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Iran Holds State Funeral For Commanders, Scientists Killed In War With Israel

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedJune 28, 2025

Iran on Saturday held a state funeral for about 60 people, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed in its recent war with Israel.

The funeral began at 8:00 am local time in Tehran, with government offices and many businesses shut for the day.

Thousands of mourners, dressed in black and waving Iranian flags, gathered at Enghelab (Revolution) Square where the procession kicked off. Coffins draped in Iranian flags and bearing portraits of the deceased were displayed alongside mock-ups of ballistic missiles.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and top government officials, including Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani and senior adviser Ali Shamkhani, attended the ceremony. Shamkhani, who was wounded during the conflict, walked with a cane.

A patriotic eulogy played as the procession moved towards Azadi (Freedom) Square, 11 kilometres away.

Among the dead was Major General Mohammad Bagheri, second-in-command of Iran’s armed forces, who died alongside his wife and daughter, a journalist. Also to be buried were nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and his wife, as well as top IRGC commander Hossein Salami, who was killed on the first day of the war.

According to Iranian authorities, the funeral honours also included four women and four children.

The conflict began on June 13, lasting 12 days. Israel and the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites, prompting retaliatory missile attacks by Iran.

The war ended in a ceasefire, with both sides claiming victory.

Tehran’s health ministry said 627 civilians were killed by Israeli strikes. Iran’s attacks reportedly killed 28 people in Israel.

Former US President Donald Trump stirred further tension by boasting on Truth Social that he knew the location of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the war, and claimed he had stopped plans to kill him.

Trump said he had been considering lifting sanctions on Iran but halted the process after Tehran criticised him.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded, calling Trump’s comments “unacceptable” and urging a more respectful approach if Trump wanted a deal with Iran.

Khamenei dismissed US claims that Iran’s nuclear programme had suffered major damage, while Israel insisted the world must act to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

Trump had pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, a move that escalated Iran’s nuclear activity.

Despite Trump’s talk of restarting negotiations, Iran has denied any new deal talks are planned.

AFP

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.