Iran has begun the burial of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his hometown of Mashhad, marking the final stage of a week-long series of mass funeral processions across the country and in neighboring Iraq. According to reports from IRNA and state media, the ceremony takes place at the shrine of Imam Reza, as requested by the late leader.
The burial occurs as the Islamic Republic navigates a period of extreme institutional uncertainty following the February 28 strikes that killed Khamenei and several family members. While millions of mourners have participated in processions in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, and Karbala, the absence of the successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains a focal point of public concern. Officials have indicated that Mojtaba sustained injuries during the same air strikes that killed his father, though his condition and current location remain unverified.
The atmosphere surrounding the burial remains volatile. Despite a previously promised pause, the US and Iran have continued to exchange fire, including recent strikes on the Tehran-Mashhad railway line. Crowds in Mashhad have been recorded chanting slogans against US President Donald Trump, highlighting the intense domestic pressure on the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to respond to the ongoing conflict.
Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, head of the late leader’s office, confirmed that the burial proceeded despite logistical disruptions caused by the regional fighting. The transition of power and the security of the Iranian hierarchy now serve as the primary variables in the ongoing regional war.