The funeral of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, has concluded. However, his son Mojtaba Khamenei's absence from the final burial ceremony has highlighted ongoing uncertainties surrounding Iran's power succession.
On July 9, local time, Khamenei's body was interred at the Imam Reza Shrine in northeastern Mashhad, according to reports from Reuters and other foreign media.
The funeral procession, which began on July 4 in Tehran, traversed major Iranian cities and Shiite holy sites in Iraq, concluding after six days.
Khamenei died on February 28 due to airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel.
The funeral attracted a large crowd, with attendees condemning the U.S. and Israel while calling for retaliation. Iran's leadership used the event to reinforce internal unity and demonstrate the regime's resilience.
In contrast, Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear in public throughout the funeral period. His absence from such a significant national event has raised questions about his health and actual control over state affairs.
Internal conflicts regarding negotiations with the U.S. also surfaced. President Masoud Fazekian, who signed a memorandum of understanding for peace, faced jeers from some in the crowd during the Tehran funeral march. This incident publicly revealed the rift between the government pursuing negotiations and factions demanding a hardline stance against the U.S.
The funeral took place amid renewed military confrontations between the U.S. and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing airstrikes and retaliatory actions have increased uncertainty surrounding future peace negotiations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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