In a significant diplomatic engagement, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Iran to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, before embarking on an official trip to Türkiye. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry detailed that Sharif’s visit will span from July 3 to July 5, with the initial stop dedicated to the funeral in Iran. This visit aligns with ongoing diplomatic dialogues between the United States and Iran aimed at mitigating regional tensions.
The funeral is expected to attract representatives from approximately 100 countries, as noted by Iranian officials. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has confirmed the attendance of several high-profile international figures, including heads of state, parliamentary leaders, and foreign ministers. Among the attendees are Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as the 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 will send 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 will be placed in a prominent religious and ceremonial complex. The public ceremonies will then transition into a nationwide procession, concluding on July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace in northeastern Iran, where he will be laid to rest. These events are poised to draw substantial political and diplomatic engagement from both regional and international communities.
Ali Khamenei, Iran’s second supreme leader since 1989, was instrumental in advancing the country’s nuclear ambitions and fortifying its regional alliances through a network of allied groups. He was killed on February 28 in the early stages of a U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s leadership, missile arsenals, and nuclear infrastructure. Following his passing, Mojtaba Khamenei has ascended as the new supreme leader.
The funeral occurs amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran, following a ceasefire that ended a period of conflict. These discussions, rooted in a memorandum of understanding agreed upon last month, continue to unfold without Israel’s participation. Israel has expressed reservations about the framework, particularly concerning the inadequacy of measures addressing Iran’s nuclear program, which remains a focal point of regional and international scrutiny.