Funeral for Khamenei to Be Held on U.S. Independence Day; Will Mojtaba Appear?

Iran is scheduled to hold the funeral for its former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who was assassinated in the war against the United States and Israel, tomorrow, July 4, local time.

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed along with 12 members of his family in a U.S. airstrike on his residence on February 28, the first day of the war.

The state funeral will begin at the Mosalla prayer grounds in the capital, Tehran, at dawn on July 4, local time, and the general public will be allowed to pay their respects as they pass by the body over two days, from July 4 to 5.

A large crowd is expected to gather for the funeral, with local police estimating that 17 million people will assemble in Tehran alone this weekend.

Iran had been unable to hold a funeral for Khamenei due to the war, but was finally able to arrange the ceremony after entering a 60-day ceasefire on June 17.

The funeral is expected to be a politically significant test for Mojtaba, the son and successor of Ayatollah Khamenei. Mojtaba, who survived an Israeli targeted airstrike, has not made a single public appearance since the outbreak of the war.

Amid speculation that he has been in hiding due to fears of assassination by the U.S. and Israel, there have also been media reports suggesting he sustained serious injuries in the airstrike.

If Mojtaba fails to appear at this funeral, it is highly likely that his domestic and international authority will be shaken, potentially fueling renewed rumors about his health.

Iran has set the funeral date to coincide with Independence Day, when the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary. Because of this, attention is focused on whether Mojtaba will deliver a message to the U.S. if he makes an appearance.

Reported by Kim Taewon | Video by Jang Yu-jin | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.