Tehran: Iran is set to hold a major state funeral on Saturday to honour 60 individuals killed during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, including high-ranking military officials and leading nuclear scientists.
The ceremony, described by state media as "historic", will begin at 8:00 A.M. local time in Enghelab (Revolution) Square, central Tehran. A massive funeral procession will then move toward Azadi Square, 11 kilometres away, where further rites will take place.
Among those being laid to rest is General Mohammad Bagheri, a top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the second-highest-ranking officer in Iran’s armed forces after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He will be buried alongside his wife and daughter.
Also being honoured is prominent nuclear physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who will be buried with his wife. In total, the ceremony will commemorate 60 individuals, including four women and four children—highlighting the civilian toll of the violence.
The conflict erupted on June 13, following a wave of Israeli airstrikes aimed, according to Israeli officials, at curbing Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons development. The strikes targeted key personnel and infrastructure, killing over 30 senior IRGC commanders, including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and Aerospace Forces chief Amirali Hajizadeh.
Iran’s health ministry reports at least 627 deaths and nearly 4,900 injuries from the attacks.
The funeral is expected to draw massive crowds and is being seen as a moment of profound national mourning. Security has been tightened across Tehran as top political, military, and religious figures prepare to join thousands of citizens in paying tribute.
(inputs from IANS)