Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti is set to travel to Iran to pay final tributes to the country's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after receiving an official invitation to attend his funeral. Mohseen Qummi, Director of the International Relations Department at the office of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, extended a formal invitation to Mehbooba to attend the solemn funeral ceremony as a distinguished guest of India.
Mehbooba Calls Invitation a 'Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity'
“It is an immense honour for me and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive this invitation (from Iran). I will travel there to pay my last respects to the supreme leader,” the PDP chief told PTI. The invitation letter stated that Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, and in accordance with the national period of mourning and the protocols of the Islamic Republic, a state funeral ceremony would be held in Tehran from July 3 to 6.
Details of the Funeral Ceremony
According to the programme, the farewell to the leader will be held at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla Complex in Tehran on July 3, with commemoration the next day and funeral procession on July 6. The invitation letter highlighted the profound historical and strategic ties between Iran and India, stating, “Your presence would serve as a testament to the deep-rooted friendship and mutual respect between our two great ancient civilizations.”
