Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Jul 1
Iran Invites 3 Congress Leaders to Khamenei Funeral as India Weighs Delegation
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Jul 1

Iran Invites 3 Congress Leaders to Khamenei Funeral as India Weighs Delegation

3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jul 1

Summary

  • Iran has invited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and party spokesperson Pawan Khera to attend Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s burial ceremonies, sources said Wednesday.
  • India is still finalizing its official representation, with Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and junior foreign minister Pabitra Margherita likely to lead the delegation instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Modi spoke with President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 30 after receiving an invitation, but he is expected to miss the ceremonies because of a July 6-11 trip to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
  • The funeral events will run from July 3 to July 9 across Tehran and Qom, with Khamenei’s burial set for Mashhad, where Iran will host a large group of foreign dignitaries.

Insights

After a war and assassination, what does Iran hope to achieve with this high-profile funeral diplomacy?
With Iran's new Supreme Leader reportedly incapacitated, who truly holds the reins of power in Tehran?