Iran's Supreme Leader absent from ayatollah funeral, son also missing

Tehran mourned the death of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, father of Iran’s Supreme Leader, as a state funeral was held on Sunday. Government officials, clerics and senior military figures attended the ceremony at the Imam Reza shrine, where prayers were offered and the body was laid to rest in accordance with Shia tradition. The event was broadcast on national television, underscoring the elder Khamenei’s prominence within the Islamic Republic’s founding generation.

Notably absent from the proceedings was Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son who has been a visible figure in Iran’s political and security circles. Observers and media outlets have speculated that his non‑attendance may be linked to undisclosed health concerns, citing previous rumors of a serious illness, though no official statement has been released. Iranian authorities have not commented on the speculation, and the funeral concluded without further reference to Mojtaba’s condition.