Senior Iranian leaders and foreign dignitaries gathered in Tehran on Friday to pay tribute to former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iran began a series of funeral ceremonies that will continue until July 9.
The ceremony at Imam Khomeini’s Mosalla prayer hall brought together political leaders, religious figures and international representatives. India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), underlining New Delhi’s diplomatic engagement with Tehran.
Iranian leadership, foreign guests attend ceremony
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Expediency Discernment Council Chairman Sadeq Amoli Larijani were among the senior Iranian officials present.
The event also drew heads of state, prime ministers, parliament speakers and ministers from several countries. Those attending included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, along with senior officials from China and Russia.
Religious scholars and tribal leaders were also present.
India says ceremony reflects strong bilateral ties
Sharing details of the visit on X, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said:
“Governor of Bihar Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, in Tehran. Conveyed our respects on behalf of the government and the people of India.”
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the high-level Indian participation reflected the importance of the civilisational relationship and people-to-people ties between India and Iran, which continue to support political and economic engagement between the two countries.
Funeral ceremonies to continue until July 9
According to Iranian authorities, farewell ceremonies are being held at Imam Khomeini’s Mosalla prayer hall on July 4 and 5, followed by a funeral procession in Tehran on July 6. Another procession is scheduled in the city of Qom on July 7.
The broader programme will continue through July 9 with ceremonies in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, along with rites in Iraq. Iranian authorities have also announced public closures and airspace restrictions in Tehran and Mashhad during key events, while Thursday has been declared a national day of mourning.
The former Iranian leader was killed in a US and Israeli strike in Tehran on February 28. Following Ali Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s new Supreme Leader in March 2026.