The funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei entered their fifth day as his coffin was carried through two of Shia Islam’s holiest sites in neighbouring Iraq, drawing tens of thousands of mourners.
Procession in Najaf
The funeral procession began in Najaf, where large crowds accompanied the coffin to the Imam Ali Shrine.
Inside the shrine, mourners gathered to pay their respects, with many attempting to touch the coffin before funeral prayers were led by a senior Shia cleric.
During the procession, chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” were reported among sections of the crowd.
Ceremony Moves to Karbala
Following the Najaf ceremony, the coffin was flown to Karbala.
Another large procession carried it to the Imam Hussein Shrine, one of the most sacred sites in Shia Islam.
Burial Planned in Mashhad
According to reports, Khamenei will be buried on Thursday in Mashhad, a major religious city in northeastern Iran.
Iranian Leaders Attend
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to Iraq alongside senior Iranian officials to attend the funeral ceremonies.
They were received by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, whose government declared Wednesday a public holiday for the occasion.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not seen publicly during the ceremonies.
Regional Tensions Continue
The funeral comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.
Recent military exchanges followed attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with both Washington and Tehran accusing each other of violating a preliminary agreement intended to reduce hostilities.
US President Donald Trump said he believes the ceasefire understanding between the two countries has effectively collapsed, while Iranian officials accused the US of breaking the agreement.