Tehran, June 28 (V7N) — Iran held a state funeral on Saturday morning for nearly 60 military commanders, nuclear scientists, and security officials killed in Israeli strikes during the 12-day war that erupted on June 13. The dead include several top Revolutionary Guard commanders, senior nuclear scientists, and security personnel.

Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in central Tehran, where coffins draped in Iranian flags were placed alongside portraits of the deceased in uniform. The funeral, broadcast live on state television, showed mourners dressed in black, waving Iranian flags, and holding up photographs of the fallen figures.

The burial process began at 8 a.m. local time, with the coffins carried along Azadi Street on trucks as crowds chanted, “Down with the US and Israel.” Among the dead were four women and four children, whose coffins also joined the solemn procession.

This was Iran’s first public funeral for a top commander since the ceasefire was declared on June 24, following heavy attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and its ally, the United States. Both sides have since claimed victory.

During the funeral, government offices remained closed to allow officials to attend the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed U.S. claims that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back by decades. “Trump is exaggerating the facts,” Khamenei said, rejecting assertions about the scale of damage inflicted by the U.S. strikes.

END/RH/AJ