Thousands of Iranians have gathered at Tehran’s Mosalla Mosque to pay tribute to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s former Supreme Leader, for a second consecutive day. Khamenei, who was assassinated in a coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrike earlier this year, led Iran for 37 years. The extensive turnout at the state funeral is part of a six-day mourning period, with a final burial scheduled in Mashhad on July 8. This event forms a backdrop to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel, which began following the airstrike. The leadership transition is currently managed by an Interim Leadership Council, with the Assembly of Experts expected to elect a new Supreme Leader soon.
Key Takeaways
The large public gathering suggests a significant domestic focus on the leadership transition following Khamenei’s assassination.
Market activity indicates increased perception of potential instability, impacting odds for a leadership change by the end of the year.
Current pricing suggests a low likelihood of a power vacuum persisting into 2026, consistent with the Iranian regime’s consolidation efforts.
