Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that Iran possesses a 'backup weapon' that could also be used in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He described Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz as a tool as powerful as nuclear weapons. Medvedev warned that renewed large-scale conflict in the region could disrupt shipping through these vital maritime routes but expressed hope that the situation would not escalate that far.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea, connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it a key global trade route. Medvedev’s remarks come after Yemen’s Houthi rebels previously threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb passage. He also sharply criticized recent U.S. attacks on Iran, calling them unprovoked and a violation of international law, noting that Iran posed no threat while negotiations were ongoing.

Medvedev urged all parties seeking to inflame conflict in the Middle East to consider the potential consequences of disrupting these strategic waterways.

Millions of people attended the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Between 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:00 a.m. Sunday, more than seven million passengers used the Tehran Metro, marking a record number of travelers within just 13 hours and 30 minutes. The funeral prayer took place at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., led by Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani.

The funeral prayer was conducted in three stages. The first stage was dedicated to the late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The second stage included prayers for Boshra Hosseini Khamenei, Mesbah al-Huda Bakeri, and Zahra Haddad Adel. The third stage was held for Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, Khamenei’s granddaughter.

The report highlights the massive turnout and logistical scale of the event, with Tehran’s metro system handling unprecedented passenger volumes during the funeral period.

An official Israeli investigation has revealed that the country’s security establishment failed to prevent the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack not because of a lack of intelligence, but due to long-standing misjudgments about Hamas’s capabilities. The preliminary military report found that Israeli officials wrongly believed Hamas had been effectively contained, leading to complacency and a failure to act on repeated warnings.

Retired Major General Roni Numa, who led the inquiry into Hamas’s “Jericho Wall” intelligence documents, said Israeli intelligence had been tracking Hamas’s plans to breach Gaza’s border defenses since 2016, with updates in 2019 and 2022. Despite these alerts reaching senior officers, they were dismissed as isolated data rather than signs of a broader strategy. The report also criticized excessive reliance on automated translation technology instead of Arabic language experts, weakening analytical understanding of Hamas’s intentions.

The investigation concluded that the failure was rooted in analysis, not intelligence collection. It described the October 7 events as a systemic breakdown in Israel’s assessment, planning, and decision-making processes.

Israeli intelligence agencies have dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office’s claim that Iran’s nuclear program was completely destroyed. According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu’s office sought intelligence endorsement for the claim following last year’s 12-day war with Iran, but officials refused due to insufficient evidence. The report said satellite and drone imagery, along with classified data, showed Iran’s nuclear facilities suffered serious damage but were not fully destroyed.

The report added that senior intelligence officers and scientists from Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission rejected a draft statement labeling Iran’s program as permanently disabled. They described the draft as “seriously distorted” and refused to sign it, arguing that such a claim would undermine their credibility. A compromise document was later produced, acknowledging major damage to Iran’s Fordow enrichment site and delays in its nuclear progress, but avoiding any assertion of total destruction.

The article also noted that Netanyahu’s office pressured intelligence officials to support Washington’s position after the Pentagon questioned the effectiveness of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

The funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four members of his family, who were killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, has been completed. Millions of people attended the ceremony, along with Khamenei’s sons Masoud, Mesam, and Mostafa. The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, was also present at the event.

According to the Associated Press, Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend due to security risks following Israeli threats of assassination. The funeral drew massive crowds, reflecting the scale of public mourning across Iran. The report cited Al Jazeera as a source for additional details.

The ceremony took place under heightened security conditions, underscoring the tense atmosphere in Iran after the attack that killed the country’s top leader and members of his family.

Ukraine launched an attack on a major oil terminal in St. Petersburg, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as part of Russia’s war-financing infrastructure. Ukrainian forces also claimed to have targeted a key naval base in Kronstadt. St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed the terminal was hit but reported no casualties. The BBC verified the strike, while Kyiv said the facility’s annual capacity was 12.5 million tons.

Ukraine asserted that about 43 percent of Russia’s refining capacity has been disabled by recent long-range drone attacks, though this could not be independently verified. Moscow acknowledged energy shortages, and President Vladimir Putin signed a law to boost domestic fuel supply. Russia’s defense ministry said it intercepted over 500 drones and missiles overnight, calling Ukraine’s strikes an attempt to divert attention from battlefield setbacks.

Both sides are intensifying operations ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Turkey. Russia has warned of retaliation, while Putin sent a message to U.S. President Donald Trump urging constructive relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump held separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, days before the NATO summit scheduled in Ankara on July 7–8. Both Kremlin and Kyiv confirmed that the discussions covered the ongoing war in Ukraine and other international issues. The calls also coincided with greetings exchanged on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

According to Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, the 85-minute conversation between Trump and Putin focused on the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis and Trump’s participation in the upcoming NATO summit. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iran and the Middle East. Zelensky described his own call with Trump as “very productive,” noting that they discussed the battlefield situation, diplomatic efforts, and the possibility of ending the war. Both agreed to continue talks during the NATO summit in Ankara.

The source noted that despite Russia’s claims of progress, recent months have seen little change on the front lines, with heavy losses on both sides and stalled diplomatic efforts.

The funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four of his family members was held in Tehran on Sunday morning, the third day of a seven-day mourning and burial process. The ceremony took place at 8 a.m. local time, led by Shia cleric Jafar Sobhani. Khamenei, aged 86, was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack that also claimed the lives of his daughter Bushra Khamenei, granddaughter Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani, and other relatives. State media showed Zahra’s small coffin placed beside her grandfather’s.

Iran declared a national holiday for the funeral, with large crowds gathering in the capital under tight security. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the arrangements, and authorities warned of overcrowding risks. Millions of Iranians had joined earlier mourning events, marking one of the largest gatherings since the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Following Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new Supreme Leader but has not appeared publicly due to security threats. The funeral procession will continue through Qom, Iraq, and Mashhad, where Khamenei will be buried on Thursday.

Iran and the United States are preparing for their next round of talks, expected to take place on July 11. According to a report by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper citing diplomatic sources, Islamabad is the most likely venue, though Switzerland’s Burgenstock Resort is also under consideration. The final location has not yet been officially confirmed.

The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, easing of sanctions, and the release of Iranian funds or assets frozen abroad. Regional security issues will also be addressed, particularly ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and maintaining the recently established ceasefire in Lebanon.

The meeting follows an Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed two weeks earlier, which set a 60-day goal to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities and related matters. The July 11 session is part of efforts to advance that process.

Iran’s ambassador to China, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, announced that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz will soon be subject to new service fees. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Beijing, he said countries that supported Iran during difficult times would receive special privileges. Fazli clarified that the charges would not be considered tolls but service fees aimed at ensuring maritime safety, monitoring vessel movement, and addressing environmental impacts from heavy traffic.

Earlier, a preliminary agreement between Iran and the United States had allowed commercial vessels to transit the strait without fees for 60 days following the suspension of hostilities. However, the rules beyond that period remain unclear. Fazli also revealed that Iran and Oman are jointly developing a new management system for the strait’s operations.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, carrying about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas. During recent Middle East conflicts, Iran nearly closed the passage, causing a sharp rise in global energy prices.

A large state ceremony began in Tehran to honor former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a February 28 airstrike amid Iran’s war with the United States and Israel. The event emphasized preserving the Islamic Republic and avenging Khamenei’s death. Thousands gathered at the Grand Mosalla memorial site, where his glass-covered coffin was displayed under heavy guard by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Red flags symbolizing martyrdom and revenge were raised, and the official slogan, “We must awaken,” was widely displayed.

Strict security measures were in place across the capital, with armored vehicles, snipers, and electronic device checks at entry points. Authorities expect millions to participate nationwide, with Iran effectively shut down until Monday. Khamenei’s funeral procession is scheduled to move through Tehran and several holy cities before burial in Mashhad on Thursday.

Foreign dignitaries from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, China, and other nations attended to pay respects. The IRGC leadership called for defiant mourning, while Iran’s armed forces warned against any military action during the ceremonies.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said he could have wiped out everyone attending Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral if he wanted to. In response, the Iranian embassy in Armenia issued a statement saying that while people can be killed, their ideals cannot be destroyed. The embassy’s post on social media platform X added that Trump lacks civilization, history, and respect.

The embassy’s message referenced Trump’s comments in an Axios interview, where he said Iran and the United States had agreed to temporarily pause discussions until after Khamenei’s burial. Trump also remarked that all Iranian leaders were gathered in one place and could be eliminated in a single strike, but he chose not to do so to preserve future talks. He expressed surprise at the large turnout at Khamenei’s funeral, noting he had assumed the late leader was not popular among ordinary Iranians.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following Khamenei’s death and the uncertain future of bilateral dialogue.

US President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the massive turnout of mourners at the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said he had thought people hated Khamenei but was astonished to see millions crying. He also remarked that he could have eliminated everyone at the funeral but refrained, noting that both sides agreed to pause discussions until the ceremonies concluded.

The funeral and mourning events began in Tehran on Friday, with religious rituals and processions continuing for seven days across Iran and Iraq. Iranian authorities expect 15 to 20 million people to pay their respects in Tehran alone. Foreign dignitaries from several countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, China, and Turkey, attended the ceremonies. Security measures were tightened, with road closures and restricted airspace.

Khamenei, who ruled Iran for over three decades, was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28. Following a temporary ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, Iran and the US are now pursuing permanent peace talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan.

The 250th Independence Day of the United States was celebrated on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament through a musical performance organized by the US Embassy. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal highlighted the architectural and cultural ties between the two nations, citing Louis Kahn’s design of the Parliament building and Fazlur Rahman Khan’s contributions to American architecture. He emphasized that such shared legacies reflect the deep historical connection between Bangladesh and the United States.

Kamal also noted the potential for expanded cooperation in diplomacy, trade, climate change mitigation, renewable energy, counterterrorism, maritime security, education, technology, and human resource development. Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqul Rahman praised the US for its humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees and reaffirmed the strength of bilateral relations based on shared democratic values. Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni described the event as a symbol of mutual trust and democratic partnership.

The US Ambassador reaffirmed commitment to strengthening global partnerships under the “America First” policy and underscored the importance of Bangladesh-US cooperation for Indo-Pacific security and regional peace.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that seven Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip over the past 48 hours. According to the ministry’s statement released on Saturday, six bodies were brought to hospitals following recent attacks, one person died while receiving treatment, and nine additional bodies were recovered from under the rubble. Sixteen injured individuals were also admitted to hospitals. The ministry did not provide details about the specific circumstances of the incidents.

The statement added that since a ceasefire agreement took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces’ violations of the truce have resulted in 1,066 deaths and 3,445 injuries. The ongoing military campaign, which began in October 2023, has so far caused 73,090 deaths and 173,553 injuries in Gaza. Nearly 90 percent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been damaged during the two-year conflict.

According to United Nations estimates cited in the report, rebuilding Gaza could cost around 70 billion US dollars.