Three of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s sons were seen in tears during the public funeral in Tehran
July 5, 2026: Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran as Iran held a public funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. Emotional scenes unfolded at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where Khamenei’s sons—Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud—were seen praying behind the coffins and breaking down in tears. The ceremony marked the second day of national mourning following the deaths of Khamenei and his relatives in an airstrike during the recent conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The Islamic Republic has organised a week-long series of funeral processions, describing them as a symbol of national unity and remembrance. After initially being displayed indoors for senior officials and foreign dignitaries, the coffins were later moved outdoors under glass for the public to pay their respects. Among those honoured were Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and his 14-month-old granddaughter, who were also killed in the attack.
One notable absence at the funeral was Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son and widely reported successor. There has been no confirmed public appearance by Mojtaba, with reports suggesting he was injured in the same strike. The funeral also witnessed calls for retaliation from some mourners, while large crowds continued to gather across Tehran. The ceremonies come after weeks of regional conflict that ended with a fragile ceasefire.