Iran: Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad, Mojtaba absent from prayers

The funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concluded Thursday in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran. The former Supreme Leader was buried in the Imam Reza shrine after six days of ceremonies.

According to Africanews, thousands of people recited funeral prayers in his honor. These were led by his son Mostafa Khamenei, while Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, was absent.

Mojtaba Khamenei was absent from the prayers

The absence of Mojtaba Khamenei marked the final day of the funeral. At such a symbolic moment for the Iranian regime, all eyes were on the man who succeeded his father as head of state.

But it was Mostafa Khamenei who led the prayers. Africanews did not specify the reason for Mojtaba's absence during this event. This information comes as Iran is undergoing a period of political transition and heightened regional tensions.

Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a US-Israeli airstrike, at the start of the Middle East war. His death ushered in a new phase for the Islamic Republic, after several decades at the helm of the state.

A burial at the mausoleum of Imam Reza

The choice of Mashhad has strong religious significance. The mausoleum of Imam Reza is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam and receives millions of pilgrims every year.

According to Africanews, Ali Khamenei is only the second Iranian leader to be buried in Mashhad in nearly 280 years. His burial there underscores the importance the authorities wish to place on his memory.

The ceremonies took place over several days and resulted in large gatherings. A photo taken in Karbala, Iraq, shows his coffin covered in flower petals and carried by a crowd in front of the mausoleum of Imam Hussein.

Persistent tensions between Iran and the United States

The burial takes place amid a still unstable regional climate. Africanews reports a resumption of hostilities between Iran and the United States, which is jeopardizing the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries.

Negotiations intended to resolve the crisis are set to resume after the period of mourning in Iran. Their resumption will be closely watched, as military and diplomatic tensions continue to weigh heavily on the Middle East.

The end of the funeral thus marks the close of a symbolic chapter, but it does not dispel the uncertainties. Mojtaba Khamenei's absence from the final prayers and the resurgence of regional tensions immediately place the succession and stability of Iranian power back at the center of attention.