Mehbooba Mufti heads to Tehran for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral. Why the visit is politically significant

“Mehbooba Mufti will attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Waheed Para told The Indian Express. “She will travel to Iran to pay her last respects and convey her condolences to the people of Iran”.

On Thursday afternoon, Mufti left for New Delhi from Srinagar where she will board a special plane for Tehran. “Since the flights to Iran are not flying, the Iran government has sent a special plane for the guests,” Para said. “Mufti is traveling to Iran in the same flight later in the day”.

Mufti, who has taken a Pro-Iran and anti-US and Israel stand from the beginning of the war between Iran and joint forces of US and Israel, had earlier visited the Iran embassy in New Delhi to offer her condolences on the killing of Iran’s Supreme leader.

“In light of the profound historical and strategic ties that bind the Islamic republic of Iran and the Republic of India, I consider it a great honour to invite your excellency, as a distinguished guest of the Indian nation, to attend this solemn ceremony,” Mohsen Qummi, Director International relations department of the Office of the Supreme leader of Iran said in his letter to Mufti.

Four months after he was killed in an airstrike along with several of his family members, Khamenei will be laid to rest on July 6 in Tehran. A farewell ceremony for the slain leader will also be organised on July 3.

Union Minister of State (MoS) External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar governor Lt Gen (Retired) Syed Ata Hasnain will travel to Iran as part of the official delegation to attend the funeral of the slain Supreme leader.