Iran on Wednesday held the funeral of its powerful security chief Ali Larijani, killed in a strike and whom the head of the Islamic Republic's army vowed to avenge, promising global repercussions.

On the 19th day of a war that is engulfing the Middle East, destabilizing Lebanon and paralyzing hydrocarbon production and transport, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi promised a long and devastating conflict.

"The wave of global repercussions is only just beginning and will affect everyone, regardless of wealth, belief, or race," he wrote on X, in stark contrast to the statements of Donald Trump who regularly refers to a short conflict.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed on Tuesday the death of its leader, a pillar of power, who last week defied bombings by participating in a street demonstration in Tehran.

His funeral is scheduled to begin at 10:30 GMT in Tehran, according to the Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim.

They will be held at the same time as those of the leader of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani, whose death was also confirmed on Tuesday, and of the more than 80 military personnel of the frigate sunk by the United States two weeks ago, off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The names of Larijani and Soleimani have been added to the list of Iranian leaders killed by the United States and Israel, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated on the first day of the war, February 28. His funeral was initially announced, then postponed indefinitely by the authorities.

"Avenge the blood"

Israel's strategy aims to "dismantle the regime's political and security architecture to destabilize it," according to David Khalfa, co-founder of the Atlantic Middle East Forum research center, writing on his Twitter account. The goal is "to reverse the balance of power between the Iranian regime and society, in the context of a highly uncertain post-war period."

On Wednesday, the Mehr news agency released photos of the coffins of Ali Larijani and his son, who was killed in the same airstrike. His official Telegram channel also showed his hand, recognizable by his ring, covered in dust amidst the bombing rubble.

The Revolutionary Guards, for their part, announced that strikes which killed at least two people in the Tel Aviv area at dawn on Wednesday were launched "to avenge the blood" of the Iranian officials killed.

The Israeli army has promised the same fate to Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father as supreme leader more than a week ago but has not appeared in public since. According to American and Israeli officials, he may have been disfigured or wounded in the leg in the attack that killed his father.

Donald Trump explicitly questioned on Monday whether he was still alive.

Bombings in Beirut

For its part, Israel continues its offensive in Lebanon against the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Several airstrikes targeted neighborhoods in central Beirut at dawn on Wednesday, including densely populated areas. A preliminary report from authorities indicates at least 12 dead and 41 wounded.

Images broadcast live by AFP showed plumes of smoke rising above the capital.

The attack occurred near a Civil Defense center and the seafront promenade, where displaced people were sleeping in their cars, according to an AFP correspondent on the scene.

The Israeli army also announced that it had "begun striking Hezbollah terrorist targets" in the Tyre region (south), "in response to rocket fire towards the State of Israel".

An order from the Israeli army to evacuate almost all of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage city, had sparked panic the previous evening. Residents fled in haste amidst massive traffic jams, said Bilal Kashmar, a spokesman for the local emergency services.

Israel issued new evacuation orders in the south of the country on Monday. But according to the official, many families refused to leave.

Trump resigns

The United States announced Tuesday evening that it had targeted Iranian missile sites near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which normally one-fifth of the world's trade in crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes, with some of the most powerful bombs in its arsenal.

Donald Trump has nevertheless given up on demanding military aid from US allies to secure the strait, after suffering several resounding refusals.

"We no longer need and we no longer want help from NATO countries. WE NEVER NEEDED IT," the US president wrote on his social media.

Iran, for its part, continues its missile attacks against Israel and its Gulf neighbors, targeting both American interests and civilian industrial infrastructure.

In Saudi Arabia, the army announced that it had intercepted several drones, as well as a ballistic missile near Prince Sultan Air Base, where American soldiers are stationed.

In the United Arab Emirates, an "Iranian projectile" fell near the Australian army headquarters in the Middle East, at Al Minhad base, without causing any injuries, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Authorities in Qatar and Kuwait also announced the interception of missiles and drones.

Finally, Iraq continues to be drawn into the conflict. At least four loud explosions were heard Wednesday in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region (north), according to AFP journalists, as pro-Iranian armed groups carried out a series of drone attacks against American military and interests.