WANA (Jul 02) – Vahid Jalalzadeh, secretary of the International Committee for the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, said nearly 50 official delegations from around the world are expected to attend the farewell, funeral and burial ceremonies.

 

Jalalzadeh said that since the funeral schedule was announced, supporters of the Islamic Republic from around the world have contacted Iranian diplomatic missions to express their intention to attend.

 

He said attendees fall into three categories: ordinary citizens traveling at their own expense, prominent figures including academics, clerics, media personalities and members of resistance movements, and official government delegations.

 

He said senior officials from most of Iran’s neighboring countries are expected to attend, including the National Leader and Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan, the presidents of Tajikistan, Iraq and Georgia, and the president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

 

According to Jalalzadeh, the prime ministers of Pakistan, Armenia and Afghanistan will also attend. He added that the head of the Kabul administration will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Afghanistan’s foreign minister.

 

He also said Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Pakistan’s army chief, and the vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress will participate in the ceremony.

 

Jalalzadeh said the speakers of parliament from Iraq, Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly, Oman, Qatar, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Egypt are also expected to attend.

 

He added that the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Nicaragua and the Republic of the Congo will participate, alongside Turkey’s first vice president and other foreign officials, including ministers and special envoys.

 

According to Jalalzadeh, Serbia, Tunisia, Lebanon, Namibia, Malaysia, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, The Gambia and Thailand will also send representatives at various levels. He said the secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the secretary-general of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the head of the ECO Cultural Institute will also attend.

 

Jalalzadeh said the presence of nearly 50 official delegations would demonstrate Iran’s international standing and create what he described as “a lasting historical image” of support alongside the Iranian people.

 

He argued that Iran’s adversaries had expected the country to collapse following their attack, but instead suffered setbacks both militarily and politically. He claimed Iran’s allies have become more encouraged while its enemies have grown more disappointed as neighboring countries send high-level representatives to honor the late leader.

 

He concluded by saying Iran’s opponents had sought to isolate the Islamic Republic but that the broad international participation in the funeral reflects the country’s dignity and standing.

 

Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said official delegations, lawmakers and public figures from several Eastern European countries will attend the funeral.

 

He added that at least eight heads of government, including presidents and prime ministers, will be present, along with the speakers of 12 national parliaments, numerous foreign ministers, other cabinet ministers, special envoys, and public groups and personalities from around 100 countries.

 

Baghaei further stated that: “We did not invite any countries that adopted an inappropriate stance toward the U.S. and Israeli military aggression against Iran, defended those attacks, or took positions that we considered inappropriate.”