Saudi Delegation Attends Khamenei's Funeral, Quranic Verse Recited by Iran Draws Attention
A delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Al-Khuraiji, attended the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The choice of a Quranic verse recited as the Saudi delegation paid its respects to Khamenei has become a topic of discussion amongst netizens.
According to Al-Jazeera and Tasnim News, the Saudi delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Al-Khuraiji paid their final respects before the coffin of Ali Khamenei on Friday (3/1/2026). Walid Al-Khuraiji’s presence was unexpected. This is because, last March, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud urged Iran to ‘recalculate’ its strategy following repeated retaliatory attacks on US bases in the kingdom. Prince Faisal stated that tolerance for attacks on Gulf states was limited.
The presence of the Saudi Arabian delegation also became a talking point due to the choice of Quranic verse arranged by the Iranian side. The Iranians arranged for the recitation of a Quranic verse referring to two armies that met in the seventh-century Battle of Badr. The verse recited by the Iranian Qari was QS 3:13, or Al Imran verse 13.
The translation of the verse is: ‘There has already been a sign for you in the two armies that met. One fought in the cause of Allah, and the other disbelieved. They saw them with their own eyes twice their number. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Surely in this is a lesson for those with insight.’ The choice of this verse became a discussion point for netizens. A video showing the moment went viral on several social media platforms, with narratives suggesting Iran was sending a reminder to Saudi Arabia.
In addition to the delegation from Saudi Arabia, other international guests also paid their final respects on Friday (3/7), including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has acted as a mediator between Iran and the US. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as deputy head of Russia’s security council, also attended, representing President Vladimir Putin. The Palestinian militia group Hamas and the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah, both backed by Tehran, also sent envoys, as did the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Indonesia dispatched its Ambassador to Tehran to attend the ceremony.
The funeral procession is set to last six days, according to a report by Iranian state television on Saturday (4/7) morning, with the procession continuing in Iraq before the burial. According to AFP news agency, thousands of mourners carrying red banners, a symbol associated with calls for revenge, gathered in the courtyard of the Grand Mosalla in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Hundreds had gathered outside the venue, some weeping, while others sat patiently on the pavements. The walls of the Grand Mosalla complex were covered with large portraits of Khamenei, black flags as a sign of mourning, and red flags symbolising martyrdom and retaliation.