Iraq declares three days of mourning after Khamenei's death

The Iraqi government has declared three days of mourning across the country following confirmation of the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, as per nournews.ir.

Iraqi government spokesman Basem al-Awadi expressed his condolences: “His path of service to the Iranian people ended with the martyrdom of a man who remained true to his principles and defended his nation in the face of injustice and oppression.”

Meanwhile, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, issued a statement urging Iranians to "preserve unity" in the wake of the loss, while condemning the strikes and calling for calm.

By Khagan Isayev