Massive mourning ceremonies are being held in Tehran in memory of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the war with Israel and the US. His three sons — Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud — attended the ceremony, but Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear in public. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Iran's state television showed Khamenei's sons praying over the coffins of their father and four other family members at the Great Mosalla of Imam Khomeini religious complex in Tehran.
"Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei prayed over the coffins of their father and other family members, while Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear at the ceremony," Reuters reported.
According to the agency, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as supreme leader, has not appeared in public since the airstrikes on February 28. Reuters sources previously reported that he was seriously wounded in the attack, including injuries to his face and legs.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people came to bid farewell to Ali Khamenei. Among them were military personnel, students of religious institutions, and residents of the country. Many carried state flags and chanted slogans against the US and Israel.
The ceremony was attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and other high-ranking officials. The state organized a week of mourning with mass processions and religious ceremonies.
According to Reuters, after the procession in Tehran, Khamenei's remains will be transferred to the holy Shiite city of Qom, then to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, after which the body will be returned to Iran for burial in Mashhad near the shrine of Imam Reza.
The war between Iran, Israel, and the US lasted several weeks and ended with a ceasefire agreement. According to Iranian authorities, more than 3,000 people were killed in the conflict, military facilities and infrastructure were destroyed, and damage amounts to billions of dollars. Reuters notes that the truce provides for the unfreezing of part of Iran's assets abroad and the easing of financial sanctions.