Official funerals in Iran for the military leaders and nuclear scientists killed during the war with Israel

Official funerals began Saturday morning in Iran for 60 military commanders and nuclear scientists killed in Israeli strikes during the 12-day war between the two countries, on the fourth day of a fragile ceasefire and as US President Donald Trump threatens to attack the Islamic Republic for extended periods.

As the funeral procession began in Saturday morning, state television announced, “The ceremony to honor the martyrs has officially begun,” showing scenes of crowds gathering in central Tehran.

Iranian Television broadcast the funeral processions of the “martyrs of the war imposed by the Zionist entity,” and the footage showed coffins draped in the Iranian flag and pictures of the slain commanders in military uniform.

Israel launched the war with a surprise attack at dawn on June 13, targeting military and nuclear sites in Iran, including assassinations targeting apartments in residential buildings.

The initial strikes resulted in the death of prominent military leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Guard’s Aerospace Force, responsible for drones and missile capabilities.

Along with Bagheri, his wife and daughter, Fereshteh, a journalist for an Iranian media outlet, were targeted.

The funeral procession on Saturday includes at least 30 senior officers.

Among the nuclear scientists who will be buried are Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and his wife.

Among the 60 victims whose funerals on Saturday are four women and four children.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, usually leads funeral prayers for prominent figures in Iran.

However, authorities haven’t yet announced whether he will do so at Saturday’s ceremony.

The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 people, according to a Health Ministry tally that only includes civilian casualties.

In Israel, 28 people were killed as a result of Iranian strikes, according to official figures.

A ceasefire declared by Trump has been in effect since Tuesday, 12 days after Israel launched an air campaign targeting military sites and nuclear facilities in Iran.

On the night of June 21-22, the United States also launched strikes on three major nuclear sites.

The Islamic Republic responded to the Israeli strikes by launching missiles and drones on Israel, while launching missiles at a US base in Qatar in retaliation for Washington’s strikes.