Iran has postponed the funeral ceremony for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran following his assassination in joint US-Israeli air strikes that also killed several family members.
Ceremony delayed
Tasnim news agency reported that authorities cited logistical issues, including requests from people in different provinces wishing to attend. Funeral preparations are ongoing and expected to attract massive crowds, raising potential security threats from further US-Israeli strikes.
Originally, Hojjatoleslam Mahmoudi, head of the Islamic Propagation Council, announced that the farewell ceremony would begin at 10pm local time (18:30 GMT) at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Prayer Hall and continue for three days. Mahmoudi emphasised that the hall would welcome visitors to mark a “strong presence” during the ceremony.
Khamenei’s legacy and succession
Khamenei, 86, had led Iran since 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini. As supreme leader, he held ultimate authority over the government, military, and judiciary, while also acting as the country’s spiritual leader.
The 88-member Assembly of Experts, elected every eight years, selects the next supreme leader. Candidates must be senior jurists with deep knowledge of Shia jurisprudence and demonstrate political judgment, courage, and administrative capability.
Khamenei’s second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is the current Supreme Leader. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any successor hostile to Israel or the US could become a target for assassination.
Political system prepared for crisis
Experts say Iran’s political system has contingencies in place. Luciano Zaccara, Gulf politics researcher at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera: “The structures remain, the line of power [and] the line of command remain in place,” indicating the system is prepared for leadership transitions even amid conflict.
Source: Al Jazeera
Also read: Mojtaba Khamenei elected Iran’s Supreme Leader
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