DUBAI — A senior Iranian military commander issued a stern warning Thursday to the United States and Israel, urging both nations not to take any aggressive action against Iran as the country prepares to hold state funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the opening day of the war.
Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, delivered the warning through Iranian state media. “We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the U.S. and the Zionist regime (Israel), to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country,” he said.
Funeral processions for Khamenei are scheduled to begin on July 4 in Tehran. The ceremonies will also include stops in Qom and Iraq before concluding on July 9 with his burial in his hometown of Mashhad.
The warning echoes similar remarks made Wednesday by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who stated that Tehran would respond immediately and forcefully to any threat directed at its people or leadership. His comments came after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described Iran’s current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as “marked for death.”
Iranian media also reported that security has been significantly increased throughout the funeral period. The head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation confirmed Wednesday that temporary flight restrictions will be put in place over several cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, during the ceremonies.
