Iran’s Foreign Ministry Hails Nationwide Mourning as Symbol of Unity Amid Israeli Aggression
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Iran’s Foreign Ministry has praised the mass turnout of hundreds of thousands of mourners who gathered across Tehran to honor the lives of over 600 individuals killed in recent Israeli attacks, describing the scenes of grief and solidarity as a powerful testament to national unity and resilience.
In a statement issued on its official X platform on Saturday, the Ministry declared that the funeral procession was “not just a farewell ceremony but a demonstration of the national unity in response to terror,” highlighting the enduring strength and spirit of the Iranian people in the face of aggression.
The statement recalled that the Iranian nation has consistently emerged victorious whenever challenged on its path toward independence, freedom, and dignity. “This steadfast presence is a sign of the people’s deep loyalty to their homeland,” the Ministry emphasized, noting that the collective mourning sent a clear message to the world: “Iranians turn threats into unity, and war into an opportunity to realize a national will.”
Held on a day symbolically tied to the memory of Ashura — a day of deep significance in Shi’a Islam that commemorates sacrifice and resistance — the funeral procession saw Iranians from all walks of life bid farewell to men, women, and children martyred in what Tehran has described as an unjust and unprovoked war imposed by the Zionist regime and the United States.
The Foreign Ministry also paid tribute to military commanders, personnel, scientists, and civilians who were assassinated in the attacks, expressing solidarity with and congratulations to the families of the martyrs for their sacrifices in defense of the nation.
On June 13, Israel launched a wide-scale military assault on Iran, which Tehran labeled an unprovoked war of aggression. The strikes killed more than 600 people, including several senior military figures, scientists, and innocent civilians.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory campaign titled Operation True Promise III, consisting of 22 successive waves of missile strikes targeting Israeli positions, reportedly inflicting significant damage across the occupied territories.
Escalating the conflict, the United States, in coordination with Israel, carried out joint strikes on June 22 targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities. The action, which Iran has condemned as a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty, drew widespread international condemnation and renewed global concern over regional stability.
The Iranian government continues to assert its commitment to defending national interests and sovereignty, while emphasizing unity and resistance in the face of foreign aggression.
