Iranian Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Avoids Father's Funeral Over Assassination Fears

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, did not attend the funeral of his father, Ali Khamenei, due to serious security concerns, according to a New York Times report on Saturday. Iranian security officials feared an assassination attempt or that Israel might exploit Mojtaba's public appearance to locate him. This caution follows the killing of his wife and son in a US-Israeli strike on the first day of the "Roaring Lion" war.

The funeral and its preparations revealed unusual tensions within Iran's ruling elite. Mojtaba, appointed his father's successor in March, has not appeared publicly since, raising doubts within Iran's political system about his ability to lead without public visibility. A major internal conflict reportedly arose over the approval of a ceasefire memorandum with the Trump administration. Ali Khamenei hesitated to approve it until President Masoud Pezhkian threatened resignation if the deal was rejected, warning of economic deterioration and the impact of the US naval blockade.

Simultaneously, Iran's central bank governor issued an unprecedented letter warning of a severe budget crisis and the potential depletion of essential food and medical supplies by the end of August if the blockade persists. These pressures ultimately led Mojtaba Khamenei to consent to the ceasefire process. He stated his principled opposition but allowed the agreement to proceed pending approval by the Supreme National Security Council, which ratified it with a 12-1 majority.