Latest news with #GeneralSalami
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran holds state funeral for top commanders, scientists killed by Israel
Tens of thousands of people have lined the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, as the country held a funeral service for military commanders, nuclear scientists and some civilians killed in Israeli attacks earlier this month. State TV showed footage of people donning black clothes, waving Iranian flags and holding pictures of some of the dead in the ceremony that started at 8am (04:30 GMT) on Saturday. Images from central Tehran showed coffins draped in Iranian flags and bearing portraits of the deceased commanders in uniform. Israel launched the assault on its main regional rival on June 13, killing several senior military and scientific officials, and bombarding military sites and nuclear facilities across the country. Iran responded with missiles attacks on Israel. The Israeli bombardment continued for 12 days, with key ally the United States joining the conflict to carry out strikes on three nuclear sites last weekend. In retaliation for the US attacks, Iran launched a wave of missiles at a US military base in Qatar. Both Israel and Iran claimed victory in the war that ended with a ceasefire on Tuesday, with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplaying the US strikes, claiming Trump had 'exaggerated events in unusual ways', and rejecting US claims that Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. The coffins of the Guard's chief General Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and others were driven on trucks along the capital's Azadi Street as people in the crowds chanted: 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel'. Salami and Hajizadeh were both killed on the first day of the war, which Israel said was meant to destroy Iran's nuclear programme. Mohammad Bagheri, a major-general in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, as well as top nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were also killed in Israeli attacks. Saturday's ceremonies were the first public funerals for top commanders since the ceasefire, and Iranian state television reported that they were for 60 people in total, including four women and four children. Authorities closed government offices to allow public servants to attend the state funeral comes a day after US President Donald Trump launched a tirade on his Truth Social platform, blasting Khamenei for claiming in a video address that Iran had won the war. Trump also claimed to have known 'EXACTLY where he (Khamenei) was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the US Armed Forces… terminate his life'. He claimed he had been working in recent days on the possible removal of sanctions against Iran, but he dropped it after Khamenei's remarks. Hitting back at Trump on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X: 'If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran's Supreme Leader.' Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar, reporting from Tehran, said Araghchi's remarks were 'a most expected reaction' to Trump's social media posts. 'Many Iranian people regard him [Khamenei] as chiefly a religious leader, but according to the constitution, he's not only that – he's the political leader, he's the military leader – he's simply the head of state in Iran,' he said. Serdar also said Khamenei's position is not just the top of a hierarchy, but a divine role in Shia political theology. 'Not only in Iran, but across the world, we know there are a significant number of Shia who look for his guidance,' Serdar said. 'Anyone who knows that would be meticulously careful not to publicly criticise him, and particularly not to accuse him of lying.'There was no immediate sign of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral. Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, has in past funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their coffins before the open ceremonies, later aired on state television. During the 12 days before the ceasefire, Israel claimed it killed about 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures. The Israeli attacks on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education said. After the US strikes, Trump said negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme for a new deal were set to restart next week, but Tehran denied there were plans for a resumption.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
‘Death to America' chants ring out at funeral for Iranian commanders killed in war as Trump warns US would bomb again
THE mass funeral for the Iranian commanders wiped out in the war has been plagued by "Death to America" chants and the burning of Israeli flags. Over a million people have reportedly lined the streets of Tehran just hours after Donald Trump warned he would bomb the evil regime again if they ever cross the US. 5 5 5 Twisted chants of "Death to America" could be heard ringing out across the event today as pro-Ayatollah mourners flocked to the public procession. The caskets of top military commanders and nuclear scientists all eliminated by Israel during the gruelling 12-day war were all hauled through the capital. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps chief General Hossein Salami - known as one of Iran's most powerful military leaders - and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh were among the bodies being laid to rest. Both were directly targeted by Israel for their role in developing Tehran's ballistic missile program. The two twisted generals were taken out within hours of the conflict kicking off on June 13. Some mourners even started to trample on the flags of Israel and the US as the caskets came past with others setting them alight. It comes amid a surging number of Iranians who are turning against the evil regime following the war. Many have voiced their issues with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was again nowhere to be seen at the funeral. The cowering 86-year-old hasn't been seen in person for almost two weeks now and is said to have been forced into a secret bunker amid threats on his life from both Trump and Israel. The US president has even claimed he saved the Ayatollah from an "ugly death" by ordering Israeli jets to turn around mid-air during an attack. Funeral-goers at one point pledged their allegiance to the twisted leader as they chanted: 'Oh noble Leader, we are ready!" Around 60 caskets were wheeled out with many being draped in the national colours of red, white and green. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi - now among the most high-profile names in Tehran's cabinet - led the procession. He made a rare admission as he said the number of lives lost in the short-lived conflict is 'hard and painful'. 5 5
BreakingNews.ie
28-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Huge crowds mourn Iranian military chiefs and scientists killed in strikes
Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tehran on Saturday for the funerals of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and other top commanders and nuclear scientists killed during a 12-day war with Israel. The caskets of Guard's chief General Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and others were driven on trucks along the capital's Azadi Street as people in the crowds chanted 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel'. Advertisement Generals Salami and Hajizadeh were both killed on the first day of the war, June 13, as Israel launched an attack it said was meant to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, specifically targeting military commanders, scientists and nuclear facilities. Mourners during the funeral ceremony in Islamic Revolution Square in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) State media reported more than a million people turned out for the funeral procession, which was impossible to independently confirm, but the dense crowd packed the main Tehran thoroughfare along the entire 4.5km (nearly three-mile) route. There was no immediate sign of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral. The Ayatollah, who has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, has in past funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their caskets before the open ceremonies, later aired on state television. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was on hand, and state television reported that General Esmail Qaani, who heads the foreign wing of the Revolutionary Guard, the Quds Force, and General Ali Shamkhani were also among the mourners. Advertisement Gen Shamkhani, an adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei who was wounded in the first round of Israel's attack, was shown in a civilian suit leaning on a cane in an image distributed on state television's Telegram channel. A mourner holds a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the funerals in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) Iran's Revolutionary Guard was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since it was established, it has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force to a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran's allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq. It operates in parallel to the country's existing armed forces and controls Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Over 12 days before a ceasefire was declared on Tuesday, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. Advertisement More than 1,000 people were killed, including at least 417 civilians, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people. Saturday's ceremonies were the first public funerals for top commanders since the ceasefire, and Iranian state television reported that they were for 60 people in total, including four women and four children. Authorities closed government offices to allow public servants to attend the ceremonies. Advertisement Many in the crowd expressed feelings of anger and defiance. 'This is not a ceasefire, this is just a pause,' said Ahmad Mousapoor, 43, waving an Iranian flag. 'Whatever they do, we will definitely give a crushing response.' People burn a US flag as they take part in the funeral ceremony (Vahid Salemi/AP) State media published images of an open grave plot at Tehran's Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery where army chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, who was killed on the first day of the war, was to be buried beside his brother, a Guards commander killed during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. Many of the others were to be buried in their home towns. Advertisement The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency confirmed that the top prosecutor at the notorious Evin prison had been killed in an Israeli strike on Monday. It reported that Ali Ghanaatkar, whose prosecution of dissidents led to widespread criticism by human rights groups, would be buried at a shrine in Qom. Iran has always insisted its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. But Israel views it as an existential threat and said its military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon. Ayatollah Khamenei's last public appearance was on June 11, two days before hostilities with Israel broke out, when he met Iranian parliamentarians. On Thursday, however, he released a pre-recorded video, in his first message since the end of the war, filled with warnings and threats directed toward the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic's longtime adversaries. The 86-year-old downplayed US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites as having not achieved 'anything significant', and claimed victory over Israel. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency, Rafael Grossi, has characterised the damage done by American bunker-buster bombs to Iran's Fordo nuclear site, which was built into a mountain, as 'very, very, very considerable'.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Huge crowds mourn Iranian military chiefs and scientists killed in strikes
Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tehran on Saturday for the funerals of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and other top commanders and nuclear scientists killed during a 12-day war with Israel. The caskets of Guard's chief General Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard's ballistic missile programme, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh and others were driven on trucks along the capital's Azadi Street as people in the crowds chanted 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel'. Generals Salami and Hajizadeh were both killed on the first day of the war, June 13, as Israel launched an attack it said was meant to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, specifically targeting military commanders, scientists and nuclear facilities. State media reported more than a million people turned out for the funeral procession, which was impossible to independently confirm, but the dense crowd packed the main Tehran thoroughfare along the entire 4.5km (nearly three-mile) route. There was no immediate sign of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral. The Ayatollah, who has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, has in past funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their caskets before the open ceremonies, later aired on state television. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was on hand, and state television reported that General Esmail Qaani, who heads the foreign wing of the Revolutionary Guard, the Quds Force, and General Ali Shamkhani were also among the mourners. Gen Shamkhani, an adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei who was wounded in the first round of Israel's attack, was shown in a civilian suit leaning on a cane in an image distributed on state television's Telegram channel. Iran's Revolutionary Guard was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since it was established, it has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force to a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran's allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq. It operates in parallel to the country's existing armed forces and controls Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Over 12 days before a ceasefire was declared on Tuesday, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. More than 1,000 people were killed, including at least 417 civilians, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people. Saturday's ceremonies were the first public funerals for top commanders since the ceasefire, and Iranian state television reported that they were for 60 people in total, including four women and four children. Authorities closed government offices to allow public servants to attend the ceremonies. Many in the crowd expressed feelings of anger and defiance. 'This is not a ceasefire, this is just a pause,' said Ahmad Mousapoor, 43, waving an Iranian flag. 'Whatever they do, we will definitely give a crushing response.' State media published images of an open grave plot at Tehran's Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery where army chief of staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, who was killed on the first day of the war, was to be buried beside his brother, a Guards commander killed during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. Many of the others were to be buried in their home towns. The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency confirmed that the top prosecutor at the notorious Evin prison had been killed in an Israeli strike on Monday. It reported that Ali Ghanaatkar, whose prosecution of dissidents led to widespread criticism by human rights groups, would be buried at a shrine in Qom. Iran has always insisted its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. But Israel views it as an existential threat and said its military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon. Ayatollah Khamenei's last public appearance was on June 11, two days before hostilities with Israel broke out, when he met Iranian parliamentarians. On Thursday, however, he released a pre-recorded video, in his first message since the end of the war, filled with warnings and threats directed toward the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic's longtime adversaries. The 86-year-old downplayed US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites as having not achieved 'anything significant', and claimed victory over Israel. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency, Rafael Grossi, has characterised the damage done by American bunker-buster bombs to Iran's Fordo nuclear site, which was built into a mountain, as 'very, very, very considerable'.
NHK
13-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Office of Iran's supreme leader confirms deaths of top commanders
The office of Iran's supreme leader has confirmed the deaths of two top military commanders in Friday's strikes by Israel. It named them as Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami. The General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces earlier called the Israeli attack a "blatant aggression" and vowed to inflict a "devastating" and "crushing" response. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also warned that "the miscalculations and crimes of the sworn enemies of Iran and Iranians will not go unanswered."
