“Death to the U.S.”, thousands of Iranians bid a final farewell to Ali Khamenei, the absence of the former Supreme Leader’s son stands out at the ceremony

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Iranians gathered at a large religious complex in Tehran for the public funeral ceremony of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s late Supreme Leader, who led the Islamic Republic for 37 years.

Those in attendance were dressed in black and carried Iranian flags, as well as posters and photographs of Khamenei and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is mentioned as a possible successor at the head of the country.

In an emotionally charged atmosphere, Khamenei’s coffin was first placed in a closed tribute for senior Iranian and foreign officials. It was then moved to an open platform, where the public was able to see it from a distance, as the gathered crowd chanted: “Death to the U.S.”

Iranian media reported that in the same airstrike in which the supreme leader was killed, several members of his family were also killed, and their coffins were displayed together during the ceremony.

Attention has also been drawn to the prolonged absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the start of the conflict, even though official statements have insisted that his health condition is good. Nevertheless, speculation about his fate has also circulated in media circles.