Khamenei funeral in Najaf and Karbala showcases Iran’s regional influence

Funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have taken place in Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where mourners gathered at the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein. The ceremonies formed part of a wider funeral programme spanning Iran and Iraq, ending in Mashhad, a major Shia pilgrimage centre. For Tehran, the events were an opportunity to project continuity after Khamenei's death and reinforce his image as a religious and political figure whose influence extends beyond Iran. The funeral also highlighted the historic divide between Iran's Qom-based clerical system and Iraq's Najaf seminary, which has long maintained its independence.

Al Jazeera's Ali Hashem reports.

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