Iran's President Pezeshkian departs Najaf for Tehran after Iraq visit

NAJAF, Iraq — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian left Najaf at dawn on Wednesday and traveled to Tehran, concluding his visit to Iraq, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency. During the trip, Pezeshkian held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Fallah al-Zaydi and visited the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, where he was warmly received by visitors. The visit formed part of ceremonies marking the passing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose body arrived at Najaf Airport on Tuesday evening aboard a plane carrying his remains. Official funeral rites began in Tehran and are continuing under a weeklong mourning and farewell program that includes Iraq. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that Pezeshkian departed Najaf at dawn on Wednesday heading for the Iranian capital. The visit followed the arrival of Khamenei's remains in Najaf as part of the broader mourning schedule spanning multiple countries in the region.