Iraqi government has declared a three-day national mourning period following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid escalating military tensions across the Middle East.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said Iraq was deeply saddened by the development, describing Khamenei’s death as the result of a blatant act of aggression.
He added, “With deep sorrow, we extend our condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Muslim world,” while announcing the commencement of three days of official mourning across the country.
Al-Awadi also called for an immediate halt to military operations in the region, warning that the ongoing hostilities are driving the region to unprecedented levels of violence.
The announcement reflects Iraq’s close political, religious, and strategic ties with Iran, which holds significant influence in Iraqi affairs and maintains strong links with several armed groups whose political and financial power has grown over the years. Iraq has long been a focal point of rivalry between the United States and Iran, often serving as a stage for proxy confrontations between both sides.
Reacting separately, the Coordination Framework, a powerful ruling coalition of Shiite political groups with strong connections to Tehran, also expressed grief over the loss.
In its statement, the bloc said, “with deep sorrow and profound grief, we mourn the passing of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” adding that “his blood will remain a guiding light for all generations” and that “the curse will continue to haunt the murderous Zionists for all time.”
Influential Shiite cleric, Moqtada Sadr, also conveyed his condolences, stating, “We extend our condolences to the Islamic world,” and similarly declared a three-day mourning period among his supporters.
The mourning declaration comes amid heightened regional instability following Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US military bases in Iraq and other Gulf states, raising fears of further escalation and deepening uncertainty across the Middle East.
