Iran’s longest-serving supreme leader of Iran Ayotallah Ali Khamenei has still not been buried, even after 100 days since his death in a joint US-Israel strike on Iran. The delay that has triggered questions inside and outside the country, while his son Mojtaba took over the position.While several senior military commanders and officials killed in the same conflict have already been laid to rest, Iranian authorities are yet to hold the funeral they have repeatedly promised for the man who led the Islamic Republic for over three decades.Officials in Tehran have spoken of plans for a large, multi-city funeral procession before Khamenei is eventually buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad. However, no final schedule has been announced, and authorities have released little information about the status of his remains.The delay is particularly notable because Shi’ite Islamic tradition generally encourages the prompt burial of the deceased, except under exceptional circumstances.
What’s stopping Ali Khamenei’s funeral?
One factor behind the delay could be security concerns surrounding Iran’s new leadership, according to a report from Iran International,Khamenei’s successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not made a public appearance since the attack that killed his father. Iranian officials have maintained that he survived the strike with minor injuries, but speculation regarding his condition has persisted.A funeral for a supreme leader is typically both a religious ceremony and a major political event meant to demonstrate continuity of leadership. Any public appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei at such a gathering would attract intense attention and could potentially create security risks.The prolonged delay has also fuelled speculation about the condition of Ali Khamenei’s remains. Iranian authorities have not disclosed where the body is being kept or whether damage sustained during the strike has complicated funeral preparations.Reports on other officials killed in the same attack indicated that some bodies were recovered only weeks later and required DNA testing for identification.
A funeral with political significance
Beyond the religious aspects, funerals of senior Iranian leaders have historically served as major political events.The Islamic Republic previously turned the funeral of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani into a multi-day national mobilisation effort. Soleimani’s funeral procession travelled through multiple cities in Iraq and Iran before his burial in Kerman, with state media portraying the event as a display of national unity and support for the government.Local media reports claim, Iranian authorities may be seeking a similarly large turnout for Khamenei’s funeral. However, organising such an event after a major conflict presents logistical and security challenges.For now, Iran remains in an unusual situation. More than 100 days after Khamenei’s death, the country has announced a successor but has yet to publicly showcase him. It has promised a historic farewell for its former leader but has not held one. Thus, the funeral and the transition of power remain in confusion.