Funerals held in Tehran for prominent nuclear scientists and high-ranking officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Photo courtesy of Xinhua.
| Published June 29, 2025
TEHRAN, IRAN – In a display of national grief and defiance, Iran held mass state funerals on June 28 for dozens of top military commanders and nuclear scientists killed in recent Israeli airstrikes—marking one of the most devastating blows to the country’s strategic leadership in decades. The solemn procession in Tehran drew massive crowds, as flags, portraits, and missile casings adorned the coffins of the dead. Amid chants of anti-Israel slogans and vows of revenge, the ceremony underscored both the human cost of the 12-day war and the deepening tensions at the heart of the Middle East.
🇮🇷 A Nation in Mourning — June 28, 2025
Tragic Toll & Key Figures
On June 13, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran reports around 610–630 fatalities, including 60 individuals honored on June 28—among them 16 nuclear scientists and 10 senior commanders
Notable military figures killed include:
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Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
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General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC
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General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of IRGC Aerospace Force
Among the celebrated scientists was Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a renowned theoretical physicist
Mourners gather in Islamic Revolution Square (Enghelab Square) to attend the funeral ceremony [Vahid Salemi/AP]
State Funeral & Public Tribute
The procession, held at Azadi Square in Tehran, featured:
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Coffins adorned with flowers, ballistic missiles and portraits of the deceased
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Attendance by President Masoud Pezeshkian, several senior officials, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
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Reports suggest that over 1 million mourners filled the streets, though independent verification is lacking
In the crowds, chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” echoed while officials spoke of resilience and unity
Resulting Effects
🇮🇱 Strategic Victory and Deterrence
The precision strikes against Iran’s military and nuclear leadership were a necessary act of preemptive self-defense, aimed at neutralizing what Israeli intelligence deemed an imminent threat. The operation, described by Israeli officials as “one of the most successful counter-proliferation actions in modern history,” resulted in the elimination of over 30 top security officials and 11 nuclear scientists—a move intended to set back Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions by years.
✅ Key Perceived Benefits:
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Nuclear Program Disruption
Israeli sources claim the airstrikes inflicted “irreparable” damage to Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure, especially targeting secret sites near Fordow and Natanz. This, they argue, buys Israel critical time and may derail Iran’s breakout capacity indefinitely. -
Leadership Decapitation
Removing senior IRGC commanders and weapons scientists cripples Iran’s chain of command, weakens operational cohesion, and makes it harder for Tehran to coordinate asymmetric responses via proxies like Hezbollah or the Houthis. -
Restored Regional Deterrence
After months of Iranian provocations and proxy attacks across the region, Israel sees the strike as restoring deterrence and reestablishing its red lines on nuclear development and terrorism sponsorship. -
Global Support for Sovereignty
Although controversial, the operation earned quiet backing from several Arab states fearing a nuclear Iran, and tacit acceptance from Western allies, who have long warned of Iran’s nuclear escalations. This action, in Israel’s view, strengthened its strategic partnerships.
📉 Anticipated Risks & Tradeoffs
Despite its short-term tactical success, Israel acknowledges the following potential consequences:
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Regional Blowback: Iran’s missile retaliation and rhetoric suggest that tensions could spiral into a broader conflict.
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Civilian casualties and international condemnation, particularly from neutral or anti-Israel nations, have already increased diplomatic pressure.
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Escalation with Proxies: Hezbollah, IRGC-Quds Force, and Iraqi militias may seek revenge, complicating Israel’s northern and eastern defense posture.
🇮🇱 Official Messaging
“We did what was necessary to prevent a future war,” one senior Israeli defense official told The Jerusalem Post. “Iran crossed the line, and we reminded them there is a price to pay.”
Bottom Line:
The Israeli strike against Iran’s top military commanders and nuclear scientists marks a defining moment in modern Middle Eastern conflict—a calculated and controversial move seen by Israel as a defensive masterstroke, and by Iran as an unforgivable act of aggression. While the immediate aftermath showcased overwhelming grief and national unity within Iran, from a pro-Israel lens, the mission dealt a heavy blow to a regime long accused of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of energy independence. The coming months will test whether this operation serves as a long-term deterrent or ignites a new chapter of proxy warfare, regional instability, and retaliatory ambition.
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