Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to sources.
The state funeral for Khamenei is scheduled to begin on July 4, with a series of commemorative events culminating in his burial on July 9 in the northeastern city of Mashhad, his birthplace and one of Iran’s most revered religious centres.
Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for over three decades, was killed during the opening phase of Israeli and US military strikes on Iran on February 28. He was 86 years old and had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving and most influential figures in the country’s contemporary history.
Iranian state media has outlined an extended mourning programme that will also include ceremonies in the holy city of Qom on July 7. The events are expected to draw senior political leaders, religious figures and foreign dignitaries from across the world.
The timing of Khamenei’s funeral had been the subject of considerable speculation in the months following his death. Under Islamic tradition, burial is generally carried out as quickly as possible, often within 24 hours. However, religious and logistical exceptions are permitted under extraordinary circumstances, including wartime conditions and national emergencies.
In the aftermath of his assassination, various reports suggested that Khamenei could be laid to rest by the end of June. Iranian authorities, however, later confirmed that the official funeral ceremonies would take place in early July, allowing time for a nationwide period of mourning and preparations for what is expected to be one of the largest state ceremonies in Iran’s recent history.