Iranian military commander Ali Abdollahi warned the United States and Israel on Thursday against any attack on Iran as the country prepares for the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the first day of the war that started on February 28.
Military Warning Against Miscalculation
“We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the US 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,” Abdollahi, commander of Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement carried by state media.
Foreign Dignitaries to Attend
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the state funeral of the former supreme leader, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. Senior Chinese lawmaker He Wei will also attend the funeral, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Thursday. He is the vice chairman of China's top lawmaking body, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Funeral Schedule and Security
Funeral processions for Khamenei will begin on July 4 in Tehran and conclude on July 9 with his burial in his hometown of Mashhad, with additional ceremonies planned in Qom and Iraq in-between these dates. Iranian media reported heightened security measures during the funeral period, while the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said on Wednesday that temporary airspace restrictions would be implemented over several cities including Tehran and Mashhad.
On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gave a similar warning that Tehran would deliver an immediate and powerful response to any threat against its people or leadership after comments by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz that Iran’s current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was “marked for death.”
