Iran: Over 30 countries ready to attend Ali Khamenei's funeral ceremonies

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Tuesday that a large number of officials from countries within and outside the region have expressed their willingness to attend the series of funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei. Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baghaei described the upcoming ceremonies as the most important event in the coming days, both for Iran and the wider West Asian region. He noted that all neighbouring countries would send representatives, adding that Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s recent visit to Iraq was partly aimed at coordinating the ceremonies to be held there. Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Deputy Minister of Interior and head of the funeral headquarters, said in a press conference on Tuesday that more than 30 countries and religious figures from over 90 countries have declared their readiness to attend the funeral ceremonies. Pourjamshidian stated that a ceremony will be held in Tehran on Friday, attended by leaders, officials, and religious figures from various countries to pay tribute to the late leader. He said the farewell ceremony in Tehran will commence at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla prayer hall on Saturday morning and continue through Sunday. The funeral procession is scheduled for Monday and is expected to draw large crowds from Iran and neighbouring countries. On 7 July, a ceremony will be held in the city of Qom, central Iran, and on 8 July, the body of the leader will be transferred to Iraq for further ceremonies. He will be laid to rest in the city of Mashhad, northeastern Iran, on 9 July, according to Pourjamshidian. Ali Khamenei was killed in a US and Israeli attack in Tehran on 28 February. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was selected as the new Supreme Leader of Iran by the Assembly of Experts in March.