Body of Seyyed Ali Khamenei brought to farewell ceremony in Tehran The body of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei arrives at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, southern Tehran, for the farewell rite, IRNA reported. More than 20 million people are reportedly expected to travel to Iran’s capital for the funeral of Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated by the US and Israel on 28 February, according to Iranian state TV. This would more than double Tehran’s population of roughly 10 million.
Iran envoy: US military bases in the Gulf caused ‘nothing but insecurity’ Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani said on Thursday that US military bases in the Gulf states have brought “nothing but instability” to the region, in remarks delivered during an emergency session of the Security Council. “The US has no coastal border in our region. It is not their waters.
Iranian foreign minister, UN chief hold call to discuss regional developments Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres held a phone call on Thursday amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations in Qatar. The officials discussed the latest regional developments, the Strait of Hormuz, and the agreement to end the “military aggression” of the US and Israel, according to Iran’s ministry.
Jerusalem Governorate warns over Israeli approval of 13 new settlements The Jerusalem Governorate released a statement on Thursday warning against the implications of Israeli security cabinet's approval of a plan to establish 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, which would further isolate Jerusalem. The governorate said that the move reflects a wider Israeli policy of accelerating settlement expansion and land seizure, particularly during election periods, when, it said, Palestinian land and lives become part of Israeli political competition.
Likely next UK PM Andy Burnham set to ban Palantir from NHS The Telegraph has reported on Thursday that Andy Burnham, who is set to become the next British prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation, will allegedly ditch Palantir's contracts from the National Health Service (NHS). Burnham is reportedly reviewing the government’s overall artificial intelligence strategy, and an aide told the paper he believed “unfettered tech boosterism” was turning off voters. Andy Burnham is set to ditch Palantir from the NHS, The Telegraph can reveal.
Iranian foreign minister hits back at US-led military talks in Bahrain In a social media post on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised the US Army-led meeting of 12 nations in Bahrain to discuss regional security , in response to the US Central Command (Centcom). “Has Centcom brought security or insecurity to our region? The answer is clear,” he wrote.
Exclusive: ICC bureau changes rules to lower threshold for Khan's removal The executive body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has changed the voting process on the potential removal of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from a two-stage vote to a single vote in an apparent break with its own rules, Middle East Eye can reveal. Under the new process, which was approved by a majority of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) at a meeting on Monday, member states will be asked to vote just once on a single motion approving both the bureau's finding of serious misconduct against Khan and the prosecutor's dismissal, according to multiple diplomatic sources. Previously, the procedure was expected to consist of a two-stage vote in which members would first vote on whether misconduct had occurred and its gravity, with a second vote on removal triggered only if they found "serious misconduct.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia call to discuss US-Iran mediation in Doha Pakistan’s foreign minister held a phone call on Thursday with his Saudi Arabian counterpart to discuss the ongoing mediation efforts in Qatar between Iran and the US. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X that the leaders “expressed satisfaction on the positive progress made during this negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in [the] near future. ” The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephonic conversation today with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud @FaisalbinFarhan , Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Trump says ICC has no jurisdiction over Americans The US Department of Justice said in a statement on Thursday that it sent a letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to tell them that the United States would not cooperate with any ICC investigations and that the court has no jurisdiction over Americans. This comes after three ICC judges launched a lawsuit against Trump over the US State Department sanctioned members involved in prosecuting Israeli nationals for war crimes in Palestine.
Exclusive: ICC bureau changes rules to lower threshold for Khan's removal Submitted by Sondos Asem on Tue, 06/30/2026 - 12:39 ICC decision to abandon its own procedures paper would deny its 125 member states an opportunity to determine whether prosecutor committed misconduct ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan speaking at the 23rd session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, at the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague (ICC file photo) Off The executive body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has changed the voting process on the potential removal of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from a two-stage vote to a single vote in an apparent break with its own rules, Middle East Eye can reveal. Under the new process, which was approved by a majority of the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) at a meeting on Monday, member states will be asked to vote just once on a single motion approving both the bureau's finding of serious misconduct against Khan and the prosecutor's dismissal, according to multiple diplomatic sources. Previously, the procedure was expected to consist of a two-stage vote in which members would first vote on whether misconduct had occurred and its gravity, with a second vote on removal triggered only if they found "serious misconduct.
Over 20 million expected in Tehran for Ali Khamenei's funeral More than 20 million people are reportedly expected to travel to Iran’s capital for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khameinei, who was assassinated by the US and Israel on 28 February, according to Iranian state TV. This would more than double Tehran’s population of roughly 10 million.
Reuters: several European countries join Canada as founding members of global defence bank Canada’s lead negotiator told Reuters on Thursday that Canada is set to co-announce the creation of a global defence bank with ten European countries at the Nato summit next week. The countries will join as founding members of a defence, security and resilience bank, according to the source.
Iran accuses US of ‘performative posturing’ in security talks The Iranian Foreign Minister Esmaeil Baghaei criticised the US-led security meeting hosted in Bahrain, saying the US demonstrates “complete contempt for genuine peace and security in West Asia. “Such gatherings are nothing more than performative posturing, aimed at concealing America’s destabilising policies and lawless behaviour in the region,” Baghaei added in a statement to X. His comments came in response to a post from US Central Command (Centcom) about meeting with 12 Middle Eastern countries to discuss regional cooperation and maritime security.
Israeli press alarmed as criticism of Israel becomes winning recipe in US politics Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:37 Primary defeats for pro-Israel Democrats have deepened fears about the state's declining popularity in the US Congressional candidate Brad Lander (left) with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after declaring victory in Brooklyn on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Spencer Platt) Off A string of primary victories by left-wing Democratic candidates has triggered alarm across Israeli media and pro-Israel circles, with commentators warning that support for Israel no longer guarantees "political success". The victory of democratic socialist Melat Kiros over 15-term pro-Israel US Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s primary election on Tuesday added to a series of wins by candidates who have challenged Israel’s influence over US politics, opposed the genocide in Gaza and described Israel as an apartheid state. Kiros's win followed wins by three Democratic Socialist candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as well as another in a Philadelphia congressional primary and one in the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington DC.
Trump's Board of Peace says Unrwa has 'no place' in Gaza Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 09:19 US ambassador Jeff Bartos called on nations to stop funding Unrwa and instead direct their financial support at the annual UN pledging conference on Tuesday A displaced Palestinian woman uses a piece of cardboard to fan her sleeping daughter as they shelter at a school on a hot day, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, 1 July 2026 (Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace has said that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) "has no place in new Gaza". In a post on X , the Board said that: "We are turning a page on the complex of perpetual aid dependency and conflict. The people of Gaza deserve better.
India will send a minister and state governor to Ali Khamenei funeral India will send its deputy foreign minister and a state governor to represent the country at the state funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Governor of Bihar, Syed Ata Hasnain, and deputy foreign minister Pabitra Margherita will visit Iran on 3 July, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement. "The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements," it said.
Pakistan PM Sharif to attend funeral of Iran's Ali Khamenei Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the state funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. The 86-year old cleric, who ruled Iran for 36 years, was killed on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February. His funeral will begin in Tehran on 4 July and conclude with his burial on 9 July in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashad.
Senior Chinese lawmaker to attend Khamenei funeral A senior Chinese lawmaker will attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, China’s Foreign Ministry says. A ministry spokesperson told reporters that He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will represent Beijing at the ceremony on 3 July. The Standing Committee is part of China’s top legislative body, making He one of the most senior foreign officials confirmed to attend the funeral.
Pakistan says US-Iran talks make progress in Doha Pakistan says indirect talks between Iranian and US delegations in Doha have ended with “positive progress made on issues related to the aspects of the Islamabad MoU”. In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the discussions would continue in the coming period. “Parties have agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be set at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader,” the ministry said.
Qatar says US-Iran talks made ‘positive progress’ Qatar says indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Doha have made “positive progress”, with another round expected after the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader. “Qatar & Pakistan mediators concluded separate meetings with the US & Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, building on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit,” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said on X. “The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader,” he said.
