According to Iran’s state broadcaster, the remains of Ali Khamenei were transferred by helicopter to the city of Qom after the conclusion of his funeral ceremony in Tehran. The ceremony was not attended by Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Hassan Hassanzadeh, head of the funeral organising committee, apologised to residents of Tehran over changes to the planned route, saying large crowds and blocked roads made it impossible for the procession to reach some areas, including eastern Tehran. Further funeral ceremonies are expected to be held in Iraq, particularly in the cities of Najaf and Karbala. Iraqi authorities have placed the cities under heightened security, with additional logistical preparations in place ahead of the events. Several Iraqi provinces have reportedly declared Wednesday a public holiday, while the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) are expected to oversee security arrangements for the ceremonies. Following the events in Iraq, Khamenei’s remains are expected to be transferred to Mashhad, where he will be buried in his hometown.
