Khamenei's body arrives in Iraq ahead of Najaf, Karbala funeral prayers

The body of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in Iraq on Tuesday night, where thousands are expected to attend funeral prayers in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday (July 8).

According to Iran's state-run Press TV, the aircraft carrying Khamenei's body and several deceased members of his family landed at Najaf International Airport, where it was received by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi during an official ceremony.

Funeral prayers will be held in Najaf before the procession moves to Karbala, where the body will be taken to the shrines of Imam Ali, Imam Hussain, and Hazrat Abbas. Iraqi authorities have declared a public holiday to facilitate nationwide participation in the ceremonies.

Khamenei's first funeral prayer was held in Tehran on Sunday at Grand Square, led by senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

In accordance with his reported wishes, Khamenei will be buried on July 9 in the courtyard of the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, one of Shia Islam's holiest sites.