Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is set to visit Iran to attend the funeral of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, before proceeding to Türkiye on an official mission. Scheduled from July 3 to July 5, his itinerary includes a stop in Iran for the state funeral, as confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. This visit is occurring amid ongoing diplomatic dialogues between the United States and Iran, following recent negotiations designed to ease regional tensions.
Iran anticipates participation from nearly 100 nations at the funeral ceremonies, as per the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The event will draw heads of state, parliamentary leaders, foreign ministers, and special envoys. Notable attendees include Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev, now the deputy chairman of the country’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 public funeral is slated to commence in Tehran, with Khamenei’s body displayed at a significant religious and ceremonial site before the procession traverses the country. According to Iranian state media, the concluding ceremonies will take place on July 9 in Mashhad, Khamenei’s northeastern hometown, where his burial will occur. These events are anticipated to attract high-ranking political and diplomatic figures from both the region and the international community.
Ali Khamenei, who became Iran’s second supreme leader in 1989, oversaw the expansion of the country’s nuclear program and bolstered regional ties through a network of alliances. His tenure ended abruptly on February 28, when he was killed during the initial phase of a U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s leadership and its missile and nuclear capabilities. In the aftermath, Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him as the supreme leader.
The funeral is taking place within the context of ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran, following a ceasefire that halted weeks of conflict. The United States and Iran are currently engaged in discussions based on a memorandum of understanding reached last month. However, Israel, which is not part of these negotiations, has expressed concerns that the current framework does not sufficiently address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, a matter that continues to dominate regional and international discourse.