The US and Iran have once again traded strikes days after IRGC attacked a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. While Trump declared the ceasefire is over, US official said that technical talks will continue. On the other hand, Israel warned Washington of Tehran’s plan to assassinate Trump
Days after Iran’s military attacked a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) announced that the ceasefire was “over,” with the US military launching fresh strikes across Tehran.
According to a CNN report, Israel recently shared intelligence with the United States that Tehran had devised a plan to assassinate Trump, a move that could add another layer of tension as the already fragile ceasefire deal is under strain.
Quick answers to key questions
The US strikes were initiated after Iran attacked a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and were compounded by intelligence warnings of assassination plots against President Trump, as tensions escalated between the two nations.
Israel shared intelligence indicating that Iran was devising a plan to assassinate Trump, which heightened the existing tensions during a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Iran retaliated by targeting US military assets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, demonstrating its capability and intent to respond to US actions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime route for global oil trade, and control over it has become a major point of contention between the US and Iran, with both nations facing off over navigation rights.
Yes, despite the military escalation, the US has stated a commitment to continue diplomatic talks with Iran, indicating a desire to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Here are the top updates on the US-Iran war
1. While one source told CNN that the warning came earlier this week, another said that US intelligence had been tracking persistent indications in recent weeks of potential assassination plots targeting the US President, but described the Israeli warning as new and linked to a specific threat. When asked for a comment on the warning, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the White House pointed to Trump’s recent remarks. Speaking to reporters, the US President said, “They want to take out the US leader — me,” and added, “I’m on whatever list. I saw this morning I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a bit lucky, but maybe that doesn’t last very long. These are evil, sick people. And we have to root out that cancer. That cancer. You know what you do? You’ve got to cut out cancer early. And that’s the way I feel.”
2. As the US and Iran engaged in two days of tit-for-tat strikes, a US official on Thursday told Bloomberg that technical talks with Tehran will continue and that Washington is committed to finding a solution with Iran. The latest remarks are likely to dispel fears of a return to a full-blown war after the US launched strikes on Iranian targets in response to what it called attacks by Iran on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic hit back at US bases in the region over the last two nights.
3. Iran’s state media on Friday (local time) reported that the country’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad. As a sea of people gathered outside the shrine and listened to prayers, Khamenei’s flag-covered coffin was brought into the shrine. Iran’s Parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and the slain leader’s eldest son, Mostafa Khamenei, were all present at the Imam Reza shrine. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, who has only communicated via statements since being named Supreme Leader, was missing from the funeral.
4. The US launched fresh strikes against Tehran again early Thursday. The Islamic Republic, in response, targeted the US’s regional allies in an exchange of fire that threatened the interim ceasefire deal signed on June 17, which was intended to help end the war in the Middle East. The ceasefire has come under repeated pressure from reciprocal attacks, including an exchange on Wednesday. Thursday’s offensive was, however, broader in scale, with sirens blaring at least three times in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters, as missiles also targeted Kuwait and Qatar.
5. An Iranian official alleged that a US airstrike hit the area surrounding Tehran’s only nuclear power plant, while explosions were also reported in other parts of the country. The US military’s Central Command said it had struck 90 targets across Iran, releasing footage that appeared to show attacks on an airport runway and missile launchers. Washington said the operation was aimed at further weakening Iran’s capacity to threaten freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime route that carried about a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas before the conflict erupted following US and Israeli strikes in late February.
(with agency inputs)
Key Takeaways
- The complex dynamics between the US, Iran, and Israel highlight ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
- Israel’s intelligence sharing underscores the seriousness of perceived threats against US leadership.
- Continued military actions pose risks to fragile ceasefire agreements, impacting regional stability.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.
Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.
At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.
Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
