Iran says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body to be taken to Iraq

Iran's Foreign Ministry says the body of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be transported to Iraq for farewell ceremonies at two of Shia Islam's holiest cities before his funeral in Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai said during a briefing in Tehran that Iranian and Iraqi authorities have held the necessary consultations to organise the ceremonies. He added that Iraq has established a special committee to coordinate arrangements with the Iranian side, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Ali Akbar Purjamshidian, secretary of the committee organising the funeral and farewell ceremonies, said at a separate press conference that Khamenei's body is scheduled to be taken to Iraq on July 8.

The body will be transported to the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf, both regarded as among the most sacred sites in Shia Islam, where farewell ceremonies will be held before it returns to Iran.

The announcement follows the deaths of Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials during a U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran. The operation began on February 28 and targeted several major cities, including Tehran.

Iranian state television previously announced that members of the public will be able to pay their respects to Khamenei in Tehran from July 4 to July 6, followed by a ceremony in the city of Qom on July 7. His funeral is scheduled for July 9 in his hometown of Mashhad.

By Sabina Mammadli