Will PM Modi attend Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral in Tehran? Iran sends special invitation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. The ceremonies are scheduled to take place between July 5 and July 9 across several Iranian cities.

However, India has not officially confirmed whether Prime Minister Modi has received the invitation or whether he will travel to Iran for the event.

Funeral ceremonies to be held in Tehran

According to diplomatic sources, funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei will be held in Tehran and Qom on July 5, 6, and 7, while the final and largest ceremony is scheduled to take place in Mashhad on July 9.

Khamenei led Iran for nearly three decades before being killed in a joint military operation allegedly carried out by Israel and the United States on February 28.

Ministry of External Affairs receives invitation from Iran

Sources said the invitation sent by President Pezeshkian has been received by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. However, it remains unclear whether Prime Minister Modi will attend the funeral or if another senior Indian representative will travel to Iran on behalf of the government.

Mojtaba al-Khamenei Named Iran’s New Supreme Leader

Following Ayatollah Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba al-Khamenei was declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader.

Despite maintaining close strategic ties with both the United States and Israel, India did not formally oppose the assassination of Khamenei. However, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi to pay tribute to the late Iranian leader.

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