Iran invites BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral

Iran has invited senior BJP leader and former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to attend events linked to the funeral of the country’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is not yet clear whether Naqvi will travel to Iran for the ceremonies.

Naqvi confirmed that he had received the invitation, but did not say whether he would visit the country in a personal capacity or as a representative of his party, news agency PTI reported. India will be represented at the ceremonies by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Ata Hasnain.

In the formal invitation sent to Naqvi, Mohsen Qummi, director of the international relations department of the office of the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said, "It is with profound sorrow and deep regret that we announce the Martyrdom (Shahadat) of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on 28 February, 2026."

He said a state funeral ceremony would be held in Tehran in keeping with the national period of mourning and the protocols of the Islamic Republic.

Qummi added, "In light of the profound historical and strategic ties that bind the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India, I consider it a great honour to invite Your Excellency, as a distinguished guest of the Indian nation, to attend this solemn ceremony."

According to the invitation sent to Naqvi, a farewell to Khamenei at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla Complex will be held in Tehran on Friday. A session to commemorate the late supreme leader will be organised at the Summit Conference Hall in Tehran on July 4, and a funeral procession will take place in Tehran on July 6.

Khamenei, who ruled Iran for the last three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of massive US and Israeli air strikes on Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremonies, while Naqvi is among those who have also received invitations for the farewell events.

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