Trump strikes Iran railway bridges on route to Khamenei’s funeral as ceasefire unravels
Trump Strikes Iran Railway Bridges as Ceasefire Falters
Trump strikes Iran railway bridges on route - The United States launched fresh military operations against Iran on Thursday, with Trump strikes Iran railway bridges on the critical route to Mashhad where Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral was underway. These coordinated attacks came as the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran continued to unravel, even as Iran mourned its supreme leader following his assassination.
Funeral Amidst Rising Tensions
Thousands gathered in northeastern Iran to witness the burial of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a shrine in Mashhad. The ceremony capped off an extensive week of funeral processions honoring the former supreme leader, who was killed during a joint American-Israeli airstrike on February 28.
The burial occurred while both nations exchanged military strikes for a second consecutive day. President Donald Trump had previously declared that an interim peace agreement between Washington and Tehran was now void. In response to attacks on commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, the US military conducted its most substantial operations against Iran in over a month.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Deepens
Commercial navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz experienced a dramatic slowdown on Thursday. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator, issued a firm declaration regarding the waterway's future.
The waterway will be reopened only under Iranian arrangements, not through US threats.
Before the recent escalation, daily maritime traffic had reached its peak since the war began, with approximately forty ships passing through the strait each day. By Thursday morning, however, only two oil tankers managed to sail through the waterway during the early hours.
Infrastructure Targets Hit
Iran reported that American forces targeted an area near a nuclear power plant on Thursday. Ehsan Jahanian, deputy governor of Bushehr province, informed state media that the perimeter surrounding the Russian-constructed facility had been hit during fresh attacks across the southern coastal region.
Iranian authorities also confirmed that passenger trains traveling from Tehran to Mashhad faced disruptions on Thursday morning. Officials reported that one strike damaged a bridge located approximately fifty-five kilometers from the holy city.
Regional Response and Casualties
Iran's foreign ministry criticized Trump's approach, suggesting the American president failed to grasp the depth of Iranian patriotism and commitment to revolutionary principles. According to Iranian officials, US attacks since Wednesday resulted in fourteen deaths and seventy-eight injuries across five provinces.
In response, Iran announced renewed strikes against Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. Jordan reported intercepting eight missiles launched by Iran. The Iranian military stated it had targeted American Patriot defense systems using drones in Kuwait, attacked a military early warning installation in Qatar, and struck a US fuel storage facility in Bahrain.
If you strike, you will be struck back.
Kuwait confirmed that its armed forces engaged a cruise missile, three ballistic missiles, and ten drones within its airspace. One individual sustained injuries from falling debris during these engagements.
Outlook for Escalation
As tensions persist over control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that continued regional interference would trigger a severe response from the Islamic Republic. A senior American official told Axios that the current escalation might span several days, a week, or even a month, contingent upon whether Iran maintains its attacks on vessels in the strait.
US Central Command reported that American forces had targeted approximately ninety Iranian military installations, including naval assets and storage facilities for missiles and drones. These strikes served as punishment for what Washington described as unjustified aggression against commercial shipping in the critical waterway.
Oil tanker traffic through the vital channel, which normally transports roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies during peacetime, remained essentially at a standstill on Thursday. The situation highlighted growing concerns about risk perception in international maritime commerce.