KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed regret to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for being unable to attend the state funeral and farewell ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said the matter was conveyed during his meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Malaysia Valiollah Mohammadi at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable conference here on Thursday (July 2).
He also reiterated his condolences to the Iranian Government and people over Khamenei’s passing.
“I also conveyed my apologies for not being able to attend the state funeral and farewell ceremonies due to unavoidable official commitments,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu had been tasked with representing Malaysia at the ceremonies.
Khamenei, 86, reportedly died at his residence in central Tehran on Feb 28 following a joint attack by the United States and Israel.
The state farewell ceremony is scheduled to take place over six days from July 4, beginning with funeral processions in Tehran and Qom and before burial at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad on July 9.
