Mojtaba Khamenei won't attend father's funeral: Iran Supreme Leader's aide

Mojtaba Khamenei is unlikely to appear publicly at the funeral of his father, Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, because authorities cannot guarantee his safety, the Supreme Leader's Representative in India, Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, said in an exclusive interview.

Before departing for Tehran from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Elahi said the decision was being driven entirely by security



concerns as Iran prepares for a week of funeral ceremonies under the shadow of heightened tensions with Israel.

"I was in Iran last week and met some of my friends who met him. They said he wants to come out. He wants to meet people. But the security doesn't allow him to come," Elahi said.

"They said 'it is very dangerous and we cannot provide security for him'. I think he will not come out," he added.