Ayatollah Khamenei to be laid to rest in Mashhad today

Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad on Thursday (July 9), bringing to a close a week of state mourning marked by massive funeral processions across Iran and Iraq.

The burial will take place after the conclusion of mourning ceremonies in Karbala, where thousands gathered to pay their final respects following an earlier funeral procession in the holy city of Najaf.

On Wednesday, Khamenei's coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag and carried in a glass casket, was taken to the Shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf, where funeral prayers and special supplications were held.

The procession later moved to Karbala, where tributes were paid at the shrines of Imam Hussain (AS) and Hazrat Abbas (AS) before the body was scheduled to be flown back to Iran for burial in Mashhad.

Streets in Najaf and Karbala witnessed huge crowds carrying Iranian flags, black mourning banners and red flags symbolising resistance. Volunteers distributed food and water to mourners lining the procession route.

The state funeral is taking place amid heightened regional tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz following recent military exchanges between Iran and the United States. Iranian officials say the massive turnout reflects national unity and the country's resolve in the face of external threats.

Najaf, one of the holiest cities for Shia Muslims, has long served as a centre of Shia scholarship and was home to many prominent religious figures, including Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran's Islamic Revolution.

Analysts say the funeral ceremonies in Iraq underscore not only deep religious sentiments but also the close political and spiritual ties between Iran and Iraq, which have strengthened significantly since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader's second son and designated successor, has yet to appear in public. Iranian state media reported that he remains out of public view due to heightened security concerns and is carrying out official responsibilities through written directives.