Inside Khameneis funeral: Revealing moments from a week of mourning

Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was laid to rest on 9 July after a week-long funeral procession following his assassination in a US-Israeli strike in February.

The 86-year-old leader, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, was succeeded by his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The funeral ceremonies, held across several cities in Iran and Iraq, drew millions of mourners, according to state figures.

Beyond the official displays of mourning, however, the events also revealed political messages and internal power dynamics.

Middle East Eye looks at some of the key moments:

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A Quranic verse that sparked controversy

On the first day of the funeral procession, as foreign diplomatic delegations stood before Khamenei's coffin, Quranic verses were recited at different stages of the ceremony. When Saudi and Qatari delegations were present, organisers selected a verse that many observers interpreted as carrying a political message.

As the Saudi delegation paid its respects, Verse 13 of Surah Al Imran was recited:

"Indeed, there was a sign for you in the two groups that met in battle: one group fighting in the cause of Allah and the other disbelieving. They saw them with their own eyes as twice their number. And Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Surely in this is a lesson for those who have insight."

The verse refers to the Battle of Badr, the first major battle between Prophet Muhammad's followers and the Quraysh of Mecca. Islamic tradition holds that the Muslims prevailed despite being heavily outnumbered and having fewer resources.

A political source told MEE that government officials were unhappy with what they viewed as a “deliberate selection” of the verse. The source said the choice had been orchestrated by the hard-line Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organisation.

The episode also sparked criticism on Iranian social media. A reformist politician told MEE that directing such a message at foreign guests was inappropriate, arguing that inviting diplomatic delegations requires showing respect rather than sending implicit warnings.

Hassan Khomeini's recitation

Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, attended the funeral alongside other members of the Khomeini family to pay tribute to Khamenei.

Khomeini left the funeral as Verse 95 of Surah An-Nisa was being recited for him. The verse contrasts believers who held back from fighting Allah's cause without legitimate reason with those who strive in God's cause, saying that the latter are granted a higher status and greater reward.

According to a source who spoke to MEE on condition of anonymity, Khomeini, who had long been rumoured as a possible successor to Khamenei, was unhappy with the Quranic recitation directed at him and left the ceremony earlier than expected.

However, Khomeini and his brothers later attended funeral ceremonies in Mashhad and Qom.

Mojtaba Khamenei's health and the message from his brothers

Khamenei's three other sons – Mostafa, Masoud and Meysam – appeared at most of the funeral ceremonies.

Their appearances appeared intended to send a broader message. All three looked healthy, with no visible bruises or scars on their faces or hands. Together with other signals from the ceremonies, their public presence appeared designed to reassure both the Iranian public and the outside world that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, in good health and capable of carrying out his duties.

Speculation over Mojtaba's condition has persisted since his appointment in early March, fuelled by rumours that he was wounded in the same US-Israeli air strikes that killed his father and other family members.

A senior source told MEE that Mojtaba is in good health and that reports about his condition had been exaggerated. The source said he had sustained injuries only to his feet, along with some facial scarring, both of which were recovering well.

Mostafa Khamenei's unexpected public role

Mostafa Khamenei, the eldest son, maintained a prominent public profile throughout the ceremonies, including events in Iraq. He also led the funeral prayer before Khamenei's burial at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.

During the ceremonies in Iraq, Mostafa met the sons of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the leading Iraqi Shia cleric, further raising his public profile.

His increased visibility has fuelled speculation that he may assume a larger political role in the future.

A senior cleric told MEE that Mostafa had studied extensively in Qom's seminaries but had stayed out of politics during his father's lifetime because he had little interest in entering public life.

Javadi Amoli's eulogy

Grand Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli, one of Iran's most senior clerics, used unusually elevated language during the funeral prayer for Khamenei in Qom, going beyond the customary expressions typically reserved for the deceased.

His remarks drew widespread attention from both the media and social media users.

According to a cleric who spoke to MEE, Javadi Amoli was conveying not merely that he had "seen nothing but goodness" in Khamenei, but that the late leader had attained a higher spiritual status in God's eyes and had died as a martyr in the path of Islam.

Ali Asghar Hejazi finally emerges

The presence of Ali Asghar Hejazi, widely regarded as the second most influential figure in Khamenei's office, also attracted significant attention. Hejazi appeared healthy despite earlier reports claiming that he had either been killed or seriously wounded.

Following the succession process, speculation emerged that Hejazi did not have a close relationship with Mojtaba Khamenei and had instead favoured other candidates for the leadership.

Mohammad Reza Bahonar, a member of the Expediency Council, told local media that shortly after Khamenei's death, Hejazi attended a session of the Assembly of Experts and conveyed the late leader's views on the involvement of his children in politics.

"The late Imam never held any negative view toward Mr Mojtaba, but he emphasized that, according to both law and Islamic jurisprudence, the supreme leader does not choose his own successor. This is the religious and legal responsibility of the Assembly of Experts,” Bahonar said.

A source told MEE that Hejazi's appearance at the funeral was likely intended to project unity and dispel speculation about internal divisions.

The source added that Mojtaba had offered Hejazi a senior position, but that he declined, saying he wanted time away after decades of service.

Principlists target Iran's negotiators

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian all faced hostility from principlist supporters during the funeral events.

Some participants chanted slogans condemning the officials over negotiations with the US. In one incident, they reportedly confronted Araghchi, shouting "scumbag" and throwing stones at him.

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