WANA (Mar 11) – Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran’s Enghelab Square on Wednesday to attend the funeral of senior military commanders and several civilians killed in recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, as Iran’s war with its adversaries entered its twelfth day.

 

Aerial footage showed large crowds filling the central square of the capital. Vehicles carrying the coffins of the slain commanders moved slowly through the crowd, surrounded by mourners waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans.

 

The ceremony took place on the 21st day of the holy month of Ramadan, which marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Ali, a significant day in the Islamic calendar. Many residents of Tehran had spent the previous night in mosques observing Laylat al-Qadr prayers before gathering in the streets for the funeral.

 

Among those whose coffins were carried during the procession were Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the slain Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces; Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the killed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the slain secretary of the Supreme Defence Council; and Major General Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister.

People attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 11, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Iranian media said the coffins of several civilians killed in the recent attacks were also present, including children among the victims.

 

Close-up footage showed dense crowds surrounding the vehicles carrying the coffins, while mourners held posters of the fallen commanders and images of Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Some participants were seen crying as the procession moved through the square.

 

“Until the last drop of our blood, all the people who are here will protect their homeland, their new leader and the ideals of their martyred Imam, and we will never retreat,” a woman attending the funeral told WANA.

 

Some participants voiced support for continuing the conflict.

 

“Our people have this demand from them (the armed forces) until the last moment and will support them until the last moment. There is no talk of compromise, only the destruction of Israel and America,” another woman present at the funeral told WANA.

A woman holds an image of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 11, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Chants including “Death to America” could be heard from sections of the crowd as flags waved above the gathering.

 

“It should be more crushing and they should strike more blows to the arrogant enemy, but we thank them and we are grateful. So far the enemy has been defeated,” a man attending the funeral told WANA.

 

Another attendee said the war should continue.

 

“The war must continue until they receive a very strong blow from Islam, Iran and Iranians, because these are cowardly people and now that they are facing defeat, they are seeking a ceasefire,” he told WANA.

People attend a funeral ceremony for the Iranian military commanders who were killed in strikes, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 11, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

As the procession continued, crowds moved along the surrounding streets with the coffins, escorted by security forces.

 

“We will never retreat, even if it means raining missiles on our heads,” another woman attending the ceremony told WANA, adding: “There will be no compromise until the enemies of Islam and Iran are destroyed.”

 

The funeral procession began at Enghelab Square and was set to continue toward Me’raj Shohada, where the bodies of those killed are taken before burial, Iranian media reported.

 

More than four hours after the ceremony began, large crowds were still present in the area, continuing to accompany the coffins and pay their respects to the fallen.