100 from Karnataka Attend Funeral of Slain Former Iranian Leader Khamenei in Tehran

Around 100 people from Karnataka, predominantly residents of Alipura in Chikkaballapur district, are currently attending the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, according to Syed Hakim Raza, president of the Indo-Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Alipura village shares a special connection with Khamenei, who had visited the village previously, Mr. Raza noted.

While some of the Kannadigas are already based in Iran as students of religious institutions, medical students, medical professionals, or businesspeople, others flew from Bengaluru to Tehran via Mumbai on a chartered Iran Air flight on Sunday, Mr. Raza told The Hindu.

Iran's former Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli air strike on February 28, according to reports cited by Mr. Raza. Alongside him, his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and his 14-month-old granddaughter also died in the attack.

Mr. Raza stated that Iran secured a ceasefire in April, and a Memorandum of Understanding in June serves as evidence that the country is stable enough to host the funeral and representatives from over 100 countries, including India.

Faizan Raza, an Alipura resident, said, 'He (Khamenei) was loved more than our father; this death has shaken our hearts and our souls. It is a must to attend the farewell. So, I travelled from Alipura.'

Mr. Raza further noted that the 40-day mourning period and week-long public holiday reflected that the tragedy was not merely a private family loss but a collective national wound that united personal grief with national resolve.

Regarding Iran's policy on the Strait of Hormuz, Mr. Raza commented that Iran has long kept the strait open under normal circumstances, recognising its vital importance to friendly nations, including India, whose energy security depends heavily on these waters.

'From this perspective, past references to closing the strait have been framed not as threats to friendly nations or international commerce, but as a strategic deterrent against external aggression,' he added.

The attendance of India's official delegation at the funeral was presented as a reaffirmation that the bonds between Iran and India endure, even amid heightened tensions in the region, Mr. Raza said.