Iran-US war latest: Tehran warns Trump and Israel not to attack during Ayatollah Khamenei funeral

Iran has warned Donald Trump and Israel not to launch strikes as the country prepares for the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in airstrikes on the first day of the war. Ali ‌Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the “enemies of Iran” should avoid a “miscalculation” or else face harsh retaliation. Funeral processions ‌for Khamenei will begin on ‌July 4 in Tehran and conclude on July 9 with his burial in his hometown of Mashhad, with ⁠additional ceremonies planned in Qom and Iraq in-between these dates. On Thursday, pictured showed IRGC soldiers carrying the coffin of Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife Zahra Haddad Adel ahead of her funeral ceremony. Meanwhile, Trump told reporters that the “denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well” and that “very good meetings” were held in Qatar as he and his vice president played down any suggestion of a return to all-out combat. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Qatar on Tuesday to meet mediators, but no direct talks have taken place. Qatar's foreign ministry said the talks made "positive progress" on issues related to the interim agreement.Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in Strait of Hormuz Iran’s joint military command has warned that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a “forceful response.” The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command was aired on Iranian state television. It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the threat from Iran. “Any failure to comply, deviation from the designated route, or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and forceful response from the armed forces, endangering the security of the violating vessels,” the statement said. It also said the continued presence of US fighter jets over the strait “causes insecurity in this waterway and threatens regional security.” Alisha Rahaman Sarkar3 July 2026 06:00Preparations underway in Iran for Ali Khamenei's funeral Mourners carry the coffin of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei at the Grand Mosalla in Tehran on July 3, 2026 (AFP/Getty) A man stands near the Grand Mosalla in Tehran on July 3, 2026, ahead of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei's funeral. (AFP/Getty) Alisha Rahaman Sarkar3 July 2026 05:30Powerful general in Iran emerges from hiding A powerful general who leads Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard emerged from hiding as Tehran prepared Friday for the dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Photos published online by Iranian state media showed Gen Ahmad Vahidi attending a meeting about the funeral of Khamenei, 86, then sitting alongside his casket as Iran's theocracy held a smaller service for him Thursday night near the supreme leader's former home in downtown Tehran. Vahidi has become a major player in formulating Iran's tough stance in negotiating a possible permanent end to the war with the United States, experts say. He is believed to be part of a small clique in direct contact with Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding after being reportedly wounded in the Feb. 28 Israeli strikes that killed his father, the elder Khamenei. Vahidi himself hasn't been seen publicly since Feb. 8, weeks before the Iran war began. Video published by Iranian state media showed the mourning ceremony for Khamenei near the husseiniyah at his compound in Tehran. File: Ahmad Vahidi speaks during a press conference in Tehran on March 4, 2024 (AFP/Getty) Alisha Rahaman Sarkar3 July 2026 05:00Oil up slightly ahead of long US weekend Oil prices rose slightly today before a long holiday weekend in the U.S. as wary optimism held ​over efforts to make peace in the Middle East ‌between the US and Iran. Brent futures were up 17 cents, or 0.24 per cent, to $72.10 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate was up 14 ​cents, or 0.20 per cent, to $68.83 a barrel. US markets will close on ​Friday ahead of the US Independence Day holiday on ⁠Saturday. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar3 July 2026 04:23Iran war has created growing rift between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince: report A widening rift has opened up between Saudi Arabia and the United States because of the war in Iran, a report claims. Officials told the Wall Street Journal the partnership between Washington and Riyadh is souring over disputes on how President Donald Trump has handled the war, which began after joint US-Israel strikes on Iran in February. The US is reportedly now considering reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia and instead putting its forces in countries it feels were more supportive during the war, including Israel and Jordan, according to the WSJ. The White House, meanwhile, has insisted relations between the US and Saudi are still strong. Maira Butt3 July 2026 01:30Polymarket reports some European leaders say Hormuz toll as 'inevitable' Polymarket, a prediction market, has reported that some European leaders are saying that a toll in the Strait of Hormuz is now seen as “inevitable”. It was not immediately clear which leaders believe this or what the reports were based on, in the short post shared on their social media page on X. It speculated that there is now a 44 per cent chance that Iran will implement such a toll by the end of August. President Donald Trump has insisted that he will now agree to the imposition of a toll over the vital shipping route. But reports have suggested that Iran and Oman may seek to implement a charge for commercial ships. Maira Butt3 July 2026 00:30Polymarket reports some European leaders say Hormuz toll as 'inevitable' Polymarket, a prediction market, has reported that some European leaders are saying that a toll in the Strait of Hormuz is now seen as “inevitable”. It was not immediately clear which leaders believe this or what the reports were based on, in the short post shared on their social media page on X. President Donald Trump has insisted that he will now agree to the imposition of a toll over the vital shipping route. But reports have suggested that Iran and Oman may seek to implement a charge for commercial ships. Maira Butt3 July 2026 00:30 Maira Butt2 July 2026 23:30Trump: Iran has agreed to 'everything' we need Discussions and negotiations are ongoing in an effort to secure a permanent ceasefire between the countries. Maira Butt2 July 2026 22:52UK politician says Reza Pahlavi should 'not be given platform' to rule in Iran British member of Parliament Bob Blackman has hit out at Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of the last shah of Iran and Crown Prince of the Pahlavi dynasty. Pahlavi was positioned as a replacement to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but appears to have been unable to mobilise enough support or resources to return to Iran amid the ongoing war. In a post on X on Thursday, Blackman wrote: “Reza Pahlavi should not be given a platform to justify replacing one form of authoritarian rule with another. “A return to the monarchy in Iran is not welcome, especially as he has failed to condemn the previous Shah’s dictatorship and for claiming support from the IRGC.” He said he would be putting his support behind Iranian dissident politician Maryam Rajavi instead. Maira Butt2 July 2026 22:30