Iran has warned the United States and Israel against any attacks ahead of funeral processions for the late Supreme Leader of the country, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei. An Iranian Military Commander warned against any attacks, saying that the country would retaliate harshly. Notably, Iran is preparing for the state funeral of Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the first day of the US-Israel-Iran war. "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,” Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement carried by state media, Reuters reported. Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had issued a similar warning that Tehran would deliver an immediate and powerful response to any threat against its people or leadership after comments by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz that Iran's current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death." Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has called for a massive turnout for Khamenei’s funeral that starts this weekend. "I invite all the Iranian people … to write a glorious page in the history of Islamic Iran through your presence. The nation’s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world," Ghalibaf said in a statement. Khamenei, who ruled Iran for three decades, was killed on February 28. The funeral is slated to be held in Tehran and Qom on July 5, 6, and 7. The final ceremony will take place in the city of Mashhad on July 9. From India, Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain will travel to Iran on Friday to represent New Delhi at the burial ceremonies for Khamenei. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced this on Thursday.
