Tens of thousands of people attended funeral processions in Tehran for Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, who was assassinated last week in US-Israeli strikes. The ceremony on Wednesday saw tens of thousands, from all walks of life, turning up at Tehran’s Enqelab Square to begin a procession to honor Tangsiri.
The procession on Wednesday coincided with the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Republic, established on April 1, 1979, following the revolution that ended the monarchy’s 2,500-year reign. This year’s holiday carried heightened significance as Tehran struggles under continuous US-Israeli bombardment since February 28.
People attending the ceremony chanted slogans against the United States and the Israeli regime and declared their full support for Iran’s ongoing fight against the aggression.
Iran confirmed on March 30 that an Israeli strike had killed the commander of the naval force of the IRGC, who Israel had said was responsible for the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
Tangsiri played a pivotal role in the IRGC’s mission to safeguard strategic waterways in the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz—through which nearly one‑fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Tangsiri, one of the IRGC’s longest-serving senior figures and most prominent representatives, was considered the architect behind effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to vessels aligned with the US and Israel during the war.
The timing of the funeral amid ongoing diplomatic efforts reflects Iran’s defiant stance. The country has indicated that the attacks will continue until the aggressors are punished and cease their attacks on Iran. The IRGC Navy has also refused to ease its restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the situation in the waterway will never return to what it was before the US-Israeli aggression.
According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, Tangsiri will be laid to rest in the southwestern city of Abadan on Friday.