US Politics Live Updates: US tipped off about ‘new plot to kill Trump’

A US strike targeted a major port in south-eastern Iran, state media reports.

Photos show damage to the maritime traffic control tower at Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman.

Authorities are assessing the impact of the damage.

No immediate casualties were announced by Iranian officials.

Behind-the-scenes diplomacy is currently happening to ease tensions in the US-Iran conflict, according to a US official.

The US has been deliberately striking and then pausing to avoid escalation and let diplomacy work, the official told CNN. It is maintaining a target list as leverage.

Multiple officials said there were preparations for potential US strikes if needed tonight, but they are currently letting diplomacy take the lead.

Eight men have been indicted in the US on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in a thwarted drone and sniper attack on the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House in June.

The indictment, returned in Ohio, charges all eight in two separate conspiracies, one to provide material support to terrorists and a second to commit murder on federal government territory and to murder a federal government official.

It remains unclear from the court records how close the would-be attackers could have come to being able to carry out the plan had it not been thwarted.

According to the new indictment, the plot began in May, when the group began amassing money, firearms, ammunition, body armour, explosives, drones, medical equipment, communications equipment and other items.

Trump’s political opponents in the US are urging Congress to rein in the president’s war powers as new fighting erupts in the Middle East.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey (below) is warning the Trump administration is continuing the conflict despite congressional opposition.

“Trump is attacking Iran again and saying the ceasefire is ‘over,’ but Congress already voted on a bipartisan basis to end this reckless war,” he wrote on X.

“If Trump won’t stop bombing, Congress must cut off funding. I am leading the effort to slash Trump’s war machine. End the war now.”

In June, both houses of Congress approved the bipartisan War Powers Resolution, which ordered the president to halt unauthorised military operations unless they’re backed by legislators.

New video shows US Navy fighter jets taking off from an aircraft carrier for night-time missions over the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN captured the footage of the warplanes on Thursday departing for “routine” sorties from the USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in the Arabian Sea.

The aircraft carrier’s captain told the thousands of crew members on board that things were heating up and they should maintain readiness, as they always do.

While preparing for potential strikes, fighter pilots also carried out routine defensive operations, with flights taking off throughout the day and night.

The Israeli secret service shared fresh information with the United States about an alleged Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal article, citing individuals familiar with the matter, revealed that Israeli intelligence passed new details to American officials about an updated Iranian plan to assassinate the president.

Since a US drone killed Revolutionary Guard Corps general Qassem Soleimani in 2020, the Iranian regime has repeatedly pledged retaliation against Trump.

This week during the NATO summit in Türkey, Trump spoke about the threats facing him.

“I’m on every list. I saw this morning that I’m on every single one of their lists. And so far, I guess I’ve been a little bit lucky, but that maybe doesn’t last very long,” the president said.

The US military has rejected claims by Iranian state media over ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Iran does not control the strategically vital waters.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said that “Iranian state media claims that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only permitted through routes designated by Iran” is a “CLAIM” and that the “TRUTH” is “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz”.

CENTCOM wrote that “since early May, US forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the vital international trade corridor”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the US-Iran ceasefire is now “fraying around the edges” due to the escalation in hostilities.

Speaking on Today this morning, she acknowledged Australians were worried about the cost-of-living impacts.

“People have been feeling it in the hip pocket, which is why we have been calling for some time for de-escalation, ceasefire … I think everybody wants a return to stability.”

She said Australia joined the international community in seeking stability, not just in the Middle East, but to the global economy.

Mourners at the concluding funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have held placards with the words “Kill Trump”.

The ceremonies have culminated with a final procession and televised prayer at Imam Reza shrine in the city of Mashhad ahead of a private funeral.

Khamenei’s eldest son – Mostafa Khamenei – led the funeral prayer at the shrine, which was not in the original plans reported by Iranian media.

Current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei could not be seen in state media footage.

A regional source had said earlier that the new supreme leader was unlikely to make an appearance at the funeral, due to advice by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.