ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to travel to Iran during the first week of July to participate in the funeral ceremonies of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to informed sources.
Ayatollah Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, was reportedly martyred during the opening hours of the US-Israel conflict with Iran on February 28. Reports state that the strike targeted a high-level meeting in Tehran, resulting in the deaths of several senior officials, along with members of Khamenei’s family, including his daughter-in-law, daughter, and at least one grandchild.
Iranian state media has announced that the funeral prayers are scheduled for July 9 in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad. The ceremonies will begin with three days of mourning events in Tehran, followed by another ceremony in the holy city of Qom before the final burial.
His son, Mojtaba Ali Khamenei, who reportedly survived the attack despite sustaining injuries, has assumed the role of Iran’s supreme leader. However, he has not yet appeared publicly.
Following his visit to Iran, Prime Minister Shehbaz is also expected to travel to Türkiye, a country that supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate the conflict involving Iran.
Relations between Pakistan and Iran have strengthened in recent months, with Islamabad playing a prominent diplomatic role in encouraging dialogue between the opposing sides. Pakistan’s mediation efforts reportedly helped pave the way for negotiations, and both Washington and Tehran have acknowledged Islamabad’s contribution to advancing the peace process.
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