Thousands of enraged Iranians burned the US flag and chanted “death to America” and “Israel” Saturday as the Islamic Republic buried the head of its armed forces and other top commanders who were killed during the 12-day war.
The caskets of about 60 corpses, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp’s chief Generals Hossein Salami and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were marched through the streets of downtown Tehran for the first public funerals since President Trump helped broker a June 23 cease-fire between the two Middle Eastern countries.
“Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” the crowds screamed as flags of both countries were set ablaze.
Thousands of Iranians gather in the streets of Tehran to mourn the deaths of several Iranian armed forces generals and nuclear scientists killed in Israeli airstrikes during the “12-day War” on June 28, 2025. APSalami, the head of the IRGC’s ballistic missile program, and Hajizadeh were both killed on June 13 — the first day of the war — when Israel launched a massive overnight airstrike on Iran.
At least 20 Iranian military commanders and several nuclear scientists working on the country’s weapons program were also taken out in the preemptive strikes.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, did not make an appearance at Saturday’s funerals — and has not been seen in public since before the outbreak of the Israel-Iran conflict.
Khamenei, 86, has been hiding in an underground bunker for weeks, though he made a rare televised appearance to ludicrously claim victory over Israel while delivering a “hand slap to America’s face.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attended the funeral services, as well as Gen. Esmail Qaani, who heads the foreign wing of the IRGC, the Quds Force.
A truck carries the coffins of dead Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders and other military officials. AFP via Getty Images
A truck carries the coffins during the funeral processions through the crowded streets of Tehran. AFP via Getty ImagesGen. Ali Shamkhani was also spotted at the funeral leaning on a cane, likely due to injuries he sustained in the Israeli attack that killed his colleagues.
More than 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists were killed during the nearly two weeks of conflict between the warring countries, which saw Israel hit eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites, according to Tel Aviv officials.
More than 1,000 Iranians were killed, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group.
An Iranian holds up a poster of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the late Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini during the state funeral on June 28, 2025. AFP via Getty Images
Mourners wave flags during the funeral procession. AFP via Getty ImagesThe Islamic Republic — the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism — retaliated by firing more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, successfully infiltrating the Iron Dome and killing 28 people.
Iran has continued to maintain that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, but Israelis feared they were purifying uranium to near weapons grade — and viewed it as an existential threat to the Jewish state’s existence.
Israel launched its attack after Iran ignored repeated warnings to halt experiments at its nuclear sites, and followed failed denuclearization talks with the US.
A mourner holds a picture of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who was killed by Israeli airstrikes. AP
Armed guards positioned on the rooftops overlooking the funeral procession in Tehran, Iran on June 28, 2025. via REUTERS
Flowers are placed on the flag-draped coffin of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami. AFP via Getty ImagesThe US entered the conflict on June 21 when it dropped “bunker-buster” bombs on the highly secure Fordow nuclear facility, while 30 Tomahawk missiles fired from submarines 400 miles away struck the Natanz and Isfahan sites, causing significant damage and setting back Iran’s nuclear program.
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