Khamenei’s coffin arrives in Iraq’s Najaf for major funeral ceremonies

NAJAF, Iraq (MNTV) – The coffin of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on Tuesday, extending a multi-day funeral procession that began in Iran following his death in a US-Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior government officials and prominent Shi’ite religious figures received the coffin at Najaf International Airport before it was taken for funeral ceremonies and public mourning events across the city, Iraqi state television reported.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also traveled to Najaf to participate in the commemorations, which are expected to attract large crowds from across Iraq and neighboring countries.

Najaf holds immense religious significance for Shi’ite Muslims as the burial place of Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, making it one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in the Islamic world.

The funeral procession reached Iraq after traveling through Tehran and the Iranian holy city of Qom as part of state-organized ceremonies honoring Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades. Iranian authorities have presented the ceremonies as both a religious tribute and a demonstration of political continuity following his assassination.

Iraqi authorities tightened security across Najaf ahead of the arrival as thousands of mourners converged on the city to participate in the funeral events.

Following the ceremonies in Najaf, the procession is scheduled to continue to the shrine city of Karbala before Khamenei’s coffin returns to Iran later this week for burial in the northeastern city of Mashhad.