WANA (Jul 07) – Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini, the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in Iraq, said the Iraqi government and people are fully prepared to host the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late leader, adding that although the events will be held only in Najaf and Karbala, people from across Iraq are expected to attend.

 

Hosseini said Iraqis had expressed strong affection and respect for what he described as the “martyred leader,” noting that people across the country had called for funeral ceremonies to be held in their own cities and provinces.

 

He said residents of Basra, Nasiriyah, Karbala, Najaf, Baghdad, Diyala Governorate, Hillah and other Iraqi provinces had submitted letters, petitions and signed lists requesting that funeral ceremonies be held in their regions.

 

According to Hosseini, after extensive consultations and meetings with Iranian officials, it was decided that the funeral ceremonies would be limited to Najaf and Karbala. He said people from other provinces would still travel to participate, adding that the decision was made because transporting the bodies to multiple provinces would have been difficult and time-consuming.

 

He also praised the Iraqi government’s security preparations, saying it had mobilized all available resources to ensure the safety of the ceremonies. He added that Iraqi security forces are highly experienced and begin planning months in advance each year for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage.

 

Hosseini also highlighted the hospitality of the Iraqi people, saying that service camps that traditionally assist pilgrims during Arbaeen have already been set up along key routes and are prepared to provide food, hospitality and other services to mourners.

 

He concluded by thanking the Iraqi people and authorities and said Iran and Iraq share deep and inseparable ties. He added that, in his view, any efforts by opponents to create divisions between the two nations would instead strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual understanding between the neighboring countries.