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Indian political leaders and the official Indian delegation have begun arriving in Tehran for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's state funeral, joining foreign dignitaries and religious figures as Iran commenced the first phase of its national mourning ceremonies.
Indian dignitaries pay tribute to late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Source: X)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 3, 2026 15:14 IST
Several Indian political leaders and government representatives have left for Iran to attend the state funeral of the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The Iranian Embassy in India announced the development and shared photographs on X showing Indian delegates paying tribute before leaving for Tehran.
The delegation includes People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who chairs the party's foreign affairs department, and other invitees. The visits come as Iran begins state mourning ceremonies in Tehran.
Mehbooba Mufti left New Delhi on Thursday evening to attend the funeral ceremonies scheduled from July 4. She is the only non-Shia political leader from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh invited by Iran for the state event.
India's official delegation departed from the national capital on Friday. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain are travelling to Tehran to represent India at the funeral of the late Iranian leader.
According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, the first phase of the funeral proceedings began on Friday at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, where foreign dignitaries, religious leaders and senior officials gathered to pay their respects. The remains of Ayatollah Khamenei and those who died alongside him were brought to the Grand Mosalla early on Friday and placed inside the main prayer hall before the official ceremonies.
Iran's state news agency IRNA confirmed the arrival of the casket at the venue in a post on Telegram. Press TV also reported that the opening ceremony saw the arrival of several overseas delegations, with religious scholars and cultural representatives from Indonesia and Afghanistan among the first international visitors to offer condolences.
Representatives from Iran's officially recognised religious minority communities also attended the ceremony, underlining the presence of a broad range of domestic and international delegations in the opening phase of the state funeral. Indian political leaders and official representatives are among those travelling to Tehran as the ceremonies begin.
- Ends
Inputs from ANI
Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Jul 3, 2026 15:14 IST
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