His father Ali Khamenei was killed in an attack by America and Israel on 28 February 2026. Mujtaba was also badly injured in this attack. On March 8, he was elected the new supreme leader of Iran, but since then he has never been seen. Now a big question is looming over the entire event- Will his son and new supreme leader Mujtaba Khamenei come to this funeral or not?

What was the 28th February attack and what happened in it?

America and Israel had launched ‘Operation Fury’ against Iran. In this attack, the office and home of Iran’s supreme leader, which is located in the center of Tehran city, was targeted. Many senior officials including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were killed in this attack.

Mujtaba Khamenei was also badly injured in the same attack. According to Iranian media reports, he had gone out for a walk in the garden at the time of the attack and was saved by a few seconds, but he suffered serious injuries. Mujtaba’s wife, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law were also killed in this attack. That means this attack was very painful for him.

How is Mujtaba’s health and is he okay?

This is where the real puzzle begins. There is a world of difference between the statements of the Iranian government and the Western media regarding Mujtaba’s injuries.

The Iranian government has repeatedly said that he suffered only minor injuries. The Health Ministry said in May 2026 that ‘one or two stitches and that’s it.’ An officer said that ‘there was a slight injury in the knee and back, now he is completely healthy.’ A senior official in Mujtaba’s office even said in June that he was in ‘complete health’.

Western media and American officials presented a completely different picture. The New York Times reported in March 2026 that Mujtaba was ‘badly injured’. He had severe burns on his face, underwent surgery on his hand and lost one of his legs.

The New York Times further revealed in April that Mujtaba’s lips and face were badly burned, she was having difficulty speaking and had to undergo plastic surgery. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 13 that Mujtaba was ‘injured’.

The biggest revelation came on June 7, 2026, when Iran’s Experts Council member Seyyed Ahmed Khatami said that the injury to Mujtaba’s leg was so serious that doctors may have to amputate that leg. Although his leg was later saved due to the efforts of the doctors, it becomes clear that the injuries were far from ‘minor’.

Middle East Institute expert Alex Watanka says that no matter how serious Mujtaba’s injuries are, he will not be able to exercise supreme power like his father. He will be just a voice, not necessarily a decisive voice.

So has Mujtaba fully recovered yet?

Since becoming a leader, Mujtaba has not taken the risk of coming forward even once. Not a single picture or video of him surfaced. All the statements that came in his name came in written form or were read out by someone else. Sanam Vakil of Chatham House says that perhaps Mujtaba is formally part of the decision-making committee and he signs off, but he is presented with predetermined decisions.

In his first statement in March, he said that Iran does not want war but will not turn away from its rights and talked about keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.

In April, he talked about taking the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a ‘new phase’ and on 26 June, on the occasion of Judiciary Week, he said that legal action would be taken against those responsible for his father’s murder. Despite this, he himself was nowhere to be seen.

Then where is Mujtaba Khamenei missing?

Ali Waez of International Crisis Group says that Mujtaba is not ‘supreme’. He may be a leader in name, but he owes his position to the Revolutionary Guards and is subordinate to them. There could be four major reasons behind this disappearance:

• Serious Injuries: If they are still undergoing treatment, are unable to walk or have a scar on their face that is difficult to hide, they may not want to appear in public.
• Security Threat: The supreme leader of Iran is the biggest target of Israel and America. If he comes in public, there may be another attempt to kill him.
• Not in a position to hold power: Some experts believe that the real power of Iran is now in the hands of the generals of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Mujtaba is a leader in name only.
• Thoughtful move: Perhaps they are deliberately hiding so that the enemy cannot find out anything about them, because if they become public then their weaknesses may be exposed.

Why is the funeral taking place after four months?

Usually in Muslim tradition burial is done within 24 hours of death, but here the funeral is taking place after four months. There are three big reasons for this:

1. The body was badly injured. Ali Khamenei’s body was so disintegrated in the attack that he could be identified only after a DNA test.
2. Iran was at war at that time, so it was difficult to organize such a big event.
3. Iran uses these funerals to send political messages.

In 2020, crores of people had gathered for the funeral of Qasim Sulemani and Iran wanted a similar event to be held this time too, in which the whole world could see the strength of Iran. So he planned and chose this date.

On July 4 and 5, the body will be kept on display for the last time in the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran. A state funeral procession will take place in Tehran on July 6 and a holiday has been declared on that day. A funeral procession will take place in Qom city on July 7.

On July 8, a procession will take place in Iraq’s holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, as Iraqi religious leaders have demanded. Finally, on July 9, he will be buried at the mausoleum of Imam Reza in Mashhad city. This six-day journey spread across Iran and beyond. During this time, the eyes of the whole world will be on Mujtaba.

Will Mujtaba come to this funeral?

An American intelligence source believes Mujtaba has lost a leg, while Iranian official Mujahir Husseini says the enemy is spreading rumors and that people should be patient – ‘They will talk to you when the right time comes.’ There are two scenarios for Mujtaba’s participation:

1. If Mujtaba comes:

• This will be a big message for Iran. His presence will prove that he is completely healthy, in a position to assume power and Iran has a strong leadership.
• This will put an end to all the rumors which were talking about his death or being seriously handicapped.
• The message of peace will be sent to the government of Iran and Iran’s bargaining power will also increase in the US-Iran ceasefire.

2. If Mujtaba does not come:

• This will prove that he is either so badly injured that he cannot walk, or he is no longer in power.
• This will create a big crisis in Iranian politics – ‘Who is running Iran?’ This question will become deeper.
• Speculations about the Revolutionary Guards being the ruler will intensify and instability in Iran’s power will increase.