Mourners Gather in Tehran for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's Funeral Amid Speculation
Absence of Mojtaba Khamenei Raises Eyebrows
On Sunday, Tehran witnessed a significant gathering as thousands of mourners and high-ranking officials came together to honor the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Notably absent was his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since he took over as supreme leader in March, following his father's passing in February. His absence has sparked rumors regarding his health, with some unverified claims suggesting he may have been injured during the US-Israeli strikes that resulted in his father's death. Ali Khamenei had been at the helm of the Islamic Republic since 1989 until his demise. The official funeral events commenced on Friday and are expected to extend throughout Iran and Iraq in the coming week, with estimates of 12 to 20 million participants anticipated for what has been termed the 'funeral of the century.'
The late leader's body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran, where senior Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani, a 97-year-old scholar from Qom, led the funeral prayers on Sunday. The day was declared a public holiday across Iran. Later, the body is set to be transported from the Grand Mosalla for a funeral procession through Tehran on Monday. These ceremonies are taking place amid heightened security concerns, with Iranian authorities reportedly worried that Israel might target Mojtaba Khamenei. Neither Israeli nor Iranian officials have commented on these concerns. A fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel is still in effect as discussions for a long-term peace agreement continue.
Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday that negotiations had been paused for a week due to the funeral events. He also remarked that with many of Iran's senior leaders gathered in one location, the US could eliminate them 'with one shot,' but added that they would refrain from doing so to maintain a negotiating partner. Trump expressed surprise at the public mourning for Khamenei, questioning, 'I thought people hated Khamenei. Maybe it's fake tears.'
During the funeral, chants calling for Trump's death were reportedly heard. Poet Mohammad Rasouli addressed the mourners, stating, 'Trump's murder is our responsibility.' Some attendees carried banners with slogans such as 'Kill Trump,' 'Kill Bibi'—referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—and 'We will avenge.'
Families of Victims Attend the Funeral
Among the large crowd were families of children who lost their lives in an attack on a girls' elementary school in Minab during the onset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Iranian sources claim that at least 175 civilians, predominantly students, were killed in the strike, which Iran attributes to a US Tomahawk missile. The United States has not acknowledged responsibility for the incident or released any investigation findings. The families traveled approximately 800 miles to Tehran to participate in the funeral prayers at the Grand Mosalla.
The attack on the Minab school occurred on February 28, the same day Ali Khamenei was killed at his leadership compound, along with several family members and senior Iranian officials. His coffin is displayed alongside those of four relatives who also perished in the strikes, including his one-year-old granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.