Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly been barred from attending the funeral of his late father, Ali Khamenei, over fears that he could be targeted in a potential attack.
According to U.S. media reports citing two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian authoritiesl decided against allowing Mojtaba Khamenei to make a public appearance due to heightened security concerns and ongoing threats against senior Iranian leaders.
Reports in recent days had already indicated that the new Iranian leader was unlikely to attend the six-day funeral ceremonies because of security risks and fears of assassination attempts.
The funeral of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike earlier this year according to multiple reports, has drawn millions of mourners and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Iran has announced a six-day state funeral and burial programme for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies taking place across Iran and Iraq before his final interment in the holy city of Mashhad.
July 3-5: Lying in state and public mourning at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran.
July 6-8: Funeral processions and religious ceremonies in the Iranian cities of Qom and Mashhad, as well as the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
July 9: Final burial in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown, at or near the revered Imam Reza Shrine, one of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites.
Iranian authorities expect the funeral to attract millions of mourners, making it one of the largest state funerals in the country’s history. Security measures have been significantly tightened, with reports indicating concerns over potential threats to senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.