The United States struck scores of targets in Iran, including the railway line between Tehran and Mashhad, hours before late supreme leader Ali Khamenei was due to be buried on Thursday in the eastern Iranian city.
The attack ahead of the burial in Khamenei’s hometown came on a second consecutive day of tit-for-tat barrages launched by the two sides, testing a fragile ceasefire as the foes battle over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Here are the latest developments:
– Crowds mass for Khamenei burial –
Thousands of people filled the streets of Mashhad — many waving the red flags that symbolise the search for vengeance in Shia Islam — as Khamenei’s body was transported there for his burial.
The burial will be the final act of a multi-day funeral, after Iran’s leader for more than three decades lay in state in Tehran before being processed through the Iranian capital and the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
– Markets steady despite flare-up –
Oil prices, stock markets, and the dollar were steadier Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for Middle East peace efforts after the US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes.
Crude prices rose, but by far less than on Wednesday, when Trump said the ceasefire was over while leaving the door open to more talks and adding that any strikes would end quickly.
– Nuclear plant perimeter targeted –
Several explosions were heard on Thursday in Iran’s Bushehr province, home to Iran’s only civilian nuclear power plant, the Fars news agency reported, hours after the US launched strikes on the Islamic republic.
Iranian state media later reported, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr province, that the United States targeted the perimeter of the nuclear plant in a strike.
– Jordan intercepts missiles –
The Jordanian military intercepted Iranian missiles, triggering warning sirens, government spokesman Mohammad Momani told the state-run channel Al-Mamlaka on Thursday.
A senior military source at the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces said in a later statement that eight missiles were intercepted in total, causing no casualties or damage.
– Iran targets Gulf neighbours –
Explosions were heard over the Bahraini capital of Manama on Thursday morning and air raid sirens sounded for a third time after Iran’s military said it had targeted sites in the Gulf kingdom as well as in Kuwait and Qatar in retaliation for US strikes.
According to Iranian state media, the military said “in continuation of the attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s army on US bases in the region” it had targeted a Patriot missile interceptor system in Kuwait, an early warning system in Qatar and fuel tanks in Bahrain with “a large number of various types of army kamikaze drones”.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had struck “key infrastructure and facilities” at US bases in Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain.
– Khamenei coffin lands in Mashhad –
A plane carrying the coffin of the late Iranian supreme leader landed in Mashhad on Thursday, ahead of his burial, state media reported.
The official news agency IRNA shared footage of the Mahan Air flight taxiing at the airport after landing.
Khamenei was killed on February 28 in the US-Israeli strikes that began the Middle East war.
– 17 killed in two days of US strikes –
Two days of US strikes against Iran have killed 14 people and injured 78, Tehran’s health ministry said on Thursday.
Separately, Ahmad Nafisi, deputy provincial governor of the southern province of Hormozgan, said Thursday that US strikes in the fishing port town of Sirik killed three people and injured 15 more, state TV reported.
– Iran’s Tehran-Mashhad railway suspended –
The train service between the capital, Tehran, and Mashhad has been suspended after US strikes, state TV reported on Thursday, hours before Khamenei was due to be buried in the holy city.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways blamed “a criminal attack by the US-Israeli enemy” on the route and said it had dispatched repair teams, the state broadcaster reported.
Earlier, Iran’s Guards accused the US of targeting “two bridges in the eastern provinces leading toward Mashhad in an effort to overshadow” Khamenei’s funeral, state TV said.
– US says hit 90 targets in Iran –
US military officials said Wednesday that they hit approximately 90 Iranian military targets in their latest strikes, targeting air defence systems, missile and drone storage sites, and other assets.
