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Khamenei funeral shows Iran’s diplomatic relevance for India and its neighbours

Besides India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, no representations from the Himalayan countries, Nepal and Bhutan, were reported by the media or their ministries at Khamenei’s funeral.

Tehran witnessed high-level movement from almost 100 countries across the world, including heads of state, government officials, ruling and opposition party leaders, military officials, influential figures from civil society, and religious leaders. They were all in Iran for the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed by US-Israeli airstrikes on 28 February 2026.

The global attendance in mourning exhibited Tehran’s political, religious and strategic outreach, with the global community, and most importantly with countries that preferred a ‘measured distance’ in the backdrop of the US-Israel strikes.

While leaders from the West were largely a miss, Russia, China, and India were among the key countries in attendance. Iran also used this opportunity for “regional engagement” as the Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf held talks with global leaders on the sidelines.

Countries in India’s neighbourhood were present in good numbers, especially those importing Iranian oil and have been affected by the US-Iran war and the choking of the Strait of Hormuz. This reflects how crucial Tehran remains as a cultural and strategic partner.

While future studies would be required to examine the impact of the crisis on smaller countries, the Indian subcontinent would be an important focus. The region is among the largest consumers of Iranian oil, with India having the highest volume.

Here is a glimpse of key attendance from the region.

India’s official delegation included Syed Ata Hasnain, Governor of Bihar, and Pabitra Margherita, State Minister in the Ministry of External Affairs. Besides the official representation, leaders of the Opposition parties, including Congress, and key civil society members were invited.

The media also zoomed in on the presence of Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and Salman Khurshid, Congress leader and former Foreign Minister in the........

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