Crowds gather as six-day funeral for former Iranian supreme leader begins

What Happened

The six-day funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei began at Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque, drawing thousands of mourners. Khamenei was killed by a US-Israeli airstrike on a government residence in Tehran on 28 February, along with several family members including his 14-month-old granddaughter. The event, designed to project defiance and a desire for revenge, featured Hezbollah flags, martyrdom banners, and clerics comparing Khamenei favorably to US President Donald Trump. The new Supreme Leader, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, was severely injured in the same strike and has not been seen publicly since his selection by the Assembly of Experts in March, issuing only written statements that distanced him from ceasefire talks while sanctioning their continuation. Iraq requested that Khamenei's body also be taken to Shia holy cities Karbala and Najaf.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The funeral serves as a regime-orchestrated display of resistance and unity against the US and Israel, reinforcing the narrative of martyrdom and vengeance that could fuel further escalation. The opaque succession to Mojtaba Khamenei—injured, unseen, and navigating ceasefire talks—raises critical questions about Iran's leadership stability and decision-making during an active conflict.

Watch For

Mojtaba Khamenei's first public appearance or detailed health updates; any retaliatory strikes by Iran or its proxies following the funeral; the impact of the succession crisis on the US-Israel-Iran conflict trajectory and ongoing ceasefire negotiations; the size and sentiment of crowds throughout the six-day procession, especially in Iraqi cities.