US conducts new strikes on Iranian targets, officials say

The U.S. strikes came after a cargo ship was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.

ByDavid Brennan, Nadine El-Bawab, Kevin Shalvey, and Jon Haworth
Last Updated: July 12, 2026, 10:59 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations last month aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange relatively limited strikes despite the signing of the memorandum and amid the continuation of peace talks.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Jul 06, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT

Khamenei's body arrives in Qom for next stage of funeral procession

The body of slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has arrived in Qom, Iran, where his funeral procession is expected to continue Tuesday, according to Iranian state TV.

This comes after thousands of mourners gathered in the streets of the Iranian capital of Tehran Monday to honor Khamenei, who was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Feb. 28.

People attend a funeral procession for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, in Tehran, Iran July 6, 2026.
Office Of The Iranian Supreme Leader via Reuters

The truck carrying the coffins of the slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family makes its way through mourners during the funeral procession toward Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran, July 6, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

PHOTO: A vehicle carrying coffins of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, makes its way as people attend a funeral procession for Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, in Tehran, Iran July 6, 2026.
A vehicle carrying coffins of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, makes its way as people attend a funeral procession for Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, in Tehran, Iran July 6, 2026.
Office Of The Iranian Supreme Leader /via Reuters

Iranian state TV showed a photo of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the funeral procession.

Following Qom, funeral events will continue in the cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq.

-ABC News’ Desiree Adib

Jul 06, 2026, 4:37 AM EDT

Thousands gather in Tehran for Khamenei funeral procession

Photos and videos from Tehran showed thousands of mourners thronging the streets of the Iranian capital as the dayslong funeral for slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continued on Monday.

Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran in the opening hours of the conflict with Iran in on Feb. 28.

Khamenei's funeral began on Saturday. His body will be taken to Qom, Najaf and Karbala -- the great Shi'ite centers of Iran and Iraq -- before being laid to rest on Thursday in Mashhad, home to the country's holiest pilgrim shrine.

People gather along a street during the funeral procession of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his family members, in Tehran, Iran, on July 6, 2026.
-/AFP via Getty Images
Jul 04, 2026, 7:28 AM EDT

Trump says Iran gets a 'week off' as funeral for Khamenei begins

In a speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday night, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has “knocked the hell out of Iran,” while claiming that Iran is "dying to settle."

Trump added that the United States "gave [Iran] a week off for a funeral, because we’re nice” ahead of Iran starting a dayslong funeral Saturday for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei months after an airstrike killed him at the start of the war.

Footage showed Khamenei's coffin draped with the Iranian flag and topped with his black turban. It was placed, along with four other coffins of his slain family members, on a large black platform that resembled the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure at the center of Islam's holiest site in Mecca.

Khamenei's body is expected to be taken to Qom, Najaf and Kerbala, the great Shi'ite centers of Iran and Iraq, before being laid to rest on Thursday in Mashhad, home to the country's holiest pilgrim shrine.

-ABC News' Rashid Haddou

Jul 02, 2026, 6:56 AM EDT

US and Iran talks conclude with 'positive' progress, mediators say

The latest round of indirect technical talks between the United States and Iran have concluded with "positive" progress, according to a statement posted on Thursday by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

Qatar and Pakistan mediated the talks in Doha, Qatar.

PHOTO: A man gestures next to crane cables as preparations are underway ahead of a farewell ceremony for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, in Tehran, Iran July 2, 2026.
A man gestures next to crane cables as preparations are underway ahead of a farewell ceremony for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, in Tehran, Iran July 2, 2026.
Mohammed Salem/Reuters

"Parties have agreed to continue discussions over the coming period," the mediators said, according to the statement.

Another round of talks was expected to be scheduled "at the earliest possible time" after Tehran holds a state funeral for the former Iranian leader, Ali Khamenei, which is to begin on Friday.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti

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