Vast Crowds Mourn Former Supreme Leader in Tehran
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Vast Crowds Mourn Former Supreme Leader in Tehran
- Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran for the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026.
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as the third Supreme Leader of Iran in March 2026, but has been notably absent from his father's funeral.
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TEHRAN – Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are drawing vast crowds in Tehran, with authorities anticipating millions of participants throughout the multi-day event. Khamenei, 86, was killed on February 28, 2026, in a joint US-Israeli airstrike at the outset of the 2026 Iran war, an event that also claimed the lives of several family members and top security officials.
The funeral proceedings, which began on July 3 and are scheduled to continue until July 9, include processions in Tehran, Qom, and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, before his burial in Mashhad. Iranian state media reported that the official ceremony commenced around 6:00 AM local time on July 4 at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, with thousands gathering from early morning. The events have led to street and airspace closures, disrupting daily life in the capital.
Notably absent from the public ceremonies is Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late leader, who was appointed as Iran’s third Supreme Leader in March 2026. Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to have been wounded in the same airstrike that killed his father and has not made a public appearance since. Despite his absence, images of Mojtaba Khamenei are being displayed alongside those of his father at the funeral. His brothers, Mostafa, Masoud, and Meysam, have been seen attending the services.
The funeral serves as a powerful display of unity and defiance for the Islamic Republic amidst ongoing negotiations with the U.S. and regional tensions. Iranian officials and