The remains of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were carried through two of Shia Islam's holiest shrines in Iraq on July 8, 2026, as funeral ceremonies continued for a fifth day. Thousands of mourners filled the city of Najaf for a procession that ended at the mausoleum of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam.
Inside the shrine, mourners hurried to touch Khamenei's coffin before prayers were held. Following this, the coffin was flown to Karbala, where it was taken through more crowds to the mausoleum of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of Iran's war with the US and Israel, is set to be buried on Thursday in Mashhad, north-eastern Iran.
Khamenei's Legacy and Public Sentiment
Among the tens of thousands of mourners in Najaf was Mohammed al-Bayati, 30, who expressed his sentiments to AFP: "This is an opportunity not to be missed - to take part in the funeral of the person who challenged the power of America and Israel." Chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" echoed as Khamenei's coffin was transported by a lorry towards the shrine of Imam Ali.
Video footage captured the emotional scene as mourners pushed to get close to the casket while it was carried through the mausoleum's halls. A senior cleric from Najaf's Shia seminaries led the funeral prayers.
Funeral Procession Details
Later on the same day, Khamenei's coffin arrived in Karbala, approximately 60km (37 miles) north of Najaf, for another funeral procession ending at the shrine of Imam Hussein. This site is historically significant as Khamenei's death in battle there in the 7th Century solidified the schism between Shia and Sunnis.
On Tuesday evening, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior Iranian figures arrived in Iraq to participate in the ceremonies for Khamenei. The Iranian delegation was welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi, whose government declared Wednesday a public holiday.
Political Context Surrounding Khamenei's Death
Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father, has not made a public appearance since he was reportedly seriously wounded in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28 that killed his father and other family members. Reports indicate that Pezeshkian returned to Tehran early on Wednesday amid rising tensions between the US and Iran following recent military strikes.
The US accused Iran of attacks on several tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to retaliatory strikes on Iranian military targets in the region. President Donald Trump stated that he believed the preliminary agreement between the US and Iran to end the war was "over."
Iran's Parliamentary Speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the US of violating the deal and warned that Iranians "don't fold." The memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Pezeshkian aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and gas shipments.
Last week, mediator Qatar reported positive progress in indirect talks between Iranian and US negotiators, with plans for their next meeting after the conclusion of Khamenei's ceremonies.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by BBC World. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
