India
oi-Swastika Sruti
A delegation from India went to pay tribute to the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, on Friday, July 3, through the latter’s state funeral ceremony. The delegation included officials from both the Central Government and political parties, among other Indian personalities who attended the mourning ritual.
An Indian delegation, including Minister of State Pabitra Margherita and Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Pawan Khera, attended the funeral ceremony for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on July 3; his burial is scheduled for July 9 in Mashhad.
The mourning ritual was held at the Grand Mosalla of Imam Khomeini in Tehran, where many people gathered for their last homage before the deceased leader was taken back to his hometown of Mashhad, to be buried there on July 9.
Who Attended the Funeral on behalf of India?
The Indian Government was represented by Lt. General (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain, the Governor of Bihar and Pabitra Margherita, the Minister of State for External Affairs.
Iran had invited leaders not only from the ruling party, BJP, but also from the opposition Congress.
On behalf of Congress, Salman Khurshid, the former Minister of External Affairs and Congress MP, Pawan Khera attended the funeral.
An honour for me to be here in Tehran to express my deepest condolences & solidarity on the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei- a revered leader who dared to stand against the tide & fought for the oppressed. pic.twitter.com/dyfRbNXhsr
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 3, 2026
Other notable Indians who attended the ceremony included:
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir
Ag Syed Hassan Mosavi Al Safavi, President of Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian
The Iranian Embassy in India released pictures of the delegation and informed that they had paid homage to the departed leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Other Indian Leaders Who Were Invited
Apart from inviting these Indian political and religious leaders, Iran also invited the following:
- National Conference MP and Shia Cleric Aga Syed Ruhullah
- Imran Ansari, Leader of Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference
- Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi, Shia Cleric
- Masroor Abbas Ansari, Shia Cleric
- Lokesh Muni, Jain Monk and Spiritual Leader
But it is not confirmed whether all of them attended the funeral service.
Mehbooba Mufti Expresses Condolences
After attending the funeral, Mehbooba Mufti posted on her social media page conveying her condolences.
It was an honor, she said, to attend the event in Tehran and that her trip there was in tribute following the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. She paid tribute to his leadership and explained that she attended the event in order to offer her condolences for the people who were grieving over his loss.
Funeral Ceremony to be Conducted in Tehran
The coffin of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been kept in the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla of Tehran so that the people can pay their tributes to him.
After paying the public tributes, his burial ceremony will take place in Mashhad, his hometown, on July 9.
The Iranian government has arranged strict security and logistics for his funeral, as it is expected to witness a large number of mourners.
Funeral Delayed Due to Security Concerns
Based on the information provided, it seems that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated on the February 28 through a collaborative attack by both the US and Israel.
It was said that Iran had delayed the holding of the funeral due to the tense situation in the region at the time.
The delay also helped to make necessary security preparations for high-level Iranian officials.
Iranian officials are expected to handle one of the largest crowds the country has ever seen before. The government is expected to have prepared for millions of Iranians attending the funeral.
