Millions Gather in Najaf for Arrival of Khamenei's Funeral Procession

The Iraqi city of Najaf is awaiting the arrival of the funeral procession of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, following his burial ceremonies in the Iranian city of Qom.

In Tehran and other Iranian cities, the former Supreme Leader was bid farewell amid solemn atmospheres and massive crowds on the fifth day of the mourning and funeral rites.

On the early hours of Tuesday, millions of mourners gathered in Tehran and various Iranian cities to perform prayers over Khamenei’s body and members of his family, amid emotional scenes and chants of condemnation.

Iranian agencies provided extensive coverage throughout the night and early Tuesday morning as the fifth day of the funeral processions continued.

Meanwhile, Najaf has been preparing to receive millions of visitors, with popular groups overseeing security and services for the crowds. Streets in Tehran and cities such as Qom and Bandar Abbas were filled with funeral processions.

At Jamkaran Mosque, from early dawn, prayers for relief and excerpts from the "Dua al-Ahd" were recited, with the presence of Hassan Nasrallah, son of the former Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Before the prayers over the body began, Muhammad Jawad Sharafat recited elegies, followed by Mohsen Mohammadi Banah performing the anthem "We Must Rise." Chants echoed throughout the mosque, including "Labbaik Ya Hussein," "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Revenge," while flags including that of Nigeria were raised.

Media coverage showed dramatic aerial footage from police helicopters capturing the growing crowds, which formed a human tide stretching from the shrine of "Sayyida Karima" to Jamkaran Mosque. Large mourning gatherings also took place in Bandar Abbas.

Cameras recorded emotional moments, notably tears from Ayatollah Javadi Amoli and his prayers filled with sorrow as he led the prayers, with the leader’s voice resonating throughout the space in a somber atmosphere.