The United States and Iran engaged in a further exchange of military strikes that extended into Thursday, coinciding with the burial of Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The escalating conflict has reportedly led to a significant decrease in maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

These latest confrontations follow earlier US strikes, with reports indicating that the US targeted approximately 90 military sites, some of which were situated near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that targets in the vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant were also struck. In response to the initial US actions, Iran stated it had targeted US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Subsequently, Tehran launched additional strikes on locations in Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraq.

Iran's foreign ministry characterized the recent US strikes as a "grave war crime," condemning the US administration with strong language. The ministry also reported damage to bridges and a railway route connecting Tehran to Mashhad, the city where Khamenei's funeral was being held. According to Iran's health ministry, 14 people were killed and 78 injured across five provinces as a result of the exchanges.

The implications of these ongoing strikes are far-reaching, impacting regional stability and international trade routes. The reported drop in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, could have significant economic consequences. The future trajectory of the conflict remains uncertain, with potential for further escalation.

Massive crowds gathered in Mashhad for the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died on February 28 during initial US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Attendees were seen waving Iranian flags and holding signs with threats directed at US President Donald Trump. This public display of mourning and anger underscores the deep-seated tensions between Iran and the US.

Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also serves as the country's chief negotiator with the US, issued a statement on X asserting that "bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free." He added that "if you strike, you'll get hit," and crucially, that the Strait of Hormuz "will only open under Iranian arrangements - not American threats."

US Central Command (Centcom) stated that its latest strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping and mariners in the Strait of Hormuz. They confirmed hitting 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems. However, a US defense official speaking to the BBC indicated that the US had not conducted strikes within Iran in the most recent hours, a point of potential divergence in reporting.

Gulf nations also reported Iranian attacks following the US strikes. Explosions were heard in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, Kuwait reported intercepting missiles and drones, and Qatar issued a security alert. Later on Thursday, explosions were reported in Iran's southern port city of Konarak, with a local official telling Iran's official news agency that a navy site had been attacked by an "enemy."