TEHRAN, Iran – Three sons of slain former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared publicly during state funeral prayers in Tehran on Sunday, while his successor and son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, remained absent from the highly watched ceremony, drawing renewed attention to his prolonged absence from public view.
Iranian state television showed Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud Khamenei standing in prayer beside the coffins of their father and four other family members at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, one of Tehran’s largest religious complexes. The funeral marked the beginning of a week-long series of ceremonies honoring Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28 that triggered a wider regional conflict.
Noticeably absent was Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed Iran’s third Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts in March following his father’s death. Iranian authorities have not provided an official explanation for his absence from the funeral, although people familiar with his inner circle have told Reuters that he sustained serious injuries during the same airstrike and remains under strict security protection. Reports indicate concerns over possible assassination attempts have kept the new leader out of public view.
The funeral prayers were attended by senior political, military and religious leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran, many carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei while chanting slogans condemning the United States and Israel. Officials presented the ceremony as a demonstration of national unity and resilience following months of war and political upheaval.
The coffins of Khamenei and four members of his family were placed side by side in the vast courtyard of the Grand Mosalla, where mourners filed past to pay their respects. Iranian state media said the funeral ceremonies will continue over several days, with planned processions through the holy city of Qom before the remains are taken to the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. Khamenei is scheduled to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad near the revered Imam Reza Shrine, concluding nearly a week of national mourning.
Iranian authorities have mobilized extensive security for the funeral events. Earlier this week, military officials warned the United States and Israel against launching any attacks during the ceremonies, saying Iran would respond forcefully to any aggression. The warnings came as tensions remain high despite a fragile ceasefire that ended weeks of fighting between Iran, Israel and the United States.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s continued absence has fueled international speculation about both his health and his ability to consolidate authority following one of the most significant leadership transitions in the Islamic Republic’s history. While Iranian officials have emphasized continuity and stability, analysts say his lack of public appearances has become one of the defining questions surrounding the country’s post-Khamenei leadership.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei served as Iran’s supreme leader for more than three decades after succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. His death during the February airstrike marked one of the most consequential developments in the Middle East in recent years, reshaping Iran’s political leadership and further escalating regional tensions.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
