Khamenei's Sons Attend Public Funeral as Successor Mojtaba Stays Away

Three sons of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made a rare public appearance on the second day of his funeral in Tehran, though his successor and other son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was again absent from the ceremonies.

Iranian state television showed Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud Khamenei praying behind coffins laid out in the vast courtyard of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, a sprawling religious complex in the capital.

Coffins on Public Display

Among the remains presented were those of Ali Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter. According to the source report, all were killed in an air strike on February 28, the opening day of what it described as the US-Israel war on Iran.

After a private lying-in-state ceremony attended by senior Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries, Khamenei's coffin was placed on public display outdoors on Saturday beneath a glass enclosure.

The absence of Mojtaba Khamenei from the mourning events is believed to be linked to Israeli threats against his life. He has not been seen or heard from publicly since his appointment as supreme leader in March, a decision many analysts attribute to concerns for his safety.

Crowds Call for Revenge

Large crowds gathered for the prayer ceremony amid heightened regional tensions and growing public demands for retaliation against the United States and Israel.

"Thousands and thousands of people are streaming through to pay their respects … they are carrying Iranian flags and also red flags symbolising a call for revenge," Al Jazeera's Tohid Asadi reported from Tehran. He added that chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" could be heard among the public.

"I came here to shout and seek revenge," Gholamreza Sabooni, a 29-year-old grocery store worker, told the AP news agency. "They killed our imam, we should kill their leader, [US President Donald] Trump."

Iran's highest-ranking political and military figures also attended the ceremony, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani.

A Week of Processions

The government has launched a week-long series of funeral processions for the late supreme leader in a display of public mourning and loyalty to the Islamic Republic.

His body is scheduled to travel through prominent Shia holy sites in neighbouring Iraq, including Karbala and Najaf, as well as Qom and Mashhad in Iran, where he will be buried.

Authorities described a large procession planned in central Tehran on Monday and said they intend to mobilise millions of people for major processions in the coming days, offering transport, food and lodging to mourners. Iran's metro authority reported about seven million passenger journeys between late Saturday and Sunday morning.

Mood of Mourning and Uncertainty

"The general mood here is of immense mourning and also a moment of reflection," said Al Jazeera's Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tehran. "Many people have turned up to show their solidarity, their consolidation with the establishment."

He noted that while some mourners hoped the transition would bring stability and security, others were "bracing for another round of confrontation."

Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the University of Applied Science and Technology in Tehran, said the message from attendees was unambiguous. "Iranians are not going to be fooled by talks or some kind of [memorandum of understanding]. They are awake. They know that the United States and Israeli animosity is not over," he told Al Jazeera.

As Iran marks a week of remembrance and a leadership transition unfolds under the shadow of regional conflict, the funeral has become a focal point for both grief and defiance. What do you think the coming days hold for Iran? Share this article and join the conversation.

Source: Al Jazeera English