فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
On Saturday, Iran began national funeral ceremonies for about sixty senior military officers and nuclear scientists killed during the recent war with Israel, marking the fifth day of a fragile ceasefire overshadowed by new threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In the early hours, massive crowds gathered in central Tehran around funeral processions for the “martyrs of the war imposed by the Zionist regime.” The procession started from Enghelab (Revolution) Square and proceeded 11 kilometers to Azadi (Freedom) Square, accompanied by Iranian pop music and eulogies.
The coffins, draped with Iranian flags, bore portraits of the fallen commanders in uniform. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the ceremonies, which began at 8:00 AM local time (4:30 GMT). State television also showed General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force—the external operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wounded during the war, was seen using a cane.
Thousands of Iranians in the streets waved flags of the Islamic Republic, raised fists, and celebrated mythical heroes of ancient Persia. A banner reading “Boom Boom Tel Aviv” referenced Iranian missiles fired at Israel during the conflict in retaliation for attacks on Iran. Missile replicas were displayed in the procession, while Israeli and U.S. flags were trampled by participants.
A “Historic” War and Unyielding Heroes
Israel launched the war on June 13 with the declared aim of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—an ambition Iran denies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on Instagram: “Iranians gave their blood, not their land; they gave their loved ones, not their honor; they resisted a rain of thousand-ton bombs but did not surrender.” He added that Iran does not know the word “surrender.”
Mohsen Mahmoudi, a religious official from Tehran province, called Saturday “a historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution’s history,” with government offices and many businesses closed in observance.
Honoring Leaders and Nuclear Scientists
Iran is paying tribute to dozens of high-ranking military officials, IRGC members, and nuclear scientists killed in Israeli airstrikes. Among them is General Mohammad Bagheri, the powerful commander of Iran’s armed forces killed on the first day of the war, who will be buried alongside his wife and daughter.
Bagheri was the highest-ranking military official, overseeing the army, the IRGC, and Iran’s ballistic missile program, reporting directly to the Supreme Leader, the ultimate commander-in-chief.
While Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in power since 1989, has previously led national funerals—including last year after President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter accident—his attendance on Saturday was not confirmed.
Human Toll and Escalating Threats
Iran’s Health Ministry reported at least 627 civilian deaths and nearly 4,900 injuries during the 12-day war.
Israeli authorities said Iranian retaliatory missile strikes killed 28 people in Israel.
The U.S. joined Israel’s offensive by bombing three nuclear sites in Iran between June 21 and 22.
On Friday, President Trump declared that the U.S. would “undoubtedly” carry out further strikes on Iran if it enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels.
He also accused Ayatollah Khamenei of ingratitude, claiming he had spared him “a horrible and humiliating death.”
On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump boasted, “I knew exactly where he was hiding,” claiming to have dealt “a severe blow” to Iran.
Iranian Denials and Continued Tensions
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but asserts its right to nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
Tehran also denied resuming nuclear negotiations with the U.S., contrary to Trump’s recent claims. Abbas Araghchi wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “If President Trump genuinely wants a deal, he should abandon his disrespectful and unacceptable tone toward the Supreme Leader.”
