Iran held the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the holy city of Mashhad as renewed military exchanges between Iran and the United States sharply increased tensions across the Gulf region. The funeral marked the end of several days of nationwide mourning, while fresh attacks threatened to further destabilize the fragile regional security situation.
According to Iranian officials, the latest US airstrikes targeted several locations in southern and eastern Iran, resulting in 14 deaths and 78 injuries. In response, Iran announced that its armed forces had launched attacks against US military facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The military also claimed to have targeted strategic installations linked to American operations in the region.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that continued US military intervention and efforts to redirect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have slowed the waterway’s gradual reopening. Iranian officials said commercial vessel traffic has recovered to around 50 percent of pre conflict levels, with ships required to follow routes approved by Tehran.
Meanwhile, reports of explosions emerged from several Iranian cities, including Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Choghadak. Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant, was reportedly struck near its perimeter, although officials did not report damage to the main nuclear facility.
The latest escalation has renewed concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes through which nearly 20 percent of global oil supplies normally pass. Despite fears of supply disruptions, global oil prices eased after investors assessed that the latest confrontation might remain limited.
US President Donald Trump said he does not expect the recent strikes to develop into a full scale war with Iran. However, he warned that any further attacks on commercial shipping or American interests would trigger a stronger military response.
Regional leaders, including officials from Turkey, Oman, and Qatar, have called for restraint and urged all sides to return to diplomacy. As tensions continue to rise, the international community remains concerned that further military action could threaten regional stability and global energy markets.
