Atiya Mujeeb
Tehran, July 3: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday paid tribute to Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, during her visit to Tehran, saying it was an honour to personally convey her condolences and solidarity.
Mufti, who travelled to Tehran as part of an Indian delegation, joined mourners at the funeral ceremonies and offered Salat al-Janazah (funeral prayers) for the late leader. In a post on X, she said it was an honour to be in Tehran to express her deepest condolences on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, describing him as a revered leader who stood against injustice and championed the cause of oppressed people.
She had earlier received an official invitation from the Iranian authorities to attend the ceremonies and was among a select group of invitees from Jammu and Kashmir, including several prominent Shia religious scholars.
Meanwhile, Iran’s state funeral and burial ceremonies for Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei are underway in Tehran, with millions of mourners and foreign delegations participating. The funeral is being held nearly four months after his death because the ongoing conflict and security concerns had delayed the state burial.
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that also claimed the lives of several members of his family. Iran officially confirmed his death on March 1, 2026.
Iranian authorities have completed arrangements for the funeral, with around 20 million people, including VIP guests from across the world, expected to attend. Representatives from nearly 30 countries are participating in the ceremonies, while thousands of mourners have travelled from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to reports, Ayatollah Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is unlikely to attend the funeral due to security concerns amid continuing regional tensions. Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, the Iranian Supreme Leader’s representative in India, said Mojtaba wished to participate in his father’s final rites but was advised against attending by security agencies.
Iranian authorities have not yet released the final list of foreign dignitaries or confirmed the official number of participants.
