House Speaker Johnson urges Iranians to seize 'moment of opportunity'

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said on Tuesday he is increasingly concerned that the United States may deploy boots on the ground in Iran following a closed-door congressional briefing on the administration’s plans.

“I am more fearful than ever after this briefing that we may be putting boots on the ground and that troops from the United States may be necessary to accomplish objectives that the administration seems to have,” Blumenthal said.

“But I also am no more clear on what the priorities are going to be of the administration going forward, whether it is destroying the nuclear capacity of Iran or simply the missiles or regime change or stopping terrorist activities, and I think the administration owes it to the American people to have briefings, not just for members of Congress, but for the American public. Nothing here should have been classified. It should be available to the American people,” he added.

Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council on Mirdamad Street in Tehran was destroyed after being targeted in an airstrike on Monday, footage released by Iranian media showed.

The council is a powerful state body that selects the clerical member of the Interim Leadership Council and makes the final decisions on five key issues until a new Supreme Leader is elected:

1- Determining the general policies of the Islamic Republic
2- Ordering a referendum
3- Declaring war or peace
4- Dismissing the president
5- Appointing or dismissing the chief of the Joint Staff, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, and senior military and law enforcement commanders

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and guarantees for maritime trade traveling through the Persian Gulf.

"This will be available to all Shipping Lines," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He added that if necessary the United States Navy would begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.

"No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD. The United States’ ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH — More actions to come," he said.

The final, in-person session of Iran’s Assembly of Experts to choose a new leader may be postponed until after next week’s funeral and burial for the slain leader, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency reported, citing heightened security measures.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has now shifted its meetings to a remote format and adopted an alternative voting method due to security considerations and concerns over the safety of its members, the report added citing informed sources.

According to the source, regular deliberations are continuing in a secure environment, and the final stages of the process are underway.

Khamenei did not designate a successor, leaving the decision to the Assembly of Experts, the IRGC outlet said citing the unnamed source.

The body of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be buried in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran following a funeral, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported.

"Officials at the headquarters organizing the grand farewell ceremony for him are planning to hold a public memorial in the capital," the report added.

The date and time of the funeral or memorial has not been announced.