10.07.2026 01:21
Mojtaba Khamenei, announced as Iran's new Supreme Leader, once again failed to appear at his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in Mashhad, which was attended by millions. During the ceremony, where the funeral prayer was led by his elder brother Mostafa Khamenei, the new leader's absence drew attention, while Iranian authorities' refusal to share any footage of Mojtaba Khamenei has reignited debates over "security" and "health conditions."
Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli-US attacks, was buried at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of the country's holiest sites. The most notable detail of the funeral, attended by millions, was that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was declared the new Supreme Leader, did not attend the ceremony.
Declared Iran's new religious leader by the Assembly of Experts following his father's death, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since the assassination. No images of him were shared during the funeral. While Iranian authorities made no statement about the new leader's attendance at the ceremony, state media also published no photos or videos of Mojtaba Khamenei.
FUNERAL PRAYER LED BY HIS ELDER BROTHER MUSTAFA KHAMENEI
At the funeral ceremony in Mashhad, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's body was carried to the Imam Reza Shrine accompanied by clerics in white turbans. Due to the density of the crowd preventing the funeral vehicle from advancing, the coffin was transported by helicopter for the final leg.
The funeral prayer was led by Ali Khamenei's eldest son, Mustafa Khamenei. The absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, declared the new leader in Iran, from the ceremony and his failure to accompany his father on his final journey became one of the most discussed topics of the funeral.
MISSING SINCE THE ASSASSINATION
According to information from Reuters, citing senior sources in Tehran, Mojtaba Khamenei was severely wounded in the attack on February 28 that killed his father. Allegedly, he suffered serious facial damage and injuries to his limbs and is still undergoing treatment.
According to the report, the new leader has not attended any official ceremonies since the assassination; he has only issued written messages. No photos, videos, or audio recordings of him have been shared with the public. It is also stated that Iranian security units are deliberately limiting Mojtaba Khamenei's visibility due to potential new attacks.
ANTI-TRUMP SLOGANS IN MASHHAD
During the funeral, the crowd filling the streets of Mashhad shouted harsh slogans against US President Donald Trump. Some demonstrators carried banners reading "We will kill Trump," while the crowd frequently made calls for revenge.
The Iranian government, however, considered the large crowd attending the funeral as a sign of support for the Islamic Republic established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
However, the fact that the country's new religious leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, did not appear in public even at his father's funeral has further raised questions about security concerns in Iran and the future of the new administration.