Mojtaba Khamenei Absent From Father's Funeral
Mojtaba Khamenei's absence from his father's funeral has fueled speculation about his health during the state mourning period in Iran and Iraq.
Atlas Newsdesk ·
Senior Iranian officials attended the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Sunday, though his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained absent from the proceedings. The event, held at the Grand Mosalla religious complex, drew thousands of mourners as part of a week-long series of ceremonies expected to attract between 12 and 20 million participants across Iran and Iraq. The absence of Mojtaba Khamenei has intensified speculation regarding his physical condition following reports he may have been wounded in the same air strikes that killed his father in February. While President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi were present, the younger Khamenei has not appeared in public since his appointment in early March. Security remains high as the regime navigates a fragile ceasefire with Israel and ongoing diplomatic tensions with the United States.
The funeral procession is scheduled to move through Tehran on Monday before traveling to Qom on Tuesday and Iraq on Wednesday. Burial is set for Thursday in the city of Mashhad. Authorities have deployed extensive medical support, with over 4,000 individuals treated at local centers due to heat and crowd density. The event serves as a critical juncture for the Iranian leadership as it balances public mourning with the transition of power and regional security threats.