Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Absent from Father's Mass Funeral as Brothers Lead Mourning
Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was entirely absent from his father's mass state funeral in Tehran, while his three brothers made a rare joint public appearance to pray over the coffins.
The Funeral
The multi-day state funeral for Ali Khamenei follows his assassination in February 2026 during joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes. The ceremonies are being held at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla complex, with processions expected to continue to the holy cities of Qom, Najaf, and Karbala, before a final burial in Mashhad. Crowds are expected to reach over 10 million people.
Why the New Leader Is Missing
Officials and local sources cite two primary reasons for Mojtaba's total absence from public view:
Severe Security Threats — Iran's representatives stated that Mojtaba skipped the heavily attended events due to active assassination risks and targeted threats from Israel.
Potential Injuries — Reports indicate that Mojtaba was wounded in the same February airstrike that killed his father. He is allegedly recovering from injuries to his face and leg at an undisclosed location, communicating only through written decrees.
Who Attended
While the new leader remained in hiding, other high-ranking figures joined the massive crowds to show a unified front:
The Three Brothers: Mostafa, Masoud, and Meysam Khamenei — all clerics — were seen weeping and leading prayers beside the glass-covered coffins of their father and four other family members killed in the strikes.
Regime Officials: Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were visible in the front rows.
Military Commanders: General Ahmad Vahidi, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Esmail Qaani, leader of the elite Quds Force, made prominent appearances.
Foreign Delegations: Representatives from regional ally groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, along with foreign dignitaries, arrived to pay their respects.
Context
Ali Khamenei served as Iran's Supreme Leader for over three decades. His death in the February 2026 strikes, alongside four family members, has plunged Iran into a period of intense mourning and political uncertainty. The appointment of his son Mojtaba as successor has drawn scrutiny, particularly given his lack of public visibility and the circumstances of his alleged injuries.
LTT Media — Reporting the facts as they stand.