U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed doubt about whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive. In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said that no one has seen Khamenei so far and noted that the Iranian leader issued his first statement in writing rather than appearing on camera. Trump added that he has heard reports suggesting Khamenei may not be alive and remarked that if he is, he should act wisely for his country by surrendering.

When asked whether he supports any potential successor to Khamenei, Trump declined to name anyone. The comments come amid uncertainty surrounding Iran’s leadership transition and the lack of public appearances by the new leader.

The situation adds to ongoing speculation about Iran’s political stability following the leadership change, though no official confirmation regarding Khamenei’s condition has been provided.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and three US military bases in Iraq and Kuwait. In a statement released on March 15, 2026, the IRGC said the strikes caused significant impact in Tel Aviv’s industrial area, citing continuous ambulance sirens and Israeli acknowledgment of casualties as evidence of the attack’s severity.

According to the IRGC, the Harir airbase in Erbil, Iraq, and the Ali Al Salem and Arifjan bases in Kuwait, where US forces are stationed, were destroyed by powerful Iranian missiles and drones. The group described the operation as a major retaliatory strike.

As of now, neither Israel nor the United States has issued any official comment or confirmation regarding Iran’s claims, leaving the extent of the reported damage and casualties uncertain.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out attacks targeting Israel and US military bases located in Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait. According to the IRGC, missile and drone strikes destroyed facilities at Erbil’s Harir airbase in Iraq, as well as the Ali Al Salem and Arifjan bases in Kuwait, which host US troops.

In a statement, the IRGC said that the continuous sound of ambulances and sirens in Israel, along with official acknowledgment of rising casualties, demonstrated the impact of missile strikes on Tel Aviv’s industrial sector. The IRGC Navy chief also identified Abu Dhabi’s Al-Dhafra base and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa base as among the targets.

The IRGC further claimed that the attacks specifically targeted Patriot radar systems, fighter aircraft, and fuel storage tanks. The report did not include independent verification of these claims or details on casualties or damage assessments.

At least 15 people were killed in multiple missile strikes across Iran’s central Isfahan province, according to reports published on March 15, 2026. The attacks came amid continued assaults by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets. Israel stated that the strikes were part of a broader campaign aimed at Iran’s military leadership.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military confirmed that two senior Iranian intelligence officials, Abdullah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, were killed in an airstrike in Tehran the previous Friday. Israel claimed the two were responsible for the intelligence directorate of the Khatam al-Anbia Emergency Command, and their deaths would significantly disrupt Iran’s command and control structure.

The developments mark an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, with both sides intensifying military operations and retaliatory threats.

Iran’s national football team has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The team stated that no individual or country has the authority to exclude Iran from the tournament and instead called for the host nation, the United States, to be disqualified if it fails to ensure the safety of participating teams.

The reaction came after Trump warned that Iranian players should reconsider traveling to the United States to compete, citing security concerns amid ongoing military tensions. For nearly two weeks, Iran has been under attack from U.S. and Israeli forces, and the situation remains volatile. Iranian players emphasized that the World Cup is governed by FIFA, not by political leaders, and that their qualification was earned through performance and merit.

According to the schedule, Iran is set to play its group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, the ongoing conflict has cast uncertainty over the team’s participation in the tournament.

Israel announced that it has killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials as part of a series of strikes targeting Iran’s military leadership. According to an Israeli military statement, Abdullah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat were killed in an airstrike carried out in Tehran last Friday. The statement described both as heads of the intelligence directorate of the Khatam al-Anbia Emergency Command, adding that their deaths would significantly impact Iran’s command and control structure.

A Telegram channel linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed Jalali-Nasab’s death but did not comment on Shariat’s condition. Israel further stated that it has conducted more than 400 airstrikes across western and central Iran in the past two weeks since the war began. The report also noted that the United States has been carrying out attacks in other parts of Iran.

On Saturday alone, Israel claimed to have struck over 200 targets, including missile launch sites, air defense systems, and weapons depots, according to the same statement.

A missile strike on an industrial area in the central Iranian city of Isfahan killed at least 15 people on Saturday, according to Iranian media. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the attack, attributed to US and Israeli forces, hit a factory producing heating and cooling equipment while workers were inside. The strike occurred on the 15th day of the conflict that Iran’s Ministry of Health says has killed at least 1,444 people and wounded more than 18,500 since the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28.

Iran’s Ministry of Culture said 56 museums and historic sites had been damaged, including Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan and the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran. UNESCO expressed deep concern, noting that four of Iran’s 29 World Heritage Sites were affected. Separately, Iran’s army confirmed the death of Brigadier General Abdullah Jalali-Nasab in an Israeli attack. Earlier, US forces struck Kharg Island, though operations reportedly continued normally.

Both Washington and Tehran have dismissed the possibility of negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged regional states to expel foreign forces, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the war was entering a decisive phase. Iran launched new missile salvos at Israel, with explosions reported over Jerusalem.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in good health and has no physical problems. He made the remarks on Saturday in an interview with the news outlet MS Now, countering reports that suggested otherwise.

The statement came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Khamenei had been injured and possibly suffered limb loss. Araghchi dismissed those claims, saying the leader had delivered a message the previous day and would continue performing his duties. In his first speech as Supreme Leader, Khamenei hinted at effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and warned that if the United States and Israel continued their military actions against Iran, new fronts would be opened.

The exchange of statements underscores heightened tensions in the region, with Iran signaling a firm stance amid ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and allied forces.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would target US company facilities in the Middle East if its oil infrastructure came under attack. Speaking on Saturday, he told UCJ News Agency that Iranian forces would respond by striking American installations in the region should Iranian sites be hit.

Araghchi urged Iranian forces to act with caution, emphasizing that densely populated areas must not become targets of retaliatory operations. He also commented on the Strait of Hormuz, saying that despite it remaining open, Iran would not allow oil tankers or ships belonging to either enemies or allies to pass through.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect heightened regional tensions and Iran’s warning of potential escalation if its energy assets are threatened.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on branches of US banks in several Gulf countries, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on two Iranian banks. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Naeini said the US bank branches were targeted in direct response to those previous attacks. He warned that if the United States carries out similar operations again, all American bank branches in the region would become legitimate targets for Iran. The incidents included two consecutive attacks in Dubai’s International Financial Centre area, prompting major US financial institutions such as Citigroup and Standard Chartered to evacuate offices and shift employees to remote work.

In a related move, HSBC closed its branch in Qatar and implemented remote work policies for its regional staff following the attacks.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has declared his readiness to assume leadership if the Islamic Republic of Iran collapses. In a message shared on social media, he said preparations are underway to establish a transitional system that would govern the country during an interim period. According to Pahlavi, this system would immediately take charge to restore law, order, security, and freedom once the current regime falls.

Pahlavi stated that he has already begun forming the transitional structure with individuals from both inside and outside Iran. He said capable figures have been identified and evaluated to manage different parts of the interim administration. Saeed Ghasseminejad, an adviser on Iran and financial economics at the U.S.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is reportedly leading the selection process for council members.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, has become a prominent figure among opposition movements abroad. His visibility increased after protests earlier this year, during which some demonstrators called for the restoration of the monarchy.

A large-scale conflict has erupted across the Middle East following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28, 2026. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the region. According to Al Jazeera, the ensuing clashes have caused hundreds of deaths across multiple countries, affecting both military and civilian populations.

The conflict has quickly spread as Iran’s regional allies became involved, intensifying violence in several Middle Eastern nations. The situation has grown increasingly complex, with rising casualties and expanding fronts of confrontation. The report indicates that the fighting has not been confined to Iran but has drawn in neighboring territories as well.

Instability has also emerged in key energy transport routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about disruptions in global energy markets. The ongoing hostilities have heightened regional tensions and created uncertainty over the next phase of the crisis.

Iran’s Unified Combatant Command has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against US-linked oil companies in the Middle East. The statement came after an assault on Kharg Island, a key terminal responsible for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters said in a statement that if Iranian energy facilities are targeted, US-affiliated oil and energy infrastructure will be destroyed and reduced to ashes. The warning followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, though he clarified that oil infrastructure was not targeted.

Trump also cautioned that if Iran or any other party disrupts free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider that restraint. The development marks a sharp escalation in tensions following earlier US reluctance to strike Iranian energy sites and comes amid ongoing regional conflict involving Israel and Iran.

Iran has launched extensive attacks on US military bases located in three Middle Eastern countries, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Iranian Navy claimed responsibility for multiple strikes targeting US installations in the region. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that the attacks were directed at the Al-Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Adiri base in Kuwait, and the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain. The strikes reportedly targeted US Patriot radar systems, military aircraft, and fuel storage tanks.

The escalation follows a US attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean that killed 104 naval personnel. Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami condemned the incident, vowing retaliation. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the IRIS Dena destroyer was returning from a military exercise when it was struck. Hatami described the crew’s deaths as a symbol of courage and duty, pledging to strengthen Iran’s naval capabilities to defend its maritime borders.

The developments mark a sharp rise in regional tensions, with both sides signaling readiness for further military action.

Iran has allowed a limited number of Indian ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing regional conflict. The announcement was made by Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, during a conclave organized by India Today in New Delhi. He did not specify how many ships received permission.

Due to current hostilities, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely suspended. Iran imposed extensive restrictions on navigation in the key waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. The decision to permit certain Indian vessels safe passage is being viewed as an unusual exception under the circumstances.

The development comes as regional tensions remain high, with reports of threats to U.S. oil facilities and military actions across several Middle Eastern countries.