Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is set to visit Iran to partake in the funeral of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. This visit, scheduled from July 3 to July 5, marks Sharif’s first destination before he continues his official trip to Türkiye. The visit occurs amid ongoing diplomatic dialogues between the United States and Iran, aimed at resolving regional tensions after recent negotiations between the two nations.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has indicated that the funeral will be attended by representatives from approximately 100 countries, including heads of state, parliamentary leaders, and foreign ministers. Notable attendees expected include Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and Georgia’s President Mikheil Kavelashvili. Russia will be represented by Dmitry Medvedev, the former president and current deputy chairman of the Security Council, while China’s delegation will be led by He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. India’s representation will include Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
The public funeral ceremonies will commence in Tehran, where Khamenei’s body is slated to lie in state at a prominent religious and ceremonial site. The proceedings will then extend across Iran, culminating on July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown located in the northeastern part of the country, where he will be buried. The events are anticipated to attract high-level political and diplomatic figures from across the globe.
Ali Khamenei became Iran’s second supreme leader in 1989, overseeing significant developments such as the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program and bolstering regional alliances through allied groups. His leadership came to an abrupt end on February 28 when he was killed during the initial stages of a U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s leadership, missile capabilities, and nuclear infrastructure. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader.
The funeral takes place in the context of ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, which have resumed following a ceasefire that ended weeks of conflict. These discussions are based on a memorandum of understanding reached the previous month. However, Israel has opted out of these negotiations, expressing concerns that the current framework insufficiently addresses the issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, keeping the topic at the forefront of regional and international discourse.