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Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will represent India
June 29, 2026: India will be represented at the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei by Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, according to Iranian sources. The development follows an invitation extended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting his presence at the ceremonies.
The commemorative events are scheduled to take place from July 5 to July 9 across several Iranian cities. Ceremonies will be held in Tehran and Qom on July 5, 6 and 7, while the final rites are expected to take place in Mashhad on July 9. Ayatollah Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly three decades, was reportedly killed on February 28 during large-scale US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, marking a significant political turning point for the country.
India has maintained longstanding diplomatic ties with Iran while expanding strategic partnerships across the region. The decision to send an official delegation underscores New Delhi’s continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran during a period of political transition and reflects the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries.