Tehran, July 5: Iran began the official funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Sunday. Large crowds, senior government leaders, and members of Khamenei’s family attended the prayers held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque complex.
Khamenei’s three sons, Mustafa, Massoud, and Maysam Khamenei, stood beside their father’s coffin during the funeral prayers. The coffin was draped with the Iranian national flag and his traditional black turban.
The coffins of Khamenei’s daughter Bushra, his daughter in law, son in law, and 14 month old granddaughter, who reportedly died alongside him in a February airstrike, were also placed nearby. Massoud Khamenei became emotional during the ceremony.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and IRGC Commander in Chief Ahmad Vahidi attended the funeral prayers along with other senior officials.
However, Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father, was not seen during the official funeral prayers.
The funeral marks the beginning of the final rites for the leader who headed Iran from 1989 until 2026.
