Khamenei Skips State Funeral Held for IRGC Commanders, Nuclear Scientists Eliminated by Israel

Latest Developments

• Funerals Held in Tehran: Thousands attended a mass Iranian state funeral in Tehran on June 28 to honor Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members and nuclear scientists killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel. Several senior regime officials attended the event, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, Gen. Esmail Qaani. Crowds observed as trucks carrying the caskets of Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and other eliminated figures proceeded slowly down Tehran’s Azadi Street.
• Death to America, Israel Chanted: Throughout the ceremonies, mourners chanted slogans against the United States and Israel during what Iran’s state-run Press TV called the “funeral procession of the Martyrs of Power.” The deceased reportedly included 60 people, including 16 nuclear scientists and 10 senior Iranian commanders. Pezeshkian thanked the crowds for attending, stating, “With love, you bid farewell to the martyrs of the homeland, and the voice of our unity reached the world.”
• Khamenei Doesn’t Show: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was absent from the ceremonies, having not appeared publicly since before the conflict began on June 13. A cardboard cutout of Khamenei was displayed at the funeral alongside images of two deceased Iranian figures, former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini and former President Ebrahim Raisi. The elusive Khamenei did, however, take to his Farsi-language Twitter account, saying “the Iranian nation should know that the reason for the opposition to America is that they want Iran to surrender, and this is a great insult to the Iranian nation by the Americans, and such a thing will never happen.”

FDD Expert Response

“Today, Ayatollah Khamenei, an 86-year-old cleric who is the longest-serving autocrat in the contemporary history of the Middle East, holds a nation of nearly 92 million hostage. Khamenei continues to push policies like enmity with America and Israel that produce ruin that average Iranians and even his lieutenants are forced to face, all the while he continues to double down from the safety of a bunker.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow

“The mass funeral in Tehran is an important, symbolic event for the clerical regime, which showcases what it will claim as ‘national unity.’ However, the regime’s central figure, Ayatollah Khamenei, was missing from the main ceremony. His absence could be due to health conditions or fear, but in any case, underscores the Islamic Republic’s attempted portrayal of strength, while internally it faces one of its greatest crises since coming to power 45 years ago.” — Seth J. Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iranian Foreign Minister Concedes Nuclear Facilities ‘Seriously Damaged’ by Israeli, U.S. Strikes,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘As Soon as Possible’: UN Nuclear Chief Calls For Renewed Inspections as Iran Suspends Cooperation,” FDD Flash Brief

“U.S. Again Emphasizes Success of Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites,” FDD Flash Brief

“Grossi Played ‘Destructive Role’: Iranian Atomic Energy Chief Attacks IAEA Director General Over Israeli Strikes,” FDD Flash Brief