Iran holds state funerals for dozens killed in its brief war with Israel, as regional tensions simmer and international voices call for renewed diplomacy.
Iran held an emotional and patriotic state funeral in central Tehran this Saturday for around 60 people, including high‑ranking military commanders, scientists and several civilians killed during the recent 12‑day conflict with Israel.
The ceremony, which began at 08:00 local time, was marked by public mourning and speeches.
Government offices and businesses observed closures for the occasion, as mourners clad in black lined the streets, some waving Iranian flags and holding portraits of the deceased.
Among the attendees were President Masoud Pezeshkian, Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani and senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Shamkhani – who appeared using a walking cane, a visible reminder of the conflict’s toll.
Relatives of slain figures, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri – second‑in‑command of Iran’s armed forces – and nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, walked in the procession alongside decorated coffins draped in national flags.
The funeral also remembered those less often honoured at such events: among the interred were four women and four children.
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Despite the sombre atmosphere, the tone of the ceremony reportedly felt unified and optimistic.
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