The Islamic Republic of Iran has invited Taliban officials as well as several leaders of the group’s opposition to attend the funeral ceremony of Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Among the invited figures are Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, and Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan.
The official farewell ceremony for the remains of Ali Khamenei and members of his family who were killed began on the morning of Friday, 3 July, at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla, with the participation of Iranian officials and foreign delegations. Ahmad Massoud and Mohammad Mohaqiq were among those attending the ceremony.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s Acting Foreign Minister, arrived in Tehran on Thursday, 2 July, to participate in the event. Following their arrival, the delegation met with Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister. However, no details of the meeting have been released.
According to informed sources, Mullah Hassan Akhund, the Taliban’s Prime Minister, had initially been expected to attend the ceremony and to hold a meeting with Ahmad Massoud on its sidelines. Earlier, Alireza Bikdeli, Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, had formally delivered an invitation to the event to Mullah Abdul Wasi, the head of the Taliban Prime Minister’s Office.
This marks the first time that leaders of the Taliban’s opposition and an official Taliban delegation have been invited simultaneously by the Islamic Republic of Iran to attend the same official event, a development that has drawn the attention of observers.
Ali Khamenei was killed approximately four months ago during large-scale U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. According to official sources, his funeral was postponed until now because of the continuing wartime conditions.
Following Khamenei’s death, the Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In recent years, the Taliban has maintained close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and publicly supported Tehran during the recent conflict. Iran’s ambassador to Kabul also stated yesterday that bilateral relations continue to develop in a constructive direction.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that politicians and officials from around 100 countries are expected to travel to Tehran to attend Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremony.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
