Iran Holds State Funeral for Top Commanders, Nuclear Scientists, others Killed in War with Israel
Iran held a state funeral on Saturday to honor 60 people, including top military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed in the country’s recent war with Israel.
The ceremony, attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials, featured coffins draped in Iranian flags and portraits of the deceased commanders in uniform.
The funeral procession will move from Enghelab Square to Azadi Square, a distance of about 11 kilometers, with government offices and businesses closed for the occasion.
Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, described it as a “historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution”.
Among the deceased are:
– *Major General Mohammad Bagheri*: Second-in-command of Iran’s armed forces, who will be buried alongside his wife and daughter, killed in an Israeli attack.
– *Nuclear Scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi*: Buried with his wife, he was among the prominent figures lost in the conflict.
– *Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami*: Killed on the first day of the war, he will be laid to rest after the ceremony, which will also honor at least 30 other top commanders.
The conflict between Iran and Israel resulted in significant loss of lives, with at least 627 civilians killed in Israeli strikes on Iran, according to Tehran’s health ministry.
Iran’s attacks on Israel killed 28 people, based on Israeli figures.
The tensions between the two nations have been further complicated by comments from US leaders. US President, Donald Trump sparked outrage with his remarks about Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, claiming he had known the leader’s location during the conflict but chose not to let Israel or US forces “terminate his life”.
Trump also stated he had been working on lifting sanctions against Iran before the recent conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded strongly to Trump’s comments, saying, “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader”.
Araghchi emphasized the Iranian people’s strength and resilience in the face of threats and insults.
