Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei absent from father's funeral as officials and public pay respects
via The Namibian3 min read
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was notably absent from his father's funeral, while his three brothers, Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam, attended alongside senior officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi. Speculation about Mojtaba's condition has continued since his appointment in early March, with rumors suggesting he was wounded in the same US-Israel air strikes that killed his father. The elder Khamenei, who ruled Iran from 1989 until his death in February, is being honored in official funeral proceedings across Iran and Iraq, with authorities expecting 12-20 million attendees. His body is currently lying in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla religious complex, with a service led by prominent Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani. Sunday was declared a public holiday, and the body will be moved for a procession through the capital on Monday. Mojtaba Khamenei's absence occurs amid fears of potential assassination attempts by Israel. A fragile ceasefire is in place between the warring countries, with ongoing peace talks. Former US President Trump commented on the large attendance, suggesting that Washington could target Iranian officials but would not to preserve negotiation channels. Mourners, like Zahra Safaei, refuted Trump's suggestion of "fake tears." Reports indicate calls for the death of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the ceremonies. Over 10 million mourners are expected in Tehran alon
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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