High-ranking Iranian and foreign officials gathered in Tehran to honor Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony held at Imam Khomeini’s Mosalla prayer hall. The tribute ceremony commenced on Friday morning and continued throughout the day with the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, and other senior officials. Foreign dignitaries including heads of state, parliament speakers, and ministers from various countries also attended the ceremony to pay their respects.
Funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are scheduled to extend until July 9, with processions planned in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, as well as rites in Iraq. Iranian authorities have announced public closures and airspace restrictions in Tehran and Mashhad on significant dates, designating Thursday as a day of national mourning. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain represented India at the funeral ceremony in Tehran, conveying India’s respects for the former Iranian Supreme Leader.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the importance of the civilizational ties and people-to-people connections between India and Iran, emphasizing the strong foundation these ties provide for political and economic engagements. Farewell ceremonies are set to take place at Imam Khomeini’s Mosalla prayer hall in Tehran on July 4-5, followed by a funeral procession ceremony in Tehran on July 6 and another in Iran’s Qom city on July 7.
