Iran warned the United States and Israel on Thursday against launching any new attacks as the country prepared for state funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while Washington and Tehran signalled that diplomacy remained alive following indirect talks in Qatar.
The warning came a day after indirect US-Iran talks in Doha ended with what mediators described as “positive progress”, prompting US President Donald Trump to say Iran’s denuclearisation efforts were “moving along well” despite recent military clashes.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the Doha negotiations had concluded, while Qatar said discussions would continue after funeral ceremonies for Khamenei end on July 9.
Military officials in Tehran nevertheless struck a defiant tone ahead of the commemorations.
“We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the US and the Zionist regime, to avoid any miscalculation and to think about the harsh retaliation our armed forces would make to any threat and aggression against our country,” Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement carried by state media.
Funeral commemorations will begin in Tehran on July 4 before moving to the holy city of Qom and concluding with Khamenei’s burial in his hometown of Mashhad on July 9.
Diplomacy continues
Trump said on Wednesday that Iran’s denuclearisation process was “moving along well”, suggesting Washington believed negotiations remained viable despite exchanges of fire this week.
Qatar, which mediated the latest indirect talks, said discussions had made “positive progress” on implementing the memorandum that halted last month’s war, though it did not indicate any breakthrough towards a comprehensive settlement.
The next round of negotiations is expected after the funeral ceremonies conclude.
Oil slides as tensions ease
Signs that diplomacy was holding helped push oil prices to their lowest levels in four months.
Brent crude fell about 1.3% while US West Texas Intermediate dropped roughly 1.5%, as traders reduced concerns over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the Doha talks.
Iran’s military, however, separately warned that oil tankers must use approved navigation routes through the strategic waterway or face a “forceful response”, while also criticising the continued presence of US military aircraft over the strait.
International delegations
Several countries announced senior representation for Khamenei’s funeral.
Pakistan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would attend, while China will send senior legislator He Wei.
India said Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita and Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain would represent New Delhi at the ceremonies, describing the visit as reflecting the importance of longstanding ties between the two countries.
