Khamenei  funeral: The funeral ceremonies for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have entered their final phase, but one question continues to dominate discussions both inside and outside the country, where is his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei?

As thousands gathered in Tehran on Monday for the funeral procession, Mojtaba remained absent from public view. His absence has fuelled speculation, especially as he has not appeared publicly since being named Iran's Supreme Leader following the February 28 US-Israel strikes that killed his father.

Mojtaba Khamenei missing from public events

The funeral ceremonies began at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 4, with the burial scheduled to take place on July 9 in Mashhad.

During the prayers held on Sunday, Ali Khamenei's sons Masoud, Meysam and Mostafa were seen attending the ceremony alongside senior Iranian officials. However, Mojtaba Khamenei was nowhere to be seen.

His absence has drawn attention because he has yet to make a public appearance since assuming Iran's top leadership role. While he has reportedly issued statements regarding the conflict in the region and diplomatic talks with the United States, he has not been seen in public.

WATCH: Iran’s Ghalibaf cries during the farewell ceremony of late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. pic.twitter.com/3G1i7Fowxl — Clash Report (@clashreport) July 3, 2026

Reports point to security concerns

According to reports, Mojtaba Khamenei wanted to attend his father's funeral and personally offer prayers during the burial ceremony.

However, reports citing people familiar with the arrangements claim that Iranian security officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) advised against it due to fears of a possible assassination attempt.

Officials were reportedly concerned that any public appearance could expose his location or create an opportunity for an attack. Since taking over as Supreme Leader, Mojtaba has reportedly remained under heightened security because of repeated assassination threats.

Questions over his health continue

There has also been continued speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei's health following the February strikes. Some international media reports have claimed he suffered serious injuries during the attack, including facial injuries and damage to one or both legs. However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed these reports, and his current condition remains unknown.

The uncertainty surrounding Mojtaba's absence has also become part of Iran's political debate. President Masoud Pezeshkian recently said the Supreme Leader had approved efforts to pursue diplomacy with the United States in an attempt to reduce tensions in the Middle East.

However, some hardline groups have reportedly questioned those claims, saying they want Mojtaba Khamenei to appear publicly or release an official audio or video message before accepting that he personally approved the move.

Will he attend the burial?

With Ali Khamenei's burial scheduled for July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, attention is now focused on whether Mojtaba Khamenei will attend the final ceremony.

Reports suggest he had requested permission to participate in the burial, but security agencies have so far opposed the plan. Whether that decision changes before the final rites remains to be seen.

The funeral ceremonies have been attended by several of Iran's top political and military leaders. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, IRGC commander General Ahmad Vahidi and Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani were among those present as prayers were led by senior Shiite cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

For now, Mojtaba Khamenei's continued absence remains one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the funeral, with many expected to closely watch the July 9 burial for any sign of Iran's new Supreme Leader.

- With inputs from agencies

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