Iran linked the decision to Israeli security threats while Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned Washington that any attack on the country’s leadership would draw an “Immediate Powerful Response.” Talks under the Islamabad MoU are expected to resume after the funeral.
File image: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei | ANI
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will not attend the funeral ceremonies of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, because of security concerns, according to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the current leader’s representative in India.
The announcement comes as tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States remain high following the death of Ali Khamenei. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has also warned Washington against any threat to the country’s leadership after remarks attributed to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Advertisement
According to Elahi, Israeli threats and surveillance risks have made public attendance at the funeral too dangerous for Mojtaba Khamenei.
Advertisement
On Wednesday, Araghchi issued a strongly worded warning to US President Donald Trump after Katz reportedly said Mojtaba Khamenei was “marked for death.”
In a post on X, Araghchi referred to the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia and said the United States had committed itself to restraining Israel.
“The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see. POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them. Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response,” Araghchi said.
The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see.
POTUS has committed the U.S. to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them.
Any threat against our People and Leadership will receive Immediate Powerful Response. pic.twitter.com/VrKa259gYd
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 1, 2026
The Iranian minister shared the text of Katz’s reported remarks while issuing the warning.
According to the report cited by Araghchi, Katz described Iranians as “good merchants” seeking concessions during negotiations and reiterated that Israel would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
“If they do it through an agreement, all the better,” Katz said.
Separately, Qatar and Pakistan held meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on July 1. Officials reported “positive progress” on issues related to the 14-point MoU.
Majed Al Ansari, adviser to Qatar’s Prime Minister and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on X that all sides had agreed to continue discussions.
According to Al Ansari, the next round of talks will be scheduled at the earliest opportunity after the funeral processions of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran is observing funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei from July 4 to July 9 across locations in Iran and Iraq. According to ANI, the former Supreme Leader was killed in an airstrike on the opening day of the US-Israel war with Iran on February 28.
Advertisement
