Bihar Guv. Hasnain and MoS Margherita attend Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremony in Tehran

Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain attended the funeral ceremony of the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, July 3, 2026 and paid their respects on behalf of the government and people of India.

Khamenei, who has ruled Iran for the last three decades, was killed on February 28, the first day of the US and Israel’s mass airstrikes on Tehran.

“Hon’ble Governor Bihar and I represented India at the funeral ceremony of the former religious leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, held in Tehran. We conveyed our respects on behalf of the government and the people of India. @PMOIndia @MEAIndia,” Minister of State for External Affairs Margherita shared. X and also shared some photos from the ceremony.

Bihar Lok Bhawan in a post X He said the governor also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the recent conflicts in West Asia.

“Represented India along with MoS Foreign Affairs @PmargheritaBJP at the funeral ceremony of the Great Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran today. He also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the recent clashes. @MEAIndia @atahasnain53,” the governor’s office said.

Some photos of the ceremony were also shared.

Iran’s Embassy in India also published a post sharing images of Mr. Hasnain and Mr. Margherita paying their respects at the hall where the death ceremony was held.

“Special Representatives of the Government of the Republic of India, Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Ret.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Pabitra Margherita commemorated the martyred Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the embassy released 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 with visuals.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the funeral.

Former Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid represents the Congress party at the funeral ceremony.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked at his weekly media briefing who was representing India at the ceremony attended by a large number of people.

“Regarding the government of India, we have issued a press release from our side. Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) and along with him Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita are in Tehran today to represent India there (at the funeral ceremonies) on behalf of the late Supreme Leader of Iran,” he said.

“The high-level representation at the ceremony underlines the importance of civilizational ties, including people-to-people connections, between the two countries, which provide a solid basis for political and economic relations,” the MEA said in its July 2 statement. he said.

The main funeral ceremony in Iran’s capital is planned for July 6, according to Iranian state media.

Ceremonies will be held in the holy city of Qom on July 7, and a funeral in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad is planned for July 9.