Three sons of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei participated in funeral prayers on Sunday, July 5, 2026, but Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as supreme leader, was notably absent. State television showed Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei praying behind the coffins of their father and four other family members at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Background of the Attack
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several family members were killed in an airstrike on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran. The conflict lasted several weeks before a shaky ceasefire was reached, causing widespread death and destruction across the region. Iran's theocratic government, backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, remains in power.
Funeral Processions and Public Mourning
The Islamic Republic has declared a week of mass funeral processions for Khamenei, including taking his remains to Shiite religious sites in neighboring Iraq. After a day of lying in state for senior Iranian leaders and foreign officials, Khamenei's coffin was displayed outdoors on Saturday under glass, alongside those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter. On Sunday, tens of thousands of mourners, including soldiers, seminary students, and ordinary citizens, filed into the Mosalla to pay their respects, waving flags emblazoned with promises of revenge against America and Israel. Others prayed in unison at the complex named after Iran's first supreme leader, Khomeini, whom Khamenei succeeded in 1989.
No Sightings of Mojtaba
There has been no public sighting or image released of Mojtaba Khamenei, who is said to have been injured in the attack that killed his father and other family members. According to people close to his inner circle, Mojtaba's face was disfigured, and he suffered a significant injury to one or both legs. One disappointed mourner told the semi-official Tasnim news agency, "Until the last moment, before the prayer began, I kept telling those around me that I hoped (Mojtaba Khamenei) himself would come. That was our only wish."
Ceasefire and Economic Implications
A ceasefire has suspended the four-month-old war under an agreement with Washington that Iran's authorities say will ultimately bring huge economic benefits, described as a victory over a superpower. During the war, more than 3,000 people were killed, including many of Iran's most senior politicians and military commanders. Military bases and major infrastructure projects were destroyed, causing billions of dollars in damage. However, Iran successfully struck US bases in the region, inflicted pain on Gulf Arab countries, and asserted control of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a spike in global energy prices. US President Donald Trump said this led him to push faster for peace. The interim deal includes the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets held abroad and waivers from financial sanctions.
Presence of Iranian Officials
On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf prayed behind the coffins. Masoud Khamenei was seen crying and wiping his tears with a keffiyeh, the chequered scarf symbolizing militant revolutionary ideals and solidarity with Palestinians, as an imam recited funeral prayers.
Massive Turnout in Tehran
Crowds of Iranians, many weeping and beating their chests, thronged the Mosalla, including overnight. The Iranian metro railway network reported 7 million trips from late Saturday to Sunday morning as people flocked to the center. After a massive procession in central Tehran on Monday, the remains will be taken to the seminary city of Qom for ceremonies on Tuesday. From there, the body will be flown to Iraq for ceremonies in Najaf and Kerbala on Wednesday, returning to Iran on Thursday for another procession in Mashhad, where Khamenei will be buried near the tomb of a medieval Shiite imam. Authorities plan to mobilize millions of people for big processions over the coming days, offering transport, food, and lodging.
