TOP STORIES
U.S. Dangles Rewards for Opening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran Isn’t Budging | Wall Street Journal
“The U.S. and Oman are looking for ways to break Iran’s insistence on charging tolls for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Their chief lever in indirect talks was a promise to unfreeze some of the $100 billion in Iranian funds held overseas. So far, Tehran isn’t taking the bait. Its military leaders are responding with a fresh round of threats against ships passing through one of the world’s most trafficked waterways.”
Iran and Oman Propose Fee Plan for Strait of Hormuz, Sources Say | NBC News
“Iran and Oman have presented the U.S. with a proposal to administer the Strait of Hormuz that includes the joint collection of administrative fees by the two Middle East nations, four sources told NBC News.”
Iran Declares ‘Resistance’ and ‘Revenge’ as Official Themes of Khamenei’s Burial | IranWire
“The Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) issued an official statement during the mourning and farewell ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, declaring ‘resistance against adversaries’ and ‘revenge for the blood of Iran’s martyred Leader’ as the primary, state-sanctioned themes of the procession.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
Iran’s Regime Survived the War and Is Now Savvier, Ruthless and More Hard-Line | Washington Post
“The funeral [of Ali Khamenei], however, is the first mass public gathering since the war, creating pressure on the regime for [new Supreme Leader Mojtaba] Khamenei to appear. ‘He’s the head of state. A religious leader. And it’s the funeral for his father,’ said Norman Roule, a former CIA officer and an expert on Iran. ‘His failure to appear at his father’s funeral, mourn publicly, and project command would be interpreted by many inside Iran and abroad as evidence of his personal weakness, physical incapacity or even death.’”
“The Iranian regime’s oligarchic clans are at war with each other—and this conflict may soon spiral beyond control. This fight is not over ideology or the future direction of the Islamic Republic: all the oligarchic clans are Islamist; some wear turbans, others wear military uniforms, and some wear suits. In other words, they all subscribe to the core tenets of Shia Islamism in Iran: the forceful imposition of Sharia law domestically, support for the so-called Axis of Resistance militia network, anti-Americanism, and the goal of eradicating the Israel (driven by innate anti-Semitism). But they are competing to protect and advance their power and economic interests amid the vacuum that emerged after the elimination of Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, who had operated as the godfather of these clans.”
Interview with UANI Director of IRGC Research Kasra Aarabi | GB News
“The regime operates like a mafia state . . . We can say with a strong degree of certainty that Mojtaba Khamenei has been killed.”
“‘It is a near certainty that released funds will indirectly and over time finance Iran’s missile and drones programs, given the fungible nature of money,’ the research director of United Against Nuclear Iran, Daniel Roth, tells The New York Sun. ‘A dollar freed up here means a dollar freed up there, and the regime is explicit in asserting sovereign discretion over the use of its assets. As to what Tehran’s priorities are, it’s bombs and bullets, not roads and hospitals.’”
Iran’s Elite Locked in Power Struggle After Khamenei, Analysis Says | Middle East Online
“Rival power centres within Iran's ruling establishment are engaged in an increasingly open struggle for political influence and economic interests following the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, raising the risk of deeper instability at the heart of the Islamic Republic, according to an analysis published by Britain's The Telegraph. The analysis, written by Iran specialists Kasra Aarabi, director of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps research at United Against Nuclear Iran, and Saeid Golkar, the organisation's senior adviser and associate professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, argues that the confrontation is not driven by ideological differences but by competing elite factions seeking to consolidate power after the loss of the figure who had long balanced their competing interests.”
“This pattern of non-compliance matches broader concerns raised by groups like United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which documented immediate infractions of paragraph one of the MoU by Iranian-backed proxies in the Levant within hours of the deal being signed on June 17.”
MILITARY MATTERS & STRAIT OF HORMUZ SITUATION
Iran Army Says It Used Ceasefire to Improve Combat Power | Iran International
“Iran’s army spokesperson said the military was fully prepared and had used the ceasefire to improve its combat power.”
European Nations Now Believe Some Hormuz Fees Are Inevitable | Bloomberg
“Some leading European powers now accept that ships transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz will have to pay fees to Iran and Oman, according to people familiar with the matter. The prospect of some sort of service fee in the aftermath of the US and Israeli war with the Islamic Republic was described as a given by two of the people . . . Privately, some Gulf Arab officials hold the same view, they said, though this is not necessarily the formal position of their governments.”
“Iran's joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz must use its approved routes or face a ‘forceful response,’ ratcheting up tensions again over a waterway crucial for international energy supplies.”
Tankers U-Turn in Hormuz with Some Taking Iran Route | Bloomberg
“At least eight ships attempting to leave the Persian Gulf along the Omani coast turned back between Friday and Saturday, in the latest sign that reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains complicated by Iran seeking to assert its control over the key waterway. Some of the vessels continued with their transits by switching to a route closer to Iran. . . . It is unknown why the ships have U-turned, though Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only transit the strait through the authorised route designated by the Islamic Republic.”
Iran’s Envoy to China Says Beijing to Get Hormuz Concessions | Bloomberg
“Iran’s ambassador to Beijing said China and other friendly nations will be granted ‘special considerations’ when Tehran determines the level and nature of service fees charged to ships using the Strait of Hormuz. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the critical waterway for energy supplies is now a matter of ‘national security’ in the aftermath of the four-month US and Israeli war on the Islamic Republic. As such, ‘there will be new arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz with the collaboration and cooperation of the state of Oman,’ he said.”
China Urges ‘Unimpeded Passage’ of Hormuz as Fee Chatter Mounts | Bloomberg
“China called for the unhindered flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, comments that come as leading European powers are apparently accepting that vessels will have to pay fees to Iran and Oman.”
Ship Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Continues to Rebound, Experts Say | CBS News
“At least 258 ships transited the waterway last week, a period that included Iranian strikes on two commercial vessels, according to marine data and analysis company Lloyd's List Intelligence. That’s up from 138 ships the previous week.”
Iran’s Navy Chief to US and Israel: Prepare to Face Our Vengeful Warriors | IranWire
“Shahram Irani, the Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy, delivered a fiery address during the high-profile funeral processions for the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Irani warned that foreign adversaries must immediately prepare themselves to face ‘Muslim warriors’ who are explicitly seeking ‘blood revenge’ for their slain leadership and commanders. Issuing a direct threat to the United States and Israel, the naval commander asserted that hostile nations will soon face a ‘crushing blow and slap’ that will ‘completely shatter their faces.’”
Iran’s New IRGC Navy Chief Emerges Without Formal Decree: Who Is Ali Azmaei? | Iran International
“Iranian state media on Saturday published a message from Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei that identified him as commander of the IRGC Navy, marking the first public indication that he has replaced Alireza Tangsiri, who was killed during the war in March. No formal appointment decree has been published for Azmaei, whose predecessor was killed in an attack on Bandar Abbas on March 26. . . . In a message issued Saturday for the funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Azmaei said IRGC naval forces and ‘guardians of the strategic Strait of Hormuz’ would continue Khamenei’s path, adding that ‘divine revenge’ against what he called US and Israeli terrorists was not far off.”
“The debate over who will control the Strait of Hormuz continues to prove problematic for a lasting peace between the U.S. and Iran. Hamidreza Haji-Babai, deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, said on Thursday the U.S. should respect Iran's authority over the strait.”
UK and France Agree with Oman to Ensure Safety of Its Territorial Waters | CNBC
“Oman has agreed to work with the U.K. and France to ensure the Gulf country’s territorial waters are safe for navigation, the U.K. said on Saturday, as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz pick up since the U.S. and Iran signed an agreement last month to reopen the crucial sea lane. ‘The U.K. and France also stand ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,’ U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Implies US Central Command Has Destabilized Region | CBS News
“The foreign minister of Iran criticized the presence of the U.S. military in the region and said it was contributing to the region being left secure. . . . [Abbas] Araghchi was replying to a post from CENTCOM on X discussing the meeting between Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper and senior military officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The headline on the U.S. post read: ‘CENTCOM Leads Regional Security Dialogue with 12 Nations in Bahrain.’ . . .”
Hegseth Goes Quiet on Iran as Trump Pursues Diplomacy | The Hill
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the Trump administration’s frontman for waging war on Iran during weeks of kinetic operations aimed at decimating its nuclear threat. Since President Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to end the war, without securing significant concessions on its missile or nuclear stockpiles, Hegseth has said little about the shift in strategy—as Vice President Vance takes the spotlight in defending the tenuous diplomacy.”
DIPLOMACY
A Sudden Glut of Oil Threatens to Weaken Iran’s Hand in Talks | Wall Street Journal
“Oil prices have fallen to prewar levels. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is recovering fast. Gulf producers are already restarting idled wells. But one thing will take much, much longer—refilling the world’s oil coffers. Speed matters. The amount of oil in storage around the world is playing a central role in the U.S.-Iran power dynamics. The faster countries restock their buffers of crude, the weaker Iran’s ability to threaten the world economy by holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage.”
Trump’s Patience with Iran ‘Not Unlimited,’ Waltz Warns at UN | Fox News
“President Donald Trump's patience with Iran is ‘not unlimited,’ U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz warned Thursday, as he urged Tehran to comply with its international obligations and accused the regime of threatening global stability. . . . Waltz also said Iran ‘must abide by its obligations to this Council’ and argued the international community must hold the regime accountable.”
Ghalibaf Calls US MOU a Victory for Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ | Iran International
“Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has described the memorandum of understanding with the United States as an achievement for Tehran’s ‘axis of resistance’ during a meeting with a senior Houthi official. . . . He added that successful diplomacy requires military strength, warning that the US and Israel would ‘resort to war’ if they sensed weakness from Iran.”
Turkey’s Erdogan Says Israel Must Not Scupper US-Iran Deal | Reuters
“Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Middle East peace efforts could not succeed without regional backing and that Israel must not be allowed to ‘dynamite’ the U.S.-Iran peace deal.”
“The U.S.–Iran Memorandum of Understanding contains one weapons-related commitment: Iran agrees not to develop nuclear weapons. Ballistic missiles—the delivery system for those weapons, the arsenal Iran has used repeatedly across the region, and the backbone of Tehran’s deterrent doctrine—are not mentioned once. This omission is not a footnote awaiting later negotiation. It is the price that made the signature possible—and therefore the agreement’s defining structural feature. Washington has not sequenced the threat. It has surrendered half of it. By excluding ballistic missiles from a 14-point framework, Washington has done something structurally consequential: it has separated the warhead from the vector, treating them as distinct negotiating tracks when Iran has always treated them as a single, integrated deterrence architecture. A nuclear program without missiles remains a science project. A missile program without nuclear warheads is an operational military force Iran can—and does—use today.”
TERRORISM
“New intelligence assessments have revealed a highly coordinated international plot aimed directly at the highest levels of the United States government. Intelligence reports indicate that the Quds Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has established a highly specialized covert entity designated as the Mukhtar unit. This newly identified group is actively operating across multiple continents to establish operational footholds close to the American homeland, significantly escalating national security concerns in Washington. The specialized unit is reportedly working in direct coordination with powerful Mexican cartels to bypass traditional border security and establish logistics pipelines inside the country. By blending into existing smuggling networks, the operatives intend to move specialized equipment and personnel across the southern border completely undetected.”
TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION
Two Romanians Jailed for Stabbing Journalist on Behalf of Iran Regime | BBC News
“Two Romanian nationals have been jailed for stabbing a journalist in Wimbledon on behalf of the Iranian regime in an attempt to ‘silence’ him. Their target, Pouria Zeraati, works for the Persian language channel Iran International, that is critical of the Iranian government.”
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
24-Year-Old Political Prisoner Sentenced to Death in Iran over ‘Baghi’ Charge | IranWire
“Arghavan Fallahi, a 24-year-old political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on charges of Baghi (armed rebellion against the Islamic state). . . . Fallahi was arrested alongside several other political co-defendants in a joint case. Security agencies of the Islamic Republic have accused her of membership in anti-regime opposition groups. However, human rights organizations state that she has denied all charges, and her judicial proceedings were marred by highly restricted access to legal counsel and closed-door hearings.”
Iran Projects Unity to the World While Pursuing a Crackdown at Home | New York Times
“As Iran’s government prepared this week to hold the funeral for its slain supreme leader that is expected to project an image of a country united in grief, its security services kept up a crackdown on dissidents and leaders in civil society.”
Waltz Says Khamenei Has ‘Blood on His Hands’ as Iran Prepares to Bury Supreme Leader | Fox News
“U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said Thursday that former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had ‘blood on his hands’ after decades of repression and executions and spoke out as Iran prepared for his funeral. … ‘I don't think there'll be very many tears being shed for an Ayatollah with 40,000 at least of his own people's blood on their hands that were literally machine gunned in the streets for a day of daring to speak out,’ he told the outlet.”
Iran: Pressure on Persecuted Baha’i Community Intensifies | Deutsche Welle
“Atossa Najafi tries to keep her composure as she describes what happened. ‘About three weeks ago, security forces searched our apartment, confiscated personal belongings, and took my brother away,’ she recounts. Since that day—June 6—she has been plagued by worry for her brother Parsa, 19, and their parents in Isfahan, Iran. . . . Najafi’s family are members of the Baha'i faith, a religion that originated in the mid-19th century in what was then Persia (now Iran) and is considered a monotheistic world religion. However, it isn't recognized in Iran, and the Shiite Muslim regime there consider Baha’is heretics. As a result, the Baha’i population in Iran has been persecuted for decades.”
U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS
Trump Says Netanyahu “Knows Who the Boss Is” Ahead of Possible WH Visit | Axios
“Trump told Axios he’s following the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated on the first day of the war in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation. Trump claimed the Iranians ‘are begging to make a deal,’ but said both sides decided to take a week off from the talks until the events around Khamenei's funeral end. In the meantime, he said, neither side will shoot at the other. ‘They are all there. One shot [and we can take them all out], but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with,’ Trump said. He added that he was surprised to see some Iranians crying at the funeral, saying he thought people hated Khamenei. ‘Maybe it’s fake tears,’ Trump mused.”
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Why Iran May Find It Difficult to Clear Its Oil Inventories Even After Sanctions Relief | CNBC
“Iran is likely to face challenges in clearing its oil inventories even after restrictions on its exports are lifted, as its biggest customer tweaks its energy strategy while oil from other suppliers floods the market, according to analysts. China, the world’s top crude importer, has not been particularly enthusiastic about purchasing Iranian oil, despite traditionally being the main buyer of the country’s energy.”
Iran Exploring Oil Sales to Japan, Buyers Seek Longer Sanctions Waiver, Sources Say | Reuters
“Iran has begun talks with Japanese companies under a U.S. sanctions waiver allowing it to resume oil sales, though prospective buyers are seeking a longer waiver and reassurances about ship safety, three Iranian and Western sources said.”
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Classified Warning Projected Up to 3,000 Deaths at Khamenei Funeral—Die Welt | Iran International
“Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility that Ali Khamenei’s week-long funeral ceremonies could leave between 1,500 and 3,000 people dead, Germany’s WELT reported, citing a classified document and municipal sources in Tehran. The report, written from Tehran by an anonymous author whose identity is known to WELT’s editors, said officials have drawn up contingency plans for a possible mass-casualty disaster during the processions for the slain former Supreme Leader.”
Three Sons of Iran’s Slain Leader Khamenei Appear at Funeral, Not His Successor | Reuters
“Three sons of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prayed beside his coffin and those of four other family members on Sunday, but Mojtaba, the son who succeeded him as Iran’s supreme leader, did not make an appearance.”
Iran’s Top Commanders Attend Khamenei Funeral, Key Military Figures Missing | IranWire
“As the state funeral for the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, got underway at the Tehran Grand Musalla, top military commanders and senior defense officials of the Islamic Republic arrived in tightly orchestrated, pre-arranged delegations. However, the conspicuous absence of several prominent military figures from the official broadcasts has triggered intense speculation among defense analysts and media observers. Among the high-ranking commanders in attendance, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi attracted the most attention. Vahidi assumed absolute command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following the death of his predecessor, General Khakpour, during the opening hours of the devastating 39-day war.”
Performer Calls for Trump’s Death at Funeral for Iran’s Late Supreme Leader | Associated Press
“A performer at the funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for the death of US President Donald Trump before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people in the capital, Tehran.”
Momentary Unity at a Funeral Masks Deep Divisions Among Iran’s Leaders | New York Times
“When Iran’s leaders and senior military commanders paid tribute to the slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the elaborate, weeklong funeral that began on Friday, it was supposed to be a display of strength, endurance and unity after war with the United States and Israel. . . . The moment offered a respite from the weeks and days leading to the funeral, when senior Iranian officials and prominent political figures fought openly and viciously over negotiations with the United States. They traded accusations of delusion, treason, coup plotting, and disobeying and manipulating the new supreme leader.”
Hardline Cleric Urges Revenge for Khamenei at Any Cost | Iran International
“Alireza Panahian, a hardline cleric close to the office of Iran's supreme leader, said Tehran should be willing to sacrifice all its national interests to avenge Ali Khamenei, the IRGC-linked Fars news agency reported Saturday.”
Iran Flies in 400 Foreign Influencers for Khamenei Funeral Coverage | IranWire
“Coinciding with the funeral ceremonies for its late leader, Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic has invited a cohort of non-Iranian influencers and social media activists with a history of backing the regime’s policies to cover the event. The move is viewed as a continuation of the state’s strategy to leverage foreign figures to reproduce and broadcast its official narrative across global media and digital platforms.”
Mourners Chant ‘Revenge’ at Funeral Prayers for Iran’s Slain Supreme Leader | New York Times
“Tens of thousands of mourners, including senior Iranian officials, packed Tehran on Sunday for funeral prayers for the slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as crowds chanted calls for revenge.”
Iran Reappoints Judiciary Chief via Hidden Leader’s Order | IranWire
“The Mizan News Agency, the official media outlet of the Islamic Republic’s judiciary, published a decree on Sunday, July 5, confirming that Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei has been reappointed as the head of the judiciary for a second five-year term. The renewal mandate was issued via a written decree attributed to the regime’s newly designated leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.”
IRGC Outlet Hails ‘Red Flags of Revenge’ at Khamenei Funeral | Iran International
“IRGC-linked Fars News described crowds gathering in Tehran in the early hours of the third day of Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies with the headline: ‘Everyone has come, carrying the red flags of revenge.’ The phrase refers to red flags used in Shiite symbolism that are often associated with calls for vengeance.”
Ahmadinejad Attends Khamenei Funeral Procession—State Media | Iran International
“Iranian state media released a photo on Monday showing former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attending the funeral procession for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”
ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON, SYRIA & IRAN
Syrian Foreign Minister Says Syria Open to Meeting Hezbollah, Lebanese State Media Reports | Reuters
“Syria’s foreign minister said during a visit to Beirut on Thursday that Damascus was open to meeting the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah ‘if interests require it,’ Lebanon's state news agency reported. Asaad al-Shibani met Lebanese leaders including President Joseph Aoun and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, in his first visit to Lebanon since U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility of Syrian forces combating Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Lebanon Will Not Yield “A Single Inch” of Territory to Israel, Says President | CBS
“Lebanon will not surrender ‘a single inch’ of territory to Israel, President Joseph Aoun said Thursday, defending negotiations with Israel.”
EUROPE & IRAN
Austrian Embassy Resumes Regular Operations in Tehran | Al Jazeera
“Austria has resumed regular operations at its embassy in Tehran. . . The mission had suspended consular services in 2025, citing what it described at the time as ‘insurmountable obstacles.’”
“An Iranian lawmaker on Saturday said European officials had been excluded from a funeral ceremony for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing Europe as ‘barbaric and savage.’ . . . European leaders had not announced plans to attend the funeral ceremony, and no senior European officials were present at Friday's event.”
INTELLIGENCE
Tajik Man Accused of Spying on Israel for Iran, as Espionage Arrests Continue | Times of Israel
“A man from Tajikistan holding a Russian passport was recently arrested on suspicion of spying on Israel on behalf of Iran and working to recruit additional spies, authorities announced Thursday. A joint investigation by the police, Shin Bet and Defense Ministry found that Behrouz Sobirgon, a Tajik citizen in Israel, was in contact with an Iranian handler starting in January, with most of his ‘security activity’ taking place during the recent war with Iran, a statement said.’ …
The missions he carried out for the Iranian handler included ‘documenting and transferring the locations of Iranian missile impact sites’ during the Iran war, providing coordinates of the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, sending a photo of the Haifa Port, and attempting to photograph a ‘sensitive security facility’ in northern Israel, the joint statement said.”
GULF STATES & IRAN
Iran and Qatar Resume Maritime Trade, Iranian State Media Reports | Reuters
“Maritime trade between Iran and Qatar has resumed after a roughly five-month suspension, Iran’s commercial attaché in Doha told state media on Sunday.”