Pakistan Sends Top Leadership to Khamenei Funeral
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday, July 3, 2026. The delegation was among the highest-level foreign contingents at the ceremony, according to Iran's state-owned IRNA news agency.
The funeral, delayed by the war triggered by Khamenei's death, took place as senior Iranian officials pursue negotiations with the United States under a fragile ceasefire that came under renewed strain after Iran and the US exchanged fire in the Gulf earlier this week.
Background: Khamenei's Death and the Ceasefire
Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026, which triggered a regional war. Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8, 2026. Pakistan played a key role in bringing the two countries back to the negotiating table and facilitated the highest-level direct talks between their officials in Islamabad for the first time in decades.
Sharif joined other foreign leaders in paying tribute to Khamenei at the ceremony, which was televised by Pakistani news channels. “He guided the Iranian nation for decades with extraordinary vision, wisdom and foresight,” the prime minister said during the funeral, according to a statement issued by his office.
High-Level Meetings on Sidelines
On the sidelines of the event, Pakistan's top military commander met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, days after Pakistani and Qatari officials facilitated indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Doha. According to Iranian state media, Munir paid tribute to Khamenei's services to Iran.
Later, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and other senior civilian and military officials saw the Pakistani military commander off as he departed Tehran. Sharif also expressed condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei and the Iranian people, reaffirming Pakistan's solidarity following Khamenei's death.
Sharif Departs for Official Visit to Türkiye
After attending the ceremony, Sharif departed Tehran for an official visit to Türkiye, where he is scheduled to hold talks on regional security and economic cooperation.
