Amid rising regional tensions and ongoing conflict, Tehran witnessed two significant events over the weekend: a mass funeral for senior military figures killed during the recent conflict with Israel and the annual Hosseini Infants Ceremony, which drew large crowds.On Friday, hundreds of mothers gathered in Tehran for the Hosseini Infants event, where they raised their babies into the air in a gesture of devotion to Imam Hossein. The ritual, held annually on the first Friday of the Islamic month.
CNN, which witnessed the ceremony, reported that attendees expressed religious and political sentiments, with chants against the US and Israel, and videos of Iran’s missile program shown during the event. One mother told CNN that her baby wore a headband, which is a “symbol saluting Imam Hossein, who’s the leader of all the oppressed who stand against oppressors and don’t submit.”Funeral draws large crowds after leaders killed in conflictOn Saturday, large crowds lined Azadi Street in central Tehran for the funeral procession of senior Iranian commanders, including Revolutionary Guard chief Gen. Hossein Salami and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Both were reportedly killed on June 13 during the opening strikes of the recent conflict with Israel.State media reported that over one million people attended the procession, though this figure could not be independently verified. The coffins were driven on trucks through the city as mourners chanted slogans and paid tribute to the fallen. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Quds Force commander Gen. Esmail Qaani, and other top officials were present at the funeral.
