Mojtaba Khamenei is not expected to appear at the funeral of his father, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as officials cannot ensure his safety, according to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the Supreme Leader’s representative in India. In an interview with India Today before leaving New Delhi, Elahi said the choice stems solely from security issues amid rising tensions with Israel and a week of planned ceremonies.
Elahi noted that contacts in Iran had told him Mojtaba wished to meet the public but was advised against it. “It is very dangerous and we cannot provide security for him,” he quoted them as saying.
Iranian authorities are organizing several days of public funeral rites to demonstrate support for the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes by the United States and Israel at the start of the recent conflict. Elahi described widespread grief, saying many Iranians feel they have lost an irreplaceable figure and view the loss as deeply personal.
People from inside Iran and abroad are traveling to the ceremonies to express solidarity. The events will include processions in several cities before the burial.
Elahi stated that Iran had emerged from the conflict in a stronger position, with several nations acknowledging its resilience. Despite ongoing regional tensions, international attendance at the funeral is expected to proceed.
Iran invited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Khurshid will represent the party in Tehran and deliver a condolence message from Kharge.
Khurshid described the visit as a duty to maintain ties during difficult times. He recalled Iran’s past support for India, including during earlier diplomatic issues with Pakistan and the safe passage of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that India’s relations with other countries have not drawn complaints from Tehran and said India should share in Iran’s period of mourning.
The funeral represents a major moment in the Islamic Republic’s history, with ceremonies planned in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad and memorial events in Iraq.
