Iran warns US, Israel over threats during Khamenei funeral period

An Iranian military commander warned the United States and Israel against carrying out any attack on Iran as the country prepares for the state funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the first day of the war.

The warning came from Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Reuters reports.

"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," Abdollahi said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.

Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei are scheduled to begin on July 4 in Tehran and conclude on July 9 with his burial in his hometown of Mashhad. Additional mourning events will be held in Qom and in Iraq during the intervening days.

The warning follows similar remarks made on July 1 by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran would deliver "an immediate and powerful response" to any threat against Iran's people or leadership after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reportedly said that Iran's current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was "marked for death."

Iranian media also reported heightened security measures ahead of the funeral ceremonies.

Meanwhile, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization of Iran said temporary airspace restrictions would be imposed over several cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, during the mourning period.

By Vafa Guliyeva