Pakistan to send delegation to funeral of Iran's supreme leader, PM Sharif confirms

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that a Pakistani delegation will attend the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who according to Iranian officials was killed in strikes attributed to the United States and Israel in February. The announcement was made during a session of the National Assembly.

Mr. Sharif stated that he held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday evening. During the call, President Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for Pakistan's support and requested Pakistan's presence at the funeral scheduled for July 3-4.

“I said, Pakistan’s delegation will be present there, so we can tell the world how much respect we have for him in our hearts,” Mr. Sharif told lawmakers.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Pakistan's role in mediating a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. He claimed that Pakistan's name is being mentioned with respect globally for its diplomatic efforts. He credited Army Chief Asim Munir for a significant role in the peace deal and thanked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for their contributions.

Additionally, Mr. Sharif announced a substantial reduction in fuel prices during his address. The National Assembly later adopted a resolution acknowledging and commending Pakistan's role in mediating peace between the U.S. and Iran.