Mojtaba Khamenei absent from father's funeral as Iran mourns slain supreme leader

A nation mourns

The funeral of Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for over three decades, entered its second day on Sunday at Tehran's Grand Mosalla complex. Three of his sons, Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud, prayed beside his coffin, alongside the coffins of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter, all killed in the same 28 February US-Israeli strike. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Revolutionary Guard commander General Vahidi attended the prayers, which were led by 97-year-old Ayatollah Ja'far Sobhani. State television broadcast images of the emotional sons wiping away tears.

The missing successor

Noticeably absent was Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old new supreme leader, who has not been seen in public since the attack. Sources close to his inner circle told Reuters he suffered severe facial disfigurement and significant leg injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had previously warned him against public appearances. The regime has not explained his absence, and he communicates only through attributed statements. A young woman at the funeral told state news agency Tasnim, "Until the last moment before the prayer began, I was telling people around me that I hoped Mojtaba Khamenei himself would be there. That was our only wish."

Anger and calls for revenge

The ceremony mixed grief with open calls for vengeance. Poet Mohammad Rasouli, who hosted the event, asked the crowd over loudspeakers, "Why is the biggest bastard in the world still alive?", a direct reference to US President Donald Trump. The crowd chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," and banners reading "Kill Trump" were visible. A 42-year-old nurse, Ziba Naderi, said Iran must follow whatever Mojtaba orders, adding, "I heard the call for revenge, but our leader must..." (her sentence was cut off in the report).

Why is the biggest bastard in the world still alive?

He was a father to all of us. With his death, we are all orphans. Our pain is immense.

Fragile peace on hold

The funeral unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile peace. After more than 100 days of war following the February attack, a framework agreement was reached in mid-June, but final terms remain elusive. President Trump stated that negotiations are suspended during the funeral period. The ceremonies are intended as a show of strength, with authorities expecting 15 to 20 million attendees in Tehran alone. The metro system recorded 7 million trips between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The road to Mashhad

Khamenei's coffin will remain on display at the Grand Mosalla until Monday, followed by a procession through Tehran and stops in several Iranian and Iraqi cities. The burial is scheduled for Thursday in the holy city of Mashhad, his birthplace. Sunday and Monday have been declared national holidays to accommodate the crowds. Temperatures again exceeded 35°C, with attendees being misted or sprayed with hoses to cope with the heat.