SAEDNEWS: In a highly symbolic gesture, the children of Iran’s Supreme Leader made a rare public appearance at the funeral of their father’s trusted bodyguard, attracting nationwide attention and political speculation.
According to Saed News, the memorial ceremony for Martyr Hassan Akbari—longtime protector of Iran’s Supreme Leader—was held on May 4, 2016 (15 Ordibehesht 1395), drawing an array of high-ranking military and government officials to Tehran’s Imam Hossein Mosque.
What made this otherwise solemn event particularly notable was the attendance of the Supreme Leader’s children, who are seldom seen in public and almost never in political or ceremonial settings. Their presence, captured in a series of widely circulated images, stirred significant interest among observers and analysts alike.
Senior officials, including General Ahmad-Reza Radan, then deputy commander of Iran's national police (NAJA), General Morteza Talaei, and General Ebrahim Jabari—commander of the elite Vali-e-Amr unit tasked with protecting the Supreme Leader—were among the attendees, underscoring the high-level significance of the event.
Martyr Hassan Akbari had long served in the Supreme Leader’s personal security detail, earning deep respect within Iran’s security apparatus. His death marked the end of a discreet yet vital chapter in the inner workings of the Islamic Republic’s highest office.
The rare public appearance of the Leader’s family was interpreted by some as a deeply personal tribute, while others saw it as a subtle signal of internal unity and reverence toward those who serve at the regime’s core. The images, widely shared on Iranian media, are being seen as a carefully managed moment—one that combines loyalty, symbolism, and power.
