Tehran witnessed a somber and defiant show of national unity as tens of thousands gathered near Enghelab Square for a state funeral honoring around 60 high-ranking Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.
Coffins draped in Iranian flags and portraits of the fallen were paraded through crowds dressed in black. Among those buried was General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer and chief of staff of the armed forces. Bagheri was killed alongside his wife and daughter in an Israeli airstrike. Other prominent figures laid to rest included Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and nuclear physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
The conflict, which escalated into full-blown missile exchanges and strategic bombings, ended earlier this week following a US-brokered ceasefire. The United States intensified the crisis by launching direct strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting strong responses from Tehran.
Iranian authorities declared a national day of mourning, suspended government operations, and offered free public transport to boost attendance at the funeral. President Masoud Pezeshkian and top military advisors, including Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani himself injured in a prior strike attended the state-led tribute broadcast live on state television.
The ceremony comes amid renewed tensions with the United States. Former President Donald Trump, at a White House press briefing, warned that he would “absolutely” consider bombing Iran again if intelligence showed nuclear escalation. He criticized Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissing claims that Iran had “won” the war and claiming he had “saved” Khamenei from being targeted.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Trump’s remarks, urging diplomatic respect and warning against inflammatory rhetoric. He admitted that the US and Israeli strikes had caused “excessive and serious” damage to nuclear infrastructure but downplayed their long-term effect.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that diplomacy—not military action—is the only viable solution to preventing nuclear proliferation in the region. As uncertainty lingers, the world watches closely for the next move in this high-stakes geopolitical standoff.
