Iran has warned the United States and Israel to avoid any military action or miscalculation during the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [1].

The warning comes as Tehran seeks to maintain stability and protect its sovereignty during a period of significant national mourning and political transition. Any escalation during the multi-day event could trigger a wider regional conflict at a moment of internal vulnerability.

Iranian military officials said that the country will respond with harsh retaliation if any attack is made during the funeral [2]. The statements, released from Tehran in early July, emphasize that the U.S. and Israel must respect Iranian sovereignty during this solemn period [3].

Officials described the event as a days-long process [1]. The scale of the mourning is expected to be massive, with up to 20 million mourners expected to attend the funeral [4].

A spokesperson for Iran's armed forces said the U.S. and Israel must refrain from any military action during this time [3]. This directive is intended to deter foreign intelligence or military operations that could coincide with the gathering of millions of citizens, and high-ranking officials.

The Iranian leadership has framed the funeral as a critical period for national unity. By issuing these warnings, Tehran is attempting to create a diplomatic and military buffer to ensure the proceedings remain undisturbed by external aggression [2].

“We will respond with harsh retaliation if any attack is made during the funeral.”

The timing of this warning suggests that Iran views the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a period of high strategic risk. By explicitly threatening retaliation, Tehran is attempting to prevent a 'power vacuum' perception that might encourage the U.S. or Israel to conduct strikes or intelligence operations while the Iranian state is focused on internal logistics and mourning.