Iran organized a funeral ceremony for high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists who died during the nation’s recent operations.

According to the Associated Press, those honored included Gen. Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who led the IRGC’s ballistic missile program. The news agency also noted that crowds gathered along Tehran’s streets for the funeral chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

On June 13, the day Israel initiated Operation Rising Lion, the IDF confirmed the deaths of Salami, Hajizadeh, and Gholam-Ali Rashid, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command). The next day, Israel asserted it had eliminated nine senior nuclear scientists and over 20 .

The coffins were covered with Iranian flags and featured photographs of the fallen. Massive trucks transported these visible caskets through central Tehran, where mourners, dressed in black, waved flags. The substantial attendance might suggest the regime’s domestic security crackdown is effective, prompting Iranians to openly grieve their leaders.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other high-ranking officials were present at the funeral; however, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was conspicuously absent, having not appeared publicly since reportedly going into hiding.

Accounts suggest that following the conclusion of the conflict with Israel, Iran has intensified its internal security measures. There are reports of and even executions of individuals accused of spying for Israel.

In a statement, Saeed Ghasseminejad, Senior Iran and Financial Economics Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), commented, “The regime convicts and imposes the death penalty based on fabricated charges to instill fear among Iranians. Concurrently, Israel’s Operation Rising Lion has made the public aware that the Iranian regime is a paper tiger, more vulnerable than ever.”

On Monday, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that 705 people had been detained in Iran on “political or security-related charges.”

This report was corroborated by the Islamic Republic-run , which stated that 700 individuals were apprehended for allegedly collaborating with Israel.

The non-profit Iran Human Rights (IHR) issued a warning that at least six other individuals condemned to death for allegedly spying for Israel face imminent execution. The organization also noted that at least nine people have been executed this year under similar accusations.