Three sons of Iran's slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered prayers beside his coffin and those of four other family members on Sunday, but his successor as supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear during the ceremony.
State television showed Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei standing in prayer behind the coffins, which were placed in the expansive courtyard of Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, one of the country's largest religious complexes.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several members of his family, was killed in an airstrike after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.
The conflict continued for several weeks before a fragile ceasefire was reached, leaving widespread destruction across the region while Iran's theocratic leadership, backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), remained in power.
As part of a week-long state funeral, Iranian authorities have organised a series of public processions for Khamenei, including plans to take his remains to major Shi'ite religious sites in neighbouring Iraq.
After lying in state indoors for senior Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries to pay their respects, Khamenei's coffin was moved outdoors on Saturday and displayed under a glass enclosure alongside the coffins of his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter.
Mojtaba Khamenei Remains Absent
Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran's supreme leader, has not made any public appearance since the February 28 attack, nor has any official image of him been released.
According to people familiar with his inner circle, speaking to Reuters, Mojtaba sustained serious injuries during the strike that killed his father and other family members. They claimed he suffered facial disfigurement as well as significant injuries to one or both legs.
One mourner expressed disappointment over his absence, saying she had hoped to see the new supreme leader during the funeral ceremonies.
She told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency that until the final moments before the funeral prayers began, she had continued hoping Mojtaba Khamenei would appear, describing it as her only wish.
A ceasefire has temporarily halted the four-month conflict under an agreement with Washington, which Iranian authorities have portrayed as a victory that they believe will ultimately deliver significant economic benefits.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told the news website Axios that peace negotiations had been paused for a week to accommodate the funeral events.
On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also participated in the funeral prayers. During the ceremony, Masoud Khamenei was seen in tears, wiping his eyes with a keffiyeh as an imam led the prayers.
Large Crowds Gather in Tehran
Thousands of Iranians continued to gather at the Grand Mosalla, with many mourners seen weeping and beating their chests as a sign of grief. According to the Tehran Metro, around seven million passenger journeys were recorded between late Saturday and Sunday morning as people travelled to central Tehran for the funeral.
Authorities have announced that a major funeral procession will take place through central Tehran on Monday before Khamenei's remains are taken to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday for additional ceremonies.
The funeral procession will then continue to the Iraqi shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday before returning to Iran on Thursday. Khamenei is scheduled to be buried in Mashhad near the shrine of one of the medieval Shi'ite Imams.
