Live updates: Iran to hold state funeral for officials killed by Israeli strikes

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4 hours ago

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Title: Trump says he dropped potential plans to lift sanctions on Iran after supreme leader declared victory
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President Donald Trump blasted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on social media on Friday, casting serious doubt on any diplomatic progress between the two countries.
Trump said he had considered removing sanctions on Iran earlier this week, but the Iranian leader's statement claiming victory over Israel and saying he would not surrender to the US caused Trump to abruptly drop those plans.
'During the last few days, I was working on the possible removal of sanctions, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery - The sanctions are BITING! But no, instead I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,' Trump wrote.
The president also claimed he personally held back Israeli and US forces from assassinating Khamenei.
'I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life. I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH,' Trump added.
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Title: Iran is open to transferring enriched uranium stockpiles under certain conditions, envoy to UN says
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Iran's United Nations ambassador says the country would consider transferring its enriched uranium stockpiles abroad and allowing foreign investment in its energy sector, provided there is a deal with the United States.
In an exclusive written interview with Middle East news site Al-Monitor, Iran's permanent representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani was questioned about the possibility of the country allowing international supervision of its stockpiles.
'Should a new agreement be concluded, we would be prepared to transfer our stockpiles of 60% and 20% enriched uranium to another country and have them transferred out of Iranian territory,' he said.
However, he emphasized that this would be contingent upon, in return, receiving yellowcake — a uranium concentrate powder that is crucial for the nuclear fuel cycle but requires further processing before it can be used as nuclear fuel or in nuclear weapons.
Another option could involve stockpiling uranium in Iran 'under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) seal,' depending on the progress of negotiations and any eventual agreement, he added.
It comes ahead of resumed talks between Iran and US President Donald Trump, who suggested this could happen next week.
Iravani also emphasized that Iran is not willing to accept restrictions on its missile program or domestic enrichment.
The country is open to 'collaborate with all countries in our region that operate nuclear reactors — whether on issues of reactor safety or the supply of reactor fuel,' as long as it serves as a 'complementary initiative' and is not a substitute for Iran's own domestic nuclear program, he said.
He noted that 'a consortium could very well be one of the forms such cooperation might take,' referring to a past proposal from the Trump administration for joint nuclear enrichment and production.
And any agreement with the US must recognize 'Iran's rights as a responsible member' of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), he added.
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Title: US Senate fails to advance Iran War Powers resolution
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The US Senate rejected a Democrat-pushed resolution Friday that aimed to rein in the president's ability to use military action against Iran without congressional approval.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, originally introduced the resolution last week, under the War Powers Act of 1973, before President Donald Trump authorized US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The resolution would have required congressional approval for any further strikes on Iran that are not in self-defense or due to imminent danger.
'I think the events of this week have demonstrated that war is too big to be consigned to the decision of any one person,' Kaine said on the Senate floor Friday.
'War is too big an issue to leave to the moods and the whims and the daily vibes of any one person,' Kaine said.
Lawmakers voted against advancing it to the Senate floor, 53-47.
GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted with Democrats to advance the resolution. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voted against it.
Friday's vote was a notable departure from a similar war powers vote in 2020 related to Iran, in which eight Republicans voted with Democrats, seven of whom are still in the Senate.
Across the Capitol: The House could bring up its own Democrat-led war powers resolution after July 4. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who has faced heavy backlash from the administration for criticizing the strikes on Iran, had also introduced a war powers resolution, but ultimately decided not to bring it up amid a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel conflict.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has sharply criticized members for demanding Trump receive congressional approval for strikes on Iran, adding that he doesn't believe the War Powers Act is constitutional.
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Title: Iran will hold state funeral Saturday for military commanders and scientists killed by Israeli strikes
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Tehran will stage a burial ceremony Saturday for top military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed by Israeli attacks earlier this month, local media reported on Friday.
A 'national and revolutionary' funeral is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. ET), according to Iranian outlet Nour News, which cited the governor of Tehran, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian.
At least 60 people will be buried at the funeral in the capital, including four children and four women, Nour News said.
Motamedian called on members of the public to 'show the world their loyalty to the path of honor and resistance.' The procession will take place from Enqelab Square in central Tehran to Azadi Square, the governor added.
Similar ceremonies will take place across the country, including in the city of Ilam in western Iran, according to state media outlet IRIB.
Remember: Senior military commanders and nuclear scientists were among hundreds of people killed by Israel's bombing onslaught on Iran between June 13 and June 24.
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Title: Relatives of Israeli hostages demand Gaza ceasefire in wake of Iran truce
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Family members of Israeli hostages will protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza following a truce between Israel and Iran.
Relatives of captives held by Hamas will reiterate their urgent plea to the Israeli government for a 'comprehensive agreement' with the militant group, according to a statement by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
'In the wake of the Iran operation and a historic window of opportunity, families of hostages will gather at Hostages Square with a clear message: Now is the time to complete the mission — to reach a comprehensive agreement and bring all 50 hostages home,' the statement said.
'The era of partial deals is over. This is the moment to end the fighting — and to bring them all home, in one decisive move,' the statement added.
Some background: Iran and Israel reached a US-brokered ceasefire earlier this month, after Israel launched a mass bombing campaign on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran and punctuated by US attacks last weekend on three Iranian nuclear sites.
The ceasefire prompted renewed calls from regional leaders, and the families of hostages, for an end to Israel's war in Gaza. But Israel's devastating campaign in the Palestinian strip — which it launched following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks — shows no signs of abating.
Fifty hostages remain in captivity in the enclave, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive, according to the Israeli government.
Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 56,331 Palestinians and injured another 132,632 people, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave.
CNN's Ibrahim Dahman contributed reporting.