Nechirvan Barzani Meets Iranian President in Tehran Ahead of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s State Funeral

Peregraf — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Tehran on Friday to attend the state funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a formal invitation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Before the funeral ceremony, Barzani met with Pezeshkian to discuss bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran.

“I am delighted to meet President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran this morning,” Barzani said in a post on X.

“We discussed ways to further strengthen relations between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran, with particular emphasis on expanding economic cooperation, and building on the historical, cultural, and neighborly ties that have long connected our peoples,” he added.

Khamenei is scheduled to be laid to rest during an official state funeral in Tehran expected to draw millions of mourners and senior officials from Iran, the region, and abroad.

The funeral follows Khamenei’s death in U.S.-Israeli strikes that targeted his compound in central Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026, during the recent Middle East conflict.

Khamenei, who served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for decades and was regarded by many Shiite Muslims as one of the country’s most influential religious and political leaders, was 86. His body is lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla before Friday’s burial ceremony.