Coffin of slain Iranian supreme leader arrives in Iraq's Najaf, Iraqi state TV says

The coffin of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, on Tuesday. This marks a significant stop in multi-day funeral ceremonies following his death in a U.S.-Israeli strike. The procession aims to demonstrate continuity for the Islamic Republic after Khamenei's nearly four decades of rule.

Senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, received the coffin at Najaf International Airport. Funeral ceremonies and a public procession are scheduled, with expectations of large crowds gathering. Najaf holds deep religious significance for Shi'ites worldwide as the burial place of Imam Ali.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also arrived to participate in the ceremonies. The official reception included political leaders and Shi'ite religious figures. The procession moved from Tehran to Qom before reaching Iraq, and is slated to continue to Karbala before returning to Iran for burial in Mashhad later this week.

Iraqi authorities heightened security around Najaf in anticipation of the arrival, as mourners traveled from Iraq and neighboring countries. The state-organized funeral ceremonies began Friday, blending religious commemoration with a display of the regime's enduring presence.