Thousands march as Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq

Thousands march as Khamenei's funeral procession crosses into Iraq

Mourners filled the streets of Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as a six-day funeral procession for slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei crossed the border into Iraq. The marathon ceremonies, which began on July 4 at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran, are intended by the Islamic republic to project unity and strength following a Middle East war.

Khamenei and several relatives, including his granddaughter, were killed on February 28 during US-Israeli strikes. His death ended a 36-year rule over Iran.

Procession through Iraq's Holy Cities

The coffin arrived at Najaf's international airport on the evening of Tuesday, July 7. It was met by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, religious figures, and senior officials. Also in attendance were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In Najaf, the procession moved slowly on a truck toward the gilded Imam Ali shrine. The city is the burial place of Imam Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Mohammad, and serves as the main center for Shia religious seminaries. Hundreds of clerics in black and white turbans waited for hours to hold prayers over the remains. During the movement toward the shrine, crowds of mourners jostled and pushed to touch the coffin, with some throwing themselves onto the casket.

The remains of Khamenei's relatives were brought quietly to the shrines of both Najaf and Karbala on Wednesday.

The coffin was subsequently flown to Karbala, home to the shrine of Imam Hussein. Mourners in Karbala waved Iranian flags and held portraits of Khamenei while loudspeakers blared praise for the commanders of Tehran's axis of resistance and the Islamic republic.

To manage the vast crowds in the scorching heat, security forces were heavily deployed and medical teams were stationed for emergencies. Water sprinklers and food stalls were provided for those who had arrived hours or even a day early to secure positions near the sacred sites.

Political and Religious Context

The procession has been characterized by strong political sentiment. In Najaf, crowds chanted Death to America and Death to Israel, while banners of powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militias fluttered alongside Iraqi and Iranian flags. In Iran on July 5, one person was seen kicking a banner that depicted US President Donald Trump with a target on his head.

The events reflect a complex regional dynamic. Iraq maintains an alliance with the US while sharing deep religious and political bonds with Iran. Many of the armed groups in Iraq that joined the Middle East war after Khamenei's death have attacked US facilities in support of Tehran.

Some attendees expressed support based on the circumstances of the leader's death rather than political alignment. Mourner Haidar Jaafar stated that even those who do not align with Iran would attend because Khamenei was killed by Israeli-American hands, adding that he stands with Iran against the Israeli enemy despite not supporting Iranian policies in Iraq.

Timeline of the State Funeral

The multi-city journey has followed a route reflecting the ideological and religious pillars of the Islamic republic:

• July 4: Ceremonies began in Tehran, featuring crowds at Azadi Square that appeared larger than the million-person procession for Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
• July 7: The procession moved to Qom, one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam.
• July 8: The coffin traveled through the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.

The funeral procession will culminate on Thursday, when the coffin is returned to Iran for burial in Khamenei's hometown of Mashhad at the shrine of Imam Reza.