JAKARTA - Information regarding the presence of Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in the funeral ceremony for his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still unclear.
Mojtaba is believed to have suffered serious injuries in the US-Israeli attack some time ago, which also killed his mother and wife.
He has been in hiding since the war broke out in late February 2026, communicating with his supporters only through written statements, never showing his face or giving his voice.
Iranian officials have sought to portray the image that Mojtaba has fully recovered, even claiming he is leading Tehran's direct negotiations with Washington.
His appearance will be a landmark event; it will mark his first public appearance as well as help cement his legitimacy at home.
However, if Mojtaba does not show up, it will raise questions about his condition and raise questions about who is actually running the government. On Wednesday, the leader did not attend a closed ceremony for his late wife.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday warned Tehran that it would respond immediately and harshly to any threats aimed at its leadership, following Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's statement that Khamenei "was targeted to die."
His absence at the funeral will likely be portrayed by the Islamic Republic as a necessary security measure amid the ongoing conflict. However, it will leave more unanswered questions and deepen skepticism about his health and readiness to lead.
Various questions have also begun to emerge in Iran. When asked this week about the presence of Mojtaba Khamenei, head of the funeral organizing body, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, avoided giving a definitive answer. "This is not our authority, and the decision is entirely in the hands of the leader's office (the highest)," he said.
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