On the morning of June 28th, local time, thousands gathered at the Revolution Square in Tehran, Iran, to hold a collective funeral for dozens of nuclear scientists and senior commanders who had died in the Israeli attack. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian led a group of officials in a moment of silence. Notably, Ali Shamkhani was present at the funeral.
▲Shamkhani made an appearance at the funeral
Shamkhani is a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, previously identified by Israel as among those killed in the attack. His presence undoubtedly shattered rumors. On the 28th, he received interviews from Iranian television media near his now-ruined home, recounting his narrow escape.
“I was lying in bed, my phone on the floor, some distance away from me. My family was sleeping in another room. I was dozing off when suddenly the whole room collapsed on top of me. I was buried under rubble for three hours. It all happened there,” said Shamkhani. He tried his best to stay conscious, “At first, I thought it was an earthquake. I started digging around my feet, trying to dig as deep as possible. I heard the sound of vehicles, which only then made me realize it wasn’t an earthquake. If it had been an earthquake, there would have been no vehicles driving around in Tehran, so I told myself: The Israelis attacked.”
Shamkhani recalled that his ribs were crushed, causing him to struggle for breath, until a rescue worker found him. “No one believed I could survive down there. My room had collapsed two or three stories high. He (the rescue worker) began clearing the rocks from my legs. Most of the time, I remained conscious, my only fear being death.” However, Shamkhani stated, “I don’t fear death because I have lived a wonderful life.”
▲Shamkhani (right) with Khamenei
As for why he was targeted, Shamkhani declined to disclose the reason, only stating, “They (Israel) knew why they targeted me, and I knew why they targeted me.”
Regarding the soldiers who died in the Israeli attack, Shamkhani expressed, “These sacrificed soldiers, my dear brothers, are also my friends, comrades. We anticipated our attack, knowing what we should do if such a situation occurred, and understanding our capabilities.”
Shamkhani is a significant figure in Iran’s military and political circles, having held key positions in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian Armed Forces. From 1997 to 2005, he served as the Minister of Defense. From 2013 to 2023, he served as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, responsible for national security and nuclear diplomacy. Shamkhani is known for his mediation between reformists and conservatives, playing a lasting role in shaping Iran’s regional strategy policies.