The body of martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei is being transferred from Iraq to the holy city of Mashhad for the final funeral procession and interment after unprecedented funeral ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala drew millions of mourners. | The body of the martyred Leader departed Najaf Airport on Thursday bound for the holy city Mashhad, where the final stage of the funeral ceremonies and burial will take place at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS). ● The transfer follows historic and unprecedented funeral processions held over the past day in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. ● According to organizers, the body's arrival in Mashhad has been delayed by several hours because of the extraordinary size of the crowds and repeated pauses during the funeral processions, particularly in Karbala, where mourners repeatedly surrounded the cortege to pay their final respects.

The US carried out strikes in southern Iran for the second night in a row on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the fragile ceasefire was effectively over. | Hostilities resumed after the US and its Arab allies in the region blamed Iran for attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. [...] Iranian media reported explosions along the southern coast, including in the port cities of Bushehr, Chabahar, and Konarak, as well as on Lavan Island. At least two blasts were recorded near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Fars News Agency reported.

The spat came as the US resumed strikes in Iran in the most serious flare-up of hostilities since the countries signed a preliminary peace framework last month. | Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did not mention Trump by name, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV said he was responding to comments the US president made earlier that day during a NATO summit in Türkiye. During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said he considered the ceasefire with Iran to be “over.”

The US struck targets in Iran for the second consecutive night on Thursday in what Trump called “retribution” for attacks on commercial ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. ● Iran said the renewed attacks violated the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 17 and vowed to retaliate. ● Although Tehran has not officially admitted responsibility for the attacks on three tankers earlier this week, Iranian media cited officials as saying that the targeted ships attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.

■ UPDATE -- U.S. ***DENIES*** July 9, 2026 2:20 PM EDT - The U.S. Is Attacking Iran Again (Hal Turner)
■ RESUMING UPDATES 10:25 PM EDT -- The U.S. is Attacking Iran, Again, Now. (Hal Turner)