Crowds of mourners gathered in the shrine of Imam Ali in Iraq's holy city of Najaf on Wednesday (July 8) for the funeral procession of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

People filled the shrine, as they prayed, chanted and raised their hands toward the coffin, carried above their heads.

Najaf holds special significance for Shi'ite Muslims worldwide as the burial place of Imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad.

Khamenei's coffin arrived on Tuesday (July 7) evening at Najaf's international airport, where Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, senior officials and religious figures attended an official reception.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders also arrived to take part in the procession, which is expected to continue to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala before the coffin is returned to Iran for burial.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Iraqis participating in Khamenei's funeral procession in Najaf say 'feeling is indescribable'

VIDEO SHOWS: MOURNERS CARRYING COFFIN IN IMAM ALI SHRINE DURING THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF LATE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI IN IRAQ'S NAJAF / COMMENTS FROM IRAQI MOURNERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT.

SHOWS: NAJAF, IRAQ (JULY 8, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. CROWDS OF MOURNERS CARRYING TO IMAM ALI SHRINE DURING THE FUNERAL PROCESSION OF LATE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI / SIGN READING (Arabic, English): “Al-Faraj Gate”

2. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS CARRYING COFFIN INSIDE IMAM ALI SHRINE, AND CHANTING

3. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS PUSHING AND SURGING INSIDE THE SHRINE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI MOURNER, ALI SHAALAN, SAYING:

“This feeling is indescribable, God and His Messenger are my witnesses... How can I even explain it? It is pain, sorrow, and joy at the same time, that this person came for a visit once again, and Najaf receives him with all these millions of people who took part in this great funeral procession. May God have mercy on his soul.”

5. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS INSIDE IMAM ALI SHRINE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI MOURNER, AHMED AL-AYYASH, SAYING:

“It is an indescribable feeling because this person, this great figure, the leader and religious authority, Sayyed Ali Khamenei - may God be pleased with him - made sacrifices for us, to uphold the word 'There is no god but Allah'. Whatever we offer or do, in attending his funeral and setting up processions, is little compared to what he deserves. He deserves so much from us, and God willing, we will continue on his blessed path, the path of our wise religious authority, which is the path of (Prophet) Mohammad and the family of Mohammad.”

7. MOURNERS CARRYING PHOTOS OF LATE KHAMENEI

8. MOURNERS SURROUNDING COFFIN AND

9. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS PRAYING

10. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS WALKING INSIDE SHRINE AND CHANTING

11. VARIOUS OF MOURNERS PASSING COFFIN OUT OF IMAM ALI SHRINE