TEHRAN: A mass funeral prayer was held on Sunday in Iran’s capital, Tehran, for the country’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Mosque.
The ceremony drew hundreds of thousands of mourners, many of whom arrived in the early hours carrying Iranian flags. The prayer at the major religious complex was led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior military and political officials, and religious figures were among those in attendance.
Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28 and were followed by Iranian retaliation. The funeral ceremonies officially began on Friday, with foreign leaders and official delegations from across the region and beyond paying tribute to him.
According to the official schedule, public farewell ceremonies will be followed by a major funeral procession in Tehran on Monday. The rites will then move to Qom on July 7, followed by ceremonies in Iraq on July 8, including Baghdad, Najaf, and Karbala, where religious and political figures will receive the body before it is taken to major Shia shrines. The final burial is scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Ali Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites.
Three sons of the slain leader—Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei—were seen praying beside the coffins of their father and other family members during the ceremony on Sunday. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, widely reported as his successor, did not appear.
State television showed the three sons praying behind the coffins laid out in the courtyard of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, a vast religious complex in Tehran. The absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, who is said to have been injured in the same attack, was also noted, with no public image or confirmation of his condition released.
In a display of public devotion, Iran is holding a week-long series of mass funeral processions. Earlier, Khamenei’s coffin—along with those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter—was placed under glass in the open courtyard after a period of lying in state for senior officials and foreign dignitaries.
Tens of thousands of mourners gathered on Saturday to view the coffins, chanting, beating their chests, and waving flags of the Islamic Republic. Many carried portraits of Khamenei and his son and successor Mojtaba.
Reports said mourners expressed strong emotions, with chants such as “Death to America” echoing through the prayer complex. A participant, Arash Rahimi, stated that attendees had come to “avenge the blood” of the supreme leader, reflecting deep anger toward the United States.
Iranian state media described the funeral as a symbol of national unity and revolutionary resolve. The country’s leadership framed the ceremonies as part of a broader tradition of Shiite martyrdom, linking Khamenei’s death to historical religious narratives of sacrifice and mourning.
International reactions also emerged, including comments attributed to US President Donald Trump, who suggested that peace talks had been paused for a week due to the funeral events and remarked on the emotional scenes, questioning their authenticity. Iran’s embassy in Armenia strongly rejected his comments, accusing him of lacking “civilization, history, and honor.”
Analysts note that despite the large public turnout, it remains difficult to assess the depth of public sentiment across Iran, a country of around 90 million people, especially given past protests and government crackdowns.
The war that led to Khamenei’s death reportedly caused significant casualties, including senior officials and military commanders, and widespread infrastructure damage. However, Iran also claimed retaliatory strikes on US bases and asserted control over strategic areas, while a ceasefire agreement later followed.
The interim deal includes the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad and easing of some sanctions, which Iranian authorities say could bring economic relief.
Burial practices were delayed due to security concerns during the conflict, despite Islamic traditions requiring prompt burial. Authorities have planned large-scale mobilization for the upcoming processions, offering transport, food, and accommodation as the ceremonies continue across multiple cities in Iran and Iraq.