Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, June 24, formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral and burial ceremonies of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, according to media reports.
The ceremonies, which were delayed due to the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, are scheduled to be held from July 4 to July 9.
The programme will begin at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex, where Khamenei’s body will be kept for public viewing. Large public processions are planned in Tehran and the holy city of Qom, while memorial prayers will also be held in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
Khamenei will be buried on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his hometown in northeastern Iran. Iranian authorities expect millions of mourners to attend the ceremonies.
The former supreme leader died on February 28 after leading the Islamic Republic for more than three decades.
Following Khamenei’s death, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book on behalf of the Government of India.
Earlier this year, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, during which he held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and met Prime Minister Modi.
India and Iran have maintained longstanding political, economic and cultural relations, with regular engagement on bilateral and regional matters.
Iran has invited several countries, particularly regional partners and neighbouring nations, to the funeral events. Delegations are expected from Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Russia, China and several Central Asian countries.
India has previously participated in major state ceremonies in Iran. After the death of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024, New Delhi sent a delegation led by then Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to attend the funeral ceremonies. Later that year, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari represented India at Pezeshkian’s inauguration in Tehran.
The funeral is expected to bring together political leaders, diplomats and religious figures from across the region for one of Iran’s most significant state ceremonies in recent years.