Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain as part of an official Indian delegation attend the funeral ceremony of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain attended the funeral ceremony of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday (July 3, 2026) and paid their respects on behalf of the government and the people of India.
Khamenei, who ruled Iran for last three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of massive U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Tehran.
“Hon’ble @GovernorBihar and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, in Tehran. Conveyed our respects on behalf of the Government and the people of India. @PMOIndia @MEAIndia,” Minister of State for External Affairs Margherita posted on X and also shared some photos the ceremony.
The Bihar Lok Bhawan in a post on X said the governor also extended deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the recent conflict in West Asia.
“Represented India at the funeral ceremony of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran today, along with MoS External Affairs @PmargheritaBJP. Also extended deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent conflict. @MEAIndia @atahasnain53,” the Governor’s office posted.
It also shared some photos of the solemn ceremony.
The Embassy of Iran in India also issued a post sharing visuals of Mr. Hasnain and Mr. Margherita offering their respects in a hall where the ceremony to mourn his death was held.
“The Special Representatives of the Government of the Republic of India, Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Mr. Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs, paid tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the embassy posted along with the video.
In a separate post, the Iranian embassy said, “A delegation of Indian religious leaders paid tribute to the martyred Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” and also shared a video carrying the visuals.
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the funeral.
Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is representing the Congress party at the funeral ceremony.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at his weekly media briefing was asked who represented India at the ceremony as many persons are attending it.
“As far as the government of India is concerned, we issued a press statement on it that from our side.. Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) and along with him Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, they are in Tehran today to represent India there (at the burial ceremonies)… for Iran’s late Supreme Leader’s,” he said.
“The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilizational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements,” the MEA said in its July 2 statement.
The main funeral procession in the Iranian capital is scheduled for July 6, according to Iran’s state-run media.
On July 7, ceremonies will be held in the holy city of Qom, and the burial in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad is scheduled for July 9.
Published – July 04, 2026 01:43 am IST
