The United States has claimed that more than 20 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed or sunk during an ongoing military operation. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks were carried out against Iran’s naval forces as part of the continuing campaign. Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that an American submarine in the Indian Ocean had sunk an Iranian warship using torpedoes.

Sri Lankan authorities reported rescuing 32 people from the attacked vessel, while a local official told the BBC that 80 bodies were found aboard the ship identified as 'Iris Dena'. The incident marks a significant escalation in the confrontation between the two nations, with both sides reporting heavy losses.

The UNHCR noted that nearly 100,000 people left Tehran within the first two days following the attacks, indicating growing civilian displacement linked to the conflict.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, issued a stern warning to U.S. President Donald Trump following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Larijani said the assassination would exact a heavy price from the United States.

Larijani accused Trump of being lured by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions and dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war against Iran. He questioned whether Trump’s “America First” policy still stood or had shifted to “Israel First.”

According to the report, the killing occurred on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched widespread attacks across Iran. The incident has sharply escalated tensions between Tehran and Washington.

According to the latest reports, nearly 200 international oil tankers are stranded in the Persian Gulf following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The tankers’ owners are waiting to determine whether it is safe to resume passage through one of the world’s most critical oil transport routes. The information was reported by BBC Persian.

The Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced full control over the Strait of Hormuz, where several ships have recently been targeted by drone and missile attacks. Around 60 of the stranded vessels are supertankers, representing about eight percent of the global fleet. The disruption has pushed Brent crude oil prices above 80 dollars per barrel.

The situation underscores the vulnerability of global energy supply routes to regional instability, with potential implications for international oil markets if the closure continues.

The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran has strongly condemned recent US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. In a statement released on March 4, 2026, the mission said the assaults were contrary to the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against any state's territorial integrity or political independence.

The committee emphasized that such actions undermine international law and the principles of sovereignty enshrined in the UN framework. The condemnation comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of military deployments and disruptions in the Persian Gulf area.

The mission’s statement underscores growing international concern over escalating hostilities and calls attention to the need for adherence to international norms governing state conduct.

Black flags were seen flying at the Iran-Turkey border following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the report, the flags replaced Iran’s national flag at the Razi border crossing on the Turkish entry point. The incident occurred after widespread attacks across Iran began on February 28, reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel.

The black flags are believed to have been raised as a symbol of mourning for Khamenei’s death. The report cited BBC as the source of this information. The attacks and the leader’s death have drawn attention to heightened tensions in the region, though no further details were provided about the ongoing situation or official responses.

The display of mourning at the border underscores the gravity of the event within Iran and its symbolic impact on neighboring areas, particularly along the shared frontier with Turkey.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean using a torpedo. The incident reportedly occurred near Sri Lanka, resulting in at least 80 deaths, according to Sri Lankan authorities. The country’s deputy foreign minister told local television that the vessel was returning to Iran from an eastern Indian port when it was attacked.

The Iranian frigate, identified as IRIS Dena, had participated in India’s multinational naval exercise ‘Milan 2026’. It had also joined the same exercise in 2024. After completing this year’s drill, the warship began its journey back to Iran but never reached its destination. Questions have since arisen about why the Iranian vessel was positioned near Sri Lanka at the time of the attack.

The sinking has drawn attention to rising tensions in the Indian Ocean region, though the source does not specify any official responses from Iran or the United States beyond the initial claim.

The death toll in Iran has risen to 1,045 following joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Wednesday. The attacks took place on Saturday and reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials.

In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes targeting US bases in the Middle East and Israeli installations, as reported by Al Jazeera. The escalation marks a significant intensification of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue military actions, raising concerns about broader regional instability.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of betraying both diplomacy and the American people who elected him. Araghchi made the remarks following a U.S. attack that he said occurred while constructive discussions on Iran’s nuclear program were underway.

In a post on X, Araghchi criticized Trump’s approach to negotiations, saying that treating complex nuclear talks like a land deal and covering reality with lies leads to unrealistic expectations. He added that such actions result in hatred and metaphorically described the situation as bombing the negotiation table.

The comments reflect Iran’s frustration over the disruption of diplomatic progress and signal renewed tension between Tehran and Washington following the attack.

Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down another US F-15 fighter jet. According to a report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, the country’s air defense unit targeted and destroyed the aircraft. This follows an earlier announcement on Monday by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which stated that three US fighter jets had been downed using domestically developed air defense systems.

Images and reports related to the downed US aircraft and pilot ejections have since circulated across social media and various news outlets. On Monday morning, Iran’s armed forces had also shot down an F-15 jet in the airspace near the Iran-Kuwait border, an incident confirmed by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense.

The latest claim adds to a series of escalating military incidents between Iran and the United States, though independent verification of the reported shootdowns was not mentioned in the source.

A United Nations expert committee has expressed deep concern over the deaths of children in a bombing at a girls’ school in southern Iran. The attack took place on Saturday at Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, during the first day of US and Israeli strikes. According to UN experts, at least 160 children were killed in the incident.

In a statement, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said it was alarmed by reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, which have injured and traumatized children and claimed many young lives. The committee, composed of 18 independent experts, monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which protects children’s right to education and safety from violence.

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, raised the issue in a letter to UN human rights chief Volker Türk on March 1, describing the attack as “unjustified” and “criminal.”

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced that more than 470 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran following the start of attacks by the United States and Israel. The evacuation was carried out to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens amid escalating regional tensions.

Mao Ning emphasized the need to maintain security and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, describing their importance as vital to global trade. The statement reflects China’s concern over the potential impact of regional instability on international shipping and commerce.

The report also mentioned related developments in the region, including the indefinite postponement of a memorial event for Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei, displacement of over 65,000 people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks, and a missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refinery.

The Israeli military has announced that it has launched a major new airstrike in Tehran, the capital of Iran. According to a statement from the Israeli army, the operation specifically targets Iran’s ruling leadership. The statement added that further details would be provided later. The announcement marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

An AFP correspondent reported that an explosion occurred in the northeastern part of Tehran around the time of the Israeli claim. No additional information about casualties, damage, or the scale of the attack was immediately available from the report.

The situation remains developing, with both the extent of the strike and Iran’s potential response yet to be confirmed.

Iran has indefinitely postponed the memorial ceremony for its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by Israel and the United States, according to the Mehr news agency. The three-day event was originally scheduled to begin Wednesday night at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla prayer ground.

Mehr reported that the decision to postpone came in response to public requests, as many people from different provinces wanted to attend the funeral but found it difficult due to ongoing attacks. The Revolutionary Guard stated that preparations are underway to hold the late leader’s funeral in the city of Mashhad, though no specific date has been announced yet.

The postponement reflects the logistical and security challenges Iran faces amid continued hostilities following the attack that killed its top leader.

An adviser to Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Wednesday that the country has no intention of holding talks with the United States and is prepared for a long war. The statement was made by Mohammad Mokhbar during an appearance on Iran’s state television, according to a BBC report.

Mokhbar said Iran has no trust in the Americans and sees no basis for negotiations, asserting that the country could continue fighting as long as it wishes. His remarks reflect Tehran’s hardened stance amid ongoing regional tensions and strained relations with Washington.

The comments come as Iran continues to face regional instability, including displacement in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks and other regional security challenges, according to related reports cited in the same source.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of breaking off diplomatic relations out of envy during negotiations. In a new social media post, Araghchi wrote that Trump viewed complex nuclear discussions as if they were real estate transactions, suggesting that falsehoods had obscured reality and led to unrealistic expectations.

Araghchi stated that the outcome of this approach was the severing of diplomatic ties at the negotiation table itself. He further alleged that Trump had betrayed both diplomatic relations and the American people who elected him.

The comments reflect continuing tensions between Iran and the United States, with Araghchi’s remarks underscoring Tehran’s frustration over the breakdown of talks and the perceived lack of seriousness from Washington.