Esmail Qaani, commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, arrived from Iraq to the Iranian city of Mashhad accompanying the coffin of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to reports.
Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran's IRGC Quds Force, arrived in the city of Mashhad on Thursday accompanying the coffin of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to reports. The arrival from Iraq comes as the funeral process for Khamenei continues, with burial expected later today after earlier delays. Qaani has been a central figure in the succession period, appearing at funeral events and meetings in recent weeks.
The Zioneer reported earlier that the plane carrying Khamenei's body landed in Mashhad at 00:36 Jerusalem, escorted by Iranian fighter jets. The burial was initially delayed by several hours after strikes hit bridges and access roads near the city, as reported by a source. Earlier, the coffin had been transported from Iraq after funeral ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala.
Qaani had been in Iraq, where he was previously declared persona non grata by the Iraqi government, as The Zioneer reported on Wednesday. He was also documented meeting with an Iraqi militia leader during his visit. The Zioneer has reported on Qaani's presence at various funeral events and his role in the regime's hierarchy.
The precise timing of the burial remains unconfirmed, and Qaani's role in the ongoing transition period is still unfolding. The cause of the delay—strikes on bridges—is based on a single source and has not been independently verified.
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