The Indian government has nominated Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain to represent the country at the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to sources, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had last week invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral ceremonies. However, India will instead be represented by the two senior dignitaries. The funeral rites are scheduled to commence on July 4 and conclude with Khamenei's burial in Mashhad, the holy city in northeastern Iran where he was born, on July 9.
Ayatollah Khamenei, 86, was killed on February 28 during the opening day of Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran. He served as Iran's supreme leader for 36 years, making him one of the country's longest-serving leaders. Iranian state media has announced that the funeral ceremonies will be held across multiple cities, including Tehran, Mashhad and the holy city of Qom, where memorial events are scheduled for July 7.
The timing of Khamenei's funeral had remained uncertain for months following his assassination. While Islamic tradition generally calls for burial as soon as possible after death, exceptions are permitted under extraordinary circumstances such as war. Initial reports had suggested that the funeral could take place by the end of June before Iranian authorities officially confirmed the July schedule.
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The funeral is expected to witness an unprecedented turnout, with nearly 20 million mourners anticipated across Tehran, Mashhad and Qom. Several foreign leaders are also expected to attend, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. If attendance reaches the projected figure, it would surpass the estimated 10 million people who participated in the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Attention is also focused on whether Iran's current Supreme Leader, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, will make his first public appearance since the February 28 airstrike that killed his father. He has not been seen publicly or released any video messages since the attack.
His prolonged absence has fuelled speculation about his health. Several senior US officials, including Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, have claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei is in a coma. Iranian state media has acknowledged that he sustained serious facial injuries and damage to one of his legs but has not officially disclosed his present medical condition.
The funeral comes at a time when regional tensions have eased following a peace agreement between Iran and the United States after months of conflict that destabilised West Asia and disrupted global energy markets. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump have separately signed digital memoranda of understanding, while broader negotiations aimed at securing a long-term peace settlement are continuing in Switzerland.
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