Iran's Injured Supreme Leader Likely to Skip Father's Funeral
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Iranian officials say the 56-year-old supreme leader, who was severely wounded in the strike that killed his father, will not attend the state funeral, while security preparations anticipate millions of mourners.
Iranian officials and a Middle Eastern diplomat told NBC News that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is not expected to attend the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 56-year-old successor, who has not appeared publicly since the war began, suffered severe burns and multiple injuries in the strike that killed his father, according to three sources familiar with his condition. The full extent of his injuries and their impact on his duties remain unclear.
The funeral ceremony began on Friday with the heads of the three branches of government, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, paying respects to the casket, which was displayed on a stage with a black turban indicating the deceased’s lineage to the Prophet Muhammad. Foreign dignitaries such as former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and delegations from China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India and Afghanistan also visited the site, according to the state news agency.
Images released by Iranian state media showed General Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, attending a smaller service near the former leader’s home. Security officials warned the United States and Israel against any further attacks ahead of the funeral, with Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, urging both countries to avoid “miscalculations” and the “harsh and regret-inducing reactions” that could follow.
Authorities expect the funeral to be a large public display of the regime’s resilience, with Tehran’s mayor describing it as potentially the biggest event in the city’s modern history. Organizers anticipate 15 million to 20 million attendees, and public transportation has been made free for the period of mourning.
The elder Khamenei, 86, was killed along with several family members at the start of the conflict on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks. Photographs of his life were displayed across Tehran, and a viewing of the coffin and prayers are scheduled for the weekend, followed by a procession expected to flood the capital on Monday.