Bangladesh Speaker Joins Khamenei Funeral Delegations
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The state funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei begins Friday, with delegations from more than 100 countries expected to attend, according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
Khamenei was killed at the age of 86 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28, an attack that marked the start of the US-Israel military campaign against Iran. His funeral, originally scheduled for March, was postponed as the conflict continued. Iranian authorities later announced a revised schedule after security conditions improved.
The ceremonies begin Friday in Tehran with an official state memorial attended by foreign heads of state, government leaders, and senior representatives.
Public viewing will take place Saturday and Sunday at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Complex, where Khamenei’s coffin will lie in state alongside the coffins of several family members who were also killed. Members of the public will have an opportunity to pay their final respects.
On Monday and Tuesday, the funeral procession will travel to the holy city of Qom. On Wednesday, Khamenei’s body will be taken to Iraq, where an official reception will be held at Najaf International Airport, followed by mourning ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala. His remains will then return to Iran for final burial next Friday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
Several world leaders are attending the funeral, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Sharif’s participation. Islamabad has played a key mediating role in easing tensions between the United States and Iran, helping facilitate an April ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding signed in June that laid the groundwork for broader negotiations.
Other countries are sending senior officials rather than heads of state.
Türkiye will be represented by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz.
India’s delegation includes Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti are also expected to attend. Hasnain is a retired lieutenant general and currently the highest-ranking Shia Muslim government official in India.
China will send He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
Russia will be represented by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and the country’s former president and prime minister. The Kremlin has confirmed his attendance.
Afghanistan’s Taliban administration is sending Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who arrived in Tehran on Thursday, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. Afghan media also reported that First Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar will attend the funeral.
Bangladesh will be represented by Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, according to Bangladeshi media citing government sources.
Iranian officials say the ceremony is expected to become one of the largest state funerals in modern history. Organizers believe attendance could surpass the estimated 10 million people who participated in the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.
For security reasons, Iran’s current Supreme Leader and Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend the funeral. His representative in India said the decision was made following recent assassination threats from Israel.
Tensions surrounding the funeral remain high.
On Thursday, Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a fresh warning to the United States and Israel.
“Iran’s enemies, especially the United States and Israel, must not miscalculate,” Abdollahi said. “If any new attack or aggression is launched against Iran, the country’s armed forces will respond with firm and decisive retaliation.”
Source: Al Jazeera (Adapted)
