Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Body Arrives At Najaf Airport Ahead Of Funeral Rites In Iraq

The body of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived at Najaf airport on the eve of funeral rites in Iraq, according to Iraqi state media, before returning to Iran to be buried on Thursday.

The BBC said the official Al-Iraqiya channel aired footage of a plane belonging to Iran’s Mahan Air carrying Khamenei’s coffin, while the Iranian president Masoud Bezhkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi waited at the airport.

BBC

The BBC reported that the funeral rites for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei concluded its fifth day in the Iranian city of Qom, after finishing its main leg in Tehran, and that the body arrived in Qom on Monday evening.

In Iraq, the BBC described tight security measures and said the public ceremony in Najaf will begin at six in the morning on Wednesday, starting from the Kufa Bridge and passing the 1920 Revolution Bridge and Sadrin Square.

Separately, Rahbord-e Moaser said Sardar Esmail Qa’ani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, appeared at Najaf Airport as part of funeral ceremonies for the martyred revolutionary leader’s body in Iraq.

As preparations continued in Najaf and Karbala for receiving Khamenei’s body, Masrawy reported that Iraqi authorities formally informed Tehran that IRGC Quds Force commander Ismail Qa’ani is an undesirable person on Iraqi soil.

Masrawy said the Iraqi government officially notified the Iranian Foreign Ministry and that the decision included banning meetings between Iranian leaders and leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces or Iraqi factions.

L'Express

Masrawy also said the decision prevented officials and leaders of Iraqi Shiite groups from visiting Iran except with the knowledge and approval of the Iraqi government headed by Ali al-Zubaydi.

The BBC meanwhile reported that Iranian President Masoud Bezhkian and other Iranian officials, along with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, waited at the airport as the coffin arrived.

The BBC also quoted a participant from its Middle East Diary program saying, "I came from Germany to participate in the funeral of our leader."

الحل نت reported that Baghdad told Tehran that Ismail Qaani is considered an 'unwanted element' and said these steps coincide with the highly anticipated visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi to the United States.

الحل نت said the Iraqi government implemented administrative changes at Najaf International Airport to strengthen government control over the airport, which the report said the United States had previously raised concerns about regarding Iranian influence.

The report also said Asharq al-Awsat wrote that Qaani had an undisclosed trip to Baghdad a few days after Abbas Araghchi visited, and that Iraqi authorities told Tehran Iranian officials’ travel must be coordinated through official diplomatic channels.

Masrawy added that Qa’ani’s last visit to Baghdad was in May, before the formation of the new Iraqi government, and that the measures came ahead of an anticipated visit by Ali al-Zubaydi to Washington.

In the BBC’s account of the funeral schedule, it said the public ceremony in Najaf will begin at six in the morning on Wednesday, starting from the Kufa Bridge, passing the 1920 Revolution Bridge and Sadrin Square.