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Key developments
• Hostilities resume: The US military said it hit 140 Iranian military targets in its third round of strikes this week, following an attack on a merchant ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired a warning shot at a ship and declared the waterway closed.
• Regional turbulence: Iranian state media said explosions were heard in several places along its southern coast. Authorities in several Gulf nations reported intercepting attacks. The IRGC also said it launched “retaliatory strikes” on the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, according to state media.
• Strait of Hormuz: Earlier Saturday, Oman drafted a tentative proposal for how to manage routes in the strait, a source told CNN. US officials previously said negotiations on nuclear weapons can’t progress until the strait is secure.
Kuwait's Armed Forces intercepting "hostile attacks"
Kuwaiti military is intercepting “hostile aerial targets” within the country’s airspace, its Armed Forces said early Sunday.
Army officials said “any sounds of explosions are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks” and urged the public to follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities in a post on X.
The military did not specify where the attacks originated from.
What to know about the latest flare-up in the Middle East
Volatility in the Middle East continued on Sunday, as the US military launched fresh strikes against Iran following an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces said they hit about 140 Iranian military targets in their third round of strikes this week, a period in which both sides exchanged fire. The leaders of both countries also issued public threats this weekend.
Here’s what to know about recent developments.
Trouble in the strait
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “blatantly attacked” a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the strait, and one crew member is missing.
The IRGC said it fired a warning shot at a vessel trying to use an unauthorized route to cross the waterway, and declared the strait closed. The IRGC also decried what it referred to as “outside interference from foreign powers” in the form of several shipping vessels attempting to cross the strait via such unauthorized routes.
Crew members of a container vessel reported damaged near the Strait of Hormuz were forced to abandon ship, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said in a separate statement. It did not give the name of the vessel.
Turbulence in the region
Following CENTCOM’s statement, Iranian state media reported explosions in the south of the country, mainly along the coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz. Blasts were heard in places including:
- Bushehr province, where a nuclear plant is located on the outskirts of Bushehr city
- Qeshm island, considered part of Iran’s “arch defense” near the Strait of Hormuz
- Bandar Abbas, a port city directly facing the Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, several nations in the Middle East saw threats or attacks:
- The IRGC said it launched “retaliatory strikes” on Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan
- UAE authorities said they were responding to missile and drone threats
- Bahrain activated sirens and told residents to seek shelter
- Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said it intercepted a missile attack targeting the country
Where negotiations stand
Mediators had been pushing for diplomacy between the US and Iran after the two sides traded strikes earlier in the week and President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire “over.”
Meetings on Saturday between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart focused sharply on the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has drafted a tentative proposal to manage traffic in the strait, a source told CNN.
US officials have said that talks with Tehran can’t progress until ships are assured safe passage in the strait.
US forces say they hit about 140 Iranian military targets in strikes
The US military said it hit about 140 Iranian targets in its latest strikes early Sunday local time.
The third round of strikes this week has been completed, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X, adding that targets included “Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.”
CENTCOM earlier said it launched the latest strikes in response to an attack on a container ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it fired a warning shot at a vessel attempting to use an unauthorized route to cross the waterway.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched attack on air base in Jordan, Iran state media says
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched “retaliatory strikes” on the Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, state media reported Sunday morning.
In a statement posted by IRIB, the IRGC claimed it destroyed a control-and-command center and drone storage hangars at the base, using “severeal ballistic missiles.”
The air base is operated by Jordan’s air force.
The IRGC said this was an immediate response to US military airstrikes “against several coastal bases and telecommunications towers along Iran’s southern coastline.”
“The statement warns that any further US attacks would be met with ‘stronger responses,’” IRIB said.
CNN has contacted US Central Command for comment.
Qatar says it intercepted missile attack
Qatar’s defense ministry said on Sunday morning local time its armed forces had intercepted a missile attack targeting the country.
UAE says it's responding to missile and drone threats
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said early Sunday morning they were responding to missile and drone threats.
The Ministry of Defense said in a statement on X that sounds heard across the country were from ongoing operations, and told residents to follow authorities’ instructions.
Sirens ring out in Bahrain, interior ministry says
Sirens have been sounded in Bahrain, the country’s ministry of interior said Sunday morning local time.
“Citizens and residents are asked to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels,” it said on X.
Explosions reported further inland in Iran
Explosions rocked several areas in the south of Iran, including in Kerman, a city about 300 miles from the coast, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported early Sunday local time.
Explosions reported on Sunday were mainly along Iran’s southern coast, near the Strait of Hormuz.
Blasts were also reported in Chabahar, according to the IRGC. The coastal city is near Iran’s border with Pakistan.
Crew abandons ship damaged near Strait of Hormuz, says UKMTO
Crew members of a container vessel reported damaged near the Strait of Hormuz early Sunday local time were forced to abandon ship, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said.
Military authorities and officials on-shore told the UKMTO that “the crew have abandoned the vessel and are currently embarked in a lifeboat,” the maritime organization said on X shortly before 6 a.m. local time. It did not give the name of the vessel.
Earlier in the morning, the UKMTO reported a fire aboard the container ship after the rear was damaged while east of Oman.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot at a vessel attempting to use an unauthorized route to cross the waterway, its Navy arm announced that morning. It is currently not known whether the two incidents are related.
Explosions reported across Iran's southern coast, according to state-run media
Explosions were reported in the south of Iran, in several coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Sunday local time, state media said.
Multiple blasts were heard in Bushehr Province, according to IRIB. Iran’s nuclear power plant is on the outskirts of Bushehr city.
Mehr News Agency reported explosions on Qeshm island, Iran’s largest island in the Persian Gulf and considered part of its “arch defense” near the Strait of Hormuz.
Explosions were also reported in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, which directly face the Strait of Hormuz, IRIB said.
The reports come as the US says it targeted Iran after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces struck a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC claimed that the vessel had been crossing the strait through an unauthorized route.
This post has been updated with additional information.
US military launches third round of strikes against Iran this week
The US military said Saturday night it began launching strikes against Iran — the third round this week — in response to an attack on a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces “blatantly attacked” a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and one crew member is missing.
“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
The strikes began at 7:15 p.m. ET, according to CENTCOM, and a US official said they are ongoing.
CENTCOM said the US is “imposing a heavy cost” at the direction of President Donald Trump.
“Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media.
CNN’s Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed after firing warning shot at vessel
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing a warning shot at a vessel attempting to use an unauthorized route to cross the waterway, the IRGC’s Navy arm announced early Sunday morning local time.
In a statement carried by the Arabic-language website of the semi-official, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC decried what it referred to as “outside interference from foreign powers” in the form of several shipping vessels attempting to cross the Strait via “unauthorized routes.” The statement singled out a recent incident in which the IRGC fired warning shots at one such vessel.
“Given the precariousness that was caused by this unlawful interference by outside parties, the Strait of Hormuz is to be closed until further notice and until regional interference by the US ceases,” the statement reads. “No vessel or naval craft will be allowed to pass.”
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported an incident which caused a fire onboard and damaged a container ship east of Oman. It is not known whether this is the same ship the IRGC struck.
US President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that the US and Iran were set to continue their truce talks even as the US launched strikes despite the ceasefire.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
CNN’s Eyad Kourdi and Laura Sharman contributed to this report.
Strait looms large as diplomats try to get US and Iran back to the negotiating table
As it has been so often during the US-Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz is in sharp focus Saturday. The critical waterway is at the crux of a diplomatic push to get talks back on track after the two sides exchanged strikes earlier this week, shattering an uneasy ceasefire.
The strait, through which much of the world’s oil flows, was a key focus of meetings Saturday between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Omani counterpart. Oman has drafted a tentative proposal to manage traffic in the strait through two separately controlled routes, a source told CNN.
While the details remain to be seen, US officials made clear on Friday that talks with Tehran can’t progress until ships are assured safe passage in the channel.
Here are some of the other storylines we’re tracking:
• Exchange of threats: A purported statement from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei — who has still not appeared publicly since his father and predecessor was killed by US-Israeli strikes — was released by Iranian media Saturday, with Khamenei saying “revenge is the demand of our nation and must certainly be carried out.” That came after Trump issued his own renewed threats, including a vow that the US would “decimate” Iran if its leadership attempted to assassinate him.
• Mediators making calls: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which has been a key intermediary during US-Iran talks, held a call and expressed “deep concern” about the recent strikes. Meanwhile, the foreign minister of Qatar — another mediator central to the effort — held separate calls with his Jordanian and Emirati counterparts Saturday, according to Qatar.
• Latest on Lebanon: Israel launched more strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday, according to Lebanese state media, despite a ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah militants. Another round of talks between Lebanon and Israel is expected to take place next week in Rome.
CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Mitchell McCluskey, Charbel Mallo, Billy Stockwell and Kara Fox contributed reporting to this post.
Oman proposes a deal for Strait of Hormuz shipping routes, source says
Oman has drafted a proposal to manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz through two separately controlled routes, a source with knowledge of the talks told CNN.
Under the agreement, which is yet to be finalized, both corridors would remain open. The Southern Corridor, through Omani territorial waters, would allow free navigation under pre-war conditions.
Vessels transiting the Northern Corridor, through Iranian territorial waters, would require prior approval from Iran, although no tolls would be imposed under the deal.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, in Muscat on Saturday, during which both officials discussed mechanisms to ensure the safe passage of vessels in the waterway.
Araghchi discusses Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic efforts with Omani foreign minister
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the state of diplomatic efforts and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, in Muscat on Saturday, according to the official Oman News Agency (ONA).
The two officials discussed efforts to ensure safety and freedom of navigation in the strait “in light of the circumstances and repercussions arising from recent developments,” according to ONA.
They agreed to hold further technical and political talks, ONA reported.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed earlier Saturday that Araghchi had arrived in Oman to hold the discussions following renewed clashes in the region.
Where US gas prices stand today
The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the US held steady today at $3.88, according to AAA, just over 70 cents higher than this time a year ago.
The Strait of Hormuz — the key waterway where oil shipments have been disrupted throughout the US-Iran conflict — is at the center of renewed tensions this week and a key focus of mediators trying to get talks back on track.
Israel continues strikes in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire
Seven people were injured in Lebanon as Israel reportedly struck the Al-Mashaa neighborhood in the southern Lebanese town of Al-Mansouri on Saturday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN that it is checking on the reports.
The attacks come despite a truce agreed by Israel and Hezbollah as part of the Iran ceasefire framework and as Israel is expected to withdraw from two areas in southern Lebanon in the next few days, part of a US-brokered agreement signed late last month.
Images currently circulating on social media depict Arabic-language warning leaflets attributed to the IDF, purportedly airdropped over parts of southern Lebanon, which read in part: “Restricted zone! Beware! Any form of approach towards the Israeli army’s forces will put you in danger. Do not come close!”
Meanwhile, southern Lebanon has reported additional drone strikes this week.
One man was killed after a drone struck his motorcycle and another man was seriously injured in another drone strike in the southern town of Kafr Rumman on Friday, according to Lebanese state-run media National News Agency (NNA).
In another incident on Friday, two people were injured after an Israeli drone hit a truck in the Nabatieh district, NNA reported. The IDF said it “eliminated” the men, whom it called terrorists who had posed an “immediate threat” to its soldiers.
According to the latest figures from Lebanon’s public health ministry, 4,322 people have been killed and 12,210 others injured by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2.
CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Dalia Abdelwahab, and Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
Mojtaba Khamenei's absence from the public has fueled an internet mystery
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to make a public appearance since his appointment. The first statement attributed to Khamenei since this week’s funeral for his father and predecessor was read today on Iranian state TV, but was not accompanied by audio or video of the leader.
Meanwhile, videos from the funeral are sparking online speculation:
A masked figure at the burial ceremony of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei has sparked speculation online, with some suggesting it may be his son, Mojtaba, the new supreme leader of Iran, who has not been seen in public during the funeral events.
A look back at the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
More than four months after he was killed by US-Israeli strikes at the onset of the war, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried yesterday, following a dayslong public funeral attended by waves of mourners.
Earlier today, the country’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei thanked the “tens of millions” of people he said attended the funeral ceremonies in a purported message released by Iranian media. He has yet to appear publicly since the killing of his father and predecessor.
Here’s a look back at the funeral events:
- July 3: A casket holding Ali Khamenei’s body was carried into Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, video shared by state media showed. The coffins of several members of Khamenei’s family, including his 14-month-old granddaughter, were also on display.
- July 4: Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tehran for the first day of the funeral, with some pilgrims traveling from outside the country, including from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some mourners expressed both anguish and a desire for vengeance. Other Iranians who spoke to CNN expressed apathy or frustration with the proceedings.
- July 5: Khamenei’s coffin was carried out of the mosalla, as prayers were sung over a tannoy to the crowd. A performer at the funeral targeted US President Donald Trump in a strongly worded poem. Video showed three of Khamenei’s sons at the ceremony.
- July 6: The funeral procession began in Tehran’s Imam Hossein Square. A vehicle holding several coffins painted with the Iranian flag traveled down the streets. Mourners took part in a symbolic “stoning the devil” ceremony, throwing pebbles at an image of Trump, according to footage released by the state-affiliated Mizan news agency.
- July 7: Funeral ceremonies took place in the Iranian city of Qom, a holy site about 80 miles south of Tehran. Prayers for Khamenei were held at the Jamkaran Mosque, a significant religious site on the outskirts of the city.
- July 8: Khamenei’s funeral procession crossed into Iraq. His casket moved through a procession attended by thousands in the holy Shi’ite city of Najaf, draped in the Iranian flag. Iraqi and Iranian flags were waved among the large crowds, alongside the banners of Iran-backed Iraqi militias.
- July 9: Large crowds of mourners gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala overnight into Thursday local time. Later in the day, Khamenei’s coffin was flown to the Iranian city of Mashhad. A final procession and televised prayer took place at the Imam Reza shrine in the city.
- July 10: Khamenei was buried in the early hours of Friday morning, according to a statement posted on his official X account. The slain leader’s family attended the private ceremony.
CNN’s Joseph Ataman, Frederik Pleitgen, Claudia Otto, Billy Stockwell, Kareem El Damanhoury, Lex Harvey, Xiaoqian Lin, Kareem El Damanhoury, Charlotte Reck, Laura Sharman, Aida Karimi, Kara Fox, Ally Barnard, Helen Regan, Nadeen Ebrahim and Lauren Kent contributed to this reporting.
CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control of its reports.
