Khamenei Laid to Rest at Imam Reza Shrine; Successor Son Mojtaba Absent From Burial

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's second supreme leader, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, was buried in the early hours of Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. His state funeral, which began July 3 with processions through Tehran, Qom, and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, concluded after six days, with international media reporting millions of attendees across the ceremonies.

According to media reports, his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei, chosen by the Assembly of Experts as Iran's third supreme leader on March 9, 2026, was absent from his father's burial. Reports indicate Mojtaba was himself injured in the same strike that killed his father. His absence from the ceremony has added to uncertainty over the stability of Iran's leadership amid renewed military escalation with the United States.