Iran has denied reports of any talks with the United States and declared that it will continue fighting until achieving what it calls 'complete victory.' The statement came from the country’s top military command on Monday, according to Iran’s state television, quoting Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbia Central Headquarters. He said Iran’s armed forces remain proud, victorious, and steadfast in defending the nation’s integrity.

The declaration followed US President Donald Trump’s claim that discussions were underway between Tehran and Washington. Iran has consistently denied engaging in any negotiations with the United States, though its foreign minister continues to maintain contact with counterparts in other regional countries. General Aliabadi did not clarify what 'complete victory' specifically means, but the statement is seen as a warning against making concessions in any potential talks.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the ongoing war could only end if Iran received assurances that no further attacks would be carried out against it, according to the Associated Press.

Retired Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr has been officially appointed as the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The announcement was made on March 24, 2026, by Seyed Mehdi Tabatabai, deputy head of communications at the Iranian president’s office, through a post on social media platform X. The appointment was made by order of the president and approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei.

Zolqadr replaces Ali Larijani, who was killed last week in an Israeli-American attack. Larijani had served as the council’s head since August 2025. Zolqadr, a key figure in Iran’s political and security establishment, previously held senior roles in the judiciary, including responsibilities for strategic, social-security, and crime prevention affairs.

Before this appointment, Zolqadr served as secretary of the Supreme Advisory Council and earlier as deputy interior minister for security under former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Tehran and is reportedly under international sanctions for his involvement in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States, saying that any attack on its energy facilities will lead to US forces being rendered inoperative. Senior Iranian military official Mohsen Rezaei, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, made the statement on Tuesday, March 24, following threats from former US President Donald Trump to strike Iran’s energy and power infrastructure. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also warned that American ships in the Arabian Gulf would be sunk if such attacks occur.

According to Iranian media, the country’s energy infrastructure has already suffered damage from strikes by the United States and Israel. Tehran claimed that these attacks took place only hours after Trump withdrew his earlier threat to target Iran’s power facilities. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the US targeted a gas administration building and a gas pressure control station on Kaveh Street in Isfahan.

The exchange of threats underscores escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, with both sides accusing each other of aggression in the region.

A gas pipeline connected to a power plant in Khorramshahr, a city in southwestern Iran, was targeted in an attack reportedly carried out by US and Israeli forces. The incident occurred on March 24, 2026, but local authorities confirmed that the plant’s operations were not disrupted and no casualties were reported. The semi-official Fars News Agency verified the information.

According to the governor of Khorramshahr, a projectile struck the outer section of the gas pipeline processing station at the facility. Immediate preventive measures were taken following the strike, which helped avoid major damage. The power plant continues to operate normally, and electricity supply to local residents remains unaffected.

The report did not mention any further military or political response following the attack, and the extent of material damage beyond the initial impact remains unspecified.

Iran has reportedly launched missiles toward Israel in what it described as a symbolic gesture to honor the victims of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Images of the launch circulated on social media platforms including X and Telegram. Iranian officials said the action was intended both as a tribute to the historical tragedy and as a protest against current global power politics.

According to various sources, the missiles were directed toward Israel, prompting alerts in Tel Aviv and nearby areas, with reports of some structural damage. Analysts noted that while Iran framed the move as symbolic, it also demonstrated regional power projection. Experts warned that invoking a historical tragedy to justify a military act could heighten diplomatic sensitivities and influence global perceptions of power dynamics.

Observers suggested that the incident may further complicate regional relations and signal Iran’s intent to assert its position in ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly called U.S. President Donald Trump 48 hours before the attack on Iran to discuss launching a complex and distant war. According to sources familiar with the call, Netanyahu persuaded Trump by highlighting an opportunity to kill Iran’s then–Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was expected to meet his top aides in Tehran. The conversation, previously undisclosed, took place as intelligence indicated the meeting had been rescheduled to an earlier time.

Sources said Netanyahu had long pushed for such an operation and argued that eliminating Khamenei would avenge Iran’s earlier assassination plots against Trump. During the call, Trump appeared positive about a military strike but had not yet decided when or under what conditions the U.S. would directly engage. The U.S. military subsequently increased its regional presence, and officials believed a decision was imminent.

The call reportedly influenced Trump’s February 27 decision to authorize “Operation Epic Fury.” The first bombs struck on February 28, and Trump later announced Khamenei’s death. A White House spokesperson said the operation aimed to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr has been appointed as the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 24, by the Iranian president’s communications adviser through a post on social media platform X. Zolghadr replaces Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli attack last week.

Zolghadr is described as a key figure in Iran’s security and political structure. He previously served as a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and held the position of secretary of the Expediency Council. His appointment comes at a time of heightened regional tension following Larijani’s death.

The leadership change signals continuity within Iran’s security establishment, as Zolghadr’s background aligns closely with the country’s defense and strategic institutions.

Iranian police have arrested 466 individuals accused of assisting enemies through online activities that allegedly threatened national security, according to state media IRNA on Tuesday. The arrests mark one of Iran’s largest security operations since the country entered into conflict with Israel and the United States.

Reports from Iranian media indicated that over 1,000 people have been detained this month on charges of filming sensitive sites, sharing anti-government content online, or cooperating with hostile entities. Police stated that the arrests followed recent intelligence and technical surveillance operations.

Authorities claim the detainees were linked to networks attempting to create internal instability in Iran. The operation underscores the government’s intensified focus on digital monitoring and internal security amid heightened regional tensions.

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has described the United States’ recent military operation in Iran as disorganized and lacking proper planning. Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight program, Bolton said the attack was not well thought out and criticized the approach taken by President Donald Trump. Bolton, who served in Trump’s first term for just over a year, argued that the operation should have been carried out in a more deliberate and structured way.

He added that neither the American public, Congress, nor allied nations were prepared for such an action. Bolton, a long-time advocate of regime change in Tehran, also discussed Iran’s strategic position regarding the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. He noted that Iran now understands the potential destructive impact of blocking the strait, which could give it significant leverage over global energy exports.

Bolton has been a vocal critic of Trump since leaving the White House in 2019, describing the former president as unfit for office in his memoir.

Amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, diplomatic efforts, military escalation, and economic concerns intensified on March 24, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that “constructive” talks had taken place between the United States and Iran, but Iranian officials denied any direct discussions. The White House later described the situation as “unstable,” adding to diplomatic uncertainty. CBS News reported that Iran received proposals from the U.S. through intermediaries, which are under review.

Sources indicated that Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, might meet Iranian representatives in Pakistan this week, with Islamabad expressing readiness to host the talks. Following these diplomatic signals, global oil prices briefly fell before rising again above $100 per barrel, reflecting renewed economic pressure.

The military situation worsened as Iran launched multiple missile attacks on Israel, damaging sites in Tel Aviv and central Israel. Israel reportedly struck Beirut and ordered evacuations in southern Lebanon amid preparations for further operations against Hezbollah. In the United Kingdom, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to address Parliament about rising energy costs and potential economic impacts, underscoring the conflict’s global reach.

Iranian officials have denied holding any discussions with the United States, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that a 'very good and productive conversation' had taken place to end the ongoing conflict. The denial came just hours after Trump’s statement, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posting on social media on March 23 that no talks had occurred.

In his post on X, Ghalibaf said the United States and Israel were 'trapped in Iran’s quagmire' and accused Trump of using 'fake news' to escape it. He further alleged that Washington and Tel Aviv were spreading false information to manipulate financial and oil markets. Ghalibaf added that the Iranian people demanded full and remorseful punishment for aggressors and that all Iranian officials remained committed to their supreme leader until that goal was achieved.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, even as international actors such as the European Union have urged both sides to engage in dialogue.

The United States and Iran have issued conflicting statements regarding possible talks aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, leaving the situation uncertain. On Saturday, Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform giving Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz without threats, warning of strikes on Iranian power plants if it failed to comply. On Monday, he extended the deadline by five days, claiming that discussions had taken place between the two countries to achieve a complete resolution of the conflict.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf denied any such talks, writing on social media platform X that no discussions had occurred and accusing the US of spreading false news to influence financial and oil markets. However, a senior Iranian official told CBS News that Iran had received some US proposals through intermediaries and was reviewing them. CBS News reported that this could be seen as a preparatory step toward potential talks, though no formal negotiations had begun.

The White House urged caution, describing the situation as fluid and advising against assuming any meeting until an official announcement is made.

Iran has warned that it will use all available capabilities to ensure its security following reports of attacks in Tel Aviv and other areas. The statement came from a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, as reported by Al Jazeera. In a televised address, Brigadier General Ebrahim Zulfaqari of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said Iran maintains full control over the Strait of Hormuz and rejected any foreign interference in the region.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out extensive strikes in Iraq’s Erbil, as well as targeting the Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan base, and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Missile attacks were also reported in Israel’s Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Gush Dan areas.

The IRGC further stated that what it called deceptive actions by U.S. President Donald Trump would not divert Iran from the battlefield, asserting that psychological operations by the United States and Israel would ultimately fail.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi held several phone conversations with foreign ministers from various countries to discuss regional security and the evolving situation, according to Al Jazeera citing Iran’s state news agency IRNA. During talks with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Aragchi addressed recent U.S.-Israeli attacks near Caspian Sea provinces, warning that such actions could pose security and environmental risks.

Earlier, Aragchi spoke with Pakistan’s foreign minister about ensuring the country’s “sustainable security” and also contacted counterparts in Oman, South Korea, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. In his discussion with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, both sides expressed concern over the potential economic impact if the Strait of Hormuz were to be closed.

Aragchi stated that the instability in this vital maritime route was a direct result of what he described as “illegal attacks” by the United States and Israel.

Israel has claimed responsibility for a new round of large-scale airstrikes targeting several military bases and weapons facilities inside Iran. According to a statement posted by the Israeli military on Telegram, the attacks struck the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) air defense and ground force headquarters, a Quds Force base and intelligence center, a missile production site under Iran’s defense ministry, and other production and research facilities.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, noted that the network could not independently verify Israel’s claims. The statement did not include details about casualties, damage assessments, or Iran’s response to the alleged attacks.

The situation remains unclear as independent confirmation of the strikes and their impact has not yet been established.