The funeral itself was unlike any ceremony witnessed in recent Iranian history. Vast crowds lined major boulevards carrying black banners, religious flags, and portraits of the late leader. State television broadcast continuous coverage of mourning ceremonies, speeches by senior officials, and processions that stretched for miles. Religious chants echoed through the capital while security forces maintained an overwhelming presence throughout the city.
Yet despite the carefully choreographed display of unity, one question dominated conversations among citizens, diplomats, journalists, and analysts alike: where was Mojtaba Khamenei?
