Ali Khamenei funeral: Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made any public appearance since his appointment to the country’s top post, is unlikely to do so at the funeral of his father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose final rites are scheduled to held on July 9.
Will Mojtaba Khamenei attend Ali Khamenei funeral?
According to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the Iran Supreme Leader’s representative in India, Mojtaba Khamenei will not appear in public during the funeral of Ali Khamenei, though it remains unclear whether he will attend the ceremony away from public view.
Elahi said Mojtaba Khamenei was eager to make a public appearance during the funeral, and lead the funeral ceremony with millions of mourners who are expected to attend the former Supreme Leader’s last rites, but was advised against it by Iranian security agencies.
He said that Iran’s security agencies and intelligence services assessed that it would be a major security risk for the Supreme Leader to appear publicly amid the current security situation, and advised him not to make a public appearance.
Who will lead Ali Khamenei’s funeral prayers?
While Mojtaba Khamenei would have been the obvious choice to lead his father’s funeral prayers, but in his absence, a high-ranked senior Ayatollah is expected to perform the last rites of Ali Khamenei.
According to Ayatollah Elahi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not nominated any specific individual to lead his funeral prayers, and his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, would have led the ceremony, if the situation had been favorable.
Elahi, who is also travelling to Tehran to attend the Ali Khamenei funeral, said Iran emerged victorious against the United States and Israel, and said that everyone who “stands with truth and faith” will attend the funeral ceremony.
Why Mojtaba Khamenei won’t attend Ali Khamenei funeral?
The news comes amid Israel threatening to assassinate Mojtaba Khamenei, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz saying Iran’s Supreme Leader was “marked for death”, inviting a sharp rebuke from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who urged US President Donald Trump to “muzzle its pets” in Israel.
“The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see. POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them. Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response,” Araghchi said in a post on X while sharing the text of Katz’s remarks from a report.
Where is Mojtaba Khamenei?
According to US intelligence assessments, Mojtaba Khamenei has emerged as a central figure who is actively directing Iran’s negotiation strategy with the United States, though it claimed that authority inside Iran’s top leadership remains fragmented after the war and the deaths of several senior military commanders.
While US intelligence agencies have been unable to visually confirm the whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei, US intelligence sources say the secrecy surrounding his condition and communications has created an atmosphere resembling “Wizard of Oz meets Weekend at Bernie’s”.
As per a CNN report, Khamenei is avoiding electronic communications entirely and is instead relying on trusted couriers and face-to-face meetings to relay commands.
The 51-year-old leader is reportedly in a highly-secure location where he is receiving medical treatment for serious injuries, including burns affecting one side of his body, including parts of his face, arm, torso, and leg.
Millions to attend Ali Khamenei funeral?
Meanwhile, millions of people from across the globe are expected to attend the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on his compound in Tehran on February 28, triggering the Iran war.
Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies will begin on July 4, lasting till July 9, when the slain leader will be laid to rest in the holy city of Mashhad.
First published on: Jul 02, 2026 10:56 PM IST
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