Iran postpones Ali Khamenei funeral amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes

Iran postpones Ali Khamenei funeral amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes

Iranian authorities have postponed the funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as joint U.S. And Israeli military operations continue across the country. The three-day event, which was scheduled to begin at 22:00 local time on Wednesday, at the Grand Mosalla prayer complex in Tehran, has been delayed until a more appropriate time, according to Seyyed Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of the Islamic Propaganda Co-ordination Council of Tehran province.

Mahmoudi told the Tasnim news agency that the decision followed a high volume of requests from people wanting to attend and the need to prepare infrastructure to host the crowds. The delay also comes amid the potential threat of continued air strikes targeting mass gatherings of mourners. For context, approximately 10 million people attended the 1989 funeral of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old spiritual leader and highest authority in Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike at his compound in Tehran. The assault also killed his wife, one of his adult sons, and several top officials.

Succession and Security

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected every eight years, is tasked with choosing a successor. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of the body, stated on state TV that candidates have been identified and a conclusion is close, though he noted the country remains in a war situation.

Two sources told Reuters that Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric and son of the late leader, is the front-runner for the position. Mojtaba is described as a shadowy figure with significant wealth and power, maintaining close ties to conservatives and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, his appearance at the funeral is unlikely.

Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, a representative in India, said Thursday that while Mojtaba Khamenei wants to come out of hiding to meet people, security authorities cannot guarantee his safety.

"They said, 'It is very dangerous, and we cannot provide security for him.' I think he will not come out,"

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned on Wednesday that any successor who continues to threaten Israel or the U.S. Will be an unequivocal target for elimination.

Escalating Military Conflict

The postponement occurs as the U.S. And Israel intensify their campaign. On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that more than 100 fighter jets dropped about 250 munitions on a military compound in eastern Tehran. Other targets included air defense systems, ballistic missile arrays, and the Mehrabad airport. The IDF also claimed an F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over the capital.

U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reported that a U.S. Submarine sank the Iranian navy frigate Iris Dena with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyyakontha, confirmed the recovery of 80 bodies from the vessel, with 32 rescued and dozens still missing. Hegseth stated that U.S. And Israeli forces would achieve total aerial superiority over Iran within days.

Iran has retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. Bases. These attacks have caused casualties beyond the primary belligerents:

• Kuwait: The health ministry reported an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel. Total deaths in Kuwait since the conflict began include six U.S. Service personnel, two Kuwaiti soldiers, and one other civilian.
• Israel: 10 people have been killed in missile strikes over the last five days.
• Saudi Arabia: Authorities reported an attempted drone attack on the Ras Tanura oil refinery.

In Qatar, the State Security Service announced the arrest of 10 individuals linked to the IRGC who were allegedly spying on infrastructure for sabotage operations.

Casualties and Political Fallout

Reports on the human cost of the conflict vary. Iran's state news agency, Irna, reported 1,045 military personnel and civilians killed. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA) provided a higher figure, stating civilian deaths have reached 1,097, including 181 children under 10. Other reports from the group suggest 1,054 total deaths, with 417 being civilians and 318 security forces.

The internal political climate in Tehran remains volatile. While state media has shown crowds protesting the U.S.-Israeli strikes, social media videos have captured opponents of the regime celebrating in the streets.

The conflict has also targeted Iran's nuclear infrastructure. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi described the damage to nuclear facilities as very, very, very considerable. While U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the program was obliterated, Grossi noted that annihilated is too much, but confirmed enormous damage.

The Iranian parliament has responded by fast-tracking a proposal to stop cooperation with the IAEA. Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, accused President Trump of dragging the American people into an unjust war.