Najaf (Lord Media): The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has arrived in the Iraqi city of Najaf, where millions participated in the funeral prayers and procession. The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) claimed that the number of participants exceeded 2.3 million.
According to a statement by the PMF, visitors and mourners from various cities continue to arrive, increasing the number of participants. Earlier, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the final rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had commenced in Najaf, with thousands in attendance.
Reports indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei’s body was transferred to Najaf for final rites lasting several days in Iran and Iraq. Condolence gatherings were held in Tehran, Qom, and other cities, while the body is set to be moved to Karbala and then to Mashhad in Iran, where burial is expected.
Eyewitnesses reported that the streets of Najaf were filled with mourners, and the procession covered a nearly 6-kilometer route. Najaf is considered the third holiest city for Shia Muslims, attracting millions of visitors annually for religious ceremonies.
Online videos show thousands gathered around the vehicle carrying the coffins of Ayatollah Khamenei and his family. The procession headed towards the shrine of Imam Ali, where special prayers were offered for the deceased.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Shia religious leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani did not attend the funeral. Sources indicated that his absence was not politically motivated but due to age, health, and the intense heat in southern Iraq.
Officials stated that after the ceremonies in Najaf, the body would be transferred to Karbala, where a large number of mourners are also expected, before being returned to Iran.
