Thousands Mourn as Tehran Buries Fallen Commanders, Scientists

A sea of mourners flooded Tehran ’s streets Saturday for a state funeral honoring IRGC leaders and nuclear scientists killed in clashes with Israel.

Grieving crowds carried flag-draped coffins bearing images of Revolutionary Guard Chief General Hossein Salami and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, both slain in Israeli airstrikes.

Chants of “Death to Israel” echoed as portraits of the dead lined the procession route.

State media reported 60 casualties, including women and children, though crowd estimates remain unverified.

The strikes, targeting nuclear and military sites, marked Israel’s boldest move yet to cripple Iran’s atomic program.

Tehran insists its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, but Israel calls them an existential threat requiring military action.

Notably absent was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though top officials like Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi joined the somber event.

The IRGC, born from Iran’s revolution, has grown into a regional power broker, backing allies and managing missile programs.

Its leaders’ deaths leave a void in Tehran’s strategic operations.

The conflict erupted June 13 when Israeli jets bombed Iranian facilities, triggering retaliatory threats.

U.S. involvement escalated tensions further, with American strikes hitting three nuclear sites before a ceasefire took hold Tuesday.

Observers warn the violence could destabilize the region long-term.

As families buried loved ones, analysts debated Iran’s next steps. Will it seek revenge or regroup under new leadership?

The funeral’s scale reflects national resolve, but the losses may force tactical recalibration.

Meanwhile, global powers watch closely, aware that Middle East stability hangs in the balance.

The strikes’ precision stunned experts, exposing vulnerabilities in Iran’s defenses.

For Israel, eliminating top IRGC figures delivers a strategic win, yet risks provoking shadow warfare.

Tehran now faces a crossroads: escalate or consolidate. Either choice will ripple across proxy battlegrounds from Syria to Yemen.

Funeral pyres smolder as dusk falls over Tehran.

The crowd’s fury mirrors official rhetoric, but behind closed doors, calculations begin.

How Iran responds could define the region’s future—and rewrite the rules of this decades-old feud.

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