Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has denied allegations that attacks were launched from Iranian territory toward Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan. Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Baghaei said reports claiming that Iranian ammunition was fired toward those countries last week were baseless. He asserted that no attacks had been initiated from Iran against any of the mentioned nations.

Baghaei further suggested that some of the alleged attacks might have been staged. He warned that hostile parties could be attempting to create divisions between Iran and other countries by orchestrating such incidents. His remarks came amid heightened regional sensitivities and media reports citing cross-border hostilities.

The statement reflects Iran’s effort to dismiss accusations that could strain its relations with neighboring states, while also signaling concern about external attempts to provoke diplomatic friction.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iran on the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader. Russian media reported that Putin expressed confidence that the new leader would continue his father’s legacy and challenge U.S. dominance. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was officially chosen to succeed his father.

According to the report, Putin praised the decision and conveyed his support for Iran’s leadership transition. In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump was reportedly displeased with the outcome. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said Trump told him he was “not happy” about Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection, though the U.S. president has not made any public statement on the matter.

The differing reactions from Moscow and Washington highlight the geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran’s leadership change, with Russia signaling alignment and the United States expressing concern.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that discussions about a ceasefire are not relevant at this moment due to the ongoing military conflict. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he emphasized that the situation remains too volatile for mediation efforts to be meaningful.

Baghaei explained that Iran’s focus is on defending its homeland, asserting that the country neither initiated nor provoked the current war. He described the conflict as one imposed on Iran, calling it a war of necessity rather than of choice.

The statement reflects Iran’s position that the continuation of hostilities leaves little room for diplomatic negotiation until the situation stabilizes.

Iran’s military reported that 104 crew members were killed and 32 others injured when the Iranian warship IRIS Dinar was sunk by a U.S. Navy attack near Sri Lanka’s coast on March 4. The Turkish-based Anadolu Agency cited the Iranian army’s statement, while Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed the incident and the casualty figures.

According to the IRNA report, the warship was returning home after participating in a naval exercise held in India when it came under attack. Washington confirmed that a U.S. submarine launched a torpedo strike that caused the vessel to sink. Sri Lankan authorities said they began a rescue operation immediately after receiving a distress signal from the ship, rescuing 32 crew members who were later hospitalized.

The incident marks a severe escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, though no further official responses or diplomatic actions were detailed in the reports.

Mojtaba Khamenei has assumed the role of Iran’s new Supreme Leader amid a joint attack by the United States and Israel. Iran’s president, parliament speaker, foreign minister, and all major political and military institutions have expressed strong support for him. However, he faces a series of serious challenges as he takes office.

According to Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Tohid Asadi, the new leader inherits a crippled economy weakened by years of international sanctions and internal mismanagement. Domestically, he must also contend with social divisions and opposition groups. Following his appointment, supporters gathered in several parts of Tehran, including the politically significant Enqelab Square, where some were attacked.

Asadi described Iran as a polarized society, noting that widespread protests erupted in late December over economic issues that later expanded to include political and social demands. It remains uncertain whether the new Supreme Leader will bring change or effectively address these complex challenges.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects the country’s highest religious authority. The announcement was broadcast on Iran’s state media on Monday night, Bangladesh time, with the assembly urging citizens to support the new leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed on February 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials. Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly survived because he was not in Tehran during the attack, though his exact location remains unknown. Reuters cited two Iranian sources confirming his survival.

Mojtaba Khamenei, known for his close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has long held influence in Iran’s religious and political circles. His appointment signals continuity in Iran’s leadership amid heightened regional tensions.

The Israeli military announced that it carried out a series of airstrikes on Iran’s central region targeting what it described as the country’s ‘regime infrastructure’. The attacks took place on Monday and mark the first such Israeli operation since Iran appointed a new supreme leader, according to a report by AFP.

In a brief statement, the Israeli army confirmed that it had initiated fresh air operations inside Iran while simultaneously conducting strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The military did not provide further details about the scale or specific targets of the attacks.

The report did not include information on casualties or damage, and no immediate response from Iranian authorities was mentioned.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. According to Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Trump told him he was “not happy” about Mojtaba’s appointment. However, Trump has not yet made any public statement on the matter.

Earlier, in an interview with ABC News, Trump said that Iran’s new Supreme Leader would not last long without his approval. He stated that the leader “must get approval from us,” otherwise he would not remain in power for long.

Before Mojtaba Khamenei’s name was announced, Ayatollah Mohsen Heydari Alekasir, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, said that the country’s top leader should be someone “whom enemies hate, not praise.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with the country’s armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have declared allegiance to the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The announcement was made through a statement published by state media on March 9, 2026. The military described Khamenei as just, wise, devout, and prudent, while the Assembly of Experts was praised for its intelligence in selecting him.

The IRGC congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei and formally recognized him as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, pledging to follow and implement all his directives. In addition to the IRGC, Iran’s president, parliament speaker, Basij paramilitary force, Supreme National Security Council, police, and the defense and intelligence ministries all expressed full support for the appointment.

The unified declarations from Iran’s political and security institutions indicate a consolidated endorsement of Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership across the state apparatus, as reported by Press TV and Al Jazeera.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that his country will not surrender, rejecting former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assumption that Iran would do so after a few days of fighting. Speaking on March 9, 2026, Ghalibaf warned that any Gulf country allowing its bases to be used for attacks on Tehran would face retaliatory action. He emphasized that the Iranian nation would fight and struggle rather than submit.

Ghalibaf reiterated the statement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson, asserting that Iran would retaliate without hesitation if attacks on its infrastructure continued. His remarks came amid reports of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran’s governance infrastructure and renewed Iranian attacks on Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The comments reflect heightened regional tensions and signal Iran’s readiness to respond militarily to perceived threats, underscoring the fragile security situation in the Gulf region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader will not remain in power for long without his approval. Speaking to ABC News, Trump stated that the new leader must seek authorization from the United States, otherwise his leadership will not endure.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader. The decision was made by the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which elects the supreme leader. The assembly also called on citizens to support the new leader following the announcement.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials, according to Iranian state media reports.

Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, a move analysts interpret as both a signal of continuity within the country’s religious leadership and a message of defiance toward the United States and Israel. The appointment was reported on March 9, 2026, with observers noting that the decision underscores Iran’s intent to maintain its existing ideological and political direction.

Rami Khouri, a political analyst at the American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera that the selection represents a challenge to Washington and Tel Aviv, suggesting Iran’s leadership is asserting resilience against external pressure. He described Mojtaba as potentially even more hardline than his late father, reinforcing the image of steadfastness within Iran’s ruling structure.

Analysts further noted that Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation reflects the entrenched power of Iran’s religious and political establishment. The long-term consequences of this leadership transition remain to be seen.

The Trump administration is spending about $1 billion per day in the ongoing war with Iran, according to US congressional sources cited by journalist Nancy Youssef. In the first nine days of fighting, more than 1,750 people have been killed across Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues, total US expenditures could exceed $200 billion. The Pentagon has already spent $630 million on pre-war deployments, and projections suggest costs could reach $215 billion if the war lasts until September.

The conflict has triggered widespread regional escalation. Iran has launched missile strikes on Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, while Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 394 people, including 83 children, and displaced over half a million. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claims it can sustain the current intensity of fighting for six months. Meanwhile, Iran’s new Supreme Leader has been selected following Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, though his name has not yet been announced.

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s new leader would not survive long without his approval, while Israel threatened to target whoever assumes the role. Iran’s leadership has vowed to resist and continue the war, calling for national unity and defense of its territory.

Iran has announced Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The decision was made by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 religious figures responsible for selecting the country’s highest authority. The announcement was broadcast by Iran’s state media on Monday night, Bangladesh time, and the Assembly called for public support for the new leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in a joint U.S.-Israel attack that also claimed the lives of his wife, daughter, and several senior military officials. According to Al Jazeera, Mojtaba Khamenei, aged 56, has never held a government position or contested an election but has long been influential in Iran’s internal politics and maintains close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated two days earlier that Mojtaba’s appointment would be unacceptable to Washington, insisting on U.S. involvement in Iran’s leadership selection. The Assembly of Experts, however, proceeded with the appointment, making Mojtaba Khamenei the third Supreme Leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying four radar units connected to the United States’ THAAD anti-missile defense system within the past 24 hours, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The Iranian state news agency IRNA stated that the radars were struck using precision-guided missiles during an operation targeting U.S. missile defense infrastructure.

The THAAD system is a key component of the U.S. missile defense network, designed to detect and intercept ballistic missiles in midair. The IRGC described the strikes as part of an ongoing military campaign, though no further operational details were provided in the report.

The report did not specify the location of the attack or provide independent verification of the IRGC’s claim.