Iran buries Khamenei amid renewed US conflict and successor's absence

Iran buried its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday at the country's holiest shrine in Mashhad. His son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains hidden from public view, reportedly disfigured in the strike that killed his father.

The burial followed a week of mass funeral processions and mourning ceremonies across Iran and Iraq. These events coincided with a renewed burst of conflict with the United States after weeks of truce. Crowds in Mashhad chanted slogans demanding revenge on U.S. President Donald Trump, with some women holding placards reading "Kill Trump."

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I swear by the blood of the Supreme Leader, Trump, we will kill you!

Despite surviving months of conflict, Iran faces significant internal challenges. The legacy of Khamenei's 37-year rule is bitterly disputed, particularly after security forces suppressed nationwide protests sparked by economic hardship. Analysts suggest Iran has emerged strategically strengthened, but widespread damage has exacerbated internal economic woes.

Mojtaba Khamenei, proclaimed Supreme Leader by a clerical assembly, has not appeared in public since his father's death on February 28. Senior sources in Tehran indicate he is recovering from debilitating injuries sustained in the same strike, but is not yet well enough for public appearances. Security services are also limiting his exposure due to concerns about further U.S. attacks.

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Kill Trump