Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Iran to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, before proceeding to an official engagement in Türkiye. The visit, scheduled from July 3 to July 5, marks a significant diplomatic moment as it coincides with ongoing efforts to ease regional tensions between the United States and Iran. Sharif’s participation underscores the importance of the occasion, with Iran anticipating the presence of dignitaries from around 100 nations.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the funeral will see attendance from an array of global leaders, including heads of state, parliamentary figures, and special envoys. Among them are Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. China will be represented by He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, while India’s delegation includes Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
The funeral proceedings will commence in Tehran, where Khamenei’s body is scheduled to lie in state at a prominent religious and ceremonial venue. Following this, a nationwide procession will take place, culminating in Mashhad, Khamenei’s hometown, on July 9, where he will be laid to rest. The events are expected to draw significant political and diplomatic attention from across the globe.
Ali Khamenei, who became Iran’s second supreme leader in 1989, was instrumental in advancing the nation’s nuclear program and forging regional alliances through a network of allied groups. He was killed on February 28 during the initial phase of a U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s leadership and military capabilities. In the wake of his death, Mojtaba Khamenei has succeeded him as the supreme leader.
The funeral occurs amid ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, following a ceasefire after weeks of conflict. The two nations are negotiating based on a memorandum of understanding agreed upon last month. However, Israel, which is not involved in the talks, has expressed concerns that the current framework fails to sufficiently address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, keeping the issue at the forefront of both regional and international discourse.