Tehran, June 29 — In a solemn and symbol-laden ceremony, tens of thousands of mourners dressed in black filled the streets of Tehran on Saturday to honour dozens of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during this month’s aerial conflict with Israel. The mass funeral, held at the iconic Azadi Square, marked one of the largest public mourning events in Iran since the war with Iraq in the 1980s.
The state funeral, officially named the “Procession of the Martyrs of Power,” was held for 60 individuals, including four women and four children, who died in the escalation that began on June 13. Among the deceased were at least 10 high-ranking commanders and 16 nuclear scientists, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces; General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, chief of the IRGC Aerospace Force.
The coffins, draped in Iranian flags and adorned with photographs of the deceased, were paraded through Azadi Square as mourners wept, waved flags, and scattered rose petals. State television broadcast the proceedings live, including visuals of ballistic missiles positioned nearby in a show of military defiance.
Mass prayers followed in the square, attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior government and military officials, including Ali Shamkhani—an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was seriously wounded in the conflict—and Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, addressing the nation in a Telegram post, stated:
“Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two nuclear-armed regimes, have defended their honour and dignity. They now look to the future with even greater pride and resolve.”
A Leadership Void and Public Sentiment
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who has traditionally led prayers at funerals for senior commanders, has not made a public appearance since the start of the conflict. He has released only two pre-recorded video statements during the war, fueling speculation about his health and political strategy.
The burial of General Bagheri was held at Tehran’s Behesht Zahra cemetery on Saturday afternoon, while interments for Salami and Hajizadeh are scheduled for Sunday.
A Conflict of Unprecedented Scale
The war began on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise aerial assault targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and high-ranking military officials, in what observers have called the most severe attack on the Islamic Republic since the 1980s. The Israeli government has stated the aim was to prevent Tehran from advancing a nuclear weapons programme—a charge Iran strongly denies.
In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missile strikes on Israeli military bases, infrastructure, and civilian targets. The conflict escalated further when the United States joined the hostilities on June 22, striking Iranian nuclear facilities. According to Iranian health ministry data, 610 people were killed and more than 4,700 injured in Iran before a ceasefire took effect on Tuesday. Independent estimates from human rights agency HRANA put the death toll at 974, including 387 civilians.
On the Israeli side, the Ministry of Health reported 28 deaths and over 3,200 injuries.
Regional and Global Implications
U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the conflict on Friday, warned that he would consider ordering further military action against Iran. In response, Ayatollah Khamenei previously stated that any future U.S. aggression would be met with direct strikes on American military installations in the Middle East.
While Israel has declared it delivered a "major blow" to Iran’s nuclear project, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a defiant statement on Saturday asserting that “Israel and the U.S. failed to achieve their stated objectives.”
With tensions still simmering, international observers are closely monitoring Iran’s next steps, as the nation collectively mourns its losses while reaffirming its resolve.
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