TEHRAN: Pakistan’s top leadership arrived in Iran on Friday to attend the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral in Tehran, joining delegations from around 30 countries to pay tribute to the late Iranian leader.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are taking part in the funeral ceremonies as Iran begins several days of national mourning.
Field Marshal Asim Munir was received by Iranian officials and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who had arrived earlier in Tehran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was welcomed at Mehrabad Airport by Iran’s interior minister, Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, and senior diplomatic officials.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister is on a one-day visit to express Pakistan’s condolences to Iran’s leadership and people. He is also expected to reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity during the country’s period of mourning before leaving for an official bilateral visit to Türkiye.
Iran’s state media reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body was brought to Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, where mourners, religious scholars, government officials, and foreign dignitaries gathered to pay their respects. His coffin, draped in Iran’s national flag, was carried into the ceremonial hall decorated with red flowers and white butterflies.
The Grand Mosalla will host mourning ceremonies over three days. Millions of people are expected to attend the main funeral on Saturday, while visitors from Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other countries have travelled to Tehran for the commemorations.
Among those attending the ceremony was Ahmad Wahidi, head of the Revolutionary Guards, making his first public appearance since the conflict began in February. The bodies of several members of Ayatollah Khamenei’s family, who were also killed, are expected to be present during the official funeral events.
After the ceremonies in Tehran, additional memorial events will be held in Qom, Najaf, and Karbala. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to be laid to rest on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad.
The funeral was postponed because of the Middle East conflict and is now taking place during a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
Iranian officials say Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed alongside several members of his family during the opening strikes of the conflict. Other senior Iranian officials, including Ali Shamkhani, also lost their lives.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a large public turnout at the funeral would demonstrate national unity and send a strong message against terrorism, violence, and intimidation.
Pakistan’s delegation includes National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Secretary General Nayyer Bukhari, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Earlier, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani also arrived in Tehran with a separate high-level delegation to participate in the funeral prayers and burial ceremonies.
