TEHRAN – Millions of Iranians thronged the streets of Tehran and provincial capitals on Friday for the funeral processions of 350 unknown martyrs from the eight-year Iraqi war, an event timed to coincide with the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA) and the National Day of the Unknown Martyr.

In the capital, the procession for 110 unidentified martyrs set out from the main gate of the University of Tehran toward Me'raj osh-Shohada, while the remains of another 240 were carried through cities across the country for burial.

The bodies were recovered from former battlefields at Fakkeh, Sharhani, Shalamcheh, Majnoon Island, Mehran, east of the Tigris River, and Chilat.

Mourners gathered along Enghelab and Hafez streets hours before the ceremony, and mourning stations were set up along the route to serve participants. The remains were placed on designated trucks and welcomed with military music.

Major General Ahmad Vahidi, commander-in-chief of the IRGC, attended the Tehran procession.

Major General Mostafa Izadi, the deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC, addressed the Tehran ceremony, describing the Islamic Revolution as "a revolution of values" formed for the elevation of humanity and to provide a life rich in spirituality and health.

He called the martyrs pioneers of the path of the Islamic Revolution, stating that "the pride of our warriors and unknown martyrs is that they follow the path of Hazrat Siddiqah Taherah (SA), and their mission is spiritual liberation".

Izadi said the eight-year Sacred Defense was filled with spirituality and worship, and that the martyrs traversed the path outlined by Imam Khomeini.

"I witnessed that the love and aspiration of the warriors was to walk the path of Imam Hussein (AS)," he said, noting that Imam Khomeini had stated: "We entered this war like Imam Hussein (AS) and must attain martyrdom like him."

He described the achievements of the warriors during the Sacred Defense as a "historical asset" for the Islamic ummah, Iran, the resistance front, and even humanity, citing the liberation of Khorramshahr as evidence of the continuation of the path of resistance.

Addressing security threats, Izadi said: "Any level and any type of threat will be met with an immediate and regret-inducing response," adding that Iran will confront the enemy "without limitation and in any geography".

He also stated that "the myth of security provided by American bases has come to an end" and that "the American way of war has ended".

In a message read at the ceremony, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and Commander of the Central Khatam al-Anbiya (SA) Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi thanked the public for their "epic and unprecedented" presence at the funeral procession.

He stated that the turnout was "another call from the dispatched ummah and steadfastness that created epics during the eight-year Sacred Defense" and proved the nation's loyalty to the martyrs.

"This meaningful and valuable presence is not only a tribute to the elevated status of these selfless brave men, but also a renewed expression of the covenant of the insightful and courageous nation with the lofty ideals of Imam Khomeini (RA) and the martyred Imam Khamenei (QS), who nurtured this nation for resistance, sacrifice, and martyrdom-seeking," Abdollahi said.

He described the unnamed martyrs as "immortal legends and famous figures of the sky, objective manifestations of love and sincerity toward the homeland and guardianship," who rested in foreign soil for years and returned when the country needed unity, national cohesion, and the authority of Islamic Iran.

"Undoubtedly, this unbreakable bond between the nation and its martyrs is the very clear current of divine guidance which... will thwart the enemies' plots and bring the Islamic Revolution closer to its lofty ideals," he added.

"The path of the martyrs is the path of the nation, and by God's grace and power, this glorious journey will continue."