Tehran funeral draws mass crowds
Mourners rally for IRGC general and reject ceasefire
Thousands gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Major General Majid Khademi, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm, killed in strikes attributed by Iran to the United States and Israel. The ceremony at Enghelab Square drew large crowds carrying Iranian flags, some waving Hezbollah banners, and chanting slogans including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while attendees voiced opposition to a temporary ceasefire and calls for continued resistance.
State-linked media and officials framed the killings as a “terrorist” assault, and an address from Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf—read at the service—declared mutual ceasefire talks and negotiations meaningless, prompting further anti-ceasefire chants. Khademi, who led IRGC intelligence after a predecessor’s death, had a long career in intelligence and counter‑espionage; the IRGC’s intelligence branch plays a central role in domestic security and countering foreign influence.
The public funeral underscored national grief and political mobilization, serving as both a tribute to senior commanders killed in recent strikes and a platform for hardline messaging.
