Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies entered another symbolic phase as his remains were taken to the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, drawing thousands of mourners and senior religious figures. While Khamenei’s eldest son, Mostafa, was seen participating in the rituals at the Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala, the continued absence of his brother, Mojtaba Khamenei, has fueled intense speculation. Mojtaba has not appeared at any public event during the multi-day funeral procession despite widespread expectations. The ceremonies included visits to the shrines of Imam Ali, Imam Hussein and Abolfazl al-Abbas, underscoring the event’s religious and political significance.
