Iran bids emotional farewell to Ayatollah Khamenei as top leaders and global dignitaries gather in Tehran

New Delhi - Iran on Friday began the funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, with senior Iranian leaders, foreign dignitaries and high-level delegations from around the world attending the solemn occasion. The ceremony was marked by emotional scenes as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were seen in tears while paying their final respects.

According to Iran's Fars News Agency, extensive security arrangements were put in place across Tehran for the funeral. Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said authorities had implemented the highest level of security to ensure the ceremonies concluded peacefully.

He said the gates of Tehran's Grand Mosalla Prayer Grounds opened at 6 a.m. local time and advised mourners to arrive early, while noting that the schedule could be adjusted if necessary.

Authorities in Baghdad also announced a citywide shutdown to facilitate funeral processions connected to the late Iranian leader. The decision was announced by Baghdad Governor Atwan Al-Atwani.

India was represented at the ceremony by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Syed Ata Hasnain.

The Embassy of Iran in India said in a post on X that Indian dignitaries had paid tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei. It also shared photographs showing Mehbooba Mufti, Salman Khurshid and several other attendees.

Russia also sent a high-level delegation led by Dmitry Medvedev, whose participation was confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Iran's state broadcaster Press TV reported that the ceremony at the Grand Mosalla Prayer Grounds was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje'i and Expediency Council Chairman Sadegh Amoli Larijani.

Several international leaders were also present, including Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Nikol Pashinyan, Emomali Rahmon, Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir and Nechirvan Barzani.

Delegations from numerous countries also attended, including parliamentary speakers from Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, along with foreign ministers from Nicaragua, Congo and Burkina Faso. Egypt's Senate president, the Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, the Speaker of Oman's Parliament and senior representatives of several international organisations were also present.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the funeral had drawn broad international participation. He said at least eight heads of government, including presidents and prime ministers, as well as parliamentary speakers from 12 countries, were expected to attend. Many other nations, he added, were represented by foreign ministers, cabinet ministers or special envoys, while delegations from nearly 100 countries took part in the ceremonies.

Baghaei also said lawmakers and public representatives from several Eastern European countries had joined the funeral events. However, he noted that countries which had officially backed military action by Israel and the United States against Iran were not invited.

According to Press TV, the funeral is among the largest international gatherings hosted by Iran in recent years. Iranian officials estimate that between 15 and 20 million people could participate in the multi-day mourning ceremonies.

Additional memorial events are scheduled in Qom, Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf, with Ayatollah Khamenei's final burial set to take place in Mashhad on July 9.

With inputs from IANS