Millions gather in Tehran for Ali Khamenei funeral amid successor's absence and stalled negotiations

Millions of people have gathered in Tehran to participate in the funeral procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The procession, which began on Monday, is part of a six-day, five-city mourning period that will conclude with his burial in the city of Mashhad on Thursday.

The ceremonies take place months after Khamenei was assassinated on February 28 during US-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran, an event that marked the start of the current war. The public rites have been marked by significant anti-Western sentiment, with crowds of mourners chanting for retaliation against the US and Israel, including specific calls for the death of Donald Trump.

While three of Khamenei's sons were seen during the ceremonies, his newly appointed successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was absent. Mojtaba was appointed as the new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts in March but has not made any public appearances since. According to statements from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other reports, Mojtaba was wounded and likely disfigured in the same February airstrike that killed his father, and is currently facing internal security concerns.

The official mourning period has directly affected international diplomacy. Current negotiations between the US and Iran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the status of Iran's nuclear program have reportedly been placed on hold until after the burial is completed later this week.

The widespread public demands for revenge, combined with the pause in diplomatic talks, demonstrate how the assassination of Ali Khamenei continues to destabilize an already volatile geopolitical landscape. With critical international negotiations stalled, the unexplained absence of the new Supreme Leader from his father's funeral adds a layer of uncertainty to Iran's immediate political future.