Tehran : Iran’s public expression of gratitude to India for participating in the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has come against the backdrop of reports in Iranian media that several countries either withdrew or reduced their level of representation at the ceremonies after diplomatic pressure from the US. When viewed together, the two developments highlight the diplomatic currents that surrounded one of the biggest and closely watched state funerals in recent Iranian history.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India, through a post on X, thanked the Indian government and people of India for participating in the funeral ceremonies and described New Delhi’s presence as a reaffirmation of the longstanding relationship between the two countries. “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of India extends its heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to the friendly Government and people of India, especially the official delegation that attended on behalf of the Government and people of India, for participating in the funeral ceremonies and paying tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” tweeted the Iranian embassy.
The official delegation was accompanied by several other Indian dignitaries, including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, and religious leaders representing different faith traditions in India. “The people of Iran will never forget this gesture of friendship, compassion, and heartfelt respect,” the Iranian Embassy said in its statement. It described India’s participation as “a precious testament to the enduring ties” between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India and said it would serve as “a valuable foundation for further strengthening the longstanding friendship between our two countries.”
Iran’s statement thanking India came even as Tasnim News Agency reported on July 3 (Friday) that participation in the funeral had become the subject of an intense diplomatic contest, alleging that the United States had sought to discourage countries from sending official delegations to Tehran. According to Tasnim, citing what it described as a senior Iranian source, Washington launched a coordinated diplomatic effort about a week before the funeral procession to persuade governments to avoid participating in the ceremonies.
“Some of the countries that decided not to participate due to US pressure have tried to ask for an apology and tried to justify their decisions by sending messages through intermediaries or through their diplomatic missions in Geneva and New York,” the news agency’s report said. The report further alleged that some governments were warned of “negative consequences”, including reductions in development aid or adverse effects on bilateral ties, should they decide to participate in the funeral.
Tasnim reported that at least 13 countries either withdrew from the funeral ceremonies altogether or reduced the level of their official representation. According to the IRGC-backed news agency, those countries included three Eastern European nations, five African states, two Persian Gulf Arab countries and two major East Asian nations. Tasnim did not identify the countries by name. Neither the US State Department nor Secretary Rubio have publicly responded to the specific allegations reported by Tasnim at the time of writing.
India, however, maintained its participation in the ceremonies by sending an official delegation, while several prominent Indian political and religious figures also travelled to Iran to pay their respects. For New Delhi, the decision was consistent with India’s long-standing approach of maintaining engagement with multiple partners across the Middle East despite geopolitical rivalries in the region.
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