The Indian government will be represented by Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita at the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian sources.
The delegation will attend the state funeral and burial ceremonies in Iran after Tehran extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the official observances. While the Prime Minister will not attend, India has decided to send the two representatives on behalf of the government.
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Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28, triggering nationwide mourning in Iran. The country has announced a series of ceremonies spanning several days, with millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries expected to participate.
The funeral observances are scheduled to take place between July 4 and July 9 across multiple Iranian cities. The programme will begin in Tehran before concluding in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace and one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam.
According to Iranian authorities, Khamenei’s body will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex on July 4 and July 5, allowing members of the public to pay their final respects. A state funeral procession is planned for July 6, with authorities declaring public holidays across Tehran province during the official mourning period.
The burial ceremony will take place in Mashhad, where thousands of supporters and international delegates are also expected to gather. Iranian officials have indicated that several world leaders and senior representatives from friendly nations have been invited to attend the ceremonies.
India’s decision to send Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain and Pabitra Margherita reflects its diplomatic engagement with Iran while maintaining official representation at the high-profile state event. The visit comes at a time when New Delhi continues to balance its strategic ties across the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions following the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
The funeral is expected to be one of the largest state ceremonies held in Iran in recent years, with extensive security arrangements and international participation anticipated throughout the week-long mourning period.
