Tehran, July 3: Iran’s senior political and military leadership gathered at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran on Friday to pay their final respects to the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the opening of the country’s state funeral ceremonies.
Heads of Iran’s three branches of government attended the ceremony, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and senior military commander Mohsen Rezaee.
The funeral has drawn delegations and dignitaries from several countries. The Embassy of Iran in India said a number of Indian political leaders, including People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and Congress foreign affairs department chairman , paid tribute to the late leader before travelling to Tehran.
India’s official delegation, led by Minister of State for External Affairs and , also departed for Iran on Friday to attend the funeral.According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, the ceremony has been attended by Georgian President , Iraqi President , Tajik President , Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Army Chief . Delegations from China, Belarus, Russia, Oman, Lebanon and Palestine also participated in the proceedings.
Family members of former Hezbollah leaders, including and , were among those who paid tribute.Iranian authorities have put extensive security measures in place for the funeral. According to Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the representative of the current Supreme Leader in India, the present Supreme Leader, , will not attend the ceremonies because of security concerns.
Iranian officials said the security situation remains sensitive following recent regional tensions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that any threat against the country’s leadership would receive an immediate response. Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, also warned against any hostile action during the mourning period.
The body of Ayatollah Khamenei was brought to Tehran’s Grand Mosalla early Friday, where it was placed in the main prayer hall for a two-day public farewell.
Before the ceremonies began, President Masoud Pezeshkian appealed to people across Iran to participate in the funeral, describing it as a demonstration of national unity.
Iranian officials, quoted by Press TV, said the funeral is expected to attract between 15 and 20 million mourners. The ceremonies will continue through the weekend before a funeral procession in Tehran on Monday. Further religious rites are scheduled in Qom, Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf, with burial planned in Mashhad on July 9.