Add The New York Post on Google A mystery man donning a black mask was seen at the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fueling speculation that the new supreme leader — his son Mojtaba Khamenei — had finally appeared in public.
The mourner, seen in the front row helping lead prayers for the assassinated supreme leader, was wearing a baseball hat and was covered in a black mask.
But it turned out to be Mohammad Javad Khamenei — the slain ayatollah’s eldest grandson, Iran International reported.
Javad Khamenei was badly injured and suffered severe burns to his face during the Feb. 28 US and Israeli airstrikes that killed Ali Khamenei, 86, and also badly disfigured Mojtaba Khamenei, according to US intelligence reports.
Javad Khamenei is the son of Ali Khamenei’s oldest son, Mostafa Khamenei, who was born around 1965, according to the outlet.
The former ruler of the Islamic Republic was buried on Thursday after a six-day ceremony that reportedly brought as many as 43 million to participate, according to state media.
Mojtaba Khamenei released a written message vowing to avenge his father’s death on Telegram Saturday.
