India pays respects at funeral ceremony of former Iran Supreme leader Khamenei
Tehran, July 3
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, paid their tributes representing India at the funeral ceremony of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
"Governor of Bihar Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, in Tehran. Conveyed our respects on behalf of the government and the people of India," MoS Margherita wrote on social media platform X.
Khamenei was killed in an epochal attack by the US and Israel on February 28, marking an inflexion point in the 46-year Shia-theocratic rule. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new Supreme Leader in March this year.
"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," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Farewell ceremonies will be held at Imam Khomeini's Mosalla prayer hall in Tehran on July 4-5, followed by funeral procession ceremony in Tehran on July 6.
Another funeral procession ceremony will take place in Iran's Qom city on July 7.
The final funeral ceremony will be held in Mashhad on July 9, followed by burial at the holy shrine of Imam Reza, Tasnim news agency reported.
On March 5, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on behalf of the Indian government, signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and offered condolences on the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Misri met Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali and offered condolences over the demise of Khamenei.
"Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and signed the condolence book, on behalf of the people and the Indian government, on the demise of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While paying respects is diplomatic protocol, we must remember that Khamenei's regime has been accused of serious human rights violations, especially against women and protesters. India should balance its foreign policy with our democratic values.
Interesting timing for this article - given Khamenei was killed in an attack. Ayatollah or not, nobody deserves to be assassinated. But India's presence shows we're not taking sides in the Israel-Iran conflict, which is smart diplomacy. 🎯
As an American living in India, it's fascinating to see how differently this is reported here. In the US, Khamenei was always portrayed as a villain. India's nuanced approach respects sovereignty while maintaining strategic autonomy. Smart play by Delhi.
Question is - why is this news only now when the funeral happened months ago? Something doesn't add up. Either way, RIP to the departed soul, but let's see how India's Iran policy shapes up with the new Supreme Leader.
The civilisational ties mentioned are real - Persian influence on Mughal India, Sufi traditions, even Bollywood's Persian words. But let's not romanticise: under Khamenei, Iran suppressed dissent heavily. India should prioritise our strategic interests - Chabahar port, energy security - over sentiment. 🇮🇳⚖️
M < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.