Commuters drive past a giant billboard bearing a picture of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of his funeral, in Tehran.
Day 126 | Next indirect US-Iran talks to take place after Khamenei’s funeral
Iran and the United States concluded a new round of indirect talks in Doha, mediators announced Thursday, as part of diplomatic efforts to ease tensions following exchanges of military strikes between the two sides.
Washington and Tehran have been engaged in negotiations since mid-June, under a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 through Pakistani and Qatari mediation.
The talks are scheduled to continue for 60 days, with the option of renewal, and aim to end the war in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The 14-point memorandum also sets out a timeline for negotiations intended to bring the war to a definitive end and resolve issues including arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, funding for Iran's reconstruction, and the future of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
What was agreed?
Following Wednesday's indirect talks in Doha, US President Donald Trump and the Qatari and Pakistani mediators signaled that diplomatic efforts would continue.
In a joint statement Thursday, Qatar and Pakistan said: "The Qatari and Pakistani mediators concluded separate meetings with the American and Iranian negotiators in Doha (Wednesday), achieving positive progress."
At the conclusion of the talks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who headed Tehran's delegation, said the participants agreed to establish a communication channel by Thursday to report and document any potential violations of the memorandum of understanding.
Gharibabadi added that the discussions also addressed Iran's frozen assets, which Tehran has demanded be released as part of any settlement.
He said officials discussed using part of an initial six billion-dollar package and agreed to purchase and secure the goods Iran needs.
A source familiar with the negotiations, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the indirect talks in Doha focused primarily on arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, while the nuclear issue would be discussed in greater depth during future rounds.
Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran will resume after the funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Funeral ceremonies will begin Saturday, with Khamenei's body lying in state at the Imam Khomeini Musalla in Tehran, the venue used for major Friday prayers, official ceremonies, and religious gatherings.
Qatar and Pakistan said in separate statements that both sides agreed to continue the talks, with the date of the next meeting to be set "as soon as possible after the conclusion of Khamenei's funeral."
Khamenei is scheduled to be buried on July 9 at the shrine of Imam Reza in the northeastern city of Mashhad, his birthplace.
Thread ended
This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 127 of the war.
Read more: Day 127 | Iran begins weeklong funeral for late Supreme Leader
VIDEO - Houthi delegation pays respects at Khamenei's coffin in Tehran
A Houthi delegation arrives to pay their respects at the coffin of slain Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Netanyahu’s office denies NYT report on alleged plot to assassinate Ghalibaf & Araghchi
‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office rejected a New York Times report alleging that ‘Israel’ considered targeting senior Iranian negotiators during the ceasefire talks earlier this year.
The Prime Minister’s Office described the claims as “fake news” and “a complete fabrication of reality.”
The New York Times article cited current and former US officials who expressed concerns that ‘Israel’ might assassinate Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
These fears reportedly arose in the weeks following an April 8 ceasefire that ended a brief but intense US-‘Israel’ conflict with Iran.
US officials feared that any such action would derail ongoing diplomatic efforts, which were mediated in part by Pakistan and involved meetings in locations such as Islamabad and Qatar.
In response to these concerns, the United States reportedly asked intermediaries in the region to warn Tehran about potential ‘Israeli’ threats to the two officials.
The report highlighted an incident during Ghalibaf’s return from talks, in which his plane allegedly made an emergency diversion due to intelligence suggesting nearby ‘Israeli’ fighter jets.
Ghalibaf says Trump’s “hungry Iran” claims are “projection”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, sharply criticized the United States in an English-language post on X, accusing Washington of hypocrisy for lecturing Iran on hunger while millions of Americans rely on federal food assistance.
“Imagine having forty-something million of your own citizens on food stamps and calling another nation hungry. This is not a proclamation. This is a projection,” Ghalibaf wrote.
“Keep your SNAP advice. Our assets, our choices. Mind your malnutrition rates.”
The remarks respond to recent US statements, including comments from Donald Trump saying that Iran has a “hunger problem” and that the Islamic Republic’s unfrozen assets will be used to purchase American agricultural goods
Trump administration policies, including the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” have introduced stricter SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) eligibility rules, resulting in millions losing benefits earlier this year even as defense spending rose.
US SNAP rolls have historically peaked near or above 40 million recipients during periods of economic strain..
Netanyahu & Trump agree to meet in US “soon”
The office of ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Friday, with the two leaders agreeing to meet "soon" in the United States.
The meeting is set to come months after the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a joint war against Iran beginning on February 28, and followed reports of tensions between the two leaders over a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war.
In a statement, Netanyahu's office said that during the conversation, Trump said that the United States is the guarantor of global freedom, and that ‘Israel’ highly values the close relationship between the two.
The statement added that "Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump agreed to meet soon in the US".
It also said Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Washington is ‘Israel's’ closest ally. However, Trump has publicly criticized Netanyahu in recent weeks after ‘Israeli’ attacks in Lebanon threatened peace talks with Iran, which had conditioned any agreement on ending the war across all fronts, including the front between the ‘Israeli’ army and Hezbollah.
Hundreds gather at Khamenei funeral venue ahead of opening Saturday
Several hundred people were already waiting on Friday evening outside the venue for the funeral of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei ahead of its opening to the public the next morning, according to AFP.
Khamenei will lie in state at the Grand Mosalla religious complex in Tehran until Monday, with doors scheduled to open at 6:00 AM local time (02:30 GMT).
VIDEO - Former Russian president Medvedev pays respects to Khamenei
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, whose country maintains close ties with Iran, pays his respects at the coffin of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Medvedev, described on state TV as a "special emissary of Russian President Vladimir Putin", was received by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and top diplomat Abbas Araghchi.
VIDEO - Pakistan's PM Sharif and Afghanistan's foreign minister pay respects at Khamenei coffin
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Afghanistan's Foreign Minister in the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, pay their respects at the coffin of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
VIDEO - Iranian president and top officials pay respects at Khamenei's remains
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pays his respects at the remains of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, alongside other officials including the country's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Pezeshkian says 'Israel's' strategy is to spread regional instability
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused 'Israel' of pursuing a strategy aimed at spreading instability and fueling divisions across the region.
Pezeshkian said the "Zionist entity" seeks to deepen disputes in the Middle East, adding that the enemies of Muslim nations are working to intensify divisions among them.
He called on Islamic countries to strengthen unity, saying regional solidarity is essential to counter what he described as efforts to create chaos and discord.
Iran military chief pledges to ‘avenge the blood’ of slain leader
Major General Amir Hatami, commander-in-chief of Iran's armed forces, pledged retaliation against the United States and 'Israel' over the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the February 28 airstrike that triggered the war on Iran.
Speaking on the sidelines of Khamenei's funeral in Tehran, Hatami said Iran would continue to pursue revenge for the slain leader.
"With a firmer resolve, we declare to the enemies of the Iranian nation, America and the criminal Zionist regime, that we will avenge the blood of the martyred leader [Khamenei]," Hatami said.
VIDEO: Pakistan PM heads to Iran for Khamenei funeral ceremony
Pakistan’s prime minister departed for Iran to attend the funeral ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, joining regional and international leaders expected at the official proceedings.
'Israeli' attacks leave 100,000 Lebanese children at risk of missing school
At least 100,000 children in Lebanon could miss the start of the new school year unless damaged schools are repaired following 'Israeli' attacks, according to the UNICEF.
A nationwide assessment by Lebanon’s Education Ministry found that 340 public, private, and vocational schools were damaged during 'Israel's' war on Lebanon, including 17 that were completely destroyed.
The hardest-hit areas include Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon.
“Schools are far more than buildings. They are places where children learn, feel safe, and begin to recover from crisis,” said Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF’s representative in Lebanon.
UNICEF called for urgent investment to complete repairs before the new academic year begins in September, warning that prolonged disruption to education could have lasting consequences for children's learning, mental health, and future opportunities.
WATCH: Nasrallah, Mughniyeh families attend Khamenei's funeral
Members of the families of Hassan Nasrallah and Imad Mughniyeh attended the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, joining mourners gathered for the official proceedings.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief makes rare public appearance before Khamenei funeral
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made a rare public appearance in Tehran as preparations continued for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Images released by state broadcaster IRIB showed Vahidi sitting beside Khamenei’s coffin during a farewell ceremony held in the capital on Thursday.
Vahidi, who previously led the elite Quds Force, has largely stayed out of public view in recent months following reported leadership changes after US-'Israeli' strikes at the start of the war in February.
He is sanctioned by the United States and listed by Interpol. Iranian officials have described him as playing a key role in strategic decision-making during the ongoing conflict.
The appearance comes after a series of high-profile assassinations of senior Iranian military figures, including former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, previously killed in a US strike.
Tehran closes airspace ahead of Khamenei funeral
Iranian authorities have announced a full closure of Tehran’s airspace on Monday, coinciding with the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization said the measure is part of broader security and logistical preparations for the ceremonies, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
Three 'Israeli' soldiers injured in Bint Jbeil clash
The 'Israeli' military announced that three of its soldiers were injured during an armed confrontation in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.
According to the 'Israeli' army, the troops came under fire while operating inside a building in the area, resulting in injuries of varying severity.
IRGC warns of ‘decisive response’ to any miscalculation
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its forces, alongside other branches of Iran’s armed forces, remain in a high state of readiness.
In a statement, the IRGC warned what it described as adversaries that any “miscalculation” would be met with a firm and more destructive response.
Qalibaf says US will not be allowed to interfere in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran will not allow the United States to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qalibaf said Iran and Oman have agreed on a navigation mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz based on Article Five of a memorandum of understanding, without providing further details.
One 'Israeli' soldier seriously wounded in south Lebanon clash
One 'Israeli' soldier was seriously wounded and two others sustained minor injuries during an armed clash in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Thursday evening, according to the 'Israeli' military.
'Israeli' Army Radio reported that the incident occurred after troops from the 679th Reserve Brigade came under fire while entering a building in the town. A gunman reportedly opened fire on the three soldiers, seriously wounding one and lightly injuring the other two.
