Tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession of Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while the continued absence of his successor, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, fueled speculation over his security and health following the U.S.-Israeli strike that killed his father.
The procession marked the third day of a weeklong state funeral organized by the Iranian government to honor Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb. 28 during the opening hours of the war between Iran, Israel and the United States. The ceremonies are expected to conclude Thursday with his burial in his hometown of Mashhad after stops in the holy cities of Qom, Najaf and Karbala.
Drone footage broadcast by Iranian state television showed crowds stretching for miles as mourners accompanied trucks carrying the coffins of Khamenei and several members of his family who also died in the strike. Many participants waved Iranian flags, carried portraits of the late leader and chanted slogans calling for revenge against the United States and Israel.
Millions of Iranians took to the streets in 5 cities to mourn Ayatollah Khamenei.
— Power to the People ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) July 6, 2026
It’s one of the biggest funerals in history, completely debunking Trump’s lie that the people of Iran hate their government.
We will be dancing, not mourning, when Trump, Biden, and Netanyahu go. pic.twitter.com/QWVwnQdCel
One of the day's biggest talking points was the continued absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran's supreme leader following his death but has not appeared publicly during any of the funeral ceremonies. His disappearance has become one of the defining stories of the weeklong mourning period.
🇮🇷⚡️– The streets in Iran during the funeral preocession of Ayatollah Khamenei, crowds are so large that many cannot even reach the main area, the streets are filled with millions of people with no end. The largest funeral in recorded history. pic.twitter.com/cQRYJYeDC0
— MonitorX (@MonitorX99800) July 6, 2026
Iranian officials have attributed Mojtaba's absence to security concerns. According to Iranian representatives and multiple media reports, the country's new supreme leader was injured in the same attack that killed his father and remains under heavy protection amid fears Israel could attempt another targeted assassination.
Three of Ali Khamenei's other sons, Mostafa, Masoud and Meysam, made a rare public appearance during Sunday's memorial prayers at Tehran's Grand Mosalla mosque, standing alongside senior government officials, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and religious leaders. Mojtaba, however, did not attend.
The funeral has also become a platform for political messaging. Mourners carried banners depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while chants of "Death to America" and calls for retaliation echoed through the crowds. Some demonstrators displayed signs reading, "The U.S. killed our father. We won't let you go," underscoring the anger that continues to dominate public commemorations.
Iranian officials have portrayed the massive turnout as evidence of national unity despite months of war, economic hardship and international isolation. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf praised what he called the resilience of the Iranian people, saying the funeral demonstrated continued support for the Islamic Republic following the assassination of its longtime leader.
Ali Khamenei led Iran for nearly 37 years, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East. His death dramatically reshaped Iran's political landscape and elevated Mojtaba Khamenei to the country's highest religious and political office. However, the new supreme leader's prolonged absence has sparked continued speculation about his condition and how he intends to govern during one of the country's most volatile periods in decades.
Iranian authorities have announced that the funeral procession will continue across several cities before Khamenei is laid to rest Thursday in Mashhad, where officials expect millions more mourners to participate in the final ceremonies.
