Military and Nuclear Scientists Commemorated in Mass Funeral Ceremony in Tehran
Have you heard about the recent Israeli army's rampage that left high-ranking military personnel and nuclear scientists from Iran in shambles? A grand memorial service was held in Tehran, filled with mourners draped in black, waving Iranian flags and flashing photos of the deceased. The crowd's emotional venting was quite vocal, with cries of "Death to the USA" and "Death to Israel" echoing through the streets, along with the trampling of the two nations' flags.
The epicenter of the somber event unfolded at Tehran’s Revolution Square, where congregants marched eleven kilometers to Freedom Square, with the coffins of the slain military and scientists draped in Iranian flags. A striking sign read, "Boom, boom, Tel Aviv" - a rallying cry for Iranian rocket attacks on Israel's bustling metropolis in response to Israel's relentless air strikes.
Politics, War and the Dead Among those participating in the collective grieving were Iranian President Masoud Peseschkian and Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, a close advisor to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shamkhani, who was injured in the Israeli attacks, was seen using a cane during the funeral proceedings. Khamenei himself did not make an appearance.
"Iranians have shed blood, not surrendered land; they have lost their loved ones, not their honor; they have endured a tonnage of bomb rain, but did not surrender," Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif expressed on Instagram, honoring the casualties of the conflict with Israel.
Some of the honorees on this sorrowful day included General Mohammad Bagheri, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hussein Salami, Salami’s successor, and nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehrantschi, all of whom perished in the Israeli invasions. Bagheri will be laid to rest alongside his wife and daughter, who also fell victim to Israeli attacks. An Iranian religious figure had previously declared Saturday a historical day to remember. Many businesses called a halt to their operations.
Bombardment for Days
Israel initiated a significant attack on Iran on June 13, bombing Iranian nuclear facilities and military installations relentlessly for days. Iran responded with rocket and drone attacks on Israel. Following the U.S.’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, a ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect on Tuesday.
The Angry Birds of Politics
"Reports Underplay Deaths of Iranian Civilians," according to official Iranian statistics, more than 620 civilians were killed and nearly 4,900 were injured in Israeli attacks. In Israel, 28 people were killed in Iranian attacks, as per official tallies.
The war between Israel and Iran, and especially the U.S.'s military involvement, fueled apprehension of a major escalation of the Middle East conflict. The fact that Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire shortly after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities brought relief to the international community.
A Tense and Tenacious Atmosphere
Still, Tensions Remain Simmering, particularly concerning Tehran's nuclear program. There are varying reports as to how much progress Israel and the U.S.'s airstrikes have stalled Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Politically Charged for Decades The Mullah regime has remained entrenched in power since 1979. The political landscape has been riddled with verbal battles between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials. On Friday, Trump threatened to launch aerial assaults on Iran if they persist in enriching uranium. He accused Ayatollah Khamenei of ingratitude, claiming he had saved Trump from an embarrassingly humiliating death.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif vehemently denounced these remarks. "If President Trump truly desires a deal, he should abandon his disrespectful and degrading tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and cease offending his devoted followers," Zarif stated via his Twitter account.
- Iranian Nuclear Program
- USA
- Israel
- Middle East Conflicts
Community policy should address the escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US, particularly with regards to Iran's nuclear program, given the recent war-and-conflicts and the political charged atmosphere in the Middle East. The general news outlets must report accurately on the number of deaths and casualties in these conflicts to ensure proper understanding of the gravity of the situation.
