Iran commenced a state funeral service on Saturday for approximately 60 individuals, including military commanders, who were killed in the recent conflict with Israel. This solemn ceremony followed a condemnation from Iran’s top diplomat regarding Donald Trump’s “unacceptable” comments concerning Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The proceedings began at 8:00 AM local time (0430 GMT) in Tehran, with government offices and many businesses closed for the occasion. State TV broadcast footage of mourners, dressed in black, waving Iranian flags and holding photographs of the slain military commanders, as the “ceremony to honour the martyrs has officially started.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior government officials were in attendance. Images showed coffins draped in Iranian flags and bearing portraits of the deceased commanders in uniform, positioned near Enghelab Square in central Tehran.
The funeral takes place after a 12-day conflict, initiated by Israel on June 13, which saw Israeli bombardments of Iran’s nuclear program. The United States also directly participated, carrying out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last weekend. Both Israel and Iran have claimed victory in the conflict, which concluded with a ceasefire. Iranian leader Khamenei downplayed the US strikes, stating they had done “nothing significant.”
On Friday, President Trump unleashed a tirade on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Tehran for its claims of victory. He controversially asserted that he had known “EXACTLY where he (Khamenei) was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces… terminate his life.” Trump added, “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH, and he does not have to say, ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP!'”
Trump also indicated that he had been working on the possible removal of sanctions against Iran, a key demand from Tehran. However, he stated, “But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more.”
In response to Trump’s comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lashed out on Saturday, condemning the Republican president’s remarks about Khamenei. Araghchi posted on X (formerly Twitter), “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.” He added, “The Great and Powerful Iranian People, who showed the world that the Israeli regime had NO CHOICE but to RUN to ‘Daddy’ to avoid being flattened by our Missiles, do not take kindly to Threats and Insults.”
Iran’s health ministry stated that Israeli strikes on Iran resulted in at least 627 civilian deaths. According to Israeli figures, Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel killed 28 people.
