Senior Iranian officials gathered for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral amid conspicuous uncertainty over succession, with the supreme leader’s seat notably unfilled as the ceremony unfolded. State media and allied outlets framed the event as a display of unity, but the absence of a clear presiding authority underscored the power vacuum left by Khamenei’s death in the reported airstrikes that destroyed his Tehran compound.

Clerical figures, Revolutionary Guard commanders, and government ministers maintained a tightly choreographed presence, yet avoided signaling a definitive heir, reflecting the high-stakes maneuvering within the Assembly of Experts and among security elites. The somber procession, heavy with symbolism and tightly controlled messaging, highlighted both the regime’s resolve to project continuity and the latent friction over who will inherit ultimate authority in the Islamic Republic