Iranian Security Blocks Supreme Leader From Attending Father's Funeral Over Israeli Assassination Fears

Iranian security officials prevented Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei from attending the funeral of his father, Ali Khamenei, due to serious concerns about a potential Israeli assassination attempt or exposure of his location, according to a report by The New York Times on Saturday. The decision followed the killing of Mojtaba's wife and son in a US-Israeli airstrike on the first day of the "Lion's Roar" war.

The funeral preparations revealed unprecedented fractures within Tehran's ruling elite. Mojtaba Khamenei was named his father's successor in March but has not appeared publicly since, raising doubts about his ability to govern remotely. The internal split deepened after the approval of a ceasefire memorandum with US President Donald Trump's administration, which Mojtaba initially opposed.

President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly gave Mojtaba an ultimatum, threatening resignation and highlighting the dire economic situation worsened by the US naval blockade. This pressure was reinforced by a dramatic letter from Iran's central bank governor warning of a severe budget crisis and the depletion of essential food and medical supplies by the end of August if the blockade continues.

Ultimately, Mojtaba agreed to proceed with the ceasefire deal, instructing the president to move forward if backed by the Supreme National Security Council, which approved it overwhelmingly (12 out of 13 members). The funeral of Ali Khamenei was held in Tehran, with reports that the US believed Israel planned to assassinate senior Iranian delegation members present alongside representatives from Qatar and Lebanon.