Iran is preparing for a six-day funeral ceremony for the deceased Ali Khamenei, anticipated to be the largest in the nation's history, drawing an estimated 20 million attendees across Iran and Iraq beginning Saturday. The event, set to commence with remains displayed in Tehran and conclude with burial in Mashhad on July 9, is taking place amidst a period of regional calm and will be closely watched internationally. A significant point of speculation is the potential attendance of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been absent from public view and any new media releases since the start of the US and Israeli attacks nearly four months ago, raising questions about his status despite his previously influential role. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed a recent "direct" meeting with a new Supreme Leader, details remain scarce, and officials have offered no confirmation regarding Mojtaba Khamenei's participation in the funeral, which would mark his first public appearance since the conflict began and could potentially resolve queries surrounding his prolonged absence.

Iran is preparing for a six-day funeral ceremony for the deceased Ali Khamenei, anticipated to be the largest in the nation's history, drawing an estimated 20 million attendees across Iran and Iraq beginning Saturday. The event, set to commence with remains displayed in Tehran and conclude with burial in Mashhad on July 9, is taking place amidst a period of regional calm and will be closely watched internationally. A significant point of speculation is the potential attendance of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been absent from public view and any new media releases since the start of the US and Israeli attacks nearly four months ago, raising questions about his status despite his previously influential role. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed a recent "direct" meeting with a new Supreme Leader, details remain scarce, and officials have offered no confirmation regarding Mojtaba Khamenei's participation in the funeral, which would mark his first public appearance since the conflict began and could potentially resolve queries surrounding his prolonged absence.

Iran is preparing for a six-day funeral ceremony for the deceased Ali Khamenei, anticipated to be the largest in the nation's history, drawing an estimated 20 million attendees across Iran and Iraq beginning Saturday. The event, set to commence with remains displayed in Tehran and conclude with burial in Mashhad on July 9, is taking place amidst a period of regional calm and will be closely watched internationally. A significant point of speculation is the potential attendance of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been absent from public view and any new media releases since the start of the US and Israeli attacks nearly four months ago, raising questions about his status despite his previously influential role. While Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed a recent "direct" meeting with a new Supreme Leader, details remain scarce, and officials have offered no confirmation regarding Mojtaba Khamenei's participation in the funeral, which would mark his first public appearance since the conflict began and could potentially resolve queries surrounding his prolonged absence.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing for the largest funeral in its history, a grand ceremony that will be held over six days in five cities in Iran and Iraq. The event, which   will begin on Saturday, is being held nearly four months after Ali Khamenei was killed  during the first day of the US and Israeli attacks.

Tehran is trying to hold this ceremony without any disruption and in front of an  international audience, at a time when relative peace prevails in the region. The ceremony will begin on Saturday with his remains being displayed at the Tehran Mosalla and end with his burial at his home town of Mashhad on July 9.

Billed as the largest gathering in Tehran’s history, it is expected that around 20 million   people will attend the event. But all eyes will be on whether Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will attend the event.

He has not been seen at any public event since the start of the war, and no new images, videos, or audio files of him have been released to date. In recent months, only written  messages and statements have been published in his name, and the office of the Leader of the Islamic Republic has not provided an explanation for his long absence.

Mojtaba Khamenei's absence has continued despite the fact that in recent years he was considered one of the most influential figures in the Islamic Republic's power structure, and his name had been repeatedly mentioned in connection with major political and security decisions.

According to local media reports, not even his close relatives have any idea about his whereabouts. The most recent comment on this issue was made by Gholam Ali Haddad Adel,  former speaker of the parliament and father-in-law of Mojtaba Khamenei. He announced in a television interview that he had no information about Mojtaba Khamenei's condition since before the war began and had not seen him.

So far, the only official confirmation of ever meeting him has come from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who announced his meeting with the new Supreme Leader.  According to him, he spoke with the leader of the Islamic Republic in a “direct” meeting  that lasted about two-and-a-half hours, but no further details about the time and place of the meeting were released. No images or videos of it have been released.

On whether he will attend the ceremony,  Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Deputy Minister of Interior Security and Secretary of the National Headquarters for the Ceremony, said the decision was for the Office of the Supreme Leader to make and that the headquarters for the ceremony has no information in this regard. He refused to confirm or deny the presence of Mojtaba Khamenei; an issue that has led to speculation about his first public appearance since the start of the war.

If Mojtaba Khamenei attends the ceremony, it will be his first public appearance since the start of the war; an appearance that could end many questions about his status.

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