Millions Join Mourning Procession for Ayatollah Khamenei in Iraq’s Najaf

Millions of mourners gathered in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on Wednesday as the body of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived for a funeral procession ahead of his burial.

According to Iranian and Iraqi media reports, mourners from Iraq and neighboring countries traveled to Najaf to participate in the procession, with large crowds assembling around the Imam Ali Shrine before dawn.

Following the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin at the shrine, a large-scale funeral procession was held through the city, where participants carried the coffin while paying their final respects.

Officials said the coffin will remain in Najaf until later Wednesday before being transported to the holy city of Karbala as part of the funeral ceremonies.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi declared a nationwide public holiday on Wednesday to mark the occasion and personally received Khamenei’s body upon its arrival in Iraq.

The funeral process began last week in Tehran, where foreign dignitaries and religious leaders paid tribute before the public was allowed to offer final respects over the weekend. Large mourning processions were also held in Tehran on Monday and in Qom on Tuesday.

According to the announced schedule, Ayatollah Khamenei will be laid to rest on Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, in accordance with his final wishes.