Before the final burial, mourning processions, massive gatherings, and special religious rituals were held with Khamenei's body in various historical and religious cities of Iran and Iraq for a full week. After passing through Tehran, Qom, and the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, his body was finally brought to Mashhad, where millions of people poured onto the streets.
On Thursday morning local time, thousands of people took to the streets of Mashhad. The grieving crowd paid their final respects to Khamenei, holding Iran's national flag, pictures of the late leader, and placards bearing revolutionary slogans.
A section of the angry crowd participating in the burial ceremony expressed intense anger against US President Donald Trump and chanted revengeful slogans. At that time, placards reading 'Kill Trump' were also seen in the hands of many. The gathered crowd directly blamed the US administration for the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and pledged to take severe revenge.
According to analysts, as 'martyrdom' or sacrifice holds special importance in Shia religious tradition, Iran views Khamenei's death in a foreign attack as highly symbolic and significant, both nationally and politically.
Meanwhile, after Khamenei's death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as Iran's new Supreme Leader. However, despite succeeding to the top post, he has not yet appeared in public.
Iranian sources claim that Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured in an attack on February 28. In that attack, his face was disfigured and he sustained deep wounds on various parts of his body. He is currently under intensive medical care and is not being brought before the public due to high security reasons. Since assuming his new responsibilities, he has only sent written messages, and no new photos, videos, or audio messages of him have been released so far.
The late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assumed the position of Iran's Supreme Leader after the death of Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. For 37 consecutive years, he was the central focus of the country's political, military, and economic power.
During his rule, the country's elite military branch, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), became one of the most influential and powerful institutions in the state. International political analysts believe that Mojtaba Khamenei was elected as the next Supreme Leader primarily based on the strong support and power of the IRGC.