On Saturday, mourners dressed in black gathered in central Tehran as Iran held a state funeral for about 60 people killed in Israeli airstrikes. The group included senior military commanders, scientists, and several family members.
State television broadcast the ceremony’s start. Near Enghelab Square, people waved Iranian flags and held portraits of the deceased. Lorries carried coffins draped with the national flag through the crowd. Afterwards, the procession moved to Azadi Square, about 11 kilometres away.
President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the funeral. He joined top officials and military leaders, including Esmail Qaani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force.
Although Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, did not appear in the broadcast, he has previously led prayers at similar events.
Funeral honours senior military officials and scientists
The 12-day conflict began on 13 June when Israeli forces launched airstrikes. According to official figures, the fighting caused at least 627 deaths in Iran and 28 in Israel.
General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, died in the strikes. After the funeral, people buried him alongside his wife and daughter, a local journalist.
Major General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also passed away. The ceremony honoured him and at least 30 other senior commanders.
Nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi died during the first wave of attacks. His family buried him with his wife.
Four children were among those mourned and laid to rest.
Ceasefire follows US intervention
US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire hours after Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. The strike caused no casualties. It responded to a US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, marking Washington’s first direct involvement in the conflict.
