ALBAWABA - Did Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, secretly join his father's funeral in Tehran? A question circulated online, and rumors spread after a controversial clip emerged from the ceremony.
A video split people on social media after a person was spotted above a high building in Tehran while surrounded by security members during the third day of the slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei's funeral.
Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies started on July 4 and will continue until July 9.
Did Mojtaba Khamenei secretly join his father's funeral?
"Has he finally appeared?" a person posted the footage and asked, adding, "First appearance of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Wali and Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, son of the martyred Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei"
Another said, "Mojtaba Khamenei was present at the funeral procession of his martyred father, Ali Khamenei."
Official media outlets in Iran confirmed the presence of Ali's three children: Mostafa Khamenei, Masoud Khamenei, and Meysam Khamenei, but several reports detailed that Mojtaba, who was also injured in the same attack that killed his father on February 28, missed the funeral for security reasons.
Mojtaba Khamenei was also injured in the same attack that killed his father and other family members. His face was disfigured, and he suffered a significant wound to one or both legs, people close to his inner circle told Reuters.
Iranian state TV showed the three children: Mostafa, Meysam and Masoud Khamenei, behind the coffins, which were placed in the vast courtyard of Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in the capital, Tehran.
The other coffins next to Khamenei's were his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and 14-month-old granddaughter. After a day lying in state indoors for senior Iranian leaders and foreign officials to visit, the former supreme leader's coffin was displayed outdoors for public mourning.
Tens of thousands took to the streets, with some media reporting that the number could be higher, to participate in the funeral of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel on the first day of war against Iran, February 28.
