New Iranian Supreme Leader Skips Father's Funeral, Raising Health and Power Concerns

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Iranian Supreme Leader [Photo=AP, Yonhap]

Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, did not attend his father's funeral, raising questions about his health and grip on power. He succeeded his father, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who died in February following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
On July 5, local time, Reuters reported that the funeral prayers for the late Supreme Leader were held at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, attended by his three sons: Mostafa, Masoud, and Meysam. While they prayed beside the casket, the second son, Mojtaba, was notably absent.
Iran's state television broadcast the scene of the three brothers praying next to their father's and other family members' caskets without Mojtaba. Some mourners expressed disappointment that the new Supreme Leader did not make an appearance.
Mojtaba was reportedly injured in the airstrikes on February 28, suffering wounds to his face and legs. Although Iranian authorities maintain that he is in good health, speculation about his well-being has persisted due to his lack of public appearances.
There are also concerns that fears of assassination may explain his absence. Analysts suggest that the Iranian leadership is minimizing the new Supreme Leader's exposure due to the potential for further attacks.
Iran began national mourning for the late Supreme Leader on July 4, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence. Thousands of soldiers, seminary students, and ordinary citizens attended the funeral, where participants called for retaliation against the U.S. and Israel.
The Guardian reported that chants targeting U.S. President Donald Trump were heard at the funeral. The funeral proceedings will continue through Tehran, the religious city of Qom, and the Shiite holy sites of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, culminating in the burial of the late Supreme Leader in Mashhad, his northeastern hometown, on July 9.

* This article has been translated by AI.