Iran warns US and Israel against attacks during Khamenei funeral period

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran issued a military warning to the United States and Israel ahead of the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which is scheduled to begin on July 4. Iranian military officials said the armed forces would deliver a "harsh and immediate" response to any "miscalculation" during the mourning period following Khamenei's death. The warning was delivered by Ali Abdullahi, head of the General Staff of Khatam al-Anbiya, the command responsible for coordinating potential Iranian military operations against US, Israeli and European nuclear facilities. Abdullahi said Iranian forces would respond firmly to any threat or attack, singling out the US and the "Zionist regime" as targets of the warning. Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei will run until July 9 in his birthplace of Mashhad, with additional rites planned in Qom and Iraq. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would deliver a "harsh and powerful" response after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz described Khamenei's successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, as a "targeted individual." Iranian media reported temporary airspace restrictions in Tehran and Mashhad during the ceremonies. Further details on security arrangements and regional reactions were not immediately available.