Tehran (AFP) - Large crowds participated on Sunday in prayers over the body of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on the second day of his funeral ceremony, which was attended by three of his sons, while his son Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared since assuming the position to succeed his father, was absent.

Published on: 05/07/2026 - 07:23 Last updated: 05/07/2026 - 18:02

For the second day in a row, crowds gathered in the courtyards of Tehran's Grand Mosque and its surroundings, while Ayatollah Jaafar Sobhani (97 years old) led prayers over the bodies of Khamenei and four members of his family who were killed with him in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that ignited the war in the Middle East.

The funeral ceremony, which will continue until Thursday, comes at a pivotal stage for the leadership of the Islamic Republic, which desires to present a scene that reflects its cohesion and the solidity of its popular base after severe challenges represented by the twelve-day war with Israel in June 2025, the popular protests in early 2026, and then the unprecedented war with the United States and the Hebrew state. The recent war witnessed a ceasefire reinforced by a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, paving the way for discussions aimed at concluding a final agreement.

A number of senior Iranian officials appeared in the first row near Khamenei's coffin, on which his black turban was placed, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the Shura Council and chief negotiator Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Major General Ahmed Vahidi, and Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force in the Guard.

Three of the late guide’s sons, Masoud, Mustafa and Maitham, also participated in the prayer, according to scenes broadcast on state television. The most prominent family absence was the second son, Mujtaba (56 years old), who officials confirmed was injured during the war, while his wife was killed in the same strikes.

Since his election as Supreme Leader to succeed his father in early March, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, and has only issued written statements attributed to him.

In addition, the former presidents of the republic in Iran, Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Hassan Rouhani, did not appear at the funeral on Sunday, whose relationship with Khamenei witnessed differences during certain stages.

Qalibaf, who leads the negotiating team with the United States and occupies a key position in the leadership hierarchy in the post-Ali Khamenei era, praised on the

Iranian Army Commander Amir Hatami told state television that he pledged to the new Iranian leader "that we will not leave the necks of those who caused the martyrdom of our leader without prosecution and accountability."

Khamenei has led the Islamic Republic since the death of the founding Imam Khomeini in 1989, and, ex officio, had the final say on the country's senior policies.

"Great sadness"

The prayer site and the streets surrounding it were crowded with crowds, according to Agence France-Presse reporters.

Iranian flags and red flags symbolizing revenge were raised among the crowds, and some participants carried pictures of Khamenei, father and son. Along the way, refreshments were distributed to those present, while water was sprayed on them under the summer sun and the temperature exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.

Mohammad Mir Salehani, a 38-year-old cleric, said, "He (Ali Khamenei) was a father to all of us, and with his passing we have become orphans. Our sadness is great."

Iranian families spent part of the day sitting in the sanctuary of the prayer hall, where recitations from the Qur’an and religious and patriotic chants were sung, according to what AFP reporters reported.

Huge concrete blocks separate the audience from the coffins of Khamenei and his family members, while slogans praising the “hero Khamenei” and calling for revenge against US President Donald Trump were raised on them. In front of the dome of the sprawling prayer hall, many took pictures in front of giant posters of the deceased from the various stages of his life.

The coffin is scheduled to remain laid out until Sunday evening, before it is prepared for the funeral procession scheduled for Monday through the streets of the capital.

The authorities declared Sunday and Monday an official holiday, and say they expect between 15 million people and twenty million people to attend in Tehran alone.

After Monday's procession in Tehran, the coffin is scheduled to be transported to the city of Qom, south of the capital, and from there to Iraq, with the burial ceremony being held on Thursday in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran, Khamenei's hometown.

The ceremony officially began on Saturday, after Khamenei's coffin and his family members were placed in Tehran's Grand Chapel starting Friday. The first day was devoted to Iranian officials and regional and foreign delegations paying tribute to the body.

Delegations representing factions allied to Tehran in the region, including the Palestinian Hamas movement, also participated in the greeting.

The Hamas delegation, led by the Chairman of the Leadership Council, Muhammad Darwish, met on Sunday with Qalibaf, who assured his guests that Tehran “has not concluded peace with America and will not recognize” Israel.

Ali Khamenei led Iran for more than three decades until his death at the age of 86. His funeral was scheduled for March, but was postponed due to the war.

© 2026 AFP

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