How Iran welcomed foreign leaders before Khamenei's funeral
Key Takeaways
- Foreign leaders arrived for Khamenei's funeral.
- Pezeshkian held meetings with regional dignitaries.
- Delegations from over 90 countries expected.
President Masoud Pezeshkian received regional leaders in Tehran as Iran began days of mourning ahead of the state funeral for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met several regional leaders in Tehran on Friday as foreign delegations arrived ahead of the state funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The diplomatic meetings took place as Iran entered several days of national mourning before Khamenei's funeral and burial ceremonies.
Among the first leaders to arrive was Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who was welcomed by Pezeshkian before joining a tribute ceremony in honour of Khamenei.
Pezeshkian also held separate meetings with Turkmenistan's National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon after receiving them in the Iranian capital.
The visits formed part of a broader diplomatic programme involving foreign leaders and officials travelling to Tehran to pay their respects to Khamenei.
The funeral, which was postponed for several months following Khamenei's death in a joint US-Israeli airstrike earlier this year, will begin on July 4 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Mosalla.
Mourners are expected to gather there over two days before a public funeral procession takes place on July 6.
The ceremonies will then move to the holy city of Qom on July 7 before concluding with the final procession and burial at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on July 9.
Iranian authorities have prepared accommodation in mosques, stadiums, parks and temporary camps to receive the large number of mourners expected to attend.
Delegations, government officials and religious leaders from more than 90 countries are expected at the ceremonies, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior representatives from Russia, China, India and Iraq.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
