Iranian delegation meets in Babil to coordinate Najaf funeral preparations

BABIL, Iraq — An Iranian religious delegation was hosted in Babil province at a large tribal gathering held at the Tufail Emarah guesthouse, with the participation of Babil members of parliament, the provincial council speaker and tribal leaders. The meeting focused on organizing in Iraq the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to the delegation, led by Khamenei's representative Hamid Hosseini. Hosseini outlined a planned route in which the funeral would be officially received in Najaf, followed by movement to the Imam Ali Shrine and Karbala, before the body is transferred to the Iranian city of Mashhad. He said the ceremony would be formally received by Iraqi officials in Najaf before continuing to the other holy sites. Participants said the ceremony is expected to draw wide participation from different Iraqi cities and tribes. The meeting concluded with emphasis on religious and historical ties between Iraqi and Iranian tribes, tribal leaders present said.