Hawzah News Agency- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said preparations are underway for the funeral, describing it as an event of major significance for Iran and supporters of freedom across the world.
“The funeral of the martyred Leader Khamenei will be a significant event for Iran and the free people of the world, and preparations for it are currently underway,” Baghaei said in a press conference on Tuesday.
The ceremonies are expected to begin in Iran on July 4, with farewell events in Tehran, followed by processions in Tehran and Qom. The Iraq leg is scheduled for July 8, before the martyred Leader’s body is returned to Mashhad, where burial is set to take place at the holy shrine of Imam Reza on July 9.
The ceremonies are expected to begin in Iran on July 4, with farewell events in Tehran, followed by processions in Tehran and Qom. The Iraq leg is scheduled for July 8, before the martyred Leader’s body is returned to Mashhad, where burial is set to take place at the holy shrine of Imam Reza on July 9.
Brigadier General Hassan Hassanzadeh, head of the headquarters dedicated to the funeral ceremonies and commander of the IRGC Mohammad Rasoulallah Unit in Tehran, said millions of mourners are expected to take part.
The farewell ceremony is set to begin at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla at 6 am local time on July 4, followed by prayers on July 5. Hassanzadeh said the ceremonies will continue through the evening of July 5, with further events planned for July 6.
He added that preparations are underway to accommodate the expected crowds, with designated routes stretching from eastern to western Tehran to ensure the smooth movement of mourners. Stations will also be set up for elderly people, patients, and children, while medical teams will be deployed to provide services.
Ceremonies are also planned in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad, with the processions set to conclude on July 9 in Mashhad, where the martyred Leader will be laid to rest.
Baghaei said coordination with Baghdad formed part of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Iraq, where he held talks with senior Iraqi officials over the arrangements.
“Iran's ties with Iraq are strong and longstanding, and one of Foreign Minister Araghchi's objectives during his visit to Baghdad was to coordinate the funeral arrangements,” Baghaei said.
During the visit, Araghchi met Ihsan al-Awadi, Chief of Staff to the Iraqi Prime Minister and head of Iraq’s high committee tasked with coordinating the funeral procession in Iraq. The two sides discussed the mechanisms and procedures for holding the ceremonies, while coordination is expected to continue between Iran’s Interior Ministry funeral headquarters and Iraq’s high committee.
The Iraqi government has approved Iran’s request to hold the official funeral procession in Iraq on July 8, according to Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi, while the Popular Mobilization Forces said the event would be organized in coordination with relevant state institutions and political forces.
Baghaei praised Iraq’s position during the war, stressing that Baghdad stood by Tehran at a critical moment.
“Iraq adopted a responsible stance during the war and stood in solidarity with its brothers in the Islamic Republic; we deeply appreciate this position,” he said.
According to reports, the martyred Leader’s body is expected to arrive through Najaf International Airport, where Iraqi officials, religious figures, and political and social leaders are expected to receive it. The body is then set to be taken to the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf for farewell ceremonies, before a public procession in Karbala’s Bayn al-Haramayn area.
Preparations are also underway on the ground in Najaf, where PMF officials have begun work on routes leading to religious sites and the planned funeral venue, including road rehabilitation and infrastructure measures to accommodate large numbers of mourners and pilgrims.
Baghaei said the Iraqi people are awaiting the funeral procession and the arrival of the martyred Leader’s body, reflecting the popular and religious significance of the event.
“The Iraqi people are greatly anticipating the funeral procession, and they are awaiting the arrival of the martyred leader's body,” he said.
More than 1.7 million Iraqis have reportedly registered to attend the funeral procession, while hundreds of thousands are also expected to travel to Iran to take part in ceremonies in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad.
According to Baghaei, the funeral procession will carry several political, religious, and popular messages, particularly regarding the historic relationship between Iran and Iraq.
“The funeral procession will convey several messages, foremost among them the depth of affection and the strong ties between Iran and Iraq,” he said.
The arrangements reflect the symbolic weight of the funeral beyond Iran’s borders, turning the procession into a regional event that highlights Iraq’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic, the enduring ties between the two neighboring nations, and the shared Resistance identity linking their peoples.
Source: Al Mayadeen
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