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The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has arrived in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf ahead of the next phase of his state funeral procession. The coffin was flown into Najaf International Airport, where it was received by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior government officials and prominent Shiite religious leaders. The visit to Iraq forms part of a multi-day funeral programme following Khamenei’s assassination during the Iran-Israel conflict earlier this year.
After the official reception in Najaf, the funeral procession is expected to move through the revered Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala, both home to some of Islam’s holiest shrines. Authorities in Iraq have tightened security in anticipation of large crowds of mourners from across the region. The ceremonies are intended to honour Khamenei’s decades-long leadership while underscoring the close religious and political ties between Iran and Iraq’s Shiite communities.
Following the Iraqi leg of the funeral, Khamenei’s body will be returned to Iran for burial in his hometown of Mashhad, bringing to an end several days of state-organised mourning that have drawn millions of participants across Tehran, Qom and other cities. Iranian officials have described the ceremonies as a symbol of national unity and resilience in the aftermath of the regional conflict.
