Tehran holds funeral for former supreme leader as successor stays away
Large crowds loyal to the Islamic Republic gathered in Tehran for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a joint US-Israeli strike. His son and successor, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, was notably absent.
On Sunday, Tehran witnessed a massive funeral ceremony for Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike at the start of the war. Thousands of supporters of the Islamic Republic attended the event. Three of his sons — Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam — were present, but his second son and designated successor, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, was conspicuously absent.
Iranian state media reported that six days of ceremonies will take place across several locations in Iran and neighbouring Iraq, before the late ayatollah is laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday.
The BBC's chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet, is reporting from Tehran under the condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service. These restrictions apply to all international media organisations operating in Iran.
