Salman Khurshid, Mehbooba Mufti attend funeral prayers for Ayatollah Khamenei
New Delhi, July 5
Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who participated in the funeral of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei paid tribute to Iran's late Supreme Leader.
"Periodically somebody surfaces who dedicates best parts of their life to civilizational link between India & Iran; & Ayatollah Khamenei actually personified that relationship which goes back for centuries, Khurshid was cited as saying by Iran in India, the official account of the Embassy of Iran in India.
Highlighting the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between India and Iran the veteran Congress leader speaking on the enduring nature of the bilateral relationship, Khurshid emphasized that the bond between New Delhi and Tehran transcends modern diplomacy, finding its roots in a shared history that spans several centuries.
"The martyred Imam, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, was not only a teacher during his lifetime; his martyrdom also became an enduring lesson for the world," he was cited as saying in a X post by Iran in India.
The Iranian embassy also shared visuals of crowds assembled at the funeral prayers.
"A simple yet profound testimony from the funeral prayer for the martyred Imam of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. A final farewell, a prayer, and a witness to a lifetime of faith, sacrifice, and steadfastness," the embassy said.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti, who attended the funeral of former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, said her thoughts are with the resilience of Iran.
In a post on X, she said, "As I depart from Tehran my thoughts are with it's brave leadership & resilient people in this moment of profound loss and grief. We will always stand with you. Deepest gratitude to the Iranian government for being such gracious & warm hosts. It's been an honour to be here."
Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Syed Ata Hasnain on Friday represented India as they attended the funeral ceremony of former Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 this year. He was 86.
On the solemn event, MoS Pabitra Margherita, in a post on X, shared that they paid their respects on behalf of the Government and people of India."Hon'ble @GovernorBihar and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, in Tehran. Conveyed our respects on behalf of the Government and the people of India."
Funeral prayers were also held for the four members of Khamenei's family who were killed in the joint US-Israeli strike on February 28.
Iran began the week-long funeral processions on Friday and authorities unveiled the casket containing Khamenei's body in a glass case at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. he coffin will lie in state there until July 6.
According to Tasnim News Agency, "the capacity of the main courtyard of Mosalla was filled hours before the start of the congregational prayer".
Khamenei will be buried at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad on July 10, which is the town where he was born.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see how geopolitics works. Iran is a key ally for India in West Asia, especially for energy security and the Chabahar port project. While I'm not a fan of the Iranian regime, attending state funerals is diplomatic protocol. But why is Mehbooba Mufti there? That seems purely political for her domestic audience in Kashmir. 🤔
Bharat has always had deep cultural ties with Iran, from the Mughals to the Sufi traditions. But the way this is being reported glorifies Khurshid and Mufti's personal religious identity over national interests. We should respect all faiths, but not let politicians use foreign funerals to score brownie points back home. Very disappointing.
Finally, some sensible diplomacy! India needs to maintain good relations with Iran, especially given the Israel-Palestine situation. Ayatollah Khamenei may have been controversial, but his role in supporting Palestine and anti-imperialism is respected by many in the Global South. Good to see our leaders paying respects. 👏
As an American living in India, I find this disconnect fascinating. In the US, attending a funeral for a leader like Khamenei would be politically toxic. But India balancing ties with Iran, Israel, and Saudi Arabia shows real diplomatic maturity. That said, Khurshid's comments about 'civilizational links' feel a bit too romanticized for a modern nation-state relationship.
Mehbooba Mufti attending this while Kashmir burns under Article 370 revocation is pure irony. She should first stand with her own
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