Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is set to visit Iran to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, before heading to Türkiye on an official trip. Scheduled from July 3 to July 5, this visit highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran amidst recent negotiations aimed at reducing regional tensions. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Sharif will first stop in Iran for the state funeral before proceeding to his next engagements.
The funeral is expected to draw representatives from around 100 countries, with Iranian officials confirming the attendance of various heads of state, parliamentary leaders, foreign ministers, and special envoys. Notable attendees include Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who will attend as deputy chairman of Russia’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 in Tehran will see Khamenei’s body lie in state at a prominent religious and ceremonial complex before a nationwide procession culminates in Mashhad, his hometown in northeastern Iran, where he will be buried on July 9. The events are anticipated to attract senior political and diplomatic figures from across the globe. Khamenei, who became Iran’s second supreme leader in 1989, was instrumental in expanding Iran’s nuclear program and bolstering regional alliances through a network of allied groups.
Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 during the early stages of a U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting Iran’s leadership and its missile and nuclear infrastructure. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as his successor. The funeral occurs against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Tehran after a ceasefire was achieved following weeks of conflict. These discussions are based on a memorandum of understanding reached last month. However, Israel remains absent from the negotiations, expressing concerns that the current agreement does not sufficiently address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, keeping the issue in the spotlight of regional and international discourse.