Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran on Sunday to pay their respects to slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four family members killed in a February 28 airstrike. Three of his sons—Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei—prayed beside the coffins at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, but his successor and son Mojtaba Khamenei was notably absent. State TV showed the brothers behind the coffins as crowds waved flags vowing revenge against America and Israel.
Details of the Attack and Aftermath
The United States and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28, killing Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter in an airstrike. The conflict raged for weeks before a shaky ceasefire was reached. The Islamic Republic has staged a week of mass funeral processions, including taking Khamenei's remains to Shi'ite religious sites in Iraq. On Saturday, the coffins were displayed under glass for senior leaders and foreign officials. On Sunday, tens of thousands of soldiers, seminary students, and civilians filed into the Mosalla, with the farewell ceremony extended by an hour to 10 p.m. due to high turnout, state media reported.
Mojtaba Khamenei's Absence and Injury
No public sighting or image of Mojtaba Khamenei, the new supreme leader, has emerged. Sources told Reuters he was injured in the attack, with his face disfigured and significant leg injuries. A mourner told Tasnim news agency she had hoped to see him: "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 Impact
A ceasefire suspended the four-month-old war under an agreement with Washington. Iran's authorities say it will bring huge economic benefits, calling it a victory over a superpower. Over 3,000 people were killed, mostly Iranian and Lebanese civilians, with billions in damage to military bases and civilian infrastructure. Iran struck US bases in the region and asserted control of the Strait of Hormuz, spiking global energy prices. President Trump told Axios peace talks paused for the funeral week. The interim deal includes unfreezing billions in Iranian assets and waivers from financial sanctions.
Funeral Processions and Burial Plans
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf prayed behind the coffins. Masoud Khamenei wept and wiped tears with a keffiyeh as an imam recited funeral prayers. Crowds thronged the Mosalla overnight; the metro reported 7 million trips from late Saturday to Sunday morning. On Monday, a massive procession in central Tehran will be followed by ceremonies in Qom on Tuesday. The body will be flown to Najaf and Kerbala in Iraq on Wednesday, then to Mashhad for burial near a Shi'ite imam's tomb on Thursday. Authorities plan to mobilize millions with transport, food, and lodging.
