Iran conducts state funeral for high-ranking military officials killed in conflict with Israel
Stateside mourning: Iran conducts solemn funeral for military avengers amidst escalating tensions
Iran held a somber state memorial service today in Tehran for around 60 casualties, including high-ranking military officers, who perished during its ongoing conflict with Israel. The funeral transpired following a sharp rebuke from Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump's derisive comments concerning Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The ceremony, which started at 8:00 am local time (0430 GMT), was marked by government offices and numerous businesses shutting down for the day. As people donned black attire, waved Iranian flags, and bore photos of the fallen military commanders, state TV announced the commencement of the proceedings.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior government officials attended the event, which rendered a visually striking image with coffins draped in the national flag and displaying portraits of the martyred commanders in uniform. These displays filled spaces near Enghelab Square in central Tehran.
Following the ceremony, the funeral procession will trek towards Azadi Square, roughly 11 kilometers away. Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of Tehran's Islamic Development Coordination Council, described this occasion as "a historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution."
Among the deceased is Mohammad Bagheri, a major general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and the second-in-command of the armed forces after Khamenei. Tributes will also be paid to at least 30 other senior military commanders, including four children.
The deadly confrontation began on June 13, 2025, with both Israel and Iran claiming victory in the ensuing 12-day struggle that culminated in a ceasefire. Israel's strikes on Iran have reportedly resulted in at least 627 civilian casualties, while Iran's attacks on Israel claimed 28 lives, as per Israeli figures.
The war's resolution hasn't halted heated rhetoric between political leaders on both sides. In a statement on his Truth Social platform on June 17, Trump lashed out at Tehran for asserting it had won the conflict. Trump declared that he had knowledge of Khamenei's whereabouts and thwarted attempts to terminate his life during his tenure in office.
Araghchi, however, unequivocally disputed Trump's attitude, labeling his remarks about Khamenei as "unacceptable." In response, the Iranian official wrote, "The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to 'Daddy,' do not take kindly to Threats and Insults."
Meanwhile, negotiations between Iran and the United States are at a standstill, as compared to earlier rounds of talks held in April 2025. The two parties, led by Iran's Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Witkoff, had held serious and productive discussions, focused on reaching a mutually respectful agreement. However, significant issues remained unresolved, including Iran's insistence on keeping its stockpile of highly enriched uranium within its borders and the necessity of strong guarantees that safeguard Iran against potential future U.S. withdrawal or violation of the agreement[1].
The funeral procession for Iran's military casualties, including General Mohammad Bagheri, will pass through Azadi Square, following the somber state memorial service in Tehran. The heated rhetoric between political leaders from both Israel and Iran continues, with Donald Trump criticizing Iran's claims of victory in the recent war-and-conflicts, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has disputed Trump's remarks about Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Despite the ongoing tensions, negotiations between Iran and the United States remain stagnant, with significant disagreements persisting over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and the need for strong guarantees to prevent future U.S. withdrawal or violation of the agreement, as seen in the politics of capital cities.
