Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei buried in Mashhad

Mourners gathered in Mashhad on Thursday for the burial of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The funeral procession traveled between Iran and Iraq and drew millions of participants, according to @AJEnglish. Photographs showed crowds praying outside the Imam Reza Shrine. Mashhad is Khamenei’s hometown.

Security situation in southern Lebanon The UN Interim Force in Lebanon stated on Thursday that violence has subsided since late June but the security situation in southern Lebanon remains fragile.

Strikes reported in Iran Explosions occurred in Iran on Thursday.

Mohammad Eslami, a research fellow at Tehran University, told @AJEnglish that Iranians view the strikes as coordinated actions involving the United States despite Washington’s denial of direct involvement. Eslami said the strikes follow an earlier statement that a memorandum of understanding is over. He added that Washington’s denial does not rule out cooperation with the United States.

US-Iran talks An unnamed US official told Reuters that technical talks with Iran are continuing. The United States and Iran exchanged strikes this week, with the United States increasing the scope and intensity of its attacks since Tuesday evening.

Congressional response Democratic Senator Ed Markey urged Congress to cut off funding for military operations against Iran. Markey stated that Congress already passed a bipartisan War Powers Resolution last month ordering the president to end unapproved operations.

Foreign Affairs said a renewed conflict is in no one’s interest and urged both sides to honor commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding brokered in April.

The command said it has secured transit of 380 million barrels of oil since May and rejected Iranian state media claims about designated routes.