Iranians begin mass funeral for sailors martyred in US attack

Hundreds of thousands have gathered in Iran’s capital, Tehran, to participate in a mass funeral for the sailors killed in a US attack on an Iranian Navy ship that was sailing in the Indian Ocean earlier this month.  

Local media reports on Tuesday said that people assembled in Tehran’s main squares for the official ceremony, paying tribute to the 84 navy personnel who were martyred aboard IRIS Dena on 4 March.

Millions more expressed their respect in dozens of other cities across Iran by holding parallel processions, the reports added.

The funeral takes place amid almost‑daily demonstrations across Iran to which condemn the ongoing US–Israeli aggression against Iran and declare support for the Islamic Republic’s brave resistance against the aggression.

IRIS Dena’s crew were on a mission in international waters to participate in a naval exercise in India to which they had been officially invited.

The US Navy launched an MK‑48 torpedo from a submarine, striking the ship about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka.

Reports say around 20 sailors remain unaccounted for, while 32 were rescued by Sri Lankan authorities.

Iran has denounced the strike as a cowardly act, vowing to avenge it in the most decisive manner.

President  Masoud  Pezeshkian issued a message on Tuesday urging Iranians to attend the mass funeral for the IRIS Dena martyrs.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also released a handwritten note saying that the martyrdom of the naval heroes aboard IRIS  Dena reflects the Iranian nation’s sacrifice in the “era of fighting international oppressors.”

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