India Joins World Leaders in Tehran for Funeral of Former Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei

Tehran/New Delhi (IANS): India paid its respects at the funeral ceremony of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retired) represented the Government of India at the solemn event.

“Governor of Bihar Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei… Conveyed our respects on behalf of the government and the people of India,” MoS Margherita posted on the social media platform X.

The high-level presence emphasizes the deep roots between the two nations. In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted: “The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements.”

Earlier in New Delhi, political figures across party lines paid their respects. The Embassy of Iran in India shared photographs of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid attending condolence events. Back on March 5, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi to sign the official condolence book and meet with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali.

Emotional Scenes as Global Leaders Gather

The farewell drew top-tier international delegations to Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Prayer Grounds. Visibly shaken by the loss, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi broke down in tears during the proceedings.

Iran’s top leadership—including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, and Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani—led the mourning.

The funeral ranks as one of the largest international gatherings in Iran’s recent history. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that public figures and delegations from nearly 100 countries attended the ceremony.

Key Global Dignitaries in Attendance:

• Russia: Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.
• Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir.
• Neighborhood & Regions: Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
• Alliances: SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev, alongside leaders from the OIC and D-8.

While Iran opened its doors to lawmakers from Eastern Europe and across the globe, Baghaei explicitly noted that Iran did not invite countries that officially backed the recent military action by Israel and the United States.

Tight Security and Multi-City Processions

The massive gathering follows an epochal US-Israeli attack on February 28 that killed Khamenei, ending his 46-year rule and altering the region’s geopolitical landscape. In March, Iran selected his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader.

To manage the massive crowds, Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian deployed elite security forces. “We will have the highest level of security and safety at the farewell and send-off ceremony,” Motamedian assured the public.

Neighboring Iraq also took drastic measures; Baghdad Governor Atwan Al-Atwani announced a total shutdown of the city to facilitate linked funeral processions.

Officials estimate that between 15 and 20 million people will participate in the multi-day mourning ceremonies across the region.

Final Funeral Schedule:

• July 4-5: Farewell ceremonies at Imam Khomeini’s Mosalla prayer hall (Tehran).
• July 6: Main funeral procession ceremony in Tehran.
• July 7: Procession moves to Iran’s holy city of Qom.
• Additional Services: Memorials in Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf.
• July 9: Final burial at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.