Live: Iran hits US military targets in Gulf, prepares to bury slain leader

Iranian armed forces have launched attacks on US military targets in neighbouring Gulf states following American strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, putting further strain on a three-week-old ceasefire agreement.

Iran was also preparing on Thursday to bury its former supreme leader, ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the country's holiest shrine in Mashhad, the culmination of a week of mass funeral processions and rallies.

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Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 10:29pm

Iran issues warning over US intervention in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy has issued a statement, saying attacks on Iran and intervention in redirecting shipping had disrupted the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guards claim that under Iran's supervision, shipping through the strait had recovered to about 50 per cent of pre-war levels over the past two weeks.

They went on to say that transit capacity was only being expanded for vessels granted permits to use routes designated by Iran.

They warned that any further US intervention in redirecting ships would draw a "crushing response" and jeopardise the interests of countries benefiting from the strait.

Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 10:20pm

US yet to respond to new wave of strikes

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran

The US military is yet to comment on whether it has now launched another wave of strikes against Iran, prompting this latest activity across the region.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, local time, he believed the ceasefire with Iran was over after attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

He ordered attacks on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with US Central Command saying 90 sites were hit.

Iran then opened fire on US bases in Gulf states, including Bahrain and Kuwait in response.

Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 10:18pm

Iran reports new explosions

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran

Earlier this evening, Iranian state media reported more explosions in the city of Bushehr which is home to a nuclear power plant.

Iranian authorities claimed a US "projectile" hit the perimeter of the facility.

Blasts are also being reported by state media in the port city of Bandar Abbas, closer to the Strait of Hormuz.

A drone attack has also been reported on a camp run by Kurdish opposition forces in north-eastern Iraq.

Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 10:11pm

Jordan intercepts eight Iranian missiles

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran

Jordan's military says it's intercepted eight Iranian missiles fired at the country, in a fresh wave of attacks in the Middle East.

Jordan hosts US military personnel at a number of bases, and vision circulating on social media is said to show missiles in the skies above Zarqa, north east of the capital Amman.

Thu 9 Jul 2026 at 10:04pm

Welcome to our live coverage

By Claire Campbell

Good evening! Welcome to our live coverage of the conflict in the Middle East with a number of explosions reported across the region tonight.

Jordan says it has intercepted eight Iranian missiles this evening with Iran confirming it has hit US military targets in the Gulf.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments.

View original source — ABC News ↗

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