On June 28, 2025, Iran commenced a state funeral in Tehran for 60 individuals, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, killed during a 12-day conflict with Israel that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
The ceremony, broadcast by state media, honoured the fallen with flag-draped coffins near Enghelab Square, followed by a procession to Azadi Square. Consequently, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sharply rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims, escalating tensions amid mourning.
Iran holds state funeral for top brass slain in war with Israel
➡️ https://t.co/OpleNcJS53 pic.twitter.com/21yi9zZPnp
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) June 28, 2025The funeral, starting at 8:00 AM, mourned figures like Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, and nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, per IRNA. Crowds waved Iranian flags and held portraits of the slain, including four children, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Islamic Development Coordination Council’s Mohsen Mahmoudi called it a “historic day” for Iran’s revolution, emphasising national unity in the face of grief.
Iranian state media have released the first photos of the coffins of senior military commanders and officials killed in Israeli airstrikes, just two hours ahead of their mass funeral in downtown Tehran.
The images purportedly show the bodies of Iran’s top general Mohammad… pic.twitter.com/tYeBzhJdwg
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 28, 2025Trump, posting on Truth Social, claimed he spared Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s life by rejecting an Israeli assassination plan during the conflict, per Reuters. He also halted sanctions relief efforts after Khamenei’s remarks that Iran “slapped America” with retaliatory strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar. Araghchi condemned Trump’s tone as “disrespectful” on X, asserting Iran’s missile response forced Israel to seek U.S. aid.
Israel’s strikes killed 627 Iranian civilians, while Iran’s attacks killed 28 Israelis, per respective health ministries cited by BBC News. Trump claimed U.S. strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, a claim Khamenei dismissed as insignificant. Iran’s suspension of IAEA inspections complicates damage assessments, with Araghchi noting that ongoing evaluations are underway. Meanwhile, Trump demanded IAEA access to verify the sites’ status.
Iran State Funeral for Commanders & Scientists Killed by Israel – LIVE Breaking News Coverage #Iran https://t.co/gsgtVTCXso
— Agenda-Free TV (@AgendaFreeTV) June 28, 2025The funeral underscores Iran’s resolve, with Araghchi rejecting Trump’s claims about negotiations. The ceasefire holds, but Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, per Reuters, raises economic concerns. As mourning continues, the U.S.-Iran standoff risks further escalation, which could shape regional dynamics.
