US President Donald Trump has said the Iran ceasefire is no longer in place, sharply raising tensions between Washington and Tehran after fresh violence around the Strait of Hormuz. His comments came during the NATO summit in Turkey, where the Middle East crisis became one of the main security issues facing global leaders. The latest escalation followed attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but highly important se

Meloni seeks to cool Trump dispute Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her relationship with US President Donald Trump remains “cordial” despite a series of sharp public exchanges over NATO, Iran and a disputed photo claim. Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Meloni tried to reduce speculation that the disagreement had seriously damaged ti

US strikes Iranian targets after ship attacks The United States military launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday after three merchant vessels were attacked in waters near Oman, according to US Central Command. CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to impose heavy costs for attacks on commercial shipping and civilian crews in an intern

US ends Iran oil authorisation The United States has revoked a temporary licence that had allowed certain transactions involving Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemical products, tightening pressure on Tehran after tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz. A US official said Iran’s actions in the strategic waterway were “wholly unacceptable??

Haley calls for tougher Iran terms Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said Washington should use Iran’s current economic and military weakness to demand a much tougher nuclear agreement, arguing that the present memorandum of understanding is moving in the wrong direction. In a televised interview, Haley said the United States had not yet for

Funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei moved into the holy city of Qom on Tuesday, July 7, as mourners gathered for another major stage of the official farewell. The funeral route has been planned across several religiously significant locations, beginning in Tehran and moving through Qom before expected ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, followed by burial in Mashhad on July 9. The route reflects both state symbolism and Shia re

Trump presses Iran on nuclear deal US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran must reach an agreement with Washington that he says would “complete the mission,” while insisting the United States would prevail regardless of whether diplomacy succeeds. Speaking as US-Iran talks continue, Trump said he preferred a negotiated outcome and did not want to harm Iran’s population. At the same time, he warn

Chants target Pezeshkian at funeral Hardline supporters of Iran’s Islamic Republic chanted against President Masoud Pezeshkian during the funeral procession for late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Monday, highlighting internal divisions over diplomacy with the United States. Videos shared on social media appeared to show mourners shouting “death to compromiser” as Pezeshkian attended the cere

Iran has thanked India after an official Indian delegation attended the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. The Iranian Embassy in India described the visit as a gesture of friendship, respect and solidarity during a period of national mourning in Iran. India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, who travelled to Tehran as part of New Delhi’s officia

Netanyahu responds to concerns over Israel support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against criticism over declining support for Israel, saying the country’s international backing is not limited to one leader or one nation. Speaking during a televised interview, Netanyahu said Israel has no greater ally than the United States, while also pointing

Mojtaba Khamenei absent from funeral gathering Iran’s political, religious and military leadership gathered in Tehran to pay respects to late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the continued absence of his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, drew attention during the mourning ceremonies. The funeral prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla became one of the most closely

Trump’s Iran funeral remark sparks backlash US President Donald Trump said Iran’s senior leadership had gathered in one place during funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a sharp response from Tehran. Speaking to Axios, Trump said he had been closely watching the state-organised mourning events and suggested the gathering created a possible military opening, though he added that Washington would n

Huge crowds gathered in Tehran, Iran, at dawn local time on Saturday, July 4, 2026, as funeral ceremonies began for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Iranian supreme leader killed in late February during the U.S.-Israeli war. The Khamenei funeral opened six days of public ceremonies expected to move through major Shiite religious centers in Iran and Iraq, including Qom, Karbala, Najaf and Mashhad. Caskets displayed at Grand Mosalla mosque Mour

Iran begins formal mourning for Khamenei Iran opened major funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nearly four months after he was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28. The ceremony in Tehran became a major moment of public mourning and political symbolism, with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf seen visibly emotional as senior officials gathered to pay their final respect

Funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began in Tehran on Friday, July 3, 2026, ahead of a planned burial in Mashhad on Thursday, July 9, 2026, as Iran opened a week of state mourning for its former supreme leader. Khamenei, who led Iran from 1989 until he was killed in a reported U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026, is lying in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla. Coffins of family members killed alongside him were also displayed during the ceremonies.

Iran challenges US CENTCOM role in West Asia security framework Iran has criticised the role of the United States Central Command in West Asia after a regional security conference in Bahrain brought together senior military officials from 12 countries to discuss air defence cooperation and maritime security. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said peace in the region

Iran Sets Conditions for Further US Negotiations Iran has stated that it is not yet prepared to move forward with a final agreement with the United States, emphasizing that key provisions of a recently signed 14-point Memorandum of Understanding must first be implemented. Senior Iranian officials indicated that only after these steps are fulfilled would comprehensive n

Washington Signals Uncertain Phase in Iran Relations US Vice President JD Vance has suggested that the coming weeks could play a decisive role in shaping future relations between Washington and Tehran, while emphasizing that outcomes remain highly uncertain. Speaking on a media program, he described the current situation as a potentially significant turning point in l

Iran clarifies Doha engagement plan Iran has confirmed that an expert delegation will travel to Doha later this week to discuss the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month with the United States. However, Iranian officials firmly denied that any direct meeting with US representatives has been scheduled, stressing that the current phase remains limited to technical discussions on agreed clauses rather than pol

A phased release of long-restricted Iranian financial assets has begun under a monitored arrangement involving Qatar and the United States, marking a cautious shift in ongoing diplomatic engagement. Nearly $6 billion in previously inaccessible funds are being routed through controlled channels in Doha as part of a broader effort to ease financial pressure while maintaining oversight on compliance mechanisms. The development comes after months of indirect discussions aimed at stabilising tensions around energy exports, banking restrictions, and regional security concerns that have shaped Iran’s access to global markets. Structured financial transfer mechanism Officials familiar with the arrangement say the funds are not being released in a single transaction. Instead, they are being moved in stages through designated banking pathways in Qatar under strict monitoring conditions. The approach is designed to reduce systemic risk in international financial networks while allowing gradual access to blocked reserves. Qatar’s role as intermediary has been central due to its established diplomatic communication channels with both Tehran and Washington. The structure reflects an attempt to balance economic relief with regulatory safeguards, particularly in sectors linked to oil and petrochemical revenues that remain under sanctions pressure. Doha’s role in ongoing negotiations The latest financial movement is tied to continuing discussions in Doha, where technical teams are expected to refine implementation details of earlier understandings between involved parties. Qatari mediators have maintained active coordination to ensure communication remains open and to prevent breakdowns in the negotiation process. The talks are viewed as part of a wider diplomatic track that has periodically resurfaced amid regional tensions and shifting geopolitical priorities. While no final settlement has been confirmed, the current phase signals that both sides are still engaging through indirect channels rather than moving toward confrontation. Economic implications remain limited for now The partial release of funds may provide short-term liquidity support for Iran, but analysts caution that it does not represent a full resolution of broader economic constraints. Long-standing sanctions, limited access to global banking systems, and uncertainty in energy trade continue to shape the country’s financial outlook. Any meaningful improvement would depend on sustained diplomatic progress and longer-term policy alignment across negotiating parties. Outlook Qatar’s increasing role as a financial and diplomatic bridge highlights its growing influence in regional mediation efforts. However, the situation remains fluid, with outcomes dependent on how upcoming discussions in Doha evolve and whether trust between negotiating sides can be maintained through successive stages of implementation.