Iran has denied allegations that it carried out a drone attack targeting Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran has never launched any attack against Azerbaijan. His remarks were published by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Earlier, Azerbaijan claimed that two Iranian drones struck its Nakhchivan region, damaging an airport building. In response, Gharibabadi emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not target neighboring countries. He added that Iran’s policy is to strike only military bases belonging to its enemies, particularly the United States and Israel, and only when those bases are used to launch attacks against Iran.

The exchange of claims highlights ongoing regional sensitivities between Iran and Azerbaijan, though no further official reactions were reported in the source.

The European Union has reported that Middle Eastern countries are expressing concern over a potential civil war in Iran. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday, March 5, that tensions involving the United States and Israel have raised fears of internal conflict in Iran. Regional nations are reportedly worried about Iran’s current situation and its leadership amid the escalating crisis.

Kallas emphasized that the European Union supports diplomatic solutions, stating that wars ultimately end through diplomacy. She stressed the need to create space for diplomatic engagement to break the ongoing cycle of tension. The EU also voiced deep concern over maritime security in the Middle East, particularly efforts to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz open.

The report added that the regional conflict has sparked a dispute between the United States and Spain. Washington accused Madrid of denying access to a joint naval and air base, while Spain criticized U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran as reckless and illegal. The EU expressed hope that the United States would honor last year’s trade agreement applicable to all EU member states.

Following recent attacks by the United States and Israel, pro-government rallies have emerged across several Iranian cities. According to analysts, many Iranian citizens are gathering around the national flag as a symbol of patriotism and expressing support for the country’s political system in response to the external assaults.

Abbas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Tehran-based Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, told Al Jazeera that instead of protesting against Iran’s leaders, many people are now taking to the streets to denounce the US and Israeli attacks and to show solidarity with the government. He noted that some Iranians who were previously dissatisfied with the economic and political situation had once hoped for US assistance, but now realize that such support is not forthcoming.

Analysts suggest that external military pressure often temporarily suppresses internal political divisions, prompting segments of the population to rally around the government as a symbol of national unity.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing the Revolutionary Guard, reported that any U.S., European, or Israeli ships appearing in the Strait of Hormuz would be targeted. The Guard asserted that during wartime, navigation through the strategic waterway would remain under Iran’s control.

A deputy chief of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, responsible for major military operations and strategic coordination, stated that Iran has not closed the strait and continues to act in accordance with international protocols. He emphasized that Iran is prepared to continue the conflict for as long as necessary to achieve its declared objectives.

The Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters also warned that what it described as ongoing “U.S. deception” could lead to the collapse of the region’s military and economic infrastructure if it persists.

Following recent attacks by the United States and Israel, a large segment of Iran’s population is showing solidarity with the government, according to a Tehran-based analyst cited by Al Jazeera. The report notes that despite US President Donald Trump’s call for Iranians to ‘take back their country,’ many citizens have instead rallied in support of the state.

Abbas Aslani, a senior researcher at the Middle East Strategic Studies Center, stated that instead of protesting against national leaders, people in Tehran and other cities are holding gatherings condemning the attacks and expressing loyalty to Iran’s political system. He added that some Iranians who once hoped for US assistance due to dissatisfaction with economic or political conditions now realize that Washington is not coming to their aid.

The report also mentions that Iran has accused the attackers of targeting civilian areas to cause maximum casualties and claimed that an international football stadium was destroyed in the strikes.

Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff has denied reports that a missile was fired toward Turkey. The denial came after Turkey announced that a missile approaching its airspace had been intercepted by NATO’s defense system on Wednesday. According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, the military stated that the Islamic Republic respects Turkey’s sovereignty and rejected claims of launching any missile toward its territory.

Turkey’s defense ministry said the projectile had flown over Iraq and Syria before nearing Turkish airspace, but no casualties occurred after it was intercepted. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey is consulting with NATO allies and taking all necessary precautionary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The exchange occurred as regional hostilities intensified, with Iran launching missiles toward Israel the previous night amid ongoing airstrikes across the Middle East. Israeli and U.S. forces had recently increased bombardments on Iranian targets, while explosions were also reported in Tehran and casualties rose in Lebanon due to Israeli air raids.

Iranian military leader General Kiomars Heydari stated that Iran is not concerned about how long the ongoing war with the United States and Israel will last. Speaking in an interview with the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the deputy commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the country's defense forces are focused on achieving their objectives and delivering a strong response to the United States.

Heydari emphasized that Iran’s experience from the eight-year Iran-Iraq war has prepared it for prolonged conflict if necessary. He added that the current war would continue until Iran meets its goals and gives what he described as a tough reply to the United States.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance of resilience amid ongoing hostilities involving the US and Israel, highlighting a focus on strategic outcomes rather than the duration of the conflict.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 13 attacks on hospitals and health facilities in Iran amid ongoing hostilities involving the United States and Israel. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization also confirmed one attack on a healthcare center in Lebanon. The incidents resulted in the deaths of four healthcare workers and injuries to 25 others.

WHO official Hanan Balkhy stated that four ambulances in Iran were also targeted, while nearby bombings caused minor damage to several hospitals and other health centers. The organization earlier reported that one hospital in Tehran had to be evacuated following the attacks. WHO did not assign direct responsibility for the assaults.

The confirmation highlights growing concerns about the safety of medical infrastructure in conflict zones, as repeated strikes continue to disrupt essential health services in the region.

A tanker ship flying the Maltese flag was struck by two missiles fired by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade routes. The attack occurred on Wednesday, leaving the vessel heavily damaged. Oman’s navy responded swiftly, rescuing all 24 crew members from the stricken tanker. No fatalities were reported, though several crew members sustained injuries.

According to a report by the British outlet Middle East Monitor, the injured crew received necessary medical treatment following their rescue. Oman’s navy confirmed the operation in an official statement, noting that all crew members were accounted for and safe. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region’s maritime routes, which are vital for global oil transport.

The report did not specify the tanker’s cargo or the broader response from regional or international authorities following the strike.

Iran has the capability to disrupt the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for several months through drone attacks, according to military analysts and intelligence sources. In response to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran launched over a thousand drones and hundreds of missiles targeting American bases in Gulf countries, causing significant damage despite most being intercepted. Attacks on six ships have nearly halted maritime traffic through the strait, which handles about 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.

The UK-funded Center for Information Resilience reported that Iran can produce around 10,000 drones monthly, placing it among the world’s top drone manufacturers. Estimates of Iran’s missile stockpile vary between 2,500 and 6,000, with analysts noting that supply shortages and destroyed launchers could limit sustained attacks. Despite these constraints, Iran’s Shahed-136 drones can strike targets up to 1,000 kilometers away, and recent strikes have hit infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain.

If missiles and drones are depleted, Iran could deploy its 5,000–6,000 naval mines, which experts warn could take months to clear, potentially triggering a prolonged global energy crisis as oil and gas prices continue to rise.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has called for the immediate transfer of power following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Al Jazeera, Pahlavi made the appeal in a post on social media platform X on March 5, 2026, urging officials of the Islamic Republic to hand over authority without delay.

In his statement, Pahlavi warned that any attempt to appoint a successor to Khamenei would fail, arguing that no new leader could gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. His remarks come amid heightened political uncertainty in Iran after the reported assassination of its top leader.

The call reflects continuing opposition sentiment among exiled figures and adds to questions about Iran’s political transition following Khamenei’s death.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on 20 US military installations located in three Middle Eastern countries—Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The strikes were described as retaliation following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The IRGC stated that the targeted US facilities suffered significant damage. Earlier, explosions were reportedly heard in Doha, Qatar, following Iran’s earlier attacks. An AFP correspondent in Doha confirmed the sounds of multiple blasts. In response, Qatari authorities began relocating residents near the US embassy as a precautionary measure.

The report also mentioned that Azerbaijan closed its southern airspace due to Iranian drone activity, while Iranian officials said they were not concerned about the duration of the conflict. Iraq reiterated that it would not tolerate any threats against Iran.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that European Union member states would eventually face consequences if they remain silent about attacks by Israel and the United States. The statement was made by spokesperson Ismail during an interview with Spain’s broadcaster TVE on Thursday.

The spokesperson also rejected Turkey’s claim that a missile intercepted in its airspace had been launched from Iran. Earlier, Turkey stated that a NATO defense system had destroyed a missile allegedly fired from Iran into its airspace.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran also facing reports of drone activity affecting neighboring countries and recent attacks on hospitals within its borders, according to the World Health Organization.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of launching an unprovoked attack on an Iranian warship in international waters. He stated that the strike targeted the IRIS Dena, which was a guest of the Indian Navy, and warned that the United States would have to face the consequences of its actions.

According to the report, the attack occurred on Wednesday near Sri Lanka’s southern coast, when US forces allegedly fired from a submarine, causing the Iranian vessel to sink. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 87 bodies had been recovered and 32 survivors rescued and treated. The ship reportedly carried around 180 people.

Araghchi wrote on X that the United States would deeply regret the precedent it had set. The incident has heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling that it will respond to what it calls an unjustified act of aggression.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has reported that at least 105 civilian facilities were damaged in joint attacks by the United States and Israel across Iran. According to the organization, the assaults began on Saturday and have so far resulted in a total of 1,332 recorded strikes at 636 different locations nationwide.

Among the affected sites are at least 14 medical centers and seven buildings belonging to the Red Crescent itself. The organization stated that the attacks have impacted at least 174 cities across the country.

The Red Crescent warned that continued strikes on civilian infrastructure could further complicate the humanitarian situation in Iran. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.