Iraq's Najaf holds funeral prayers for Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei

Senior Iranian and Iraqi officials gather in the holy city as security, transport and public arrangements are put in place for the large-scale ceremonies

A vehicle carrying the coffin of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Feb 28 in Israeli and US airstrikes, makes its way as people attend Khamenei's funeral procession, in Najaf, Iraq, Jul 8, 2026. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

Funeral ceremonies for Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have begun in Iraq, with senior officials from both countries gathering in Najaf for a reception ceremony ahead of a public funeral procession.

The ceremonies began on Tuesday night local time with an official reception for Khamenei's body at Najaf International Airport, Tasnim News Agency reports.

On Wednesday morning, funeral prayers were held for Khamenei and family members killed alongside him at the shrine of Imam Ali, attended by the heads of Iraq's executive, legislative and judicial branches, along with prominent political figures, Coordination Framework members, lawmakers and other state officials.

Tasnim cited Najaf Governor Yousef Makki Kanawi as saying the city had completed security, logistical and service preparations, with officials from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, the Joint Operations Command, the Popular Mobilization Forces and Iran's ambassador reviewing arrangements in advance.

Large crowds have been arriving in Najaf since late Monday night, with volunteer service camps, known as Mawkibs, set up across the city and along roads leading to the holy site, as per the state agency.

The camps have been decorated with portraits of Khamenei alongside Iraqi resistance figures, while volunteers have arranged food, water, medical assistance and other services for hundreds of thousands of mourners.

From Najaf to nearby Kufa, volunteers have kept setting up service stations and facilities for pilgrims, with the agency describing the atmosphere as a symbol of solidarity between the Iraqi and Iranian people.

Many Iraqis have called hosting the ceremonies an honour for the Shia Muslim community, reflecting the religious and historical ties between the two countries.

The funeral procession has since moved from Najaf towards Karbala, where a second major ceremony is planned, Tasnim reported.

Iraq has deployed hundreds of buses to bring mourners from provinces to Najaf and Karbala, with tens of thousands of Popular Mobilization Forces personnel mobilised to secure both cities.

The Iraq ceremonies follow farewell events in Iran's Tehran and Qom, where millions paid their respects.

Khamenei's body will return to Iran for burial at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad once the Najaf and Karbala rites conclude.

Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike on Tehran on Feb 28, at the start of a 40-day war against Iran.

His death triggered widespread mourning across Iran and allied groups the agency termed the "Axis of Resistance”, with mourners carrying red flags in a gesture it said symbolised a continuing demand for justice.