High Committee Confirms Over Ten Million Participants in Late Khamenei's Funeral Procession

The High Committee overseeing the funeral rites of the late Iranian leader, Ali Khamenei, announced today, Thursday, that over ten million mourners participated in the ceremonies held in Iraq. In a statement, the committee highlighted that the Islamic nation and the world observed the funeral of Sayyid Ali al-Husseini Khamenei in the holy cities of Najaf al-Ashraf and Karbala al-Muqaddasa, amidst profound reverence and deep sorrow. Driven by national and religious responsibility, the committee promptly devised a comprehensive plan for ceremony management. This involved intensive coordination with relevant Iranian authorities, local government leadership, holy shrines (Al-Alawi, Al-Husseini, and Al-Abbasi), the Joint Operations Command, security/service agencies, and all supporting institutions, aiming to unify efforts for optimal execution. These efforts yielded a detailed plan, encompassing specialized committees, flexible crowd management, organized processions, secured routes, and essential services. It also included declaring a maximum alert across all institutions and departments, with active involvement from Husseini processions and volunteers, commensurate with the event's profound significance. Despite the massive turnout—preliminary unofficial estimates exceeded ten million mourners—the implemented plans proved highly effective. The funeral ceremonies proceeded smoothly and orderly, with no security breaches or notable incidents, a success attributed to public awareness, high-level inter-institutional coordination, and participant dedication. Announcing the mission's success, the High Committee extended sincere gratitude to all official institutions, holy shrines, security and military agencies (notably the Popular Mobilization Forces), health and service cadres, Husseini processions, and thousands of volunteers. It also commended the Iraqi people for their exemplary discipline and cooperation, collectively ensuring the success of this grand occasion, befitting the deceased's stature. The committee's statement concluded that the body of the deceased, alongside four martyred family members, departed Najaf International Airport this Thursday morning, July 9, 2026, at 8:30 AM, bound for Mashhad in the Islamic Republic of Iran.