Tehran Holds State Funeral for Top Commanders Killed in Israeli Strikes By The Media Line Staff Iran held a massive state funeral in Tehran on Saturday for dozens of top military leaders, nuclear scientists, and their family members killed during the 12-day war with Israel that began on June 13. The procession drew hundreds of […]
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The Media Line: Tehran Holds State Funeral for Top Commanders Killed in Israeli Strikes
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Tehran Holds State Funeral for Top Commanders Killed in Israeli Strikes
By The Media Line Staff
Iran held a massive state funeral in Tehran on Saturday for dozens of top military leaders, nuclear scientists, and their family members killed during the 12-day war with Israel that began on June 13. The procession drew hundreds of thousands of mourners, many chanting anti-Israel and anti-US slogans as trucks carried the flag-draped coffins through the streets.
The ceremony honored 60 people, including Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Both were killed in the initial wave of Israeli strikes targeting key military figures and nuclear infrastructure. Among the dead was also Mohammad Bagheri, deputy commander of Iran’s armed forces, and several nuclear scientists, including Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
According to Iran’s Health Ministry, around 600 people were killed in the Israeli strikes. Israel has reported that 28 Israelis were killed throughout the war.
The tone of the event was defiant. Agence France-Presse reported that one banner read “Boom Boom Tel Aviv,” a reference to Iran’s ballistic missile strikes on central Israel. One attendee interviewed by the Associated Press said, “This is not a ceasefire, this is just a pause. Whatever they do, we will definitely give a crushing response.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other high-ranking officials attended the funeral, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was notably absent. After days without appearing in public, Khamenei released a video on Thursday threatening the US and Israel.