Mehbooba Mufti Leaves For Iran To Attend Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral Ceremony
Mehbooba Mufti heads to Iran for Khamenei funeral tributes.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is set to travel to Tehran to attend the state funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, following an official invitation from the Iranian government. Mufti has been invited as a distinguished guest representing India during the funeral ceremonies, which are scheduled to take place from July 3 to July 6 in the Iranian capital.
The invitation was issued by Mohseen Qummi, Director of the International Relations Department at the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran. Confirming her participation, Mufti described the invitation as a rare honour and said she would travel to Iran to pay her final respects to the country's highest religious and political authority. Speaking to PTI, she said it was "an immense honour" and a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to receive such an invitation.
According to the official communication, Iran is concluding its national mourning period with a high-profile state funeral following the reported death of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The ceremonies are expected to draw senior political leaders, religious figures and international dignitaries from several countries, reflecting Khamenei's influence both within Iran and across the broader region.
Also Read: J&K Can Become Gateway Between Central And South Asia, Says Mehbooba Mufti
The funeral programme, scheduled between July 3 and July 6, will include a series of official events and tributes in Tehran. The Iranian government has extended invitations to select foreign guests as part of the state ceremonies, with Mufti among those invited to attend. Her participation underscores the diplomatic and symbolic significance attached to the event by Iranian authorities.
Mehbooba Mufti has frequently commented on developments in West Asia and has maintained interest in issues concerning the region during her political career. Her visit to Tehran comes in the context of longstanding cultural and diplomatic ties between India and Iran, although she is attending in her individual capacity following the official invitation from the Iranian government.
The state funeral is expected to be one of the largest public ceremonies held in Iran in recent years, with extensive security arrangements and official mourning events planned across the capital. As international attention remains focused on the developments in Tehran, the participation of foreign dignitaries, including Mehbooba Mufti, is likely to highlight the global significance of the occasion and the diplomatic outreach accompanying the funeral ceremonies.
Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti Writes To Kashmiri Pandit Leader Urging Dialogue And Unity