The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today disclosed the reason why a representative from the Maldivian government was unable to participate in the funeral of Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a statement released, the ministry stated that following the passing of Khamenei, and with his official funeral scheduled for last Friday, Iran extended an invitation to the Maldivian government to participate in the funeral.
Therefore, the ministry noted that it officially informed Iran that Ahmed Sareer, the Maldives' Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, had been appointed to participate in the funeral on behalf of the Maldives.
However, close to the departure time to attend the funeral, the Iranian Embassy informed that under the established rules for protocol arrangements for foreign delegations, participation would not be allowed at the ambassadorial level.
The ministry stated that upon receiving this information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked to arrange travel for a Maldivian state minister-level official to Iran to participate in the funeral.
However, the Maldivian government's statement added that as the deadline for permitting flights into Tehran drew close, the Iranian Embassy informed that the State Minister could only reach Tehran after the departure of the official segment of the funeral from the Maldives.
Therefore, the Maldivian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the Iranian government expressed its gratitude for the Maldives' decision to include a State Minister in the funeral and advised that a senior government official make the visit at a later date instead of traveling at that time.
Following the passing of Khamenei, the Foreign Minister sent a message of condolence to the Iranian Foreign Minister on behalf of the Maldivian government and its people.
While the funeral ceremonies for Khamenei began last Friday, the Imam Khomeini Mosalla square in the capital, Tehran, was completely congested with people dressed in black and waving blood-red flags, which Shias view as a symbol of calling for revenge and justice.
The 86-year-old Khamenei, who ruled Iran since 1989, suppressed opposition movements, and maintained an anti-Western policy, was assassinated on February 28 in an airstrike launched by Israel on the first day the war began. Some members of his family and several high-ranking officials were also assassinated in this attack.
With stringent security measures implemented and roads closed many kilometers away, this is the largest public event held in Iran since the funeral of Khamenei's predecessor, Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.
