Tehran funeral ceremony
A funeral for a member of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, who was assassinated on Sunday, was held in Tehran on Tuesday. Hundreds of mourners attended the event, many of them holding pictures of Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, and chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. Khodaei was assassinated in his car and just outside his home in an eastern Tehran neighborhood. He was shot five times by two motorcyclists. The IRGC has called his killing an act of terrorism. IRGC’s commander Major General Hossein Salami has pledged to avenge Khodayee’s assassination, saying the response will be tough and make the enemies regret the heinous crime.
Iran building collapse
Rescuers are working hard to help people trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed in Iran’s southwestern city of Abadan. The crash has claimed the lives of 10 people so far. There are fears that the number of casualties could rise, with reports saying up to 50 people remain trapped under the debris. Some 29 people have been pulled from the 10-storey building that came down on Monday. The collapse has blocked the city’s busiest road, with surrounding buildings evacuated. An investigation is underway into the cause of the incident. The building's owner and contractor are in detention.
Tunisia political crisis
Tunisia’s political crisis is deepening. The country’s Labor Union rejects the president’s proposed national dialogue and says it will hold a nationwide strike over economic woes. The UGTT says it will not take part in an advisory committee set up by President Kais Saied to discuss political and economic reforms. The union says it rejects any dialogue where roles are unilaterally determined. Last week, Saied designated a law professor to head the committee of legal and political science experts to draft a new constitution. He, however, barred political parties from any role in the process. The main opposition party, Ennahda, has also rejected Saied’s move, saying it lacks constitutional legitimacy. Tunisia has been in a deep political crisis since June 2021, when Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority. The president’s opponents accuse him of a coup.