Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jul 2: Iran has formally invited several Indian political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to attend the state funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli air strikes on Feb 28.

According to reports, the Indian government has decided to send Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita to represent the country at the funeral ceremonies instead of Prime Minister Modi.

The funeral ceremonies will be held from Jul 4 to Jul 9 across Tehran, Qom and Mashhad, with millions of mourners expected to participate.

Besides Prime Minister Modi, Iran has invited BJP leader Nitin Nabin, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Salman Khurshid, Pawan Khera and Imran Masood, Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi, Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa and Jain spiritual leader Acharya Lokesh Muni.

According to reports, Congress is likely to be represented by Salman Khurshid, while Mehbooba Mufti has confirmed that she will attend the funeral.

Khamenei, who led Iran for more than three decades, was killed during large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. He was succeeded as Supreme Leader by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, in March.