The United States carried out strikes on Iranian infrastructure early Wednesday, targeting railway bridges near the northeastern city of Mashhad amid the burial ceremonies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s late supreme leader. The attacks mark the most significant US military action against Iran in several weeks and reflect escalating tensions following a breakdown in negotiations aimed at ending ongoing hostilities.
Khamenei was killed in February during the initial phase of a conflict involving US and Israeli airstrikes. His burial on Wednesday in Mashhad, one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites, drew massive crowds across Iran and Iraq. The funeral procession included the transportation of coffins for Khamenei and several family members who died in the same February attack. Supporters at the event carried red flags symbolizing calls for retaliation against the United States, while many wore black in mourning.
The strikes reportedly disrupted passenger rail services between Tehran and Mashhad by targeting multiple bridges along the route, including one approximately 55 kilometers from Mashhad. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard identified a hit on a railway bridge in Golestan province, part of a critical international corridor linking Iran to Central Asia. Additionally, strikes affected electricity infrastructure in southeastern Iran, temporarily cutting power to parts of that region. Iranian authorities said repair efforts were underway to restore services.
The US Central Command stated that about 90 Iranian military targets were struck in a bid to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for global oil transport. The intensified US offensive comes amid reports of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strait, which has fueled the latest exchange of military actions between the two countries.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on US military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Kuwaiti and Jordanian officials reported intercepting multiple Iranian missiles and drones, with some injuries attributed to falling debris. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any external intervention in the region would provoke a severe response, and senior Iranian officials emphasized that control over the Strait of Hormuz would be determined solely under Iranian terms, rejecting US pressure.
The death toll from the recent clashes in Iran was reported to be at least 14, with nearly 80 injured, according to Iranian health authorities. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US strikes as a provocation timed to coincide with the funeral proceedings, accusing the American leadership of undermining Iran’s national interests through “broken promises” and aggressive actions.
US officials indicated that the current escalation could unfold over days or weeks, contingent on Tehran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz. Amid the instability, oil tanker traffic through the waterway has nearly halted, with just two vessels transiting in the early hours of Wednesday—a reflection of growing concerns about regional security and the broader implications for global energy markets.