Iran's slain religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies concluded at the country's most important Shiite shrine. According to Reuters, the convoy carrying Khamenei's body arrived at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad on Thursday.
During the ceremony, a large crowd carried a giant banner reading 'We Will Kill Trump.' Mourners chanted slogans demanding revenge against US President Donald Trump, accompanied by Iranian flags and photos of Khamenei.
Successor Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear in public
Mojtaba Khamenei, who was declared religious leader after his father's death, did not appear in public because his face was disfigured in the February 28 attack. Sources in Tehran reported that Mojtaba Khamenei is recovering but is not yet in a condition to appear before the public and is being kept under protection due to security concerns.
The bodies of Khamenei and four family members who died in the attack had previously been transported through ceremonies attended by large crowds in Tehran, Qom, and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The end of four decades of rule and Iran's future
The funeral coincided with a critical transition period for Iran. Khamenei's nearly four-decade leadership ended at a time when the country was shaken by economic sanctions and domestic protests. Security forces had violently suppressed mass demonstrations in the past.
Khamenei was appointed religious leader in 1989 and amassed political, military, and economic power over decades. During this period, the influence of the Revolutionary Guards grew, while elected institutions became increasingly marginalized. Mojtaba Khamenei is also said to have come to power with the support of the Guards, and this structure continues to be the dominant force in Iranian politics.
Analysts say that Iran maintains its regional strategic position but faces deep economic problems and widespread damage at home.
