Iran has reached out to both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress ahead of the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, extending invitations to senior leaders
from across India’s political spectrum, sources told CNN-News18.
According to sources, invitations have been sent to BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who currently heads the Congress’ foreign affairs department.
Sources said Kharge is yet to decide whether to accept the invitation and will also take a call on the composition of the Congress delegation that could travel to Tehran for the funeral.
Apart from extending invitations to senior BJP and Congress leaders, Iran has also invited Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti to attend the state funeral.
The invitation reflects Tehran’s outreach across India’s political spectrum as it prepares for one of the largest state funerals in its history following Khamenei’s death during the US-Israeli military campaign earlier this year.
India has already decided to send an official delegation to Tehran for the funeral ceremonies. The delegation will be led by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), who are expected to represent the Government of India during the multi-day state funeral. Their visit follows an invitation extended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Iran has scheduled a series of funeral ceremonies beginning this weekend, with Khamenei’s body to lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla before being taken through subsequent ceremonies in other cities.
Iranian authorities have estimated that between 15 million and 20 million people could attend the public funeral, potentially making it the biggest state funeral in the country’s history.
Preparations have intensified across the Iranian capital, with giant portraits of Khamenei put up around the Grand Mosalla complex, roads partially closed and security heightened ahead of the ceremonies. State television has urged mourners to use public transport and issued public advisories amid soaring temperatures expected during the funeral period.
Apart from the public ceremonies, Tehran is also hosting a separate event for foreign dignitaries on Friday. Iranian officials have said representatives from around 30 countries are expected to attend.
However, Iran has made it clear that it has not extended official invitations to European countries. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused European governments of standing “on the wrong side of history” during the recent conflict and criticised their position on the US-Israeli military campaign.
The funeral, initially delayed due to the war, comes days after Iran and the United States agreed to a preliminary memorandum of understanding aimed at halting hostilities, although both sides continue to exchange warnings over the implementation of the agreement.
Authorities have declared public holidays in Tehran as well as the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad during the funeral period. Following the ceremonies in the capital, Khamenei’s body is expected to be taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala before being buried on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, his birthplace.
It remains unclear whether Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, will make a public appearance during the funeral. Iranian officials have said any such announcement would come from the Office of the Supreme Leader.
(with inputs from Sherine Elizabeth and Siddhant Mishra)
