Who will be present at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral?

Officials of varying levels of seniority from China, India and Pakistan are among the foreign dignitaries attending Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral this week.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose country has emerged as a key mediator between Iran and the US, will travel to Iran in the coming days to "offer condolences" over Khamenei's death, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday (2).

Senior Chinese parliament official He Wei, who is vice-chairman of China's top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, will represent Beijing at the funeral, China's Foreign Ministry said.

Meanwhile, India's Deputy Foreign Minister Shri Pabitra and Governor of Bihar State Syed Ata Hasnain will attend the funeral, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

Khamenei's long-delayed funeral represents an opportunity for the Iranian regime to emphasize its diplomatic ties with other countries, as well as project a sense of stability and unity within its borders.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was expecting "guests from around 100 countries, including heads of government, speakers of parliaments, foreign ministers, special government envoys, other political figures and numerous public delegations."

But apart from Sharif and Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, who the semi-official Tasnim news agency said would be present, few foreign leaders are expected to attend.

Most of the countries present, such as India and China, are sending high-ranking officials instead.

Two senior Taliban officials, Afghanistan's deputy prime minister and acting foreign minister, will also be in Iran for the funeral.

Source: CNN