On July 3, several Arab official delegations attended commemorative ceremonies in Tehran honoring former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as part of a week of mourning ahead of his funeral.

Iraq was represented by Speaker of Parliament Hebat al-Halbousi, President Nizar Amidi, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, alongside political officials, tribal leaders, representatives of the Karbala and Najaf holy shrines, and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) figures, according to Alam al-Jadid.

Lebanon sent Defense Minister Major General Michel Mansi. A large Hezbollah delegation, as well as representatives of the Amal Movement, also attended, according to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV.

Egypt was represented by Senate Speaker Essam El-Din Farid, accompanied by several Al-Azhar religious scholars. Hamas dispatched a delegation led by Mohammed Darwish, head of its leadership council. Other Palestinian factions were also present, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, represented by its Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhala, as well as members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Al-Quds reported.

A deeply symbolic gesture

From the Gulf monarchies, Qatar was represented by Shura Council Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, while Oman sent a delegation led by State Council Chairman Abdul Malik bin Abdullah Al-Khalili. Saudi Arabia was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. Other Gulf states were present mainly through embassy officials in Tehran.

A Houthi delegation also attended, according to the movement’s media outlet Al Masirah. The pan-Arab outlet Al-Quds Al-Arabi additionally reported the presence of Tunisian and Algerian delegations.

Beyond the tribute to Ali Khamenei, the composition of delegations highlights current Arab–Iranian geopolitical dynamics.

Groups aligned with the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, maintained a highly visible presence, underscoring the endurance of their ties with Tehran despite recent structural setbacks.

By contrast, Gulf monarchies opted for more restrained representation, favoring institutional delegations over overt political messaging. This reflects their effort to maintain pragmatic channels of dialogue with Iran, despite regional tensions and the economic impact of recent conflicts.

Source: Al-Quds / Alam al-Jadid / Al-Manar / Al Masirah / Al-Quds Al-Arabi