Iran’s military announced that its air defense forces shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over the central city of Isfahan. The incident was reported on Tuesday by Press TV, according to Iranian military sources cited in the report.

In addition to the MQ-9, Iran’s forces also downed a Lucas drone over Qasem Island in the Persian Gulf. The report did not specify when the interceptions occurred or provide further details about the drones’ missions or any resulting damage. The announcement underscores ongoing tensions involving Iranian airspace and foreign surveillance activity.

No official response from the United States or other parties was mentioned in the report, leaving the broader implications of the incident unclear.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the ongoing war will end only when Iran’s national interests and conditions are fully protected. He made the remarks while presiding over a cabinet meeting on Monday, which reviewed the country’s wartime situation and evaluated the performance of various ministries in maintaining essential services.

During the meeting, cabinet members discussed the supply of essential goods, the functioning of service institutions, and measures taken to ensure public stability. Pezeshkian praised all sectors for their efforts to provide uninterrupted services during the crisis and emphasized that coordination among state institutions is a key pillar of national strength. He urged that this effort continue until final victory over the aggressors.

The president also commended the armed forces for their bravery in defending Iran’s sovereignty, describing their resistance as a “golden chapter” in the nation’s proud history. He highlighted the unprecedented unity and mass gatherings of the Iranian people over the past month as a reflection of national solidarity and a major force in overcoming the current situation.

A U.S. Department of Defense official told The Wall Street Journal that American forces carried out an airstrike using a 2,000-pound bunker-buster bomb on a large ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. The report said multiple penetrator munitions designed to destroy underground facilities were used in the attack. The strike followed the online circulation of a video showing a massive explosion in Isfahan, which former U.S. President Donald Trump shared on social media without any caption.

The report cited footage from the Baluch human rights group Halvash, showing similar explosions recorded outside Isfahan. NASA satellite data indicated that the blasts occurred near Sofeh Mountain, an area believed to host military installations. The videos showed large fireballs and repeated smaller detonations, consistent with explosions at an ammunition depot.

The incident has drawn attention due to the scale of the explosions and the use of specialized bunker-buster weapons, though official Iranian responses were not mentioned in the report.

Two Chinese container ships have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on their second attempt after initially turning back mid-journey last Friday. According to vessel tracking data, the ships passed through the critical waterway on Monday, sailing close to each other as they exited the Persian Gulf toward open waters. The ships are now moving rapidly toward the Gulf of Oman, Reuters reported.

Marine Traffic data confirmed the crossing, and Kepler analyst Rebecca Gardes noted that these are the first non-Iranian container ships to leave the region since the start of the ongoing conflict. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz but continues to allow passage for vessels from countries it considers friendly or non-hostile.

The successful passage of the two large COSCO Shipping-operated vessels is seen as a sign of diplomatic coordination between China and Iran, suggesting that Tehran may be expanding its list of friendly nations.

US President Donald Trump has signaled that American forces may move to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub in the northern Persian Gulf. The island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports and lies in deep waters suitable for large crude carriers. The United States reportedly struck nearly 90 military targets on the island on March 13 but avoided oil infrastructure. Analysts suggest any US operation would likely be temporary, aimed at pressuring Tehran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz and meet Washington’s demands.

Iran has reinforced its defenses on Kharg Island, deploying surface-to-air missile batteries and warning of severe retaliation if US troops attempt to land. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed that any invading force would face “a rain of fire.” The US has positioned about 5,000 naval personnel and 2,000 paratroopers in the region, fueling speculation about a potential assault.

Despite military readiness, the report notes that a prolonged occupation would be difficult for the US to sustain and unpopular domestically. Trump also indicated that ongoing talks with Iran could still avert a military confrontation.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran has received various proposals and requests for talks from the United States, but these were delivered through intermediaries, including Pakistan, rather than directly. He clarified that since the start of the ongoing conflict with the United States, Iran has not engaged in any direct negotiations.

Regarding a possible ceasefire, Baghaei reaffirmed that Iran remains firm in its previous stance. He emphasized that with continued U.S. military aggression, Tehran’s main priority is to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and existence. His remarks came amid heightened tensions and conflicting statements between the two nations.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had claimed that discussions between the United States and Iran were continuing and progressing positively. Iran directly rejected that claim, asserting that it has not participated in any such talks and that Washington’s statements do not reflect reality.

Mohammad Safa, a senior United Nations diplomat, has resigned warning of a potential nuclear strike risk involving Iran. In a post and open letter shared on social media platform X on Monday, he alleged that the UN is preparing for a situation that could lead to a nuclear attack on Iran. Safa has served as executive director of the international organization Patriotic Vision since 2013, which holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and became its permanent representative to the UN in 2016.

Safa blamed an influential lobby within the UN’s top leadership for his resignation and criticized what he described as a pro-war stance. He emphasized that Tehran, home to nearly 10 million people, is not an empty city and questioned the global response if similar attacks occurred in major Western capitals. He said he resigned to avoid complicity in any crimes against humanity and to warn the world against a potential “nuclear winter.”

The UN has not yet issued any official response to Safa’s resignation or his allegations.

Iran has approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, according to the IRGC-linked Fars news agency. A member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission confirmed the approval, which also includes provisions to restrict passage for vessels from the United States and Israel. The proposal further suggests limiting access for ships from countries participating in sanctions against Iran.

AFP reported that the new toll system has already been announced on Iranian state television, which stated that the plan will be implemented in cooperation with neighboring Oman. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20 percent of the world’s daily oil and gas supply, making it a vital global energy corridor.

International observers are discussing concerns that Tehran could use control over this strategic waterway as a diplomatic pressure tool amid ongoing regional tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged Saudi Arabia to remove United States military forces from its territory, saying that now is the right time to do so. He made the statement in a post on the social media platform X, where he also shared an image of a US aircraft reportedly damaged in an Iranian attack.

In his post, Araghchi emphasized that Iran respects Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation. He added that Iran’s operations are directed against enemies and aggressors who do not respect Arabs or Iranians. His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and follow recent reports of Iranian military actions.

The statement underscores Iran’s continued opposition to US military presence in the region and signals Tehran’s intention to strengthen ties with neighboring Arab states while maintaining a firm stance against perceived external threats.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in a press conference in Tehran on Monday that the country has never attempted to develop nuclear weapons and has no plans to do so in the future. He emphasized that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but expressed concern about whether the nation is truly benefiting from its membership.

Baghaei noted that both Iran’s parliament and the public have growing doubts about the advantages of staying in the NPT. The treaty, which took effect in 1970, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while allowing member states to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Despite Iran’s repeated insistence that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the United States has long disputed this claim and accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons.

The remarks highlight Iran’s ongoing frustration over perceived inequities in the NPT framework and continued international scrutiny of its nuclear activities.

The European Union has extended its sanctions on Iran for another year over alleged human rights violations. According to a statement from the EU Council, the sanctions will now remain in effect until April 13, 2027. The measures include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on exporting equipment that could be used for internal repression or telecommunications surveillance.

The EU Council further stated that EU citizens and entities are prohibited from providing funds or economic resources to the individuals and organizations listed under the sanctions. The current list includes 262 individuals and 53 entities, with one deceased person recently removed from it.

The EU first imposed these sanctions in 2011 in response to serious human rights abuses in Iran and has renewed them annually since then.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheibani Rouf will not leave Beirut and will continue his duties there. The statement came after the Lebanese government ordered the ambassador to leave the country last week following his designation as persona non grata.

Baghaei said at a weekly press conference that Iran’s embassy in Beirut remains open and that, based on discussions with relevant parties, the ambassador will continue his work from his residence. Multiple Lebanese sources told BBC Persian that the ambassador will not depart, and law enforcement cannot forcibly remove him because the embassy is considered Iranian territory under diplomatic norms.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry had accused Sheibani of making comments interfering in the country’s internal politics, marking an unprecedented move in the history of Tehran–Beirut relations.

Iran is preparing to implement a new parliamentary plan to regulate navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian parliament member Alaeddin Boroujerdi. He stated that the plan would be approved as soon as possible and would require all ships to obtain Iran’s permission before passing through the strait. The proposal also includes the introduction of a transit toll for vessels using the route.

Boroujerdi explained that maintaining security and providing services to ships in the area involve costs, which justify the creation of a toll collection framework. In addition to the maritime measures, he suggested that Iran should consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), arguing that the agreement has lost its relevance following attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States.

The proposed measures indicate a potential shift in Iran’s maritime and nuclear policies, reflecting heightened tensions in the region and Tehran’s intent to assert greater control over strategic waterways.

Iran’s military has accused Israel of carrying out an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait, according to a statement published by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The statement claimed that the assault was conducted by what it described as the “Zionist regime” as a pretext to blame the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Iranian military characterized the attack as evidence of Israel’s “malice and inferiority.” It further warned that U.S. bases, military personnel, and interests in the region, along with Israel’s military, security, and economic infrastructure, would be considered legitimate targets by Iran. The statement emphasized that this position would remain unchanged.

The report did not include any response from Israel or Kuwait, and no details were provided about the scale of the attack or possible casualties.

Iran has declared the residences of US and Israeli officials in the Middle East as legitimate targets. The announcement was made by Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zulfaqari, who said the move was a response to attacks on residential areas in several Iranian cities.

In a message posted on social media platform X, Zulfaqari stated that Iran would strike the homes of US and Israeli officials in retaliation for assaults on civilian and residential sites within Iran. In a separate video message, he described the planned response as an answer to what he called terrorist acts by the United States and Israel.

According to Iranian claims, recent conflicts have targeted residential buildings in major Iranian cities. As a result, the country’s armed forces now consider the residences of military and political figures from opposing sides as potential targets.