Latest news with #Bagheri

Bangkok Post
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Iran holds funeral for slain commanders and scientists
Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran's capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month's aerial war with Israel. At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Their coffins were driven into Tehran's Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display. Mass prayers were later held in the square. State TV said the funeral, dubbed the 'procession of the Martyrs of Power', was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children. In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei's son Mojtaba. 'Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honour and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post. There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television. Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. (Story continues below) Trump threat Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran denies having a nuclear weapons programme. The UN nuclear watchdog has said it has 'no credible indication' of an active, coordinated weapons programme in Iran. Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future US attack by striking US military bases in the Middle East. A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a 'major blow' to Iran's nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the US 'failed to achieve their stated objectives' in the war. According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured. Israel's health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.


NBC News
28-06-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Iran holds funeral for commanders and scientists killed in war with Israel
Large crowds of mourners dressed in black lined streets in Iran's capital Tehran as the country held a funeral on Saturday for top military commanders, nuclear scientists and some of the civilians killed during this month's aerial war with Israel. At least 16 scientists and 10 senior commanders were among those mourned at the funeral, according to state media, including armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Their coffins were driven into Tehran's Azadi Square adorned with their photos and national flags, as crowds waved flags and some reached out to touch the caskets and throw rose petals onto them. State-run Press TV showed an image of ballistic missiles on display. Mass prayers were later held in the square. State TV said the funeral, dubbed the 'procession of the Martyrs of Power', was held for a total of 60 people killed in the war, including four women and four children. In attendance were President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, who was seriously wounded during the conflict and is an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as Khamenei's son Mojtaba. 'Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honour and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who also attended the funeral, said in a Telegram post. There was no immediate statement from Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since the conflict began. In past funerals, he led prayers over the coffins of senior commanders ahead of public ceremonies broadcast on state television. Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel, the only Middle Eastern country widely believed to have nuclear weapons, said it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran denies having a nuclear weapons program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has said it has 'no credible indication' of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. Bagheri, Salami and Hajizadeh were killed on June 13, the first day of the war. Bagheri was being buried at the Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran mid-afternoon on Saturday. Salami and Hajizadeh were due to be buried on Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would consider bombing Iran again, while Khamenei, who has appeared in two pre-recorded video messages since the start of the war, has said Iran would respond to any future U.S. attack by striking U.S. military bases in the Middle East. A senior Israeli military official said on Friday that Israel had delivered a 'major blow' to Iran's nuclear project. On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that Israel and the U.S. 'failed to achieve their stated objectives' in the war. According to Iranian health ministry figures, 610 people were killed on the Iranian side in the war before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. More than 4,700 were injured. Israel's health ministry said 28 were killed in Israel and 3,238 injured.


Saba Yemen
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Iranian Air Defense downs drone in Rasht sky
Tehran – SABA: Ali Bagheri, the deputy for political, security, and legal affairs in Gilan Province, announced that air defense forces shot down a small drone on Tuesday evening in areas of Rasht city. The Iranian Mehr News Agency quoted Bagheri as saying, "Areas in Rasht city were targeted by small drones this evening, which were identified and destroyed by the proper operation of the air defense system." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)

Mercury
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Mercury
‘You have 12 hours': Audio of phone call between Israel and Iranian general emerges
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Audio of an ominous phone call between an Israeli intelligence officer and a senior Iranian general has shed new light on the covert activity happening behind the scenes of the conflict between the two countries. The Washington Post obtained and published the audio, from a call which took place mere hours after Israel launched its initial strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13. This morning, US President Donald Trump announced a tentative ceasefire between the nations, which have been bombing each other sporadically for more than a week. You can read more about that in our live coverage. Back to the phone call. The Post removed the voice of the general to avoid identifying him. The paper said the agent with Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, had already been digitally altered when it obtained the recording. This is how the conversation unfolded. 'I'm calling from a country which, two hours ago, sent Salami, Bagheri and Shamkhani to hell,' the agent said, referring to senior Iranian targets killed by Israel, among them Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. 'And now for you, now I'm suggesting you...' There was crosstalk at that point, and the Mossad agent had to ask whether the general could actually hear him. 'Listen carefully. I'm calling from a country that – I'll explain to you. Listen carefully,' he said, trying again. 'I'm calling from a country that, two hours ago, sent Bagheri, Salami, Shamkhani, one by one, to hell. 'I can advise you now, you have 12 hours to escape with your wife and child. Otherwise you are on our list right now. All of you, one by one, are on the list that I am looking at, and you are our next targets. 'We will hit you, your family, your children, everyone, with the dirt. I only called to tell you, while there's time. I will give you a reprieve. Like I said, 12 hours from this very minute that I spoke to you, you have time to escape. 'If not, you have no one to blame but yourself. We're closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you.' The Israeli operative noted that his country had just killed Hossein Salami, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. Picture: Atta Kenare/AFP The Iranian seemed confused in response, prompting the Israeli agent to reiterate his message. 'All of these savages, all of these people like Salami, we sent them to that same place they should have gone to much earlier,' said the Israeli agent. 'Do you want to be one of them? Do you want to be the next one on the list? Do you also want to destroy your wife and child?' There was a long pause. 'So what should I do now?' the general asked. 'I'm telling you right now. I gave you a proposal,' said the Israeli. 'Say it,' said the Iranian. 'You have 12 hours to make a video saying, 'We have walked away from this government, and we are unwilling to sacrifice our lives for people who destroyed our country for 46 years. They only killed, stole took. They only cut the children of this country into pieces,'' said the Mossad agent. 'Well, how should I send it to you?' the general asked. 'I will send you a Telegram ID. Send it,' said the agent. 'Look, we have everything on you. It seems you haven't understood. It's clear you don't even understand where you are right now. 'I'm telling you we hit all your leaders. We turned them into powder. Now you're sitting here, and you think you're talking to me. I'm calling to give you a proposal to save your wife and child, you wretch. Are you confused?' The call ended with more logistics about how, exactly, the Iranian general was supposed to send the video to Israel. You can watch the conversation, in part, in the video player at the top of the page Two of the main players here: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump. Picture: Atta Kenare and Charly Triballeau/AFP Iran and Israel have been trading fire ever since those initial Israeli air strikes on June 13. The United States then joined in, bombing three Iranian nuclear sites. Today, hopes of a de-escalation were bolstered when Iran responded to the American attack with a token strike on a US base in Qatar, which resulted in no casualties. That was followed by Mr Trump's announcement of a ceasefire. 'CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!' Mr Trump wrote on social media. 'It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately six hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for twelve hours, at which point the WAR will be considered, ENDED! 'Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. 'During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR'. 'This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD! 'DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.' It was later reported that Iran had agreed to the ceasefire proposal via Qatar, which as acted as an intermediary between the United States, Israel and both Iran and Hamas. Originally published as 'You have 12 hours': Audio of threatening phone call between Israel and Iranian general emerges


Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Israel's chilling 'escape' warning in phone call to Iranian general
In a call from a Mossad agent to an Iranian official, the Israeli intelligence officer gave an ultimatum in a bid to install fear among the Tehran regime, insiders have said An Israeli intelligence officer had a chilling warning during a phone call with a senior Iranian general as tensions flared in the Middle East. Israel launched its first strikes against Iran on June 13, killing top military leaders and nuclear scientists, and in the hours after the attack intelligence operatives launched a covert campaign to intimidate senior officials. According to three people familiar with the operation, the aim was to divide and destabilise Tehran's regime. It has emerged that people working for Israel's security who speak Iran's primary language, Farsi, called senior officials warning them that they would also die unless they declared that they no longer supported the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader. More than 20 Iranians in positions of power were contacted, it has been claimed. In a call obtained by The Washington Post, an Israeli intelligence operative warned a senior Iranian general he had 12 hours to escape with his family if he wanted to avoid death. "Listen carefully. I'm calling from a country that – I'll explain to you. Listen carefully," he said. "I'm calling from a country that, two hours ago, sent Bagheri, Salami, Shamkhani, one by one, to hell. I can advise you now, you have 12 hours to escape with your wife and child. Otherwise, you're on our list right now. All of you, one by one, are on the list that I am looking at, and you are our next targets. "We will hit you, your family, your children, everyone, with the dirt. I only called to tell you, while there's time. I will give you a reprieve. Like I said, 12 hours from this very minute that I spoke to you, you have time to escape. If not, you have no one to blame but yourself." Installing fear into the general, he added: "We're closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you." After being given the ultimatum, the general - a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - was told he had 12 hours to make a video disassociating himself from the Iranian government. After asking how he should send the video, he was told by the Mossad agent that he would receive a Telegram ID. Mossad is Israel's national intelligence agency. It's not clear whether such a video was made or sent and according to one of the sources who spoke to The Washington Post, the unidentified general is believed to be still alive and in Iran. A second person said the main goal of the operation was to deter and confuse the Tehran leadership. The conflict between Iran and Israel continued up until today, when Donald Trump called for a ceasefire - and both countries eventually appeared to agree, despite initially violating it. "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!" Mr Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. "It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately six hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for twelve hours, at which point the WAR will be considered, ENDED! "Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR'. "This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Trump's announcement of a ceasefire and urged both countries to respect it so that the fighting can stop. "The people of the two countries have already suffered too much," he tweeted. "It is my sincere hope that this ceasefire can be replicated in the other conflicts in the region." While the conflict with Iran now appears to have ended, Israel continues bombing Gaza, and over the past 12 days it has killed at least 870 Palestinians. Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel - but the real death toll is expected to be much higher as this number doesn't account for people under the rubble, who are presumed dead.