Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the burial ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. However, there has been no official confirmation from New Delhi regarding the invitation or whether the Indian Prime Minister will participate in the ceremonies.
The funeral observances for Khamenei are scheduled to take place between July 5 and July 9 across several Iranian cities. According to diplomatic sources, the ceremonies will begin in Tehran and Qom before concluding in Mashhad, one of Iran's holiest cities.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly four decades and remained one of the most influential figures in West Asian politics, was killed on February 28 during the opening day of large-scale US and Israeli air strikes on Tehran. His death marked a dramatic turning point in the region's geopolitical landscape and triggered a prolonged period of uncertainty within Iran.
The funeral ceremonies are slated to be held in Tehran and Qom on July 5, 6 and 7, while the final burial-related event will take place in Mashhad on July 9. Iranian authorities are preparing for what could become one of the largest public gatherings in the country's history.
Officials expect millions of mourners to participate in the ceremonies. Reports indicate that attendance across Tehran, Qom and Mashhad could reach nearly 20 million people. If those projections materialise, the event could surpass the estimated 10 million mourners who attended the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989.
The burial service had originally been expected to take place in early March shortly after Khamenei's death. However, the ceremonies were postponed due to the ongoing conflict that engulfed the region following the attacks.
Following Khamenei's death, his 56-year-old son, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, assumed the position of Supreme Leader on March 8. Since then, speculation regarding his health and public appearances has intensified.
Several senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have publicly claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei is in a coma. Iranian authorities have not officially commented on the claims, leading to continued uncertainty surrounding the country's top leadership.
The funeral ceremonies are set to take place against the backdrop of a significant diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the United States. After months of conflict that destabilised West Asia and contributed to global energy market disruptions, both countries have agreed to pursue a peace framework.
Iranian President Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump recently signed separate digital memorandums of understanding aimed at advancing negotiations and reducing tensions. Long-term peace talks are currently underway in Switzerland, where both sides are working toward a broader settlement on regional security and other contentious issues.
The latest round of negotiations took place during the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland. The discussions were held under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed by the United States and Iran to facilitate dialogue and restore stability in the region. The agreement outlines a roadmap for further negotiations, with both sides reportedly seeking to finalise a comprehensive deal within 60 days.
Amid these diplomatic developments, President Pezeshkian on Tuesday undertook a day-long visit to Pakistan, where he met the country's top civilian and military leadership. He held separate discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The talks focused on regional developments, peace initiatives involving the United States and broader efforts to stabilise West Asia after months of conflict.
Speaking during a joint press conference following delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Sharif welcomed the progress in Iran-US relations and expressed optimism about the future.
"The peace deal between the US and Iran would bring a new era in the region," Sharif said.
As regional diplomacy gathers pace, attention is now turning to the upcoming funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Khamenei, which are expected to draw world leaders, senior officials and millions of mourners from across Iran and beyond. Whether Prime Minister Modi attends the ceremonies remains a key question as India continues to closely monitor developments in the region.
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