Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been laid to rest after being killed in the early stages of the Iran war. He governed Iran for almost 37 years before his death in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that triggered the war on February 28. The burial took place in his hometown of Mashhad on Friday following several days of public mourning.
Khamenei is only the second leader of Iran to be interred in Mashhad. The first was Nader Shah in 1747, who was buried in the city after being assassinated following nearly 11 years in power. The funeral processions commenced on Saturday, with authorities closing down streets, airspace, and daily activities in Tehran, the capital of Iran, and other cities. The masses paid tribute to the man who led Iran for many years with a firm hand while facing off against the West.
Despite a ceasefire, tensions with the United States flared up again this week, with Iran maintaining control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and boasting about surviving a prolonged assault from its formidable adversaries.
Iranian officials are portraying Khamenei’s burial and the massive turnout at his funeral as a testament to the enduring popularity of their theocratic state and its deep-rooted ideological fervor nearly half a century after the 1979 Islamic revolution. However, Iran grapples with significant internal challenges, and the legacy of Khamenei’s rule is fiercely debated in a nation where numerous people have repeatedly protested against poverty and oppression in recent years.
Mojtaba Khamenei, who was declared the supreme leader by a clerical assembly a week after his father’s demise, has not been seen in public since the war began. He sustained severe injuries in the same attack that killed Ali Khamenei, with his face disfigured and limbs badly injured. Sources in Tehran indicate that he is recuperating but has not yet been fit enough for public appearances, with security services aiming to limit his exposure to potential U.S. attacks.
As the crowd gathered in Mashhad for Khamenei’s funeral procession, they vociferously demanded retribution against U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in the killing. Amidst chants praising Khamenei and denouncing Iran’s adversaries, including the familiar slogan “Death to America,” the roads leading to the shrine were filled with mourners clad in black.
The remains of Khamenei, along with those of four family members who perished with him, were paraded through various cities, drawing massive crowds who mourned with Shia laments and revolutionary slogans. The concept of martyrdom holds significant importance in Shia theology, and Khamenei’s demise at the hands of foreign foes aligns with a deep-rooted religious and political tradition within the Islamic Republic.
The funeral marks a crucial juncture for Iran, marking the end of nearly four decades of Khamenei’s rule and coming after recent mass protests against the regime. Despite emerging strategically strengthened from the war, Iran has faced substantial damage alongside existing economic challenges. Khamenei, who assumed the position of supreme leader in 1989, concentrated political, economic, and military power in his office over the years, collaborating closely with the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which expanded its sway during his tenure. Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment, endorsed by the Guards, underscores their prominence in Iranian political and strategic circles.