The fifth day of funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei unfolded in Iraq on Wednesday, July 8, with more than two million mourners gathered in the holy city of Najaf, according to Iraqi authorities.
The procession, attended by senior Iranian and Iraqi officials, marks the first leg of the funeral ceremonies outside Iran. After events in Najaf, the convoy will continue to Karbala before returning to Iran for the final burial in Mashhad on Thursday, July 9.
The multi-day funeral began in Tehran on Saturday, July 4 before continuing through Qom. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family were killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28.
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Karbala prepares to receive Khamenei’s remains
5:40 pm IST: Large crowds gathered in Karbala as mourners awaited the arrival of the remains of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for the next stage of the funeral ceremonies. Processions continued towards the shrine area ahead of the funeral rites in the city.
Najaf funeral rites conclude, procession heads to Karbala
4:30 pm IST: After funeral prayers at the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concluded in the Iraqi city. His body is now being transferred to Karbala for the next stage of the funeral rites.
Prayer offered over Khamenei’s remain at Imam Ali shrine
3:35 pm IST: Funeral prayers were held over the body of Khamenei inside the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf. According to Iranian media, the prayers were led by Iraqi Shia cleric Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Saeed al-Hakim.
Crowds escort Khamenei’s casket inside Imam Ali shrine
3:15 pm IST: Khamenei’s casket was carried through the Imam Ali shrine amid a surge of mourners, with thousands accompanying the procession in Najaf.
90,000 mourners cross into Iraq for funeral ceremonies
2:52 pm IST: Around 90,000 mourners have crossed from Iran’s Khuzestan province into Iraq over the past three days to attend the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala, according to the province’s deputy governor for security and law enforcement.
Photos: Mourners pay final respects in Najaf procession
2:21 pm IST:
Khamenei’s eldest son visits Imam Hussain shrine
1:48 pm IST: Ayatollah Sayyed Mostafa Khamenei, the eldest son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visited the Imam Hussain shrine in Karbala.
Khamenei’s family honoured at Hazrat Abbas shrine
1 pm ISt: The funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s family members continued at the shrine of Hazrat Abbas in Karbala on Wednesday. The coffins were placed inside the holy shrine as mourners gathered to offer prayers and pay their final respects during the latest stage of the cross-border funeral ceremonies.
Khamenei’s coffin carried through sea of mourners
12:42 pm IST: The funeral procession carrying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remains continued through Najaf as thousands of mourners surrounded the convoy, chanting elegies and waving flags while accompanying it along the procession route.
Funeral prayers held at Imam Ali shrine
12:15 pm IST: The coffins were taken to the Imam Ali shrine, where funeral prayers were led by Sayyid Muhammad Taqi al-Hakim. The remains were then carried around the sacred shrine in a ceremonial procession attended by thousands.
Thousands gather for funeral procession
12:15 pm IST: Large crowds assembled in Najaf before dawn, with mourners lining the streets leading to the Imam Ali (AS) shrine. Many carried the coffins on their shoulders, chanting religious slogans, reciting elegies and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people.
Khamenei’s remains received in Najaf
12:15 pm IST: Ali Khamenei’s remains, along with those of members of his family, arrived at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday night. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials received the coffins before the funeral procession commenced.
Iraq declares nationwide public holiday
12:15 pm IST: The Iraqi government declared Wednesday a public holiday to allow citizens to participate in the funeral ceremonies. Security was tightened across Najaf as large crowds gathered throughout the city.
