Tehran: Iran’s top Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, citing serious security concerns, according to the representative in India.
Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the leader’s representative in India, said Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence is due to fears over Israeli threats and heightened surveillance, making any public appearance “dangerous”, as per reports.
Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years, was killed on earlier this year during the opening phase of the conflict involving the United States and Israel, triggering a wider war in the Middle East. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him as Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Funeral rituals for Ali Khamenei are scheduled to begin in Tehran on July 4 with his burial in Mashhad. The six-day programme will also include ceremonies in the holy city of Qom and the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
