Tehran, Iran – Three sons of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led funeral prayers for their father and four other family members at Tehran’s Grand Mosque on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was absent from the funeral,
amid reports of ongoing security concerns surrounding his public appearances.
Khamenei’s sons lead the prayers
Footage broadcast by Iranian television showed Mostafa, Massoud, and Meysam Khamenei performing funeral prayers before the coffins.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf,
and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei were also present.
A number of other senior officials and military commanders attended as well.
Mujtaba’s absence is due to security reasons
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared at any of the funeral ceremonies so far,
despite reports indicating his desire to participate, particularly in the burial ceremony scheduled for Mashhad.
Meanwhile, media reports suggest that security services prevented his appearance
for fear of an assassination attempt or the discovery of his whereabouts.
This comes amid reports that he was injured in the attack that killed his father.
Funeral ceremonies that last for days
Iran is continuing its week-long mourning period for Ali Khamenei.
His body is expected to be transported from Tehran to Qom, then to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before being laid to rest in Mashhad.
The funeral procession also saw the appearance of Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmad Vahidi,
in one of his most prominent public appearances since assuming command.
Furthermore, the funeral coincided with a temporary suspension of talks
between Tehran and Washington, according to statements by US President Donald Trump.
