Iran Invites PM Modi to State Funeral of Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei; Ceremonies to Begin July 4 in Tehran

BuzzBytes News Desk
Tehran, Jun 24 (BuzzBytes): Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the state funeral and burial ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to sources, marking a significant diplomatic gesture following the death of the 86-year-old leader who had led the Islamic Republic of Iran for 36 years after a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28.
According to Iranian state media, the funeral ceremonies will commence on July 4 and continue over several days, with special commemorative events scheduled in the holy city of Qom on July 7, while the final burial ceremony will take place on July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown in northeastern Iran. Although Islamic traditions generally call for burial within 24 hours of death, exceptions are permitted under extraordinary circumstances, including wartime conditions, and reports indicate that the prolonged schedule was finalized after months of deliberations amid the regional conflict.
Iranian authorities expect millions of mourners to participate in the ceremonies across Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with several world leaders and foreign dignitaries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also expected to attend. If attendance projections are realized, the funeral could surpass the estimated 10 million people who participated in the funeral procession of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, making it one of the largest public gatherings in Iran’s history.
Following Khamenei’s death, his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, assumed the position of Supreme Leader on March 8, though speculation regarding his health and whereabouts continues, with some international reports claiming he is currently in a coma. The invitation to Prime Minister Modi comes amid signs of easing tensions in the region, as after months of conflict that disrupted global energy supplies and trade routes, Iran and the United States have reportedly agreed to a peace framework. President Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump have signed digital Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), while long-term peace negotiations are currently underway in Switzerland. The developments are being closely watched by the international community due to their potential impact on regional stability, energy security, and global trade. (BuzzBytes)