India's Salman Khurshid to Represent Congress at Ayatollah Khamenei's State Funeral

Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday announced that he will represent his party at the state funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to news agency ANI, Khurshid said, "I am representing the party and will attend the state funeral ceremony of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei." His statement comes a day after Tehran sent invitations to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Khurshid and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera. Tehran had also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Khamenei's funeral. However, New Delhi has chosen Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. Sayyed Ata Hasnain and Union Minister Pabitra Margherita to represent India. On June 3, Iranian officials announced plans to hold a three-day public funeral for Khamenei. According to state media, these last rites will take place in the holy city of Qom, located in northeastern Iran, starting July 4.