Body of martyred Leader arrives in Najaf; Iranian and Iraqi officials pay respects

Pars Today – The aircraft carrying the body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, and his martyred family landed at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday night.

According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, the aircraft arrived in the holy city of Najaf, where a formal reception and tribute ceremony was held at the airport in the presence of senior Iranian and Iraqi officials.

The Al Mayadeen television network reported that international delegations had also begun arriving in Najaf and that millions of people were expected to participate in the funeral procession for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who traveled to Iraq to attend the reception ceremony, was officially welcomed upon his arrival by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi and a number of senior Iraqi officials.

In a related development, Ahmed Al-Fatlawi, the official spokesperson for the Najaf Governorate, told the Rudaw Media Network that all security, logistical, and organizational preparations for the funeral of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, had been completed and that Najaf was fully prepared to host the historic ceremony.

He said that since the date of the funeral was announced, extensive coordination meetings had been held among provincial authorities, security agencies, public service institutions, community organizations, and organizers of the Husseini mawkibs.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi declared Wednesday a public holiday across Iraq to coincide with the funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

According to Iraqi officials, the funeral procession will begin on Wednesday morning from Kufa to Najaf. It will then continue at 4:00 p.m. (Iraq time) in Karbala, including ceremonies at the Imam Husain Shrine and the Al-Abbas Shrine.