Iranian passenger train services between Tehran and Mashhad were temporarily suspended following a reported US strike on a railway bridge connecting the two cities, state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) claimed.
“Following the criminal US attack early this morning on a section of the Tehran-Mashhad railway, passenger train services have been disrupted," IRIB posted on X/Twitter on Thursday.
Passengers stranded due to the disruption reportedly began chanting, "Iranians do not accept humiliation, even at the cost of their own lives."
Repair teams are currently working to fix the damage and restore the route, and other arrangements are being made to transport passengers to Mashhad by road, according to IRIB.
The transportation disruption comes as mourners travel to farewell Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, before he is scheduled to be laid to rest in the city of Mashhad.
IRGC claims US attempt to overshadow Khamenei’s burial
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly claimed on Thursday that the US strike on the railway was a deliberate attempt to overshadow Khamenei’s burial, as reported by Iranian state media.
Iran's state-organized funeral processions, which began last week, serve both as a religious commemoration and a demonstration of continuity for the Islamic Republic following the death of the leader who ruled Iran for nearly four decades.
The week-long procession, which carried Khamenei's body, included public events in Qom, Najaf, and Karbala – important Shiite centers in Iran and Iraq – before reaching the final destination of Mashhad, home to the country's holiest pilgrimage shrine.
US strikes targets key Iranian trade route
The Aq Taqeh Khan railway bridge in northern Iran's Golestan province was also reportedly hit by US strikes overnight, according to Fars news agency.
The particular rail line on which the bridge was located serves as a vital trade link connecting Tehran with its strategic partners, China and Russia. Fars reported that the route continues through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, making it an important land corridor to China imparticular.
This link has gained significance, especially during this year's blockade of Iran's Gulf ports by the US Additionally, this route has been utilized by Russia for cargo shipments to Iran since late 2025.
The agency said repairs to the bridge were expected to be completed quickly.
A new wave of strikes?
Following the US strikes overnight, reports of several explosions were heard in Iran's Bushehr province, home to Iran's nuclear power plant, on Thursday morning, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.
Later, Iranian state media reported that the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant was struck by a US projectile.
Additionally, explosions were also heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas on Thursday, according to Mehr.
Reuters contributed to this report.