Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
On Saturday, Iran conducted a state funeral service for approximately 60 individuals, including top military commanders and notable nuclear scientists, who were killed during its recent conflict with Israel. The event commenced at 8:00 AM local time in Tehran, moving from Enghelab Square to Azadi Square, and saw thousands of mourners dressed in black, waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans against the U.S. and Israel, as well as expressing their solidarity with the deceased, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.
The mourning crowd, estimated by state media to be over a million strong, commemorated figures like Major General Mohammad Bagheri and General Hossein Salami, both killed on the first day of the conflict. Their coffins were displayed draped in Iranian flags, and mourners offered rose petals and shouted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel," reflecting a pervasive atmosphere of defiance, as reported by Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.
Throughout the funeral proceedings, Iranian state television broadcast images showing coffins adorned with portraits of the slain commanders. Notably, the event came just days after a ceasefire ended the 12-day conflict, in which Iran suffered significant casualties, reportedly totaling over 600, including civilians, as stated by Iran’s health ministry and corroborated by Africa News and South China Morning Post.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, among the attendees, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about Iran's Supreme Leader, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of Trump's discourse, as noted by both Reuters and India Times.
The state funeral ceremony reflected not only the mourning of the deceased but also the unyielding spirit of many Iranians, who expressed a determination to respond resolutely to perceived threats, making it a focal point of patriotic sentiment amidst ongoing tensions with Israel and the U.S., centrally covered in sources such as Africa News and CBS News.