PM Modi invited to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral:Ceremonies to begin on 4 July; 2 crore people may attend the funeral procession

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the state funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in an Israel-US attack on 28 February. His funeral was originally scheduled for 4 March, but was postponed due to the war. The ceremonies will now begin on 4 July. His body will be kept for public viewing at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran. He will then be buried on 9 July at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Officials expect around 2 crore people to attend the funeral events in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad. Uncertainty over Modi attending Iran funeral Iran has sent invitations to many countries around the world for the funeral ceremonies. Neighbouring and friendly nations have been specifically invited to participate. It is not yet clear whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend Khamenei’s funeral. The Indian government has not made any official announcement on the matter so far. As a result, it remains uncertain who will represent India at the ceremony. After the death of Iran’s then president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash in May 2024, India had also sent a high-level delegation to Tehran. At that time, the Indian government declared a one-day state mourning. Then vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar led the Indian delegation to Tehran and attended the funeral ceremony. Why Khamenei will be buried in Mashhad The main funeral ceremony for Khamenei will take place in Tehran and is expected to last at least 24 hours. After that, his body will be taken to the religious city of Qom and then to Mashhad, where he will be buried within the precincts of the Imam Reza shrine. Mashhad is Iran’s second-largest city. Located in the country’s north-east, it is regarded as the most important religious centre for Shia Muslims. The city is best known for the Imam Reza Shrine. Imam Reza was the eighth Imam in Shia Muslim tradition. His shrine is among the world’s largest religious sites and attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Burying Khamenei in Mashhad will further associate his legacy with some of the most revered religious figures in Shia Islam.
IRGC responsible for Khamenei’s funeral arrangements The delay in the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is being viewed as unusual from the perspective of Islamic tradition. In Islam, a person is typically buried within one or two days of death. However, Iranian authorities say the funeral has been postponed due to the expectation of massive crowds and the impact of wartime conditions. Mohammad Ali Tavakkolizadeh, Deputy Head of Social and Cultural Affairs at the Tehran Municipality, provided details about the preparations. Speaking to state television, he said a three-day public funeral ceremony would be organised for Khamenei. The official did not specify the exact dates but said the ceremonies could begin around the start of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, which falls around June 21. The entire event is being organised under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). One crore people attended Khomeini’s funeral Around one crore people attended the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in 1989. At the time, that represented roughly one-sixth of Iran’s total population. The event is still regarded as one of the largest funeral gatherings in history. The crowd was so large that a stampede broke out, killing at least eight people and injuring thousands. This time, authorities are trying to manage an even larger crowd while preventing any accidents. However, organising such a massive event in a country still dealing with the effects of war is considered a major challenge. Khamenei killed during US-Israel strikes on Iran The US and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran on February 28, targeting several strategic locations, including sites in Tehran. Airstrikes reportedly hit the residence and office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was believed to be inside a bunker during the attacks, but he was seriously injured in a series of missile and drone strikes. Iranian security sources later confirmed his death. Several senior Iranian military and security officials were also killed in the attacks. ​