Emotional Farewell as Top Iranian Officials Mourn
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi broke down in tears during the farewell ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, according to Fars News. The late leader was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 this year.
Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamadian announced stringent security measures, stating, "We will have the highest level of security and safety at the farewell and send-off ceremony for the martyred Leader." He added that the doors of Tehran's Prayer Grounds would open exactly at 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, with no earlier entry permitted.
International Dignitaries Gather for Solemn Rites
India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain. The Iranian Embassy in India posted on X that "Indian Dignitaries Pay Tribute to the Martyred Leader." The embassy's image also showed PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and Congress leader Salman Khurshid.
Russia sent Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, as confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other notable attendees included Turkmenistan's Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.
Massive Turnout Expected Across Multi-Day Events
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that at least eight heads of government and parliamentary speakers from 12 countries would attend. He noted that delegations from around 100 countries would participate, but European nations that supported the US-Israeli strikes were not invited. Iranian officials estimate the funeral will draw 15 to 20 million mourners.
Ceremonies will continue through the weekend, with the body lying in state at Tehran's Grand Mosalla. A funeral procession through Tehran is scheduled for Monday, followed by rites in Qom, Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf, culminating in burial in Mashhad on July 9. The Mosalla gates open to the public at 6 a.m. Saturday, with possible earlier opening depending on circumstances.
