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Tehran, Iran – A state funeral was held in Iran on Saturday for approximately 60 individuals, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed during a 12-day conflict with Israel. The ceremony, marked by large crowds near Tehran’s Enghelab Square, saw coffins draped in Iranian flags and adorned with portraits of the deceased.
The conflict, which ended with a ceasefire earlier this week following U.S. military involvement, including strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claimed 627 lives in Iran, according to Iranian authorities. Israel reported 28 deaths from Iranian missile attacks. Among those mourned was Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer and chief of staff of the armed forces, who was buried alongside his wife and daughter, killed in an Israeli strike. Other prominent figures included Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, head of Azad University in Tehran. The funeral drew significant attendance, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was injured in an earlier Israeli strike. State media reported a government-led campaign encouraging public participation, with free transport and closed government offices facilitating attendance. Mourners, dressed in black, chanted slogans and waved Iranian flags. Tensions remain high following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who, during a White House press briefing, said he would “absolutely” consider further strikes on Iran if its uranium enrichment reached concerning levels. Trump also claimed Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “decimated” and criticized Khamenei’s assertion of victory in the conflict, stating he had “saved” the Iranian leader from attack. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Trump’s remarks as “disrespectful” and warned against threats toward Khamenei. Araghchi acknowledged “serious” damage to Iran’s nuclear sites but maintained that U.S. and Israeli strikes achieved “nothing significant.” The International Atomic Energy Agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, told CBS News that the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, including enriched uranium and centrifuges, remains unclear. He emphasized that military action alone cannot prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, advocating for diplomatic solutions. As Tehran begins to recover, residents remain shaken, with many questioning the durability of the ceasefire. The conflict has also prompted Iran to carry out arrests and executions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic scrutiny over his handling of the situation. The UK has eased travel advisories for Israel, with a final evacuation flight scheduled for Sunday, as the region navigates the fragile aftermath of the conflict.
