The funeral procession for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, entered a new phase overnight when his coffin was flown from Iran to the Iraqi city of Najaf, where it was received during an official ceremony attended by senior Iraqi government officials and Shiite religious leaders.

Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike after serving as leader of the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades, arrived at Najaf International Airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and other senior officials formally welcomed the coffin.

Najaf was deliberately chosen as a stop on the funeral route because it is considered one of the holiest cities in Shiite Islam. Iranian officials included the city in the itinerary because of its deep religious significance.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also traveled to Iraq to lead Iran’s official delegation of mourners and participate in the ceremonies alongside political leaders and senior clerics. However, after the United States launched overnight strikes inside Iran, he abruptly cut short his visit and returned to Tehran to oversee the country’s response to the developing security situation.

Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities deployed large numbers of security personnel throughout Najaf as tens of thousands of mourners were expected to arrive. Thousands of pilgrims from Iraq and neighboring countries gathered to participate in funeral processions and memorial ceremonies taking place across the city.

According to the official schedule, Khamenei’s coffin will next be transported to the city of Karbala, another of Shiite Islam’s holiest sites. Once the ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala are completed, the coffin will be flown back to Iran, where Khamenei is expected to be buried in the city of Mashhad within the next several days.

{Matzav.com}