Khamenei Laid to Rest, Son and Heir Apparent Mojtaba Conspicuously Absent
The funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drew tens of thousands of mourners in Tehran on Sunday, but the ceremony was overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. While state television showed three of Khamenei’s other sons—Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud—leading prayers beside the coffin at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, Mojtaba, widely considered the heir apparent to the theocratic throne, was nowhere to be seen. A mourner told Tasnim news agency of her disappointment at not being able to witness the emergence of the country’s new leader.
Khamenei and several family members were killed in a military strike on 28 February. Sources close to the inner circle have since told Reuters that Mojtaba survived the attack but sustained serious injuries, including facial wounds and damage to one or both legs, and has not yet recovered sufficiently to appear in public. No photographs of him have surfaced since the strike.
The week-long funeral rites served as a state symbol of respect for the man who led Iran since 1989. Following a private viewing for high-ranking officials and foreign dignitaries, the coffins of Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren were placed on public display. The massive turnout of soldiers, seminary students, and citizens waving banners calling for revenge against the United States and Israel forced the ceremony to be extended by an hour until 10 p.m. local time. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf were in attendance, with Khamenei’s son Masoud seen weeping during the funeral prayers.
As the nation mourns, Iran is entering a new political and economic chapter. The fragile ceasefire mediated by Washington is expected to bring potential economic relief, including the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and the easing of certain financial sanctions. US President Donald Trump told Axios that peace talks were paused for a week to honour the funeral proceedings. The body of the late supreme leader will be taken to the holy city of Qom before being flown to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, returning to Iran for final rites in Mashhad.