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
Sources familiar with the talks say the Revolutionary Guards barred Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from attending a meeting with the US envoys. At the same time, Tehran is insisting on control over the Strait of Hormuz, a demand Washington rejects.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued an especially insulting response to Defense Minister Israel Katz's remarks that Israel was considering independent action against Iran. "POTUS has committed the US to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv. If they ignore their master, Iran will school them," Araqchi said.
Senior American envoys deploy to Qatar Tuesday to salvage a fragile ceasefire after escalating tensions and drone strikes in the Persian Gulf.
After an Iranian drone hit an oil tanker carrying more than 2 million oil barrels, US Central Command forces struck military infrastructure, defense systems and drone facilities. Iran attacked Kuwait and Bahrain. President Donald Trump issued a threatening message: "The Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist."
