Western diplomatic officials warn of a "loss of restraint" and attempts to harm the president and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who admitted to the Americans: "We have no control over the shoal in the Gulf." As the crisis worsens, Israel and the US are examining steps to bring down the Iranian regime.
The final stage of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession began today with the arrival of his coffin in Mashhad, after a night of US strikes that shut down the railway line from Tehran. The pragmatic faction in the regime, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, is facing growing pressure from hardliners, which spilled into street violence.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's remarks ended the lull and led Trump to order an intensive strike. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is gambling on "breaking the rules" in Hormuz and is presenting demands that contradict the understandings set out in the memorandum. Amid an internal dispute within the administration, the three US alternatives are being revealed.
The US president launches extraordinary attack on Tehran, saying "We hit them tonight 20 times harder than ever before. They’re sick people."
Reports in Iran said explosions were heard during several strikes overnight in various areas of the country's south. US Central Command said it had struck more than 80 targets in response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran claimed it had attacked 85 US targets in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to "violations of the memorandum of understanding."
The US Treasury Department announced the reinstatement of sanctions on Iranian oil following attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel Hayom has learned that Qatar and Pakistan relayed a US warning, while Tehran responded by demanding the right to collect transit fees in Hormuz.
Overnight, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at least two missiles at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, hitting a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker near the coast of Oman. Hours later, a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker was also hit in the same area. Meanwhile, the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reached the city of Qom, where crowds chanted “Death to America” during a prayer ceremony at the mosque.
Western diplomats and political officials from the Middle East are pessimistic about the talks between the countries. Harsh statements against the US by Iranian leaders during the week of mourning for Khamenei, along with calls to take revenge on Trump and his supporters, are doing little to ease tensions. In the background, Iran is setting additional regional demands, including an end to Israel's military confrontation in southern Lebanon, making it harder to formulate a comprehensive permanent agreement.
Iran has postponed the renewal of broad negotiations with the US until at least July 18, agreeing only to technical-level talks. At the same time, criticism is growing in Washington over Tehran’s exploitation of sanctions relief, while Iran prepares for the possibility that the war will resume in the future.
The funeral procession for the former supreme leader will begin Friday in Tehran, pass through Iraq and end in Mashhad. Iran is preparing for up to 20 million participants, alongside a large-scale security operation and arrangements to receive huge crowds
