Mojtaba Khamenei misses father’s funeral amid reports of war injuries

Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla served as the center of a massive public mourning ceremony on Sunday, July 5, 2026, as the Islamic Republic began a week of state funeral processions for the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While the event drew thousands of mourners and senior Iranian officials, the absence of the newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained the most significant detail of the proceedings.

State television broadcasts captured Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud Khamenei praying behind the coffins of their father and four other family members. The group of coffins displayed in the sprawling religious complex included those of the late leader’s daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and a 14-month-old granddaughter. These family members were killed alongside the former supreme leader during a joint military strike by the United States and Israel on February 28, the opening day of the war.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who was appointed as the successor to the position of supreme leader following the death of his father, has not appeared in public since the start of the conflict. According to individuals familiar with his inner circle, he was also injured in the February attack. Reports indicate that he suffered a disfigured face and significant wounds to one or both legs. His continued absence from public view, including his father’s funeral, has fueled concerns regarding his condition.

The funeral ceremonies in Tehran saw a significant turnout from the public. The city’s metro railway network reported that it had facilitated 7 million trips from late Saturday through Sunday morning as residents flocked to the capital. Among those in attendance at the Mosalla were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. During the prayers, Masoud Khamenei was observed weeping, using a keffiyeh—a traditional scarf representing militant revolutionary ideals and solidarity with Palestinians—to wipe away his tears.

The funerary events take place under the shadow of a four-month-old war that is currently paused by a ceasefire agreement with Washington. While Iranian authorities have characterized the arrangement as a victory over a superpower, U.S. President Donald Trump noted that peace negotiations have been temporarily suspended for a week to accommodate the funeral proceedings.

The state funeral is scheduled to span several days across multiple cities. Following a massive procession planned for central Tehran on Monday, the remains will be transported to the seminary city of Qom on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the body is slated to be flown to Iraq for additional ceremonies in the Shia holy shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala. The funeral tour concludes on Thursday when the remains return to Iran for a final procession in Mashhad, where the late leader is set to be buried near the tomb of a medieval Shia imam.

Authorities have mobilized resources to support the weeklong series of events, providing transportation, food, and lodging in an effort to draw millions of participants.