On July 9, state-aligned outlets focused entirely on the burial of the martyred leader in Mashhad, with his eldest son leading funeral prayers. Coverage emphasized massive crowds, logistical challenges, and the transfer of the body by helicopter to the Imam Reza shrine. Foreign-based media continued reporting on US-Iran military escalation. CENTCOM confirmed strikes on over 170 targets in southern Iran over two nights, including a strategic railway bridge on the Iran-Turkmenistan line. IRGC claimed retaliatory ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan's Al-Azraq airbase. Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted. Trump warned of 20-fold retaliation for any Iranian attack. By evening, explosions were reported again in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The day saw a split narrative: a regime-orchestrated funeral display versus ongoing military exchanges and economic disruption.