Thousands Mourn in Tehran as Iran Holds Funeral for Commanders Killed in Israeli Strikes. Supreme Leader Khamenei absent from customary prayer ceremony

Tehran, Iran — June 28, 2025

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran on Saturday in a powerful show of unity and defiance during a large-scale funeral procession for senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed in recent Israeli airstrikes.

The funeral, marked by chants of resistance against the US and Israel, followed 12 days of relentless bombardment that claimed the lives of 60 individuals, including high-ranking officials, scientists, media personnel, and women and children. Iranian authorities declared a national public holiday as mourners marched from Enghelab Square behind trucks carrying the caskets draped in flags.

Large banners with images of the deceased lined the route as mourners chanted slogans such as “Neither compromise, nor surrender — fight against the US.” Protesters also stomped on American and Israeli flags laid along the streets.

High-Ranking Officials Attend, Khamenei Absent

Top Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani, were present at the procession. Senior adviser Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously injured in the Israeli attacks, also attended, seen leaning on a cane for support.

However, in a notable departure from tradition, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not attend the funeral prayers. For decades, Khamenei has led the prayers for Iran’s most prominent political and military figures, such as General Qasem Soleimani in 2020 and President Ebrahim Raisi in 2024.

Since June 13 — the day Israel launched its military offensive — Khamenei has not appeared in public, though he has delivered three video messages. In his most recent address on Thursday, he declared “victory” over the US and Israel, while accusing former US President Donald Trump of exaggerating the success of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Conflicting Reports on Nuclear Damage

There is a growing international debate over the true extent of the damage caused by the Israeli and US attacks. While American assessments suggest Iran’s nuclear program has been delayed by several months, European intelligence reports indicate Tehran had already dispersed much of its enriched uranium to undisclosed locations before the strikes hit sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Trump, in a statement on Friday, said he would “without question” consider future strikes if Iran continues high-level uranium enrichment. He also claimed to have personally intervened to stop an Israeli assassination attempt on Khamenei.

Iran’s foreign minister, Araghchi, responded by urging Trump to adopt a more respectful tone and “stop insulting the millions of loyal supporters” of the supreme leader. Iran’s delegation to the United Nations condemned the threats against Khamenei, calling them “a clear act of state terrorism.”

Casualty Count Continues to Rise

According to Iran’s Ministry of Health, the Israeli military campaign has so far resulted in 627 deaths and nearly 4,900 injuries across the country. Many of the deceased will be buried in Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra cemetery or transferred to religious shrines and hometowns for final rites.

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