Iraq's holy cities to host Khamenei funeral processions

Funeral processions carrying the coffin of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei will pass Wednesday through Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, home to Shia Islam's most sacred shrines.

Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies on Saturday, including a dedicated day for neighboring Iraq, a Shia powerhouse with close ties to Tehran.

Where will Khamenei's funeral procession travel in Iraq?

The procession will pass through Najaf and Karbala, Iraq's two holiest Shia cities. In Najaf, mourners will join a six-kilometer procession ending at the shrine of Imam Ali (RA). The coffin will then travel about 60 kilometers to Karbala for another procession culminating at the shrines of Imam Hussein (RA) and Hazrat Abbas (RA).

The Islamic republic hopes the marathon ceremonies will project strength and unity after the Middle East war. The conflict started with US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei and several relatives on February 28.

After a massive procession in Iran's holy city of Qom, Iraqi officials and senior politicians received Khamenei's remains Tuesday night at Najaf international airport. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was present for the handover.

Iraqi authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday, with ceremonies set to begin at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) in Najaf. Huge crowds were expected in both Najaf and Karbala, where banners welcoming Khamenei lined the streets.

Large portraits of the late leader hung beside Iranian flags and photos of other slain commanders from Iran's "axis of resistance." In Karbala, one banner read "we bid you farewell," while another showed Khamenei's photo captioned "the one who humiliated America."

When is Khamenei's final burial?

Khamenei's final burial will take place Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, in northeast Iran. The Mashhad ceremony will close out six days of public mourning that began in Qom over the weekend.

Iraqi Mohammed al-Bayati, 30, traveled for hours to reach Najaf. He said the funeral was an opportunity not to be missed to honor a man who challenged the power of the United States and Israel.

Why are Najaf and Karbala significant to Shia Muslims?

Najaf is the main center of Shia religious seminaries and home to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's top Shia religious authority. Many senior Shia clerics have studied, taught or lived there, including Khamenei's predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and many Shia Muslims worldwide seek burial in the city.

Karbala holds similar weight. The death of Imam Hussein (RA), the third Shia Imam, in the seventh century remains central to Shia history and draws millions of pilgrims to Karbala and Najaf every year. In both cities, hundreds of volunteer-run stalls served food and drinks to mourners along the procession routes.

How are Iraq and Iran marking the funeral together?

The bond between Iraq and Iran, both Shia-majority countries, runs deep and is shaped by religion and politics alike. Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force in Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said Iranian state media reported extensive planning by the Iraqi government for the historical event.

Qaani added that the coordination reflects the depth of the spiritual bond between the two nations. Iraq's decision to declare a public holiday and mobilize security for the processions underscores that alliance.