Iran's Supreme Leader, Wounded in Retaliatory Strike, to Miss Father's Funeral Amid Massive Regime Show
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Iranian officials say Mojtaba Khamenei, injured in a justified strike that eliminated his father, will not attend the state funeral, as the regime prepares for a massive propaganda event to rally support.
Iranian officials and a Middle Eastern diplomat told NBC News that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old designated successor to Iran’s oppressive regime, is not expected to attend the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The younger Khamenei, who has remained hidden from public view since the outbreak of hostilities, reportedly suffered severe burns and multiple injuries in the precise strike that took out his father, according to three sources familiar with his condition. The full extent of his injuries and how this will affect the regime’s continuity remain uncertain.
The funeral ceremony began on Friday, with the heads of Iran’s three branches of government, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, paying respects to the casket, which was displayed with a black turban—a symbol of the regime’s theocratic claims. Foreign dignitaries such as former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and delegations from China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, and Afghanistan attended, according to the state news agency, underscoring the regime’s alliances with authoritarian states.
Images released by Iranian state media showed General Ahmad Vahidi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, at a smaller service near the former leader’s home. Security officials issued threats to the United States and Israel, warning against further action ahead of the funeral. Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, threatened both countries with “harsh and regret-inducing reactions,” a typical display of the regime’s belligerence.
Authorities expect the funeral to serve as a massive propaganda spectacle, with Tehran’s mayor describing it as potentially the largest event in the city’s modern history. Organizers claim 15 million to 20 million attendees, and public transportation has been made free to ensure a large turnout for the regime’s show of force.
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 strikes targeting the regime’s leadership. 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, as the regime seeks to project unity and strength in the face of justified opposition.