New Delhi, June 29: Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will travel to Iran to represent India at the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
The multi-day ceremonies and burial are scheduled to take place from July 4 to July 9.
The Indian delegation will be attending after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Modi will skip the ceremonies to accommodate pre-scheduled multi-nation visits to Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia.
Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli air strike on Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has expressed his profound appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his warm greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
According to Iranian sources, the Supreme Leader emphasised the immense value of further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries, underscoring New Delhi's pivotal role in regional cooperation.
The official communication from Tehran warmly reciprocated the goodwill extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural and strategic ties shared between India and Iran.
In his official message addressed to PM Modi, the Iranian Supreme Leader said, "His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of India, I have received Your Excellency's message of congratulations on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha."
The message continued, "While expressing my sincere appreciation and extending my reciprocal congratulations, I am confident that the historic friendship between our two countries, founded on mutual respect and shared interests, will continue to be further strengthened and expanded through the efforts of our two governments. I pray to Almighty God for the prosperity and continued success of the Government and the great people of India."
This exchange marks what is believed to be the first direct communication from Mojtaba Khamenei to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his ascension as Iran's Supreme Leader.
