The funeral serves as a poignant reminder of the heavy toll the recent conflict has had on Iran, especially concerning its military and nuclear program.
Iran Holds Emotional State Funeral for War Casualties
Iran Holds Emotional State Funeral for War Casualties
Thousands gather in Tehran to mourn top commanders and nuclear scientists lost in the recent conflict with Israel.
In a powerful display of national mourning, thousands filled the streets of Tehran on Saturday to attend the state funeral for around 60 individuals killed during the recent 12-day war with Israel. The procession honored prominent military commanders and nuclear scientists who lost their lives in the conflict, which caused significant casualties across the Iranian spectrum.
Iranian state television provided live coverage as the streets, previously deserted during the warfare, transformed into packed avenues adorned with green, red, and white flags. Participants carried red banners emblazoned with religious slogans and offered branches of white flowers to the deceased. Echoing through the crowd were chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” a hallmark of public expressions within the Islamic Republic.
The procession's somber atmosphere was marked by trucks carrying caskets draped in Iranian flags, which slowly navigated through the city from two prominent squares, ultimately leading to several cemeteries for burial. While Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, was notably absent, President Masoud Pezeshkian participated prominently, marching alongside mourners.
The state funeral highlighted the severe losses incurred by Iran, with over 600 fatalities reported from Israeli attacks, including approximately 90 military personnel and at least 11 well-regarded nuclear scientists. Caskets were delicately covered in clear wrap over the flags of Iran and adorned with rose petals, symbolizing national grief. Notably, among the remains being honored were those of children, which underscored the tragic human cost of the conflict.
Mourners reached out to the coffins, seeking to kiss or touch them, evoking a deep emotional response to the losses that have reverberated throughout the country, affecting both military and civilian lives alike.
