War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

India’s appetite for electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas vehicles accelerated after the Iran war triggered fuel price hikes, the president of the country’s auto dealers’ body said, with such models reaching a record share of passenger vehicle sales in June, Reuters reports.

Alternative-fuel vehicles accounted for 40.35 per cent of PV retail sales in June, up from about 38pc a month earlier, as consumers increasingly sought cheaper running costs after petrol and diesel prices were raised several times in May.

Iran’s supreme leader has reappointed Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as head of the country’s judiciary, Al Jazeera reports.

In a decree, Mojtaba Khamenei praised Mohseni-Ejei’s “valuable and sincere efforts” as judiciary chief.

In January, Mohseni-Ejei pledged to fast-track trials for those arrested during weeks of antigovernment protests that began in December and continued into the new year.

Khamenei’s funeral procession in Tehran saw mourners carrying a banner reading “Kill Trump,” with a bullet depicted passing through the word “Trump,” according to Al Jazeera.

Other mourners carried placards featuring images of US Vice President JD Vance, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside the words, “There will be blood.”

The funeral procession for Iran’s assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei and three family members began in Tehran, state television reported, AFP reports.

“The funeral procession for the revered body of the martyred Imam and leader began a few moments ago in the capital,” Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting posted on Telegram, adding that it was attended by a “massive crowd” of mourners.

Khamenei was assassinated on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthis, has told Iranian media that the US and Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader because of his efforts to support the liberation of Palestine, Al Jazeera reports.

Al-Bukhaiti described Khamenei as a symbol of resistance and freedom for nations seeking independence from the US and Israel’s domination, according to Iran’s Press TV.

“His intellectual and political vision across the Islamic world, together with his efforts to liberate Palestine, were among the main reasons the West became determined to assassinate him,” al-Bukhaiti said.

Iran’s parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf says the US and Israel were “forced to practically” acknowledge Iran’s regional allies in the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), AlJazeera reports.

He made the comments during a meeting with Yemen’s Vice President Mohammed Al-Nuaimi.

“The United States and Israel were forced to practically recognise Iran’s allies in the Axis of Resistance, and this is one of the achievements of this memorandum,” Ghalibaf said.

He added that the memorandum was a “defeat for the United States and an achievement for the Axis of Resistance, both militarily and politically”.

Ghalibaf warned that the US and Israel would “resort to war” if they perceived any Iranian weakness.

Oil prices inches lower after OPEC+ agreed to further increase its output targets from August while exports from key producers via the Strait of Hormuz are recovering, potentially adding to global supplies, according to Reuters.

Brent crude futures slid 24 cents, or 0.33 per cent, to $71.88 a barrel by 0010 GMT after settling 0.45pc higher on Friday. US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.58 a barrel, down 11 cents, or 0.16pc.

Iran’s top negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf, in a meeting with a Hezbollah delegation, said Iran was “negotiating honestly and with a fighting spirit”, according to Tasnim.

“And we tell the countries of the region that America and the Zionist entity will not bring security and strength,” he said.

“The enemy realises that establishing peace in the region, Lebanon, and the Middle East is impossible except through the Iranian path,” the parliament speaker said.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that diplomacy should be used to preserve military gains and must be backed by defence capabilities, IRNA reports.

In a meeting with Hamas political leader Mohammad Darwish, Ghalibaf said negotiations should be capable of resolving military conflicts while safeguarding the achievements of fighters.

He added that diplomacy could succeed only if the country remained prepared to defend itself.

He said that during negotiations with the United States, which he headed on Iran’s behalf, Tehran insisted that respect for the territorial integrity of regional countries and an end to military action against Iran’s allies in the resistance front be included in any agreement.

He said that those provisions were incorporated into the MoU with Washington.

Ghalibaf said Iran would continue supporting Muslim nations and allied resistance groups in line with the guidance of the country’s leadership, adding that such support could take military or political forms, including negotiations.

Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam extends gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for participating in the funeral ceremony of the assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

“I wish to convey my profound gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and all other distinguished officials, as well as eminent religious scholars, political figures and cultural personalities for their valuable presence at this historic occasion and for expressing their solidarity with the Government and People of Iran,” he said.

“This meaningful and historical gesture reflects the depth of the historic ties and shared values that have united Iran and Pakistan through the trials and triumphs of history.”

The envoy said the two countries “have consistently shared one another’s joys and sorrows, standing shoulder to shoulder in a spirit of solidarity, brotherhood, and mutual support”.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the “countries of the region now know that achieving security and economic growth depends on cooperation among their states”, Tasnim reports.

“We sincerely believe that Islamic countries must stand by each other’s side and renounce their differences,” he was quoted as saying.

He made the remarks in a meeting with a Hezbollah delegation.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani has discussed the latest regional developments, particularly in Lebanon, in a telephonic conversation with French foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot.

“During the call, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations and ways to strengthen them,” the statement by the Qatari foreign ministry said on X.

“They also discussed the latest regional developments, particularly in Lebanon, and diplomatic efforts to promote security and stability in the region following the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as other issues of mutual interest.”

Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has reappointed the incumbent judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, as the head of the country’s judicial branch, Iran’s ISNA news agency reports.

Iranian army chief, Major General Amir Hatami, says that Iran will never abandon its quest for revenge over the assassination of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Those who committed this crime must know that the nation of Iran and all of us will never cease in our pursuit of and demand for justice. We will not let go of them, and this is a definitive decision that we will follow through until we achieve results,” said Hatami.

Kuwait’s Oil Minister Tariq Al-Roumi has stressed on the importance of coordination and consultations between oil-producing countries to face changes in energy markets, Reuters reports, citing the Kuwaiti state news agency Kuna.

Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower today, as investor caution grew following a lack of progress in indirect peace talks between Iran and the United States, which concluded without a breakthrough.

Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index eased 0.3pc, hit by a 0.5pc fall in Al Rajhi Bank.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector saw stronger growth in June, driven by the fastest increase in new business in four months.

However, companies continued to face high costs and declining export demand, a survey showed. In Qatar, the index rose 0.3pc, with the region’s biggest lender Qatar National Bank gaining 0.2pc.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index advanced 1.2pc, led by a 1.9pc rise in Commercial International Bank.

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Bandar Abbas International Airport in southern Iran has resumed commercial flights after a four-month suspension, Al Jazeera reports.

The first passenger flight from Mashhad landed on Saturday afternoon, Fars news agency reported.

Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province, about 1,000km (621 miles) south of Tehran on the Strait of Hormuz.

The airport was closed for reconstruction and repairs following damage sustained during the US-Israeli bombardment. Authorities expect a gradual return of flights to Tehran, Shiraz and Yazd in the coming days.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU)’s implementation was “difficult but possible,” ISNA reports.

In a meeting with a Hamas leader, Ghalibaf stressed that diplomacy and negotiation must “untie the military knot and preserve and consolidate the achievements of the fighters”.

“Today, the memorandum of understanding is being implemented, and its implementation is difficult but possible,” he was quoted as saying.

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali says he wants to restore to this season’s calendar at least one of the two races in the Middle East which were cancelled because of the war in the region.

The two rounds scheduled for Bahrain and Jeddah in April were scrapped following the attack by the US and Israel on Iran, which spilt over to all the Arab Gulf states.

“If there is something that we can announce also related to the possibility of seeing if there is any space for what has not been done so far, we’re going to do it, in the right moment and the right conditions,” the Italian told UK broadcaster Sky Sport on Saturday evening.

“That is really the hope, because if all the conditions are right, we’re going to go ahead with our plan. If there is a chance, why not?” The F1 boss said he hoped they would go ahead.

“Our duty is to make sure we are ready to run our calendar as it is planned,” he said. “And we are monitoring the situation because it would be an incredibly positive message for sport, and also politically, that we are moving in this direction, because if this is happening, it is something we can say is behind us.”

The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, says Iranians called for resistance and revenge during the farewell and funeral ceremony for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, IRNA reports.

In a message issued today, Zolqadr said, “Keep your eyes fixed on Iran in the coming days. This is the very Iran you thought you could bring to its knees in just a matter of days!”

He added, “This overwhelming sea of people, who have come to bid farewell to and lay their Leader to rest, are loudly chanting two slogans: Resistance against the enemies and revenge for the blood of Iran’s martyred Leader.”