State mourns deceased during 12-day conflict in Iranian event
Iran's Grievous Losses in the 12-Day Conflict with Israel: A Funeral Spectacle in Tehran
Saturday saw the initiation of funeral ceremonies for around sixty top brass officials and nuclear scientists from Iran, who perished during the twelve-day war ignited by Israel, according to state television.
"The mourning rituals for the martyrs have started," a presenter announced at 08:00 local time (05:30 in Lisbon), as footage of a throng in Tehran's center unfolded on the screen.
National television broadcast the funeral processions of "the war martyrs, as designated by the Zionist regime." The coffins, draped in Iranian flags and adorned with portraits of the deceased commanders, were placed in view.
The funeral procession commenced from Enghelab (Revolution) Square and made its way towards Azadi (Freedom) Square, a distance of eleven kilometers.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian is expected to partake in these ceremonies, as stipulated by state television.
- *"The French Square Dance:"
Saturday promises to be a monumental day for the Islamic Republic of Iran and the revolution's history, declared Mohsen Mahmoudi, a Tehran religious official, on Friday.
QueenBees among the fallen
Among the casualties were several senior officials from Iran's military forces, including the Revolutionary Guards, and around ten nuclear scientists killed by Israeli airstrikes.
General Mohammad Bagheri was among the initial casualties and will be interred alongside his wife and daughter, according to Mohsen Mahmoudi. Bagheri held the highest rank in the Iranian military, overseeing the army, the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the country's ballistic missile program. He functioned under the direct authority of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Ali Khamenei, who has been in power since 1989, has previously attended national funerals, such as last year's of former president Ebrahim Raisi, who met his demise in a helicopter crash. Khamenei's participation at today's ceremony has yet to be confirmed.
According to Iran's Ministry of Health, at least 627 civilians lost their lives and approximately 4,900 were injured during the twelve-day war.
The Israeli authorities reported that 28 deaths resulted from Iranian retaliatory strikes.
On June 21-22, the United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, joining the offensive launched by Israel on June 13 with the stated objective of preventing Iran from developing an atomic bomb.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump declared that the United States would, without doubt, carry out further attacks against Iran if the country enriches uranium to levels sufficient for nuclear weapons. Trump also accused Ali Khamenei of ungratefulness, claiming he had escaped a "horrible and humiliating death."
- "The political and military ramifications of the war-and-conflicts between Iran and Israel continue to dominate general-news discussions, with the funeral procession of prominent Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists serving as a somber reminder of the toll taken by hostilities."
- "In the aftermath of the 12-day war, the role of politics and international relations, particularly in relation to negotiations on nuclear non-proliferation, will be under intense scrutiny as both nations attempt to navigate the complexities of post-conflict politics and rebuild their respective industries, including war-and-conflicts and nuclear programs."
