Iran, Iraq preparing for 'historic' funeral for martyred Leader: FM
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran and Iraq are preparing for a "historic" funeral for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, speaking following meetings with Iraq's top leadership in Baghdad and local authorities in the country's holy cities.
In a post on X on Tuesday that followed his visit to the Arab country, the top diplomat said he had met Iraq's president, prime minister, parliament speaker, foreign minister, and other senior officials.
"Like Iran, Iraq is preparing for a mass funeral for Grand Ayatollah Khamenei—an event that will undoubtedly be remembered by history and further strengthen the bonds between our two nations," he added.
Araghchi's comments also followed meetings with the governors of the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf aimed at coordinating arrangements for the funeral ceremonies in Iraq, which are scheduled for July 8 as part of a six-day funeral program announced earlier by Iranian authorities.
During a meeting in Karbala, Governor Naseef Jassim al-Khattabi expressed condolences over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, as well as Iranian officials and civilians killed during the latest unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Khattabi said provincial authorities and institutions were fully prepared to facilitate the event and receive the mourners and pilgrims expected to attend.
For his part, Araghchi thanked the Iraqi government and Karbala authorities for their cooperation in organizing the ceremonies at Iraq's holy shrines and said he hoped the event would bring "abundant blessings" for the Muslim community, particularly the peoples of Iran and Iraq.
The two sides agreed that coordination would be conducted through Iran's Embassy in Baghdad and its Consulates in Karbala and Najaf.
In Iran, extensive funeral and farewell ceremonies are to go underway in the capital Tehran on July 4 and 5, with the event expected to attract up to 20 million people, including foreign dignitaries.
Ayatollah Khamenei was martyred following the launch of the aggression on February 28.
The aggression that also claimed the lives of senior officials and countless ordinary civilians, triggered Iran to respond by staging at least 100 decisive and successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets. The reprisal prompted the United States to announce a unilateral ceasefire on April 7.