Three sons of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared at funeral prayers in Tehran on Sunday, while his successor and son, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remained absent from public view following reports he was injured in the airstrike that killed his father.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several relatives, was killed in an airstrike on 28 February after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.
The conflict lasted several weeks before ending in a fragile ceasefire, leaving widespread destruction across the region while Iran's theocratic government remained in power.
The Islamic Republic has organised a week of nationwide funeral ceremonies for Khamenei, culminating in processions across Iran before his remains are taken to Shi'ite holy sites in neighbouring Iraq.
Following a private lying-in-state attended by senior Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries, Khamenei's coffin was displayed under glass on Saturday alongside those of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and his 14-month-old granddaughter.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of mourners, including military personnel, seminary students and civilians, gathered at Tehran's Mosalla prayer complex to pay their respects.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the 28 February attack. People close to his inner circle told Reuters he suffered facial disfigurement and significant injuries to one or both legs during the strike.
Iranian authorities have portrayed the ceasefire agreement reached with Washington as a strategic victory that they say will ultimately deliver substantial economic benefits.
More than 3,000 people were killed during the conflict, including many of Iran's most senior political and military figures. Military installations and major infrastructure sustained billions of dollars in damage.
Iran also launched attacks on United States military bases across the region, disrupted Gulf states hosting American forces and asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to a sharp rise in global energy prices.
United States President Donald Trump has said the surge in energy prices accelerated efforts to secure a ceasefire.
The interim agreement reached last month includes the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and waivers from financial sanctions that had severely weakened Iran's economy.
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf joined funeral prayers behind the coffins on Sunday.
Masoud Khamenei was seen weeping during the ceremony, wiping away tears with a keffiyeh as an imam led prayers.
Authorities said crowds continued to stream into Tehran throughout the weekend, with the capital's metro network recording seven million passenger trips between late Saturday and Sunday morning.
A major funeral procession is scheduled through central Tehran on Monday before Khamenei's remains are transferred to the religious city of Qom on Tuesday.



