Who Will Attend the Funeral of Iran's Late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei?

Significant Attendance at Khamenei's Funeral

New Delhi: On Friday, Bihar's Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, along with Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, will travel to Iran to participate in the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, scheduled for Saturday.

Khamenei's death occurred on February 28 due to a significant attack attributed to the US and Israel, marking a pivotal moment in Iran's 46-year Shia-theocratic governance. Following his passing, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader in March.

A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that the high-level attendance at the funeral reflects the deep civilizational connections and people-to-people relations between India and Iran, which serve as a strong basis for political and economic collaborations.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the funeral proceedings for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will commence in Tehran on July 4.

Farewell ceremonies are planned at Imam Khomeini's Mosalla prayer hall in Tehran from July 4 to 5, followed by a funeral procession on July 6. Another procession will occur in Qom on July 7.

The concluding funeral ceremony is set for July 9 in Mashhad, culminating in burial at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), as reported by Tasnim News Agency.

On March 5, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented the Indian government by signing a condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi, expressing sorrow over Khamenei's passing.

Misri also met with Iranian Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, to convey condolences regarding Khamenei's death.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared on X that Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy to sign the condolence book on behalf of the Indian people and government, mourning the loss of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei.