NEW DELHI: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the state funeral and burial ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, news agency PTI reported citing diplomatic sources.The Prime Minister has been invited by President Pezeshkian to the burial ceremonies, PTI reported.The funeral rites, scheduled across several Iranian cities from July 4 to July 9, are expected to draw millions of mourners and foreign dignitaries. The invitation comes as Iran finalises arrangements for a week-long series of ceremonies that will begin in Tehran and conclude with Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad, his birthplace and one of Shia Islam’s holiest cities.Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28.According to Iranian authorities, Khamenei’s body will lie in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex on July 4 and 5, allowing the public to pay their respects. A state funeral procession is scheduled for July 6, with Tehran province set to observe public holidays during the ceremonies.“The farewell ceremony and prayers for the martyred leader’s body will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 4th and 5th, in Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, and the funeral will be held on Monday, July 6th, and Tehran province will be off for these three days,” IRGC commander Hassan Hassanzadeh, who is overseeing the ceremonies, was quoted as saying.Tehran authorities estimate that around 20 million people could participate in the events.State media has reported that the capital will observe holidays on July 4 and 5, while the rest of the country will join in on July 6.Beyond Tehran, commemorative events are planned in the religious centres of Qom and Mashhad. The holy city of Qom will host a tribute ceremony on July 7, while Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 9 at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. Both cities are expected to observe public holidays to mark the occasion.Neighbouring Iraq will also hold special ceremonies on July 8, including prayers in the revered Shia cities of Najaf and Karbala, reflecting Khamenei’s influence across the region.India had earlier conveyed its condolences following Khamenei’s death. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and signed the condolence book on behalf of the Government of India.The funeral ceremonies were initially planned for March but were postponed amid escalating conflict in the Middle East following the US-Israeli attacks in February that killed Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials.
