TEHRAN (Web Desk) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral prayers of his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, due to security concerns, according to Iranian media reports.
A ceremony honouring the late leader was held by Iran's Guardian Council, where President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, senior military commanders and other high-ranking officials paid tribute.
Delegations from around the world also attended the tribute ceremony in Tehran.
Officials said representatives from around 100 countries, including several heads of state, are expected to participate in the funeral prayers.
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According to the reports, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei will not appear at the funeral because of heightened security threats.
Following the funeral prayers, the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be taken from Tehran to Qom, before being transported to Najaf and Karbala in Iraq for additional funeral ceremonies.
The body will then be returned to Iran, where the late leader will be buried in Mashhad.
More than 20 million people are expected to attend the funeral procession, while the Iranian government has declared July 8 a nationwide day of mourning.