Iranian negotiating team member Mohammad Marandi told Al-Mayadeen that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's participation in the funeral of his father, the late Ali Khamenei, is a matter of security. Marandi also called Israel a 'malicious enemy' committing genocide. Security analyst Yair Goldblatt reported the remarks on X.
On Sunday, Iranian negotiating team member Mohammad Marandi confirmed to the Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al-Mayadeen that security concerns are preventing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei from attending his father's funeral. Marandi's remarks, reported by Israeli security analyst Yair Goldblatt, mark the first public acknowledgment by a regime figure of the security restrictions that have kept the new leader away from the ceremonies.
The Zioneer's coverage of the funeral began on Saturday, July 4, with initial reports that Khamenei had requested to attend the burial but was blocked by security officials. Over the course of that day, The New York Times reported that security officials had denied his request specifically over fears of Israeli assassination or tracking. Multiple Israeli and international outlets subsequently confirmed that Khamenei would not attend, and that the regime had formally barred him from the burial in Mashhad. The six-day funeral procession, which began Saturday, is proceeding without the presence of the new supreme leader.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the security dimensions of the funeral. On Friday, July 3, security analyst Yair Goldblatt noted that foreign delegations attending the funeral were honoring 'one of the greatest architects of terror.' On Saturday, July 4, President Trump commented on the funeral, saying the U.S. could 'eliminate everyone' but preferred to negotiate. The Marandi interview, reported by the same analyst, adds a regime-affiliated voice to the security narrative.
What remains unclear is whether Marandi's confirmation implies that Khamenei will remain absent for the entire six-day funeral, or whether he might attend a later event. The statement does not detail the specific security threats, nor does it address whether the decision was made by security officials or by Khamenei himself. Iranian state media has not commented on the matter.
8 developments
- StrongIranian economic activist claims Mojtaba Khamenei will attend father's funeral
- StrongIran's supreme leader likely to skip father's funeral, citing security fears
- StrongIsraeli security analyst: Khamenei funeral provides 'food for thought' for Mossad chief
- DevelopingIranian Jewish community leader says he sent letter to Khamenei son after anti-Jewish statements
Source and signal
- Internal intake