Middle East and Africa
Mourners gather at the Grand Mosalla to pay their final respects to Iran's slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of his funeral ceremonies in Tehran on July 4, 2026. (AFP/Atta Kenare)
Foreign Minister Sugiono and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani are set to attend the funeral of slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, after the government’s earlier decision to send only the ambassador in Tehran drew criticism for Indonesia’s perceived departure from its free and active foreign policy.Speaking at an event in Jakarta on Monday, Sugiono said the two would represent Indonesia at the funeral procession in Mashhad, Iran, which will cap off the six days of mourning for Khamenei that began on July 4 in Tehran.
“We plan to attend the funeral on Thursday,” Sugiono told reporters. “We are still waiting for confirmation from the Iranian authorities regarding the time and venue."
The announcement came after the government had previously informed Tehran that Indonesia would only send Ambassador Rolliansyah “Roy” Soemirat, despite an invitation from the Iranian government for state officials above ambassadorial rank.
