa and his two younger brothers, Masoud and Meysam — all clerics — making a rare public appearance.
The coffins of Khamenei and four family members also killed in the strikes were placed on a raised dais
‘Blessed end’
Yet the sight of the three brothers underscored what many in the crowd and across Iran have been watching for: no appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader shortly after his father’s killing and has not been seen in public since.
Officials have said Mojtaba was wounded in the airstrikes, though they have not clarified how serious the injuries are. Up to now, his communications have been limited to written statements.
Attention is expected to sharpen as the funerals continue, particularly on Thursday at the burial, when observers will be looking for any sign of Mojtaba Khamenei in public.
Also returning to view was Ahmad Vahidi, the new commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards. He attended the funerals for a second time today, appearing outdoors after remaining unseen throughout the war. His predecessor was killed in the 28 February strikes.
Esmail Qaani, the elusive head of the Guards’ Quds Force — which oversees foreign operations — also surfaced in a rare appearance. Speaking to Iranian TV, he said Khamenei’s “blessed end” came after a lifetime of “striving”.
Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, a senior cleric aged 97, recited the funeral prayer for Khamenei before the body was moved out of the complex ahead of tomorrow’s procession.
Authorities have said they expect more than 10 million people to take part in the ceremonies
‘Demand revenge’
The government, meanwhile, has sought to spotlight the scale of the turnout as evidence of mass support for the authorities after protests in January that rights groups say were suppressed in a crackdown that left thousands dead.
With a public holiday declared nationwide, mourners streamed into the sprawling complex, cooled by sprinklers as temperatures reached 35C. Above them, a giant portrait of Ali Khamenei dominated the scene.
Authorities have said they expect more than 10 million people to join the ceremonies in the capital.
Security was tight, and official media warned of the risk of crowd crushes. Medical centres were established around the site as the crowds swelled.
Both Washington and Tehran have warned they are ready to resume military action, and vengeance has been a major theme at the funerals
The Middle East war has paused under a ceasefire and an initial accord with the US. Still, both Washington and Tehran have warned they are prepared to resume military action, and calls for vengeance have echoed throughout the funeral rites.
“The killers (of Khamenei) must face punishment,” said a 38-year-old man who gave his surname as Miremadi as he attended the prayers.
“If our leaders are about to proceed with negotiations in this manner, our people will not agree with it,” he said.
“We’re here to show the world that we back our revolution and our leader, and we demand revenge for the blood of our loved ones,” said a 39-year-old woman who gave her surname as Bakand.
Crowds thronged the vast religious complex
Khamenei spent years steering Iran on a confrontational path with the West. Tehran has long backed anti-US and anti-Israel armed groups across the Middle East, including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Iranian state media reported that delegations from both groups met with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi yesterday. Representatives of Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Hamas ally Palestinian Islamic Jihad also attended the funeral ceremonies.
