Iran held a massive state funeral on Saturday for dozens of senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians who were killed during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel. The ceremony, staged near Tehran’s Enghelab Square, drew huge crowds of mourners dressed in black, chanting slogans and waving Iranian flags. Coffins draped in the national flag and adorned with portraits of the deceased were surrounded by thousands. Among those laid to rest were General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s Chief of Staff, and his wife and daughter, all killed in an Israeli strike. Other prominent figures included Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, head of Azad University. In preparation for the funeral, the government suspended public offices and arranged free transport to mobilize large public attendance. According to Iranian authorities, 627 people were killed during the conflict, while Israeli officials reported 28 fatalities due to Iranian missile attacks.
The war ended earlier this week following a ceasefire reportedly brokered by the United States, which also launched targeted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed the attacks had achieved “nothing significant,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later admitted that the bombings had caused “excessive and serious” damage to several nuclear sites. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, noted that it remains unclear how much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—including enriched uranium and operational centrifuges—had been destroyed or relocated. Grossi emphasized that military actions alone would not stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, warning that diplomatic agreements are the only sustainable path forward. Meanwhile, as funerals continue, grief mixes with national pride in Iran, even as experts warn that the ceasefire is fragile and may not hold.
U.S. President Donald Trump escalated tensions further with remarks made at a White House briefing. When asked by BBC’s Nomia Iqbal whether he would consider striking Iran again, Trump responded, “Without question.” He also posted on Truth Social, mocking Khamenei’s statements and claiming he had spared the Iranian leader from death. Trump said he had been working on potential sanction relief and economic recovery for Iran, but halted those efforts after what he called “disgusting” rhetoric from Tehran. In response, Foreign Minister Araghchi warned the U.S. against insulting Iran’s leadership, insisting the Iranian people “do not take kindly to threats.” As Tehran cautiously returns to normal life, the emotional toll on residents remains high, and the threat of renewed conflict looms large despite the ceasefire.
