Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not expected to attend the funeral of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, NBC News reported, citing an Iranian official.
The new leader has not been seen in public or issued an audio statement since the war began.
He carries severe injuries from the February 28 U.S.-Israel strike that killed his father, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The Injuries and the Silence
NBC News reported that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered burns to his face and body in the strike, and wounds to one of his legs that have required several operations.
The full extent of his injuries and how they affect his ability to fulfill his duties remain unknown, the sources said.
He was named successor to his father in March, weeks after the February 28 attack. Since then, there have been no public appearances or statements.
The Funeral: Scale and Symbolism
The funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran for nearly 4 decades and was killed at age 86 alongside members of his family, began Friday in Tehran.
Organizers expect between 15 million and 20 million people to attend.
His casket, draped in the Iranian flag with a black turban on top signifying descent from the Prophet Muhammad, was placed on a white stage at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque.
One tier below sat the caskets of 4 family members killed alongside him, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Foreign dignitaries, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and delegations from China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, India, and Afghanistan, attended.
A funeral procession is expected to flood Tehran's streets on Monday, with Khamenei to be buried Thursday in Mashhad, Iran's most prominent Shiite religious shrine city.
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