Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Did Not Appear at His Assassinated Father's Funeral
Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was not present at the state funeral ceremony for his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in US and Israeli airstrikes.
A mourning prayer took place on the morning of July 5, as part of the funeral ceremony for Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members. Photo: Alireza Mohammadi / ISNA via AP
While the three other sons of the assassinated leader appeared at the farewell in Tehran, the absence of the official successor intensified rumors about his critical condition: according to sources, Mojtaba sustained severe injuries and was disfigured during the February attack.
Three sons of the Ayatollah — Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud — were present at the funeral prayers. However, the fourth son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who took over the country after his father's death, has not appeared in public or on television since the February 28 airstrike.
Sources close to the Iranian leadership report that he is undergoing treatment after sustaining serious injuries to his face and legs. Official state media in Tehran explain his absence by strict security measures and the threat of new assassination attempts.