Iran launched a multi-day state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the ongoing conflict, with ceremonies underway in Tehran drawing large public gatherings. The elaborate mourning rituals reflect the extraordinary political and religious significance of Khamenei's decades-long rule over the Islamic Republic.

Footage from inside Tehran showed crowds attending the funeral procession as Iranian state and religious institutions organized the extended series of memorial events. The scale of the ceremonies underscores the profound transition now facing the Iranian government, which must navigate a leadership succession under wartime conditions.

Among the notable details emerging from the funeral was the reported absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Supreme Leader's son, who has been frequently named as a potential candidate to succeed his father. While other sons of Khamenei were present at the proceedings, Mojtaba's absence drew attention given the intense speculation surrounding Iran's next leadership selection. The circumstances of his absence were not immediately clarified by Iranian authorities.

The death of Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, represents one of the most consequential political ruptures in the country's modern history. Iran's Assembly of Experts holds the constitutional authority to select a new Supreme Leader, though the process of doing so amid active conflict presents unprecedented challenges for the Islamic Republic's governing structure.