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• Ceasefire collapses:Exchanges of fire between the US and Iran over the past several days thrust the Middle East into a renewed state of volatility. Iran’s state media reported more strikes over Thursday, but the US has not confirmed it was responsible for the most recently reported attacks
• Diplomacy continues:The US has been striking and then pausing to avoid escalation as negotiators meet behind the scenes, a US official said. Earlier,USS Abraham Lincoln crews were preparing for potential strikes, according to the CNN team aboard the aircraft carrier
• Dayslong funeral:Slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was buried after marathon ceremonies concluded. His son and successor, Mojtaba, has not appeared publicly since becoming the country’s leader
• Plot on Trump’s life:Israel shared intelligence with the US that Tehran has devised a new plan to assassinate President Donald Trump,ainst Trump
Diplomacy is happening behind the scenes to ease tensions with Iran, a US official told CNN, afterexchanges of fire in the past several days derailed the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington
Pakistan and Qatar are also working to bring the two countries back to the negotiating table, regional
Meanwhile, Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been buriedfollowing days of funeral proceedings, where one figure was noticeably absent: Khamenei’s son and new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- US strategy:The US has been deliberately striking and then pausing to avoid escalation and let diplomacy work, the official said. It is maintaining a target list as leverage. Earlier on Thursday, crews aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were preparing for any potential strikes.
- Iran alleges attacks:Iran’s state-run media has claimed military sitesin two cities were targeted by several strikes on Thursday evening. But a US official told CNN the US military is not currently conducting strikes, while Israeli officials said they were “not familiar with Israeli involvement in strikes in Iran now.”
- Nuclear discussions continue:The US and Iran are continuing to engage in technical negotiations on nuclear issues with an eye to a diplomatic solution, a US official said.
CNN’s Pamela Brown, Mostafa Salem, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Kent, Helen Regan, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Dana Karni, Avery Schmitz, Charbel Mallo and Aida Karimi contributed reporting
The coffin of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is carried through the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad before a private burial.
Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried early Friday morning local time, according to a statement posted on his official X account
The burial took place at the Imam Reza shrine in the city of Mashhad, where Khamenei was born. Khamenei’s family attended the private ceremony, which came after a dayslong public funeral attended by waves of mourners
New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public during the funeral events
Diplomacy is happening behind the scenes right now to ease tensions in the US-Iran conflict, according to a US official
The US has been deliberately striking and then pausing to avoid escalation and let diplomacy work, the official said. It is maintaining a target list as leverage
Multiple officials told CNN there were preparations for potential US strikes if needed tonight, but they are currently letting diplomacy take the lead
Fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln for routine mission
CNN’s Pamela Brown reports aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where pilots are preparing for anything as they experience their busiest day yet amid potential strikes. CNN exclusively captured US fighter jets taking off from the USS Abraham Lincoln to carry out a routine night-time mission over the Strait of Hormuz
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CNN
Fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln for routine mission
2:04
Earlier today, on the USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in the Arabian Sea, crews loaded up fighter jets with armaments and pilots practiced drills in preparation for any potential strikes
The aircraft carrier’s captain told the thousands of crew members on board that things were heating up and they should maintain readiness, as they always do. While preparing for potential strikes, fighter pilots also carried out routine defensive operations, with flights taking off throughout the day and night
US officials said Iranian claims that there had already been more US strikes tonight were inaccurate. However, the situation is dynamic and strikes could resume if needed, they added
Iran’s state-run news media has claimed two Iranian military sites in two different cities were targeted by several strikes on Thursday evening
But a US official told CNN the US military is not currently conducting strikes, while Israeli officials said they were “not familiar with any Israeli involvement in strikes in Iran right now.”
Citing Ehsan Jahanian, the political and security deputy governor of Bushehr province, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that a military facility near the city of Bushehr was hit by “US-Israeli enemy projectiles.” It did not provide details on the extent of the damage or casualties
Iran’s nuclear power plant is on the outskirts of Bushehr city
Meanwhile, state broadcaster IRIB reported that a naval military zone in the southern city of Konarak had been “attacked by enemy fighter jets in two stages,” on Thursday evening. It quoted the governor of Konarak county, Mohammad Younes Haqani, as saying rescue teams and security forces were at the scene
Konarak is a strategic port city on the Makran coast in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, on the western shore of the Gulf of Oman. The city of Bushehr is in the southern coastal province of Bushehr
CNN’s Zachary Cohen contributed to this report
This post has been updated with more details on the explosions
The US and Iran continue to engage in technical negotiations on nuclear issues with an eye to a diplomatic solution, a US official says, even as President Donald Trump launched a fresh round of retaliatory strikes against Tehran this week
“The United States is still committed to finding a resolution, and technical talks continue. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official said
The memorandum of understanding, the official added, is “performance-based,” and Iran’s actions, including the Strait of Hormuz not being fully reopen and strikes on ships during the NATO Summit, “constitute failed performance at an unacceptable level.”
“Iran’s attacks on these innocent vessels are acts of terrorism,” the official added
Mourners gather during a funeral procession on the day of the burial of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, on Thursday, July 9.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made no public appearance at his father’s momentous funeral, leavingsomeobservers questioning his capacity to lead at a precarious moment for the Islamic Republic
Over the past week, waves of mourners loyal to the Islamic Republic took to the streets to bid farewell to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
He was buried in Mashhad on Thursday in a ceremony attended by members of the Khamenei family — but his successor, and son, Mojtaba, was not reported in attendance
Why he has avoided all events — even the private burial of his father — is unclear but experts say security considerations are the likeliest reason
Nevertheless, despite the security threats, skipping such an unmissable event will only fuel fresh speculation over his wellbeing, with opponents of the Islamic Republic claiming injuries he sustained in the strikes that killed his father have left him incapacitated or even already dead
Even within the Islamic Republic’s own support base, Khamenei’s absence has left space for unrest and his core regime operators representing his leadership in negotiations with Washington are under heavy fire from the conservative camp
During the funerals, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reportedly attacked by regime supporters who oppose a ceasefire agreement with Washington, and President Masoud Pezeshkian was also confronted
For now, Mojtaba’s absence risks bolstering opposition claims that his appointment was a deliberate strategy to assign responsibility to a symbolic leader
Read morehere
US fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln for routine mission over the Strait of Hormuz
1:10• Source:
CNN
US fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln for routine mission over the Strait of Hormuz
1:10
CNN exclusively captured US fighter jets taking off from the USS Abraham Lincoln to carry out a routine night-time mission over the Strait of Hormuz
The mission comes as traffic in the strategic waterway dramatically dropped off again this week following Iranian strikes on several commercial vessels
Before the war, about 110 ships a day transited through the strait. At least 13 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours as new strikes were carried out across the Middle East
The ceasefire between the US and Iran has broken down after both sides exchanged fresh strikes this week. Regionalto bring the two countries back to the negotiating table
Meanwhile, funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are concluding in Iran today. Aeader, is unlikely to attend any of the ceremonies, including a private family burial
US forces struck multiple locations on Thursday – Iranian state media
US forces struck several locations, including the perimeter of a nuclear power plant and pier for fishing boats, in Iran’s coastal province of Bushehr around midday local time Thursday, according to a regional official quoted by state media IRNA. Washington has not confirmed carrying out these latest attacks
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CNN
US forces struck multiple locations on Thursday – Iranian state media
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If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest:
- President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Thursday evening, “during which they agreed to continue coordination between their countries on the various fronts,” according to a readout from the Israeli prime minister’s office.
- Explosions were heard in the Iranian cities of Konarak and Bushehr on Thursday evening local time, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency and state-run IRNA. A government official of the Bushehr province told IRNA a military facility outside the city had been hit by what he described as “US-Israeli enemy projectiles,” and that Iran’s air defense then responded.
- However, a US official said the US military is not currently conducting strikes and Israeli officials said they were “not familiar with any Israeli involvement in strikes in Iran right now.”
- Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz dramatically dropped off again this week following strikes on several commercial vessels. Traffic had increased during the ceasefire when negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing.
- Separately, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun tied his country’s continued participation in talks with Israel to the beginning of a military withdrawal from occupied areas of southern Lebanon, according to a diplomatic source familiar with the matter.
CNN’s Dana Karni, Lauren Kent, Avery Schmitz, Jennifer Hansler, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Aida Karimi, Charbel Mallo and Sophia Saifi contributed to this report
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Thursday evening, “during which they agreed to continue coordination between their countries on the various fronts,” according to a readout from the Israeli prime minister’s office
“The Prime Minister, for his part, raised the severity of the statements made by (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan and his associates against the existence of the State of Israel, as well as the need to maintain security zones along Israel’s borders.”
For context:The leader of Turkey, which just hosted the NATO leaders summit in the capital Ankara, has repeatedly accused Israel of undermining the Memorandum of Understanding agreement between the US and Iran. Also this week, Israel expressed concerns over the potential sale of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, which Trump had floated during the NATO summit
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Netanyahu said Erdoğan is “not exactly a model ally of the United States.” Netanyahu also claimed that Erdoğan “threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state.”
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Thursday, July 9.
At least 13 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours as the US-Iran ceasefire crumbles with new strikes across the Middle East
Traffic had started to increase during the ceasefire when US-Iran negotiations were ongoing. But dramatically dropped off again this week following strikes on several commercial vessels
Broken down, a total of seven ships entered the Persian Gulf over the past 24 hours — five cargo vessels and two tankers. An additional six ships left the gulf, consisting of four cargo vessels and two tankers
Before the war, about 110 ships a day transited through the vital waterway
GPS interference has also made a comeback in recent days, with elevated levels of spoofing visible in vessel and flight data around the Strait of Hormuz. Spoofing technology can be used to redirect GPS-reliant munitions away from their targets to disrupt enemy attacks. Spoofing had also eased during US-Iran negotiations
Coffin of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei carried to shrine
1:05• Source:
CNN
Coffin of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei carried to shrine
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The marathon funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have culminated with a final procession and televised prayer at Imam Reza shrine in the city of Mashhad
The state media TV livestream from the shrine has now gone dark, indicating that the private burial may be underway
Khamenei’s eldest son – Mostafa Khamenei – led the funeral prayer at the shrine, which was not in the original plans
Current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei could not be seen in the state media footage of that prayer
A regionalake an appearance at the funeral, as advised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including at the private burial
The first “pilot zone” in Lebanon, meant to transition control of Lebanese territory currently occupied by Israeli forces, will launch “in a matter of days,” a US official said Thursday
The official said the US “will soon begin outreach to international partners to help the Lebanese Government effectively restore sovereignty in these zones and across their country more broadly.”
Planned talks in Rome next week will be “a closed discussion that will enable the governments to hand off to technical teams, which will work on all issues outlined in the Framework,” the official said. That 14-point framework was reached after the latest round of US-mediated talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington, DC, in late June
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has tied his country’s continued participation in talks with Israel to the beginning of a military withdrawal from occupied areas of southern Lebanon, according to a diplomatic
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has balked at the notion of a broad withdrawal from southern Lebanon. “We did not ask permission from anyone to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon,” he said in a statement
CNN’s Charbel Mallo contributed reporting to this post
During a NATO summit in Turkey, US President Donald Trump said the memorandum of understanding with Iran “is over” following a series of strikes across the region, which have continued Thursday
CNN’s Becky Anderson asks the question: Was there ever a real agreement in the first place?
<img src="https://todaytrendnews7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/becky-iran-deal-thumb-clean0.jpg” alt=”Becky Iran Deal THUMB clean0.jpg”>
Was the US-Iran deal ever real?
During a NATO summit in Turkey, President Donald Trump said that the memorandum of understanding with Iran “is over,” following a series of strikes across the region. But CNN’s Becky Anderson asks the question: Was there ever a real agreement in the first place?
1:57• Source:
CNN
Was the US-Iran deal ever real?
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Mourners attend the funeral of three women killed in an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, southern Lebanon, on Tuesday.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun tied his country’s continued participation in talks with Israel to the beginning of a military withdrawal from occupied areas of southern Lebanon, according to a diplomatic
After a series of meetings between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, DC, another round of talks is supposed to take place next week in Rome. Aoun’s office said he would travel to Washington to meet President Donald Trump on July 21
Under the US-brokered ceasefire agreement signed late last month, the Israeli military is supposed to withdraw from two small areas along the so-called “Yellow Line,” which demarcates the territory occupied by Israeli forces. The Lebanese military is subsequently placed in charge of maintaining security in these pilot zones. But since the agreement was signed, there’s no indication Israeli forces have pulled back
Aoun met with US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Issa on Thursday and spoke of the importance of pressuring Israel to halt its military operation in Lebanon while advancing the ceasefire agreement. Aoun also “emphasized the need to stop the shelling, explosions, and bulldozing carried out by Israeli forces in a number of towns and villages it occupies,” his office said on X
But Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz balked at the notion of a broad withdrawal from southern Lebanon. “We did not ask permission from anyone to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon,” he said in a statement
Katz’s comments came after Trump said Wednesday at the NATO summit that Israel would “want to” withdraw troops from southern Lebanon
A woman holds up an Iranian flag in front of a banner bearing a portrait of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, during a street festival celebrating the Shiite Muslim holiday of Eid al-Ghadir in Tehran on June 4.
Iran’s new supreme leader is unlikely to make an appearance at the funeral for his father Ali Khamenei, as advised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a regional
He is not expected to be at any of the events, theader’s family will attend
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB has reported that the burial ceremony “will be held with the presence of members of the (supreme) leader’s household,” without specifying who
Regionalto bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table
Pakistan and Qatar were the key mediators in previous negotiations held in Switzerland, which ultimately led to the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in mid-June. Oman also helped facilitate earlier rounds of diplomatic talks
On Wednesday night, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all parties to exercise restraint and “refrain from any actions that may further undermine regional peace and stability.”
“There is no alternative to continued engagement, dialogue and diplomacy to achieve shared goal of peace in the region,” the ministry said in a statement. “Pakistan urges all sides to uphold their respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which remains an enduring foundation for understanding, mutual respect and shared prosperity for the region and beyond.”
Ceasefire crumbling:Thursday marked the second day of attacks between the US and Iran – further eroding their fragile ceasefire. The US military said it hit 90 targets along Iran’s coastline overnight. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain
As the day goes on, we’re learning more about the latest reported attacks across the Middle East, where more strikes between the US and Iran have deepened doubts about efforts to end the conflict
Here’s where things stand:
• Iran said it fired10 ballistic missilesat a US military base in northern Jordan. The Jordanian government confirmed it had intercepted Iranian missiles that breached the country’s airspace and triggered air raid sirens
• US forces struck several locations in the Iranian coastal province of Bushehr around midday local time, Iranian media said. The perimeter of a nuclear power plant and a pier for fishing boats were among the targets, according to a regional official quoted by state media IRNA. Washington has not confirmed carrying out these latest attacks, but the reports follow a wave of earlier US strikes overnight into Thursday
The US has struck Iran at least 170 times in two days. But what is the goal?
The US military says it has carried out at least 170 strikes on Iran over the last two nights as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have flared once again. CNN’s Paula Hancocks explains whether this latest exchange could be different
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CNN
The US has struck Iran at least 170 times in two days. But what is the goal?
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• Iranian state media alsoreleased images of several burned boatsthat it said weredamaged by US airstrikes
• Jets rumbled ontothe US Navy aircraft carrierUSS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, where CNN’s Pamela Brown is reporting during flight operations today
• Qatar’s foreign minister held high-level calls with his Iranian, Saudi and UAE counterparts as Gulf states endure increasing volatility in the region. Doha also condemned attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy
• Meanwhile, thousands of mourners filled the streetsof Mashhad, Iran, as the country’s deceased supreme leader’s coffin arrived, wishing to bid the ruler of almost four decades farewell. Many clutched red-colored banners and red flags symbolizing vengeance for their leader’s killing. A banner emblazoned with the words, “Hey TRUMP We will kill you” was also draped across the crowd. CNN has been reporting on how Tehran’s projection of unity during the funeral does not capture the full spectrum of responses from Iranians.
CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh, Sarah Tamimi, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a press conference at the Iranian embassy in New Delhi, India, on May 15.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Oman and Saudi Arabia on Thursday, amid the resurgence in conflict in the region
“The parties emphasized the importance of making full use of diplomatic channels, maintaining ongoing communication and coordination to address regional issues, and preventing any further escalation of tensions,” the statement added
For context:It comes as international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped after renewed US strikes against Iranian coastal installations, according to marine tracking data on Thursday
A US official told CNN earlier this week that Iran fired on three commercial vessels in Oman’s territorial waters near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Iran’s continuedfiring on ships has prompted US retaliation each time
CNN’s Tim Lister, Jessie Yeung and Brad Lendon contributed previous reporting
As more explosions are reported across the Middle East on Thursday, including what Iranian state media said was new US strikes, here’s what we know about some of the sites targeted in recent exchanges of fire:
