Indirect talks between the United States and Iran concluded on Thursday with Qatari officials reporting “positive progress,” according to a statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari. The discussions, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, focused on issues related to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon weeks ago. Both Washington and Tehran agreed to continue negotiations, with the next meeting to be scheduled “at the earliest possible time.”
Iran Warns Against Attacks During Khamenei Funeral
As the talks wrapped up, Iran prepared for a multi-day funeral procession for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by airstrikes on the first day of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The funeral is scheduled for July 4-9 across Iran and Iraq. An Iranian military official warned the U.S. and Israel that any attacks during the funeral will be met with “harsh and regret-inducing responses,” according to state media.
Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters in Tehran, urged the U.S. and Iran to avoid “miscalculation” during the funeral. “We warn the enemies of a strong Iran… to avoid any miscalculation and to consider the harsh and regret-inducing responses of the sons of the Iranian nation in the Armed Forces to any threat or aggression,” he said in a statement published on Tasnim news agency’s Telegram channel, as reported by CNN.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Iran’s military also issued a warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stating that all commercial vessels must use the Iranian-designated maritime route for safe passage or face consequences. “Any U.S. interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with a decisive and swift response from the armed forces,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement, per Al Jazeera. “The Strait of Hormuz is not the playground of the aggressor America, but rather the territory of the undisputed sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The Fars News Agency shared the statement, emphasizing that the security and stability of this vital waterway are a red line for Iran’s armed forces.
