TEHRAN: Mojtaba Khamenei’s funeral attendance remained uncertain as questions grew over whether Iran’s new supreme leader would appear publicly for the first time since the war began.
Mojtaba, son of martyred former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could appear to lead prayers for his father, who died in a US-Israeli strike.
Mojtaba is believed to have been seriously wounded in the same attack, which also killed his mother and wife. He has remained out of public view since late February.
Iranian officials have said Mojtaba has recovered and is directing Tehran’s negotiations with Washington. However, he has communicated with supporters only through written statements.
His appearance at the funeral would help establish his legitimacy at home. A failure to appear could raise further questions about his health and who is running the country.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned on Wednesday that Tehran would respond immediately to any threat against its leadership.
His remarks followed Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s statement that Khamenei was “marked for death.”
Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, head of the funeral organising authority, declined to say whether Mojtaba would attend. He said the decision rested entirely with the supreme leader’s office.
