Iranians on Thursday buried the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the country’s holiest shrine in the city of Mashhad, with his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, still away from public view after reportedly being disfigured in the joint US-Israeli strikes earlier this year.
Regional tensions overshadow the mourning period
The burial of Ali Khamenei in northeast Iran comes after a week of mass funeral processions, mourning and rallies across the country amid renewed hostilities in the West Asia region between the United States and Iran, threatening the ceasefire and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The truck carrying the coffins of the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family makes its way through mourners during the funeral procession toward Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo)
Solemn procession moves through Mashhad streets
Khamenei’s body was carried through the Mashhad streets in a truck slowly towards the Shrine of Imam Reza, with clerics walking on either side. Mourners, carrying Iranian flags and photographs of the slain supreme leader, were walking close behind the truck, Reuters reported.
VIDEO | Iran: Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei leads prayer at funeral procession of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad.
(Source: Telewebion)
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/yf32xZ4Ab8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2026
Culmination of a cross-border commemorative circuit
Khamenei’s burial marks a culmination of a week-long funeral procession in Iran and Iraq. Leaders in Tehran have been encouraging the Iranians to attend the event in order to highlight the ideological might of the Islamic Republic, Reuters reported.
VIDEO | Iran: Coffin of the late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei transported to the Imam Reza Shrine using helicopter.
(SOURCE: PRESS TV/TELEGRAM)
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/JCjRw6zhU2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 9, 2026
Anti-American chants and explicit threats to trump
As crowds moved in Mashhad, they shouted slogans demanding revenge on US President Donald Trump for the killing of Ali Khamenei. “I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!” the crowd shouted while showing placards that read “Kill Trump.”
Ongoing secrecy surrounding Mojtaba’s welfare
However, questions have remained over the suspicious absence of Mojtaba Khamenei from the funeral procession of his father. Mojtaba has not appeared in public since the US-Israel launched their offensive against Iran in February.
The current Supreme Leader of Iran has issued statements, though no video, photo, or voice recording of him has been issued till now.
(with inputs from agencies)
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