TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Friday attended the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, where they offered condolences and expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Iranian nation.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Shehbaz paid rich tribute to the late Iranian leader and conveyed heartfelt condolences to Iran’s leadership, including Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, and the people of Iran during what he described as a time of national mourning.
Following the funeral ceremony, the prime minister departed for Istanbul to continue his official visit to Türkiye.
Field Marshal Asim Munir also attended the funeral and later returned to Pakistan. He was seen off at the airport by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and other senior Iranian officials.
The body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla ahead of the funeral, where thousands of mourners, senior Iranian officials, religious scholars and foreign dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects.
Images from the ceremony showed Khamenei’s coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag, being carried into the Grand Mosalla, one of Iran’s most significant religious and ceremonial venues. The hall was decorated with banners displaying the late leader’s photographs and quotations, while mourners dressed in black attended the solemn ceremony.
Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, also made a public appearance during the funeral proceedings, paying tribute to the late supreme leader.
Iranian authorities said Ayatollah Khamenei’s body would remain at the Grand Mosalla for three days, with millions of mourners and delegations from nearly 30 countries expected to attend the official funeral on Saturday. Pilgrims from neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan have also begun arriving in Tehran to participate in the ceremonies.
The funeral procession will continue through several symbolic religious centres, including Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala and finally Mashhad, where Ayatollah Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza.
Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian said the expected massive public participation in the funeral would send a strong message against terrorism, violence and intimidation while demonstrating the unity and resilience of the Iranian nation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Tehran earlier in the day on a one-day visit. He was received at Mehrabad Airport by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran and senior diplomatic officials from both countries.
According to the PMO, the prime minister attended the funeral on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan to express condolences and reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Iran.
The premier was accompanied by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Separately, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani also arrived in Tehran with a high-level parliamentary delegation to participate in the funeral prayers and burial ceremonies. The delegation was received by senior Iranian officials upon arrival.
