Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin was carried through Tehran on Monday, prompting road closures and disruptions across the capital. The weeklong funeral continues toward burial Thursday, but Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of public view—somet
Iran began carrying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s coffin through Tehran on Monday, launching the largest public procession of the weeklong funeral before his burial later this week.
The procession unfolded without a public appearance by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since succeeding his father as supreme leader.
Authorities closed major roads. restricted airspace and suspended much of normal activity across Tehran as Khamenei’s flag-draped coffin was carried through the capital on a truck alongside the coffins of family members killed in the same February airstrike. The funeral will continue with ceremonies in other cities before Khamenei is buried Thursday.
The funeral schedule has also delayed the next round of talks between Iran and the United States over a permanent end to the war, Tehran’s nuclear program and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have said those negotiations will not resume until the funeral ceremonies are over.
Sunday’s funeral prayers brought together President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and several of Khamenei’s sons, all making public appearances after the war. Mojtaba Khamenei was not among them.
Iran’s new supreme leader has not appeared publicly since taking power after the U.S.-Israeli strike that killed his father in February. Multiple news organizations have reported he has remained out of public view because of security concerns after Israel threatened senior Iranian leaders during the conflict. Four months after taking over as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei still has not made a public appearance.
As the procession moved through Tehran, the funeral also reinforced the government’s message in the wake of the war. Crowds chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while some mourners called for retaliation over Khamenei’s death. Posters shown during the ceremonies called for the deaths of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The turnout appeared to rival some of the largest state funerals in modern Iran, including the 2020 funeral for Gen. Qassem Soleimani, though Iranian authorities have not released an official crowd estimate. Iranian officials have repeatedly described Khamenei’s death as martyrdom and have tied the funeral to themes of resistance and revenge.
Ceremonies run through Thursday before Khamenei is buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad.
Iran politics Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei Tehran funeral U.S.-Iran talks nuclear program Strait of Hormuz Masoud Pezeshkian Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf Revolutionary Guard
So they’re closing roads for a coffin but the talks are delayed too? wild.
I don’t get how the son is “hidden” if it’s all just security. Maybe he’s sick or something? Either way, chanting Death to America feels like it’s gonna start something.
They said Mojtaba stays out of public view because of security after Israel threatened him… but isn’t that like, the whole point? Like why would he ever come out then. Also the truck with family coffins made it sound kinda fake like a parade.
This is crazy that the coffin procession delays U.S.-Iran negotiations, like meetings can’t happen while people are mourning. And posting “Death to Trump” posters is just gonna make everything worse. I saw somewhere else that he’s missing because of a coup or something though, so idk.