An Iranian military spokesperson has warned that if tensions continue to rise, the entire region could become a 'hell' for the United States and Israel. Ebrahim Zulfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said that any attempt to defeat the Islamic Republic would be like sinking into quicksand. Separately, the unit’s commander, Ali Abdollahi, threatened to open the 'gates of hell' for both countries.

Their remarks came after US President Donald Trump reportedly gave Iran 48 hours to reach an agreement or open the Strait of Hormuz, warning that otherwise 'hell would descend' on the country. Abdollahi described Trump as an 'aggressive and warmongering' president and called his threat to attack Iran’s infrastructure a 'desperate, unbalanced, and foolish act.'

Abdollahi further stated that if the United States strikes Iranian infrastructure, Tehran would target American and Israeli military facilities without any restrictions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned Gulf countries about potential radioactive risks following an attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. In a social media post on April 4, 2026, Araghchi said Israel and the United States had already carried out four attacks on the Bushehr facility. He cautioned that any radioactive leak from such incidents would not affect Tehran but could devastate the capitals of Gulf nations.

Araghchi compared the situation to Western outrage over the conflict surrounding Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, questioning the lack of similar concern for Iran’s nuclear site. He also claimed that recent strikes on Iran’s petrochemical installations revealed the true intentions of its adversaries.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential environmental and security risks posed by repeated attacks near sensitive nuclear infrastructure in Iran.

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simai Saraf, claimed that more than 30 Iranian universities have come under direct attack since the country entered into conflict with the United States and Israel. According to him, non-military facilities and essential educational and research infrastructures were deliberately targeted, depriving millions of students of access to education and research.

Reports from the Iranian Red Crescent and local media stated that several buildings at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University were damaged on Friday following attacks by the United States and Israel. Iranian authorities described the strikes on universities as a deliberate attempt to weaken the nation’s scientific and cultural foundations.

The situation underscores growing concerns about the impact of the ongoing conflict on Iran’s education sector and civilian infrastructure, as the country continues to face military pressure from opposing forces.

Iran’s top joint military command claimed on Friday that its advanced new air defense system was responsible for shooting down two US warplanes. The state news agency IRNA reported that one of the aircraft was an F-15E flying over southwestern Iran, while the other, an A-10 Warthog, was participating in a rescue mission for the first aircraft’s crew.

According to IRNA, military spokesperson Ebrahim Zulfaqari described the incident as a major humiliation for the United States and Israel. He credited Iran’s domestically developed air defense technology for the success and said the new systems were being deployed across the country to ensure full control of Iranian airspace.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet officially confirmed any details regarding the reported downing of the aircraft, leaving key aspects of the incident unverified.

The United Nations Security Council has once again postponed a scheduled vote on a proposal aimed at ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a UN official cited by the BBC, the vote, initially planned for Friday and later rescheduled for Saturday, did not take place as planned. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that no new official date has yet been set for the vote.

The proposal, introduced by Bahrain as the current president of the Security Council, calls on member states to take all necessary defensive measures consistent with the situation to secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for at least six months. The repeated delay underscores ongoing procedural or political challenges within the Council regarding the measure.

It remains unclear when the Security Council will reconvene to decide on the proposal, leaving uncertainty over the next steps in addressing maritime security in the strategic waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of devastating consequences if Tehran fails to comply. The warning was delivered through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he reminded followers of his earlier demand for Iran to either reach an agreement or reopen the vital waterway within ten days. He stated that only 48 hours remain before Iran faces what he described as a catastrophic outcome.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, handling a large share of the world’s daily oil shipments. Recent conflicts have heightened tensions in the area, leading to instability in global energy markets. Iran has defended its decision to restrict access, citing its right to self-defense, but said the waterway remains open to ships not linked to the United States, Israel, or their allies.

The situation has added pressure to international diplomatic efforts and raised concerns about potential disruptions to global oil flows.

Iran has announced that ships carrying essential goods will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iranian state media cited by CNN. The decision comes after Tehran had previously restricted navigation in the vital waterway, disrupting global maritime transport.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, and its closure or restriction has significant global trade implications. World leaders have been making strong efforts to ensure the security of the strait, though some commercial vessels have continued limited passage under the earlier restrictions. Iran had previously stated that the waterway would remain open to ships not linked to the interests of the United States, Israel, or their allies.

The new permission for essential goods transport is expected to ease some of the pressure on international shipping and supply chains affected by the earlier restrictions.

Russia has removed additional personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant as safety concerns intensify. The state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed that it had withdrawn more workers due to what it described as a worrying situation. According to Russian media, 198 employees were evacuated from the site on Saturday. Rosatom has been gradually pulling out staff since the outbreak of war in Iran in late February.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that a security worker at the Bushehr facility was killed during a recent attack, which also damaged one of the plant’s buildings due to shockwaves and debris. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev warned that conditions around the plant were moving toward the “worst possible scenario.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned that attacks by the United States and Israel near the Bushehr nuclear site pose serious risks not only to Iran but to the entire Gulf region.

An Iranian attack reportedly damaged a US CH-47 Chinook helicopter stationed in Kuwait on April 3, according to Iranian state-affiliated media Tasnim, which released images of the incident as visual evidence. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Friday night that its air defense units shot down one warplane and five drones or cruise missiles in a single day, describing the event as a 'dark day' for US and Israeli air forces.

The confrontation follows a large-scale military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians on February 28. The attacks reportedly caused significant casualties and extensive infrastructure damage across Iran.

In retaliation, Iranian forces have been conducting missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli positions and regional bases, according to the same source.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied involvement in the March 3 drone attack on the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The organization claimed that Israel was responsible for carrying out the operation. The statement followed a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that the damage from the attack was far greater than Saudi authorities had initially disclosed.

According to that report, while Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry described the incident as a limited fire causing minor damage, the blaze reportedly lasted for several hours and caused extensive destruction. The IRGC condemned the report, asserting that Iran’s armed forces had no connection to the attack and labeling it as an act by “Zionists” consistent with Israel’s regional strategy.

The IRGC further urged Muslim nations to remain alert to what it described as “American-Zionist plots” aimed at destabilizing and destroying the region, calling for vigilance among neighboring countries.

Iran’s embassy in Vienna has sharply criticized European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for her comments on the Hormuz Strait crisis. The embassy accused Kallas of hypocrisy after she called for restoring freedom of navigation in the strait during talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, blaming Iran for attacks on civilian vessels that disrupted maritime traffic.

In two social media posts, the Iranian embassy said Kallas ignored aggressive actions by the United States and Israel while condemning what it described as Iran’s defensive measures. The embassy also challenged her on legal grounds, noting that although Kallas urged Iran to comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Iran is not a signatory to that treaty. It further questioned the quality of her advisers, comparing them to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s loyalists.

The embassy reiterated that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) despite attacks on its peaceful nuclear facilities, which it said endangered regional safety.

Iran’s Joint National Air Defense Headquarters has claimed that its forces have shot down more than 160 drones and several advanced fighter jets and cruise missiles. Brigadier General Alireza Elhami, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the operations were carried out using modern domestic technology capable of detecting and destroying fifth-generation aircraft and advanced unmanned aerial vehicles.

Elhami stated that the success in downing these aircraft, including Hermes and Lucas-type drones, was achieved through new tactics, modern equipment, and innovations in defense systems. He added that these advancements have confused enemy forces attempting to penetrate Iranian airspace.

The report highlights Iran’s emphasis on self-reliant defense capabilities and technological innovation in response to aerial threats, though no independent verification of the claims was mentioned in the source.

A US expert has said that if Iran manages to capture the crew member of a downed American warplane, it would represent a major strategic reward for Tehran. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Laurel Rapp, director of the US and North America program at Chatham House, described the mission to recover the missing crew member as extremely important.

Rapp explained that detaining the US service member would give Iran a powerful bargaining tool. She added that if images of the captured crew were released, it could further damage public perception of an already unpopular war in the United States and potentially shift American attitudes dramatically.

Rapp also warned that such a capture could undermine efforts to de-escalate the conflict, as it might signal that hostage-taking can be used effectively to exert pressure. She noted that the current mission’s objectives remain unclear and increasingly complex.

Arab-British Understanding Council Director Chris Doyle told Al Jazeera that Iran’s downing of a US fighter jet marked a significant moment for Tehran’s global standing. He said the incident demonstrated Iran’s ability to directly challenge the military dominance of the United States, showing that it could engage both symmetrically and asymmetrically in the conflict.

Doyle noted that while the war was initially expected to end quickly, the situation has shifted dramatically. He described apparent disarray within the White House and Pentagon, citing reports of Defense Secretary Hegseth dismissing generals as a sign of weakened US leadership. Unlike past US operations that risked “mission creep,” Doyle said this time the United States is experiencing “mission contraction.” The initial goal of regime change in Iran has been abandoned, with President Donald Trump and other leaders now saying they no longer seek it.

According to Doyle, Iran appears more organized and deliberate in its strategy. He warned that if Washington fails to regain control, its international credibility could suffer further, especially after the costly F-15 jet was shot down.

At least 14 people were killed in a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strikes involved more than 500 drones and several dozen missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intensifying assaults ahead of Catholic Easter, saying the skies should have been silent during the holy period.

Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed damaged residential buildings, debris-strewn streets, and the ruins of a multi-story structure. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported one death and eight injuries in Kyiv, where a veterinary clinic was also hit, killing about 20 animals. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said drone strikes damaged homes in Obukhiv and near a kindergarten and school in Vyshneve.

Authorities confirmed three deaths in the northern Sumy region, two in Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk, and eight more in border areas including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.