Will Mojtaba Khamenei attend his father's funeral? world watches closely

TEHRAN: The funeral ceremonies of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US airstrike, are scheduled to begin on July 4. The ceremonies will start in Tehran and will conclude with his burial in Mashhad on July 9. As Iran prepares for a massive mourning procession, global attention is focused on Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei and the current Supreme Leader of Iran, who has remained out of public view for months.

56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the same attack on February 28 that killed his father. Iranian state media and officials confirmed that he suffered serious injuries to his face and leg. Although he took over as the Supreme Leader after his father’s death, he has not appeared in public or through video messages. His voice has also not been heard publicly since then. Instead, his statements have only been shared through media reports, leading to questions about his health and condition.

In his first public message after taking office in March, Mojtaba had said that Iran would continue to put pressure on its enemies. He stated that Iran did not want war but would continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz and would carry out attacks on US bases in the region if necessary. He also thanked Iran’s forces. The message was released through the media and not through a public appearance.

After several such statements, concerns grew over Mojtaba’s health. Iranian officials later said that he was mentally strong, involved in important decisions through voice messages, and recovering from his injuries.

However, despite these claims, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared before the media or the public for several months. This has made his presence at his father's funeral a major point of interest. Traditionally, successors attend the funerals of their predecessors. The biggest question now is whether Mojtaba Khamenei will appear before the world during Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies. Iranian officials have not given any clear indication about his participation.