New Delhi, July 2: Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has confirmed that he will represent the Congress party at the state funeral ceremony of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Khurshid said, "I am representing the party and will attend the state funeral ceremony of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei." His remarks officially confirmed his participation in the funeral on behalf of the Congress.
According to Iranian authorities, a three-day public funeral has been planned for the former Supreme Leader, who was reportedly killed on the opening day of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Details of the ceremonies were announced by Tehran Deputy Mayor Mohammad Amin Tavakoli-Zadeh, who said that memorial processions would be held in several major cities, including the capital, Tehran, as well as the religious centres of Qom and Mashhad.
Iranian state media reported that the funeral ceremonies are scheduled to begin on July 4. Events in the holy city of Qom are planned for July 7, while the final burial will take place on July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei's hometown in northeastern Iran.
Although Islamic tradition generally calls for burial within 24 hours of death, delays are permitted under exceptional circumstances, including during wartime. Reports about the timing of the funeral had circulated for months before Iranian authorities officially confirmed the July schedule.
On June 24, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the state funeral and burial ceremonies. According to sources, the invitation reflects a significant diplomatic gesture following the death of the 86-year-old Iranian leader, who had led the Islamic Republic for 36 years before being killed in a reported joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28.
