Masked Grandson Joins Front Row at Ayatollah Khamenei’s Funeral Attended by Millions

A man wearing a black mask and baseball hat stood in the front row and helped lead prayers during the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 9. New York Post reported that the man was initially speculated to be Mojtaba Khamenei but was identified by Iran International as Mohammad Javad Khamenei, the slain ayatollah’s eldest grandson.

Mohammad Javad Khamenei suffered severe burns to his face in the Feb.

28 U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, and also badly disfigured Mojtaba Khamenei, according to U.S. intelligence reports cited by New York Post. Mohammad Javad is the son of Ali Khamenei’s oldest son, Mostafa Khamenei, who was born around 1965.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried at the Shrine of Imam Reza after a six-day ceremony. State media reported that as many as 43 million people participated in the events. Mojtaba Khamenei released a written message on Telegram on Saturday vowing to avenge his father’s death.