Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state funeral ceremonies and burial of Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, sources reported. The official invitation marks a significant diplomatic interaction following the death of the 86-year-old leader, who was reportedly killed during a joint airstrike by the United States and Israel on February 28. Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years, was killed on the first day of military strikes targeting Tehran.
According to Iranian state media, the multi-day funeral ceremonies are set 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. Although Islamic jurisprudence typically requires the burial of the deceased as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, exceptions are permitted, especially during wartime. Speculation about the timing of the final ceremonies has been growing since February, with early reports suggesting a date in late June before state media officially confirmed the July schedule. The state funeral is expected to draw about 20 million mourners in Tehran, Mashhad, and Qom. Many foreign dignitaries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, are also expected to attend the ceremonies. If the projected number of attendees is reached, it will surpass the record of 10 million participants set during the funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.
Successor and health status
Following the event, the 56-year-old son of the late leader, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, became the Supreme Leader of Iran on March 8. However, widespread speculation continues regarding his current health status and exact whereabouts, with prominent American officials, including Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, stating that he is currently in a coma.
Cooling of geopolitical tensions
The invitation to Prime Minister Modi comes amid a cooling of geopolitical tensions. After months of intense conflict that disrupted global energy lines and triggered a major fuel crisis, Iran and the United States have agreed on a peaceful framework agreement. President Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump separately signed digital Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), and structured, long-term peace negotiations are currently underway in Switzerland.
Source: NDTV Hindi