The continuation of the minor or major occultation of the third Supreme Leader.

As anticipated, the recent bombings and threats from the United States and its President, which may continue in various forms or meaningfully cease, have fueled and justified the continued absence of Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei—who, since being introduced as the leader, has not had any sign, voice, image, or even a paper with his signature or handwriting published, and his decrees and even messages of thanks are typed with non-live signatures.

In such a way that Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei did not participate in any of the funeral and burial ceremonies of the late leader and his father, nor did he lead the prayers himself, nor did he follow any of the sources of emulation in leading this prayer, even today at the Astan Quds Razavi.

Although photos and videos may be released later claiming he attended these ceremonies in disguise.

Of course, in a very noteworthy move, contrary to the previous announcement that Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani would lead the prayers, the executor of the late Ayatollah's will, Seyyed Mostafa Khamenei—with deep academic and seminary teaching background, distant from political responsibilities and without effective involvement in the office of the second leader—undertook to lead the prayer.

In any case, the "raised nation" (ommat-e mab'us), as defined by the second leader, has so far, through submission and trust in government officials, especially the testimony of Dr. Masoud, who spoke of his one-and-a-half-hour meeting with him, accepted him as the "Imam and absolute Supreme Leader and Commander-in-Chief of his forces."

While even Sardar Vahid Shahcheraghi (Ahmad Vahidi) understood the necessity of reassuring and satisfying the chain of command and exposed himself to public view, despite the risks, to end the rumors. Other children of the late Ayatollah, his son-in-law, and officials of his office, such as Seyyed Ali Moghadam (except Seyyed Ali Asghar Hejazi), participated in the ceremonies.

The government must provide a convincing answer to the "raised nation" and the international community.

And I have written in a separate note before:

Running a vast and sensitive country like Iran requires a truly authoritative and powerful leader who exercises supervision and gives relevant commands and prohibitions. Running the country with messages, intermediaries, and writing papers, especially non-live ones, is, as a rule, impossible.

Of course, the rulers know what is best for the country.