The theater of mourning: How Iran uses Khamenei’s funeral to project power and buy time - analysis

Iran is staging a week-long funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack in February. The event is designed to project power and garner international attention, drawing delegations from various countries, particularly from the Global South. While Iran anticipated around thirty delegations, including heads of government and parliamentary speakers from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the attendance has been largely composed of deputies and ministers rather than top leaders. Notable attendees included Dmitry Medvedev, representing Russia, and the Taliban's foreign minister from Afghanistan. The absence of Khamenei's successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is believed to be wounded, has also been noted. The funeral ceremonies also included representatives from Iran's regional proxy network, highlighting the regime's continued influence in the Middle East.

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Three of Khamenei’s sons join mass mourning in Tehran, but not his successor.