Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was notably absent from the funeral of his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic from 1989 until his death in February. The funeral, described by Iranian authorities as the "funeral of the century," drew an expected 12 to 20 million attendees.
Ali Khamenei's other three sons—Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam—attended the service alongside senior officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi. The late Ayatollah's body lies in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex, with a funeral service led by prominent Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since the US-Israel air strikes that killed his father at the outset of the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. Speculation about Mojtaba's condition persists, fueled by rumors that he was wounded in the same attacks. He has not appeared publicly since his appointment in early March.
The Associated Press and Guardian reported that mourners called for the death of US President Donald Trump during the funeral, with poet Mohammad Rasouli stating at a poetry recitation that "Trump's murder is our responsibility." Iranian official news agency Irna reported that over 4,000 people visited medical centers near the Grand Mosalla during the ceremonies, with no deaths recorded.
US President Donald Trump was quoted as saying Washington could eliminate many Iranian regime officials attending the funeral "with one shot," but added, "But we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with."
Following processions through Tehran, Khamenei's coffin will be moved to Qom, then to a significant Shia site in Iraq, before burial in his hometown of Mashhad.
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