On Wednesday morning, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s body reached Najaf International Airport in Iraq, as reported by Iraqi state media. This marked the beginning of a series of funeral events in the nation’s sacred cities that house the most esteemed Shia Muslim shrines.
Iran commenced six days of public mourning for Khamenei on Saturday, setting aside a specific day to honor him in Iraq, a significant Shia hub with strong alliances to Iran.
Khamenei, who lost his life on the initial day of a conflict in the Middle East due to US-Israeli airstrikes, is expected to be laid to rest in his birthplace, Mashhad, in northeast Iran, on Thursday.
Iraqi state television broadcasted the Mahan Air flight’s arrival carrying Khamenei’s coffin to Najaf airport. Joining the event, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the official Iraqi ceremony shortly after his own arrival.
A gathering of Iraqi dignitaries, including Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, was present to formally welcome the remains of the late leader.
Iranian commander Esmail Qaani, who heads the foreign operations branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, known as the Quds Force, was also present.
At the airport, red carpets stretched across the terminal’s floor, with large posters displaying Islamic calligraphy and a portrait of Khamenei.
The Iraqi government declared Wednesday a public holiday with processions set to begin at 6am AST (1pm AEST) in the holy city of Najaf.
In Najaf, mourners started arriving at least a day in advance for a six-kilometre procession that should culminate at the majestic shrine of Imam Ali — the Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law and the first Shia Imam.
The city’s main streets have been draped with welcoming banners and large portraits of the late leader.
Mohammed al-Bayati, 30, who travelled for hours to Najaf, told the Agence France-Presse news agency “this is an opportunity that cannot be missed”.
He added that he came to attend “the funeral of the figure who challenged the power of America and Israel”.
After Najaf, Khamenei’s body will be flown to Karbala, around 60 kilometres north, for another procession ending at the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.
Khamenei’s remains will be taken to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam, in Najaf, one of the most prestigious centres of Shia scholarship in the world.
He will later be transported to the shrines of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam, and his brother Abbas in Karbala.
Hussein’s death in the seventh century remains the central event in Shia history and tradition.
General Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, praised Baghdad’s “extensive planning of this historic event,” which he said revealed “the depth” of the spiritual connection between the two countries.
Iraqi authorities have announced a major security deployment during the funeral.
The final burial of Khamenei, who ruled Iran for over three decades until his death at the age of 86, will take place on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, an Iranian holy city in the northeast of the country.