India’s deputy foreign minister ​and a state governor are travelling to Iran to represent the country at the state funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ​Khamenei, Al Jazeera reports.

Governor of Bihar, Syed Ata ​Hasnain, and deputy foreign minister Pabitra ⁠Margherita will visit Iran, the Indian foreign ministry has said ​in a statement.

“The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including ​people-to-people connection, between the two ​countries, providing a robust foundation to political and ‌economic ⁠engagements,” it has said.