Najaf: First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has stated that the funeral ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, held in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, serve as a testament to the brotherhood and profound cultural and religious bonds shared by the Iranian and Iraqi nations.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Aref conveyed his gratitude to the Iraqi government and its people, including religious authorities, scholars, tribes, and grassroots groups, for hosting the remarkable funeral processions. In a message on his X network on Wednesday, Aref described the bond between the two nations as 'sacred and unbreakable.'

The official ceremony welcoming the sacred remains of Ayatollah Khamenei was conducted in Najaf and attended by Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside high-ranking military and civil officials, as well as senior Iraqi government figures and local dignitaries. The funeral prayer was led by Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Taqi Hakim, followed by a public procession that began in the early morning. Mourners carried flags and chanted slogans as they accompanied the vehicle bearing the remains to the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) reported that over 2.3 million people participated in the funeral procession in Najaf. Another procession is scheduled to commence at 4:00 PM local time in Karbala, where Iraqi officials anticipate an epic turnout of millions of pilgrims from across Iraq and other countries.

Following farewell and funeral ceremonies in Tehran and Qom, as well as similar events in Najaf and Karbala, Ayatollah Khamenei's body will be laid to rest beside the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, Iran, on Thursday.