Trita Parsi, co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, stated that he believes the United States and Israel pursued a strategy of targeting Iran’s senior leaders until someone agreed to surrender. He described this as a miscalculation, arguing that Iran’s leadership fears surrender far more than war.

According to Parsi, former U.S. President Donald Trump assumed that deploying aircraft carriers to the Gulf would intimidate Iran into submission. However, Parsi explained that Iran’s rulers believe they can survive a war but not a surrender. He warned that if no one in Iran agrees to surrender, the approach would require not only removing successive leaders but effectively destroying the entire country.

Parsi added that the Trump administration did not understand how long such a campaign might take or whether it was even possible. During that time, he said, Iran’s strategy would be to inflict as much damage as possible on the United States, its forces, the global economy, neighboring states, and international markets to make such an initiative prohibitively costly.

Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency has released a new video showing thousands of drones lined up inside underground tunnels built deep beneath Tehran. The footage depicts drones mounted on rocket launchers, with Iranian flags and images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei displayed on the tunnel walls. The video appears intended to showcase the country’s military capabilities.

The report did not provide specific details such as the time, location, or types of drones featured in the footage. However, the release is believed to have come amid heightened regional tensions. The publication of the video follows a series of recent developments involving Iran and its regional activities, as noted in related news items.

The timing and content of the video suggest an effort by Iran to project strength, though the absence of technical or operational details leaves key aspects of the footage unverified.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a morning airstrike jointly conducted by the United States and Israel, according to reports published on March 2, 2026. The attack targeted a compound in central Tehran where Khamenei and several senior military and intelligence officials were meeting. The operation followed months of surveillance on Khamenei’s daily movements and was executed after receiving critical intelligence only hours earlier. Israeli jets reportedly dropped around 30 bombs on the compound at 9:40 a.m. local time.

The intelligence that enabled the strike reportedly originated from the CIA and was shared with Israel, which carried out the direct assault on Iranian leadership targets. The United States focused on military facilities. The attack also killed three senior Iranian defense officials, including Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, and IRGC Commander General Mohammad Pakpour. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed he was safe after strikes hit his office.

The long-term impact of Khamenei’s death on Iran’s internal stability and regional conflicts remains unclear, though reports suggest Iran had succession plans prepared in advance.

Iran’s military announced on Monday that it carried out attacks targeting the US air base Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and vessels operating in the northern Indian Ocean. The statement said the strikes were launched by Iran’s ground and naval missile units from separate positions.

According to the Iranian military’s statement, a total of 15 cruise missiles were used in the attacks. The announcement followed the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike, which the Iranian side linked to its retaliatory actions.

The report did not provide details about potential damage, casualties, or responses from the United States or other parties involved.

Israel launched new large-scale airstrikes on Iran’s capital Tehran early Monday, according to reports. The Israeli Defense Forces said their fighter jets struck central areas of Tehran. Iran’s Fars news agency reported that at least two people were killed in the central city of Sanandaj following the attacks.

According to the report, enemy missiles hit Sanandaj, destroying several residential buildings near a police station. Iran’s Tasnim news agency stated that US and Israeli forces fired six missiles into various parts of the city, including densely populated areas. Smoke was also seen near Kermanshah airport following the strikes.

The reports indicate a coordinated military action involving both the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, though further details on casualties or official responses were not provided in the source.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is willing to meet with Iran’s new leadership following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an interview with the American media outlet The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump stated that Iran’s new leaders have expressed a desire to engage in talks with the United States, and he has agreed to do so. He added that such discussions should have taken place earlier.

The remarks come amid shifting dynamics in Iran after the death of its supreme leader and amid heightened regional tensions. The report also referenced related developments, including Iran’s claim of a missile strike on the Israeli prime minister’s office and U.S. acknowledgment of three aircraft crashes in Kuwait. Additionally, the United States and Gulf allies have described Iran’s recent actions as dangerous.

The potential dialogue between Washington and Tehran could mark a significant turn in U.S.–Iran relations, though no timeline or agenda for the talks has yet been disclosed.

The death toll from an attack on a primary girls’ school in Minab, a city in southern Iran, has risen to around 180, according to a report published on Monday morning by Al Jazeera. The attack, reportedly carried out jointly by the United States and Israel, took place on Saturday. Since then, the number of casualties has continued to increase.

Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at Iran’s Ministry of Health, stated that approximately 180 children were killed in the Israeli strike on the Minab girls’ school. He added that similar missiles had been used just hours earlier in an attack on Tehran’s Gandhi Hospital.

The incident has drawn attention amid heightened regional tensions, with the report highlighting the growing humanitarian toll in Iran’s southern region following the strike.

At least 22 people were killed in Pakistan and Iraq during protests following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran confirmed on Sunday morning that Khamenei was killed in a U.S. and Israeli airstrike on his palace compound in Tehran. In Karachi, demonstrators attacked the U.S. consulate, entering the reception area before security forces opened fire, killing 10 people and injuring 30 others. Another 10 people were killed in a separate incident in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Baghdad, two protesters died after security forces fired on crowds who had entered the Green Zone near the U.S. embassy.

Khamenei, aged 86, had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for nearly four decades. His death triggered widespread anger and protests across the region, particularly targeting U.S. diplomatic missions. The Guardian was cited as the source confirming details of the attack and subsequent unrest.

The events have heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the protests signaling potential instability in countries hosting U.S. diplomatic facilities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials were killed in a joint United States and Israeli strike, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The attack occurred early Sunday, resulting in the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, along with senior figures including Ali Shamkhani, Abdur Rahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour.

President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as a direct declaration of war against the Muslim world, particularly the Shia community. He described Khamenei’s death as the greatest test facing the Islamic world. IRNA confirmed the deaths of several influential figures close to Khamenei, including Shamkhani, who had recently overseen nuclear program talks with the US.

The deaths of Mousavi, Nasirzadeh, and Pakpour mark a major blow to Iran’s military leadership. The report noted that Mousavi had been instrumental in Iran’s missile and drone programs, while Nasirzadeh and Pakpour were key defense figures. The incident is expected to have significant repercussions for Iran’s political and military stability.

US President Donald Trump has provided several updates on the ongoing joint military operation by Washington and Tel Aviv against Iran. Speaking to multiple American media outlets by phone, Trump said that 48 Iranian leaders had been killed and that the operation was progressing rapidly. According to a BBC live update on Monday, March 2, 2026, Trump described the campaign as advancing ahead of schedule and fulfilling all objectives.

In interviews with Fox News, CNBC, and other outlets, Trump claimed that Iranian expatriates in the United States were celebrating reports of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death. He highlighted the festive atmosphere among the large Iranian community in Los Angeles. In a separate interview with The Atlantic, Trump stated that Iran’s post-Khamenei leadership had signaled readiness to resume negotiations that had collapsed the previous week.

Trump added that he was willing to engage in talks with the new Iranian leadership, saying that such discussions should have occurred earlier. The situation marks a potential shift in US-Iran relations following the reported leadership change in Tehran.

The United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran on Friday, striking 24 of its 31 provinces. According to Iranian state media, at least 201 people were killed, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military and civilian officials. In retaliation, Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US positions across the Middle East.

Israeli media reported that at least 40 buildings were destroyed in Tel Aviv, forcing more than 200 residents to relocate to hotels. In Beit Shammash, nine people were killed and 27 injured. Iran also targeted US bases in the region, claiming strikes on 27 installations. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar were hit for a second consecutive day, with explosions reported in Doha and Dubai. The UAE Defense Ministry said it intercepted most of the 165 ballistic missiles and 541 drones launched by Iran, though three expatriates were killed and 58 injured.

The escalation followed the collapse of nuclear talks between Iran and the US, which had resumed in Muscat and Geneva earlier in February.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has sent a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the UN Security Council condemning the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. In the letter, Araghchi described the assault as a violation of international law and called for accountability from the governments of both countries.

The letter urged the UN to fulfill its responsibilities under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. Iran requested that the organization take immediate, firm, and effective measures to ensure full accountability for what it termed a brutal act of terrorism.

The report also noted that the United States and its Gulf allies have described Iran’s recent actions as dangerous, reflecting heightened regional tensions following the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before Khamenei could attack him. Trump made the statement in an interview with ABC News, saying Iran had tried twice to target him but he struck first. His remarks are being linked to an alleged 2024 assassination attempt against him involving Iran.

Iranian media confirmed that Khamenei was killed in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday, February 28. The attacks reportedly caused extensive damage in Iran. Semi-official news agencies Tasnim and Fars confirmed Khamenei’s death on Sunday, March 1.

Following the death, Iran’s government declared seven days of public holiday and forty days of national mourning, marking a significant moment of political and regional tension.

Iran has declared that it will not engage in discussions with the United States. The country’s National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, made the statement on Monday through a post on the social media platform X. His remarks came after U.S. media reports claimed that Iran was pushing to restart nuclear negotiations with Washington.

Larijani rejected a Wall Street Journal report alleging that, following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he had urged renewed nuclear talks through Omani mediators. He dismissed the report as false and reaffirmed that Iran would not hold talks with the United States.

The statement underscores Tehran’s continued resistance to U.S. diplomatic overtures amid ongoing speculation about possible backchannel efforts to revive nuclear discussions.

At least 20 people were killed in an Israeli attack on Niloufar Square in Tehran, according to reports published on March 2, 2026. The strike damaged Gandhi Hospital and a police building in the Iranian capital. Al Jazeera reported explosions in both eastern and western Iran, raising fears that not only military headquarters but also civilian residential areas were being targeted.

Iran’s Mehr news agency said the death toll in the Niloufar Square attack exceeded 20, indicating the broad scope of the assault across the country. The attacks reportedly began in Tehran’s Pasteur area, where the offices of Iran’s Supreme Leader and President are located. An official also stated that a separate strike on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, killed 180 people.

The reports suggest a significant escalation in hostilities, with both political and civilian sites affected, though details on the broader military or diplomatic response were not provided in the source.