Representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with the main state ceremony beginning in Tehran on Friday, according to Iranian state-linked broadcaster IRIB.
Khamenei was killed at the age of 86 in a joint United States-Israeli air strike on his compound on February 28, the opening day of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Seven-day funeral ceremonies across Iran and Iraq
The funeral was originally planned for March but was postponed as the conflict in Iran continued.
The official commemoration begins in Tehran on Friday, marking the start of seven days of funeral ceremonies and religious observances across Iran and Iraq. Friday’s event is expected to draw the majority of foreign dignitaries.
Public ceremonies will continue in Tehran on Saturday and Sunday, when Khamenei’s coffin, along with those of several family members, will be placed at the Grand Mosalla, one of Iran’s largest prayer complexes, for public viewing.
On Monday and Tuesday, funeral processions will move towards the Iranian city of Qom. An official reception is scheduled at Iraq’s Najaf International Airport on Wednesday, followed by public processions in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, according to Iranian and Iraqi authorities.
The body will then return to Iran for the final burial ceremony at the shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Friday. Mashhad is also Khamenei’s birthplace.
Countries sending heads of state and government
Several countries are sending their top political leaders to the state funeral.
Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the funeral, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. Pakistan has played a key role in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, helping secure a ceasefire in April and a memorandum of understanding in June that has become the foundation for broader negotiations aimed at ending the war. Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also arrived in Tehran on Friday to participate in the ceremonies.
Tajikistan: President Emomali Rahmon is expected to attend.
Armenia: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will represent Armenia at the commemoration.
Georgia: President Mikheil Kavelashvili will attend, according to official confirmation from the Georgian government.
Senior officials representing other countries
Several nations are sending senior government representatives instead of heads of state.
Turkiye: Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz will represent the country, Ankara confirmed.
India: India announced on Thursday that Governor of Bihar Syed Ata Hasnain and Deputy Foreign Minister Pabitra Margherita will attend the state funeral. The Ministry of External Affairs said both officials would travel to Iran on Friday. Hasnain, a former lieutenant general in the Indian Army, is the seniormost Shia holding public office in India. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti are also part of India’s delegation.
China: Senior Chinese lawmaker He Wei, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will attend the funeral in Tehran, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
Russia: The Kremlin confirmed that Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister, will attend Friday’s ceremony.
Afghanistan: Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Tehran on Thursday for the funeral. Afghan media also reported that First Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar would attend.
Bangladesh: Parliament Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed is scheduled to represent Bangladesh at the funeral, according to Bangladeshi media citing official notifications.
One of the largest funerals in modern history
Iranian authorities expect the funeral to become one of the largest public funerals in modern history, potentially exceeding the 1989 funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which reportedly attracted around 10 million mourners.
Also Read:US Asked Regional Countries To Warn Iran Of Possible Israeli Plot Against Senior Officials
Iran’s current Supreme Leader and Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend the funeral, his representative to India said on Thursday, citing security concerns following Israel’s latest threat to assassinate him.
Meanwhile, an Iranian military commander issued a warning to the United States and Israel against any military action during the funeral period.
“We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the U.S. and the Zionist regime (Israel), to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country,” Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.
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