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Iran’s injured Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei won’t attend his father’s funeral, sources say
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, severely injured in a strike that killed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is not expected to attend the elder Khamenei’s funeral, with details of his condition remaining unclear.
- The funeral began Friday with visits from top Iranian officials and foreign dignitaries, including delegations from Russia, China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, India, and Afghanistan, as millions of Iranians are expected to pay respects.
- Security is heightened ahead of the funeral, with warnings from Iranian commanders to the U.S. and Israel against any attacks, and preparations anticipating 15 to 20 million attendees in Tehran.
- The funeral serves as a show of force for the Iranian regime amid recent nationwide protests and deadly crackdowns, with large crowds gathering to honor the late leader who ruled Iran for nearly four decades.
- Public transportation in Tehran is free during the mourning period, with officials managing traffic and crowd control to accommodate what may be the largest event in the city’s modern history.
