Iran buried its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday as renewed military exchanges between Iran and the United States heightened tensions across the Gulf, raising fresh concerns over regional stability and global energy security.
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The funeral took place in Mashhad after days of nationwide mourning, with large crowds attending the burial ceremony. The event coincided with a new wave of hostilities following Iranian strikes targeting US military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, which Tehran described as retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian territory.
Iranian officials said US strikes carried out on July 8 and 9 killed 14 people and injured 78 across several provinces. Iranian media also reported explosions in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and other southern locations, including areas near strategic infrastructure. The US military did not immediately comment on those reports.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said US military operations and efforts to redirect commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupting the gradual reopening of the strategic waterway. The Guards stated that vessel traffic had recovered to around half of pre-conflict levels and that ships were being permitted to transit only through routes approved by Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, the US military said its latest operations targeted Iranian military assets after accusing Tehran of attacking commercial vessels in the Gulf. US Central Command stated that approximately 90 military targets, including air defence systems, missile storage facilities and surveillance sites, had been struck.
Regional governments also reported security incidents. Kuwait said it intercepted missiles and drones entering its airspace, while Jordan confirmed intercepting several incoming missiles without casualties. Qatar, Turkey and Oman urged restraint and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
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US President Donald Trump said he did not expect the latest military exchanges to develop into a full-scale war, although he warned that any further attacks on commercial shipping would draw a stronger US response.