Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita attended a commemoration ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday honoring Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the late Supreme Leader of Iran, marking 40 days since his death in a strike reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel. The event was organised by the Iranian Embassy, with senior Ministry of External Affairs officials also believed to be in attendance.
Prominent political figures including former Union ministers Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Salman Khurshid were present at the gathering. While Margherita did not address the audience during the ceremony, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal later stated that he had offered solemn respects on behalf of the Government of India, emphasizing the deep-rooted civilizational, cultural, and people-to-people ties between India and Iran.
Held at the Iran Culture House, the ceremony began around 7 p.m. and continued until 11 p.m., featuring speeches, religious observances, and participation from representatives of multiple faiths including Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism. Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali, Salman Khurshid, and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi addressed attendees during the program.
Khurshid reportedly highlighted the long-standing civilizational relationship between India and Iran. Naqvi echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position that expansionist ambitions undermine development and stressed that India supports resolving international crises through dialogue, prudence, and coordination. Warning against the long-term human cost of war, he noted that temporary conflicts between nations leave permanent scars on humanity, citing Hiroshima and Nagasaki as historical examples.
In a statement posted on X, the Iranian Embassy said the ceremony was attended by senior Indian government officials, diplomats, political leaders, religious representatives, Muslim clerics, and thousands of people from across India.
