India will be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain at the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to government sources.
The funeral rites are scheduled to take place from July 4 to July 9 across multiple cities in Iran. The ceremonies will begin in Tehran, followed by events in Qom on July 7, and will conclude with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad, the north-eastern holy city where he was born.
Sources indicated that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral. However, India will be represented by the two senior officials at the ceremony.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years, died at the age of 86 on February 28 during Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran. His death marked a significant moment in Iran’s political history.
The funeral is expected to draw a large number of mourners across Tehran, Mashhad, and Qom, with estimates suggesting attendance could reach into the millions. Several international leaders, including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are also expected to be present.
Attention is also focused on Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, whose public absence since the February airstrike has led to speculation about his health. While some US officials have made claims regarding his condition, Iranian state media has reported that he sustained serious injuries but has not provided further confirmation.
The developments come amid a broader geopolitical context, as Iran and the United States recently agreed to a peace framework following months of conflict in West Asia. Diplomatic engagements between the two countries are ongoing, with further talks expected to continue in Switzerland.
Sources: India Today
