Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday to attend the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, according to state broadcaster PTV.
Field Marshal Munir was received by Iranian officials and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was already in Tehran, PTV News reported on X.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Sharif was accompanied by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Secretary General Nayyer Bukhari, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
“The prime minister will express heartfelt condolences to the Iranian leadership and bereaved families and reaffirm Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the brotherly Iranian nation in this hour of grief,” the PMO stated.
The PMO added that after concluding the visit to Iran, the premier would travel to Türkiye.
Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani also arrived in Tehran with a high-level delegation to attend the funeral prayers and burial earlier in the day, state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported. Iranian officials received the delegation upon arrival.
China, Afghanistan, and Iran’s neighbours in the Caucasus region have also dispatched representatives.
The funeral ceremonies will move through a series of locations — from the seat of power in Tehran to the holy cities of Qom, Karbala, Najaf, and finally Mashhad — reflecting the religious, political, and ideological pillars of the Islamic Republic.
The funeral, initially delayed during the height of the Middle East conflict, is taking place as Iran and the U.S. observe a fragile ceasefire following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to halt hostilities.
The U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran with initial strikes that killed the supreme leader and several family members — his daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law. Other senior Iranian military commanders were also assassinated, including Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the supreme leader.
The public funeral begins Saturday, with the body lying in state at the sprawling complex in central Tehran that hosts major Friday prayers, official ceremonies, and religious gatherings.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a massive public turnout at the funeral would serve as a “decisive” response to terrorism, violence, and bullying while demonstrating national unity, state broadcaster Press TV reported.
Additional input from AFP
