Thousands of mourners lined the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday (June 28, 2025) for the funeral of the top of the Revolutionary Guard and different top commanders and nuclear scientists killed throughout a 12-day warfare with Israel.
The caskets of Guard’s chief Gen. Hossein Salami, the top of the Guard’s ballistic missile programme, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh and others have been pushed on vehicles alongside the capital’s Azadi Street as individuals in the crowds chanted: “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Salami and Hajizadeh have been each killed on the primary day of the warfare, June 13, 2025, as Israel launched a warfare it mentioned meant to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly focusing on military commanders, scientists and nuclear services.
There was no quick signal of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral. Mr. Ali Khamenei, who has not made a public look since earlier than the outbreak of the warfare, has in previous funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their caskets earlier than the open ceremonies, later aired on state tv.
Over 12 days earlier than a ceasefire was declared on Tuesday (June 24, 2025), Israel claimed it killed round 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, whereas hitting eight nuclear-related services and greater than 720 military infrastructure websites. More than 1,000 individuals have been killed, together with a minimum of 417 civilians, in accordance with the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group.
Iran fired greater than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which have been intercepted, however those who bought via triggered injury in many areas and killed 28 individuals.
Saturday’s (June 27, 2025) ceremonies have been the primary public funerals for top commanders because the ceasefire, and Iranian state tv reported that they have been for 60 individuals in whole, together with 4 girls and 4 kids. Authorities closed authorities workplaces to permit public servants to attend the ceremonies.
Iran has at all times insisted its nuclear programme is just for peaceable functions. But Israel views it as an existential menace and mentioned its military marketing campaign was needed to stop Iran from constructing an atomic weapon.
Saved Khamenei from ugly dying, says Trump; warns additional assaults by U.S. or Israel
Mr. Khamenei’s final public look was June 11, two days earlier than hostilities with Israel broke out, when he met with Iranian Parliamentarians. On Thursday (June 26, 2025), nonetheless, he launched a pre-recorded video, in his first message because the finish of the warfare, full of warnings and threats directed towards the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic’s longtime adversaries.
The 86-year-old downplayed U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear websites as having not achieved “anything significant” and claimed victory over Israel.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog company Rafael Grossi has characterised the injury carried out by American bunker-buster bombs to Iran’s Fordo nuclear website, which was constructed right into a mountain, as “very, very, very considerable.”
