Supreme Cleric not present at father's funeral

Mojtaba Khamenei, the designated successor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was notably absent from his father's funeral ceremony. The absence of Mojtaba, who holds the title of Supreme Cleric, has fueled speculation, particularly as he is reportedly recovering from injuries sustained in Israeli and US airstrikes.

The extent of Mojtaba Khamenei's injuries remains unclear, but his absence from such a significant family and national event has drawn attention. He assumed his position shortly after his father's death and has not appeared publicly since taking office. The funeral proceedings, which began on Friday and are scheduled to last a week, are taking place at the Grand Mosalla complex in Tehran.

Thousands of mourners filled the complex to pay their respects to Ali Khamenei and other family members who were reportedly killed in the February airstrikes. Three of Khamenei's sons are clerics, with Mojtaba being the heir apparent. His public reappearance is now being closely watched.

Several other high-ranking Iranian officials, who typically maintain a low public profile, made an appearance at the funeral. Among them were the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and the commander of its Quds Force, indicating the national significance of the event and the leadership's presence.