Iran President Pezeshkian invites PM Modi to attend former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's state funeral: Sources
Tehran, June 24
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state funeral and burial ceremonies for Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, sources said.
The official invitation marks a significant diplomatic engagement following the death of the 86-year-old leader, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. Having headed the Islamic Republic for 36 years, Khamenei was killed on the first day of the military strikes directed against Tehran.
According to Iranian state media, the multi-day funeral ceremonies are scheduled to begin on July 4. The rituals will include events in Qom, a holy city south of Tehran, on July 7 and will conclude with his final burial on July 9 in his hometown, the holy city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
While Islamic jurisprudence typically dictates that a deceased person be buried as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, exceptions are permissible, particularly during a state of war.
Speculation regarding the timeline of the final ceremonies had been mounting since February, with early reports suggesting a late June date before state media officially confirmed the July schedule.
The state funeral is anticipated to draw close to 20 million mourners across Tehran, Mashhad, and Qom. A large number of foreign dignitaries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are expected to attend the ceremonies.
If the projected turnout is met, it will break the record of 10 million attendees set during the 1989 funeral of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Following the event, the late leader's 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, took charge as the Supreme Leader of Iran on March 8. However, widespread speculation continues to surround his current health and exact location, with prominent US officials, including Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, stating that he is presently in a coma.
The invite arrives amidst a cooling of geopolitical tensions. Following months of severe conflict that disrupted global energy lines and triggered a major fuel crisis, Iran and the United States have agreed to a peace framework.
President Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump have separately signed digital Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), and structured, long-term peace negotiations are currently underway in Switzerland.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting timing. With Khamenei's health concerns and the new leadership question, India needs to be cautious. Those 20 million mourners figure sounds massive—bigger than the Kumbh Mela in some ways! I just hope this visit doesn't complicate our relationship with the West, especially given the airstrike context mentioned here.
Attending the funeral of someone killed in a US-Israeli strike? That's a tightrope walk for our diplomacy. India has always maintained good ties with Iran—shared cultural links through Persian influence, even in Bollywood and Urdu poetry. But we must ensure this doesn't send wrong signals to our other partners. PM Modi's presence shows India's maturity in international relations.
The fact that Shehbaz Sharif is also attending shows how important Iran is for the entire region. For India, this is about energy security and connectivity to Central Asia via Chabahar. But I'm worried about the health of the new Supreme Leader—if he's in a coma, who's really running Iran right now? That could create instability. India should send a high-level delegation but perhaps not the PM himself given all these uncertainties.
Look, I respect the diplomatic protocol, but is this really the right time? Khamenei was killed in an airstrike, and now Iran is in peace talks? It feels like there's more to the story. 😅 Also, 20 million mourners—that's more than the population of many countries! India should tread carefully. Our energy needs are real, but so are our security concerns with Pakistan also cozying up to Iran.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.