Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s farewell, Ghalibaf-Araghchi cried bitterly at the funeral

During the farewell and funeral of former Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi became emotional and tears welled in their eyes. This very emotional moment was captured on camera at a state function held in Tehran. In this tribute meeting organized amidst a very tense atmosphere in Iran, both the leaders were expressing their condolences and respect for the former supreme leader.

Let us tell you that mourning ceremonies have started in Tehran for Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the US-Israel attacks on February 28 this year. According to the media, Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamadian said, we will arrange the highest level of security and protection in the farewell and departure ceremony of the martyred leader.

Baghdad to remain closed for funeral procession

Baghdad Governor Atwan al-Atwani said that Baghdad will remain closed for the funeral procession of the leader of the Islamic Revolution. Let us inform that India was represented at the funeral ceremony on Friday by Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pavitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain.

Indian celebrities also paid tribute

Indian celebrities paid tribute to Iran’s martyred leader, His Highness Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Embassy in India said in a post on Twitter. The photo shared by the embassy included People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, Congress leader Salman Khurshid (who heads the party’s foreign affairs department) and several others. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev arrived to attend the funeral rituals.

Honorable @GovernorBihar and I represented India at the funeral ceremony for Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, former Supreme Leader of Iran, in Tehran.

Conveyed our respects on behalf of the Government and the people of India.@PMOIndia @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/cK4bYZ6Lot

— Pabitra Margherita (@PmargheritaBJP) July 3, 2026

Who joined from Russia?

On July 3, Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Tehran to attend the funeral ceremony of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ministry said in a post on Twitter. According to Press TV, Iran’s top officials, heads of state, foreign dignitaries and high-level delegations from around the world attended the solemn ceremony held in Tehran’s Grand Mosala to pay tribute to Ayatollah Khamenei.

Senior Iranian leaders included President Massoud Pejeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni AJEI and Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

According to Press TV, foreign dignitaries included Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Iraqi President Nizar Amedy, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief of Staff General Asim Munir, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

On July 3, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council @MedvedevRussiaE arrived in Tehran to attend the farewell ceremony for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.#RussiaIran pic.twitter.com/jZwflIhZ4S

— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) July 3, 2026

Parliament Speakers of many countries included

Speakers of the Parliament of Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, Foreign Ministers of Nicaragua, Congo and Burkina Faso, President of the Senate of Egypt, Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement and Speaker of the Parliament of Oman also participated. Other attendees included Shanghai Cooperation Council Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Turkish Vice President Sevdet Yilmaz, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed al-Khirazi, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev and delegations from several other countries.

Participation of prominent personalities from 100 countries

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said on Friday, we have high-level delegations from neighboring countries. At least eight heads of government, including the President or Prime Minister, and Speakers of Parliament from 12 countries will participate. He said that civil groups and prominent personalities from about 100 countries will also participate in this event. Baghai said that official delegations, prominent personalities and parliamentarians from Eastern European countries will attend the farewell ceremony.

Support for military action by Israel and America

However, he said that European countries that had officially supported Israel and America’s military action against Iran have not been invited to join. According to Press TV, the tribute ceremony was one of the largest international gatherings in Iran since Khamenei’s death. Iranian officials estimate that 15 to 20 million people will attend the funeral program, which will last for several days, to express their condolences. Celebrations will continue during the weekend.

Last respects at Grand Mosallah in Tehran

The body will be kept for viewing in Tehran’s Grand Mosallah before the funeral procession in Tehran on Monday. Other rituals will be performed in Qom and later in Baghdad, Karbala and Najaf before the burial in Mashhad on July 9. It is expected that the gates of Mosalla will be opened to the general public at 6 am (local time) on Saturday, although organizers say that they may be opened earlier depending on the situation.