Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has officially invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the state funeral and burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to diplomatic sources on Wednesday. The Indian government has yet to decide on the invitation.
Funeral Ceremonies Scheduled Across Three Cities
The funeral rites are slated to take place from July 5 to July 9, spanning Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad. These events are expected to draw numerous world leaders and senior dignitaries as Iran bids farewell to its most influential political and religious figure of the last three decades.
Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli military strike targeting senior Iranian leadership during a major escalation in West Asia. His death triggered prolonged mourning and a political transition in Iran.
India's Engagement with Iran
The invitation comes amid India's longstanding engagement with Iran on regional connectivity, energy security, and cooperation on the Chabahar port project. Officials indicated no decision has been made on the level of India's representation at the ceremonies. Diplomatic sources said if the PM cannot attend, India may send a senior government or Ministry of External Affairs delegation, though no official announcement has been made.
Revised Travel Advisory for Iran
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued a revised travel advisory on Wednesday, acknowledging an improvement in the security situation in Iran. However, it continues to caution citizens against non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic until further notice.
“Notwithstanding the recent improvements, Indian nationals are advised to continue to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran until further notice,” the embassy said. The advisory noted “recent positive developments” that contributed to an overall improvement in the situation, but stopped short of fully lifting travel restrictions.
Registration and Emergency Assistance
The embassy has also asked all Indian nationals currently in Iran and those arriving to register their details with the mission at the earliest opportunity to facilitate emergency assistance. Citizens are advised to regularly monitor the embassy's website and social media platforms for updates and fresh advisories.
