Live: Tensions flare between US and Iran as former Supreme Leader Khamenei is laid to rest

Despite fresh hostilities breaking out in West Asia, vessel-monitoring statistics indicate that more liquefied natural gas tankers have recently restarted their journeys through the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Tokyo announced that 22 ships with links to Japan have departed the Gulf region since Tuesday. As a crucial corridor for global petroleum and LNG transport, the Strait of Hormuz has drawn intense scrutiny from maritime firms and national authorities. This follows Iranian assaults on merchant ships this week and subsequent retaliatory actions by the US against Iran, both of which severely limited transit through the channel. Nevertheless, tracking information from Kpler and LSEG reveals that at least five empty (ballast) LNG transport vessels have successfully negotiated the strait over the past few days. Among these ships are the Greek shipping firm GasLog's vessel, GasLog Shanghai, alongside several carriers tied to QatarEnergy, namely Al Samriya, Al Dafna, Al Gattara, and Al Rayyan, according to Reuters.

On Friday (July 10, 2026), Iran laid former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to rest, more than four months after he was killed in an aerial attack. The burial coincided with a consecutive two-day exchange of strikes between American and Iranian forces, which has escalated anxieties about a descent into a full-scale war. Draped in the national flag, Khamenei's casket was lifted and brought inside the Imam Reza shrine located in Mashhad, his eastern Iranian birthplace. Outside, vast crowds of mourners assembled to hear the funeral prayers, though his son and heir, Mojtaba Khamenei, made no public appearance. The final rites for Iran's former leader Ali Khamenei took place in Mashhad amid a backdrop of rising hostilities and ongoing military exchanges between Washington and Tehran.

The truce is unraveling as all diplomatic restraints were cast aside when Washington and Tehran exchanged military blows once more on July 8. The clash centered around the secure transit of merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Nonetheless, looking past this sudden confrontation, the latest images emerging from Iran are quite remarkable. Tehran is experiencing a revival and appears highly determined to capitalize on the geopolitical openings presented by its conflict with Washington and Israel.

Anxieties are mounting as the deal between the United States and Iran encounters serious hurdles amid ongoing armed confrontations and territorial disputes across the area.

American media outlets reported on Thursday (July 9, 2026) that Israel provided intelligence to US officials this week regarding a new and detailed Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump. These disclosures coincide with escalated US and Iranian military strikes that have raised concerns about a wider conflict. This also follows Trump's unusual decision to travel from Türkiye on an older aircraft following the NATO summit. While Washington has consistently tracked various intelligence hints regarding potential threats to Trump, CNN quoted anonymous sources stating that the alert from Israel was distinct and related to a highly targeted plot. Similarly, The Wall Street Journal referenced anonymous informants noting that the shared intelligence described a recently formulated scheme, as reported by AFP.

An American government representative remarked on Thursday (July 9, 2026) that Washington remains dedicated to seeking a peaceful agreement with Tehran, and that technical-level discussions are ongoing, according to Reuters.