Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to make a public appearance as thousands of mourners gather in Tehran for the funeral ceremonies of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising fresh questions over his whereabouts, health and who is leading the country. The ceremonies entered their second day on Sunday at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, but Iranian authorities have announced no plans for Mojtaba to attend.As dawn broke over the Iranian capital, thousands of mourners assembled outside the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where Ali Khamenei’s body has been lying in state since Saturday, according to Iranian semi-official media.A prayer ceremony began early on Sunday, with footage published by the semi-official IRNA news agency showing large crowds paying their respects. Unlike Saturday’s scenes of chanting and chest beating, the atmosphere was quieter, with prayers broadcast over loudspeakers as mourners stood in silence, some gently waving Iran’s national flag.Funeral prayers are also being offered for four members of Khamenei’s family who were killed in the same US-Israeli strike that claimed the former supreme leader’s life, according to Iranian semi-official media.Despite the significance of the state funeral, Mojtaba Khamenei has remained absent from all public events. The Iranian government has released details of the funeral programme but has made no announcement about whether the country’s new supreme leader will appear at any stage of the ceremonies.While any appearance would almost certainly be kept secret until the last moment for security reasons, the continued absence of Iran’s highest-ranking leader has fuelled speculation about his condition and the functioning of the country’s leadership.Mojtaba is believed to have been wounded in the same strike that killed his father, along with his mother and his wife.He has remained out of public view since the war began in late February. Throughout the conflict, he has communicated only through written statements published by Iranian media and attributed to him. He has neither appeared on camera nor addressed the nation in his own voice since assuming the country’s top post.His prolonged absence during one of the most important moments in Iran’s recent political history has intensified scrutiny over who is directing the country’s affairs as the state mourns its former supreme leader.
