Khamenei's Three Sons, Not Mojtaba, Make Rare Appearance At Father's Funeral. Who Are They?

Three sons of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a rare public appearance during his state funeral in Tehran on Sunday, praying beside their father’s coffin. However, his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, was notably absent from the ceremony.

Footage aired by Iranian state television showed Mostafa, Masoud and Meysam Khamenei standing behind the coffins at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where thousands gathered to pay their final respects.

The three brothers were also seen weeping beside their father’s coffin and those of four other family members killed in the same attack.

🚨🇮🇷 Three of Khamenei’s sons were finally permitted to attend their father’s funeral. However, the IRGC blocked his fourth son, Mojtaba, from

attending.

📹 Iran TV pic.twitter.com/v0aDwafcyC

— C14 News | EN (@c14english) July 5, 2026

Khamenei’s coffin, draped in the Iranian flag and topped with his black turban, was placed alongside the coffins of four relatives, including his daughter, son-in-law and infant granddaughter.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran from 1989 until his death at the age of 86, was killed in an airstrike on February 28 after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran. His funeral is being held months later under heavy security.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as Iran’s Supreme Leader, did not attend the public ceremony and have not appeared in public since taking office in March.

However, the appearance of Mostafa, Masoud and Meysam at their father’s funeral marked one of the few times the three brothers have been seen together in public.

Who Are Khamenei’s Three Sons?

Mostafa Khamenei: Mostafa, 64, is the eldest son of the late Supreme Leader and a Shiite cleric. He has largely stayed out of frontline politics and does not hold a government position. However, he is regarded as an influential figure in Iran’s religious circles, as per CNN report.

Masoud Khamenei: Masoud, 52, is also a cleric and the third son of Ali Khamenei. He heads the Office for Preserving and Publishing Khamenei’s Works, which oversees the preservation and promotion of the late leader’s speeches and writings.

According to CNN, the office also runs a “large propaganda” network with links to several media organisations.

Meysam Khamenei: Meysam, 48, is the youngest of Ali Khamenei’s children and has maintained a relatively low public profile. Like his brother Masoud, he has worked at the Office for Preserving and Publishing the Supreme Leader’s Works.

(With inputs from CNN)