Konarak naval site attacked in two waves by warplanes, official confirms

Iran’s embassy in Turkey rejected NATO claims about freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear program as “baseless, politically motivated and unacceptable,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Thursday.

The embassy said Tehran had played a “responsible” role in preserving maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and accused the United States and other “extra-regional actors” of being the main source of insecurity in the region.

It also said Iran’s nuclear program was entirely peaceful.

A senior official in Iran’s southern Bushehr province said explosions heard in the city on Thursday were caused by air defense fire against US drones, while a military site on the outskirts of Bushehr was also struck by what he called a “US-Israeli” projectile.

He added that no casualties had been reported so far from the strike on the military site.

The deputy governor for political and security affairs said the “timely response” of air defenses prevented enemy drones from carrying out an attack.

Exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi on Thursday marked six months since the January 8–9 protests, urging the international community not to let negotiations with Tehran overshadow the killing of tens of thousands of demonstrators.

He also argued that a free Iran would end the nuclear threat and secure lasting peace in the region.

Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani’s office said the 101-year-old Shiite cleric was unable to attend the funeral prayer for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, despite earlier reports that he would lead the prayer.

The office said his attendance had been considered, but health concerns, the long distance and lack of necessary travel arrangements made it impossible for him to attend.

Iranian state television had earlier said the funeral procession would conclude in Mashhad with a funeral prayer led by Nouri Hamedani, a senior Shiite marja known for his hardline views and close alignment with the Islamic Republic’s political establishment.

The office said it had informed organizers days before the ceremony that Nouri Hamedani could not attend, but reports of his presence continued to circulate in some media until the final hours, causing confusion.

The funeral ceremonies have also drawn attention to the continued absence of Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named successor to his father but has not appeared in public since his appointment, with no audio message from him released.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday the military was “alert and prepared for the resumption of the campaign” in Iran and ready to carry out “blue-and-white” (independent Israeli) strikes there “even for a third time.”

“If we need to return, we will return with even greater force,” Katz said.

Katz said the military was prepared to “regain air superiority” in Iran and carry out strikes to remove threats.

Katz said he had warned former supreme leader Ali Khamenei that Israel’s “long arm” would reach Iran if it tried to harm Israel.

“Exactly a year ago, I sent a direct message to the dictator Ali Khamenei and the group of ayatollahs in Iran, that Israel’s long arm will catch up with them in Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, and wherever if they try to harm Israel,” Katz said.

“About four months ago, we returned to operating in the skies of Iran; we eliminated many of the regime’s seniors, and in the historic opening blow of Operation Roaring Lion, we eliminated Ali Khamenei and severely wounded his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei,” he added.