Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Laid to Rest in Mashhad Amid National Mourning

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid to rest in Mashhad following a week of mourning and massive funeral processions across Iran and Iraq. His burial was marked by significant public attendance, with millions participating in the ceremonies. However, the absence of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation regarding his health and safety following a recent attack. The ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States continue to loom over the mourning period, adding complexity to the national sentiment.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 10, 2026, 14:38 IST

Final Farewell to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

On Thursday, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was interred in his birthplace of Mashhad after a week filled with funeral processions, mourning events, and rallies across Iran and in neighboring Iraq. The concluding funeral prayer took place at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, officiated by Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, Ali Khamenei's eldest son.

The burial followed the transportation of his remains from Mashhad International Airport through the bustling streets of the city towards the Imam Reza Shrine. Mourners dressed in black, waving Iranian flags and holding images of the deceased leader, as well as red revolutionary banners, lined the procession route. This burial came after extensive funeral ceremonies held in Tehran, Qom, and the sacred cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq reported that over 2.3 million individuals participated in the funeral procession in Najaf alone. Iranian media outlets indicated that millions gathered in Tehran, marking it as the largest public assembly in the nation’s contemporary history. These ceremonies occurred amidst ongoing hostilities between Iran and the United States, despite a previously declared ceasefire during the mourning period.

Mojtaba Khamenei's Absence Raises Questions

Why Was Mojtaba Khamenei Missing from the Funeral?

Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear publicly during the funeral services in Mashhad and was absent throughout the mourning week for both his father and his wife. Iranian officials noted that he has not been seen in public since the Israeli airstrike on February 28, which resulted in injuries to him and the deaths of his father, Ali Khamenei, his wife Zahra Haddad-Adel, and other family members. His absence has been attributed to ongoing assassination threats. However, it has drawn attention as several other Khamenei family members, including his brothers Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud, attended the public mourning events alongside senior Iranian political figures and international dignitaries. The continued absence of Mojtaba Khamenei has sparked speculation regarding the severity of his injuries from the attack that claimed his father's life.