Iran has warned that it will target all major economic centers in the Middle East if attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites continue. The threat was issued on Tuesday by General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if its key facilities were struck, emphasizing the country’s readiness to escalate its response.

General Jabbari also announced that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. He noted that oil prices had risen above 80 dollars per barrel and could soon reach 200 dollars, with Brent crude surpassing 85 dollars per barrel for the first time since July 2024. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential for further disruption in global energy markets if the situation escalates.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the ongoing war could only be stopped if the United States and Israel ceased their attacks on Iran. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference held at a school in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran had tried to avoid war until the last moment but that other parties had chosen conflict.

Baghaei urged the international community to act before it was too late, calling on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility to restore regional security and stability. He said the council must compel the aggressors to end their attacks to prevent the war from expanding further.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance that external military actions are the root cause of the current conflict and that international intervention is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahraini, stated that the country will continue its defense operations until ongoing aggression ceases. Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, Bahraini emphasized that Iran’s defensive actions are directed against Israel and the United States as long as hostilities persist.

He further warned that any military base in a neighboring country used to launch or support attacks against Iran would be considered a legitimate target. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions.

The statement underscores Iran’s position that its military actions are defensive in nature and contingent on the cessation of what it describes as aggression from opposing forces.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has suspended operations at Iran’s only nuclear power plant located in the city of Bushehr. According to Interfax, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that the Moscow-built facility is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. More than 600 Russian personnel working at the site are gradually leaving Iran.

The decision follows a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday, after which around 100 workers were initially evacuated from the Bushehr plant. With rising tensions and fears of a larger assault, Rosatom has now opted to completely shut down all activities at the facility.

The suspension underscores the growing instability in the region and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid escalating hostilities.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that inspectors have found no evidence of a coordinated nuclear weapons program in Iran, despite allegations from Israel and the United States. Speaking to NBC News, Grossi confirmed that the agency could not identify any systematic or structural elements of such a program.

Grossi acknowledged that Tehran has enriched uranium up to 60 percent purity, a level far beyond civilian energy needs. He noted that this degree of enrichment is typically associated only with nuclear-armed states. However, he emphasized that inspectors have not concluded that Iran intends to build a bomb.

Grossi described the enrichment activity as a cause for concern, citing the continuous operation of centrifuges producing material theoretically sufficient for more than ten nuclear warheads, though he clarified that Iran does not possess such weapons.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahreini, expressed doubt about the effectiveness of talks with the United States. Speaking in Geneva on Tuesday, three days after a joint US-Israel attack, Bahreini said Iran remains highly skeptical about the usefulness of such discussions.

He stated that, for now, Iran sees the language of defense as the only viable means of communication with the United States, suggesting there is no time for dialogue. His comments reflect Tehran’s current stance following recent military tensions involving the United States and Israel.

The statement underscores the strained diplomatic climate and indicates that prospects for renewed negotiations between Tehran and Washington remain uncertain in the immediate future.

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out a drone attack on Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco, describing the incident as a 'false flag' operation. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing military sources, the attack was allegedly orchestrated by Israel to divert regional attention from its own actions against civilian sites in Iran.

The report stated that Iran has previously declared its intent to target all U.S. and Israeli interests and facilities in the Gulf region, and that several such attacks have already taken place. However, the sources emphasized that Aramco installations were not among Iran’s designated targets. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and relayed through Tasnim.

The accusation adds to escalating regional tensions, with Iran framing the incident as part of a broader strategic conflict involving Israel and Western interests in the Middle East.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a severe warning to the United States and Israel as the ongoing war between Iran and the two countries entered its fourth day on Tuesday. The IRGC declared that Iran’s military operations against both nations would intensify, promising that more 'gates of hell' would open for them.

In a televised address, IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini stated that the enemies should expect increasingly harsh and continuous punitive strikes. He emphasized that the United States and Israel would face a series of escalating retaliatory attacks as Iran continues its military campaign.

The statement underscores Iran’s determination to sustain and expand its military response, signaling a further escalation in the conflict as tensions remain high across the region.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that more than 700 civilians have been killed in Iran since fighting began on Saturday. According to the agency’s latest update, CNN cited that by Monday afternoon at least 742 civilians, including 176 children, had died, and more than 900 others were injured. In the past 24 hours alone, at least 96 people were killed, with additional deaths under verification.

The report detailed widespread damage to religious sites and residential buildings, including a mosque in Karaj near Tehran, a governor’s office south of the capital, and the Shahid Bahonar Pier in Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian sources also reported damage to hospitals in Tehran. Military targets hit within the last 24 hours included the Kurdistan Law Enforcement and Border Guard Command center in Sanandaj, an airbase in Isfahan, and an army base in Tehran.

HRANA emphasized that the information remains preliminary and subject to change, while CNN noted it could not independently verify the figures.

At least 96 people were killed in Iran within 24 hours in joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The fatalities reportedly include 85 civilians and 11 soldiers. HRANA stated that since the joint attacks began on February 28, the total civilian death toll in Iran has reached at least 742, including 176 children.

Earlier, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported on March 2 that the total number of deaths stood at 555, though Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify these figures. HRANA added that the latest strikes targeted various infrastructure sites across Iran, including several military bases, two residential areas, and the Shahid Bahonar port in Bandar Abbas.

The differing casualty figures highlight uncertainty over the full scale of the attacks and their humanitarian impact, as independent verification remains unavailable.

Iran’s top leadership has maintained a defiant stance as US and Israeli airstrikes entered their third day across Tehran and other regions following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strikes, which targeted Iranian military bases, came after Khamenei and several senior commanders were killed at the start of the conflict. Iranian authorities have suspended all dialogue with the United States, while internet access across the country remains cut off for a second day.

Under Iran’s post-1979 constitutional framework, the Assembly of Experts is tasked with selecting a new Supreme Leader. President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that the council has begun this process, with an interim three-member leadership—comprising Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Guardian Council member Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi—managing state affairs. Pezeshkian urged pro-establishment supporters to gather in public despite ongoing conflict.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed severe retaliation, claiming to have launched major attacks on US and Israeli bases. Senior officials, including military chief Amir Hatami and security head Ali Larijani, pledged to defend the nation and uphold constitutional procedures for leadership succession.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that there are no indications of damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities following recent US and Israeli attacks. He confirmed that the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran research reactor, and other nuclear fuel sites showed no signs of harm.

In a statement to the IAEA’s Board of Governors, Grossi said the agency had been trying to contact Iran’s nuclear regulatory authority but had not received any response. Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told the BBC that an attack had occurred on Sunday at the Natanz nuclear facility but did not provide further details.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the challenges faced by international monitors in maintaining communication with Iranian authorities during periods of conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed Revolutionary Guards General Majid Ebnolreza as the acting defense minister following the death of the previous minister in a joint Israeli and U.S. attack, according to Al Jazeera. The announcement was made by presidential communications adviser Mehdi Tabatabai through a post on social media platform X, confirming the president’s directive.

The appointment aims to ensure continuity in the operations of the defense ministry and to strengthen coordination in addressing the current situation. The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions following the reported attack that killed the former defense minister.

The move is expected to stabilize the ministry’s leadership and maintain Iran’s defense readiness during a period of uncertainty.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the headquarters of the Israeli Air Force. The claim was reported on Monday, March 2, 2026, by Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency, citing an official IRGC statement.

According to the IRGC statement, the strikes were directed at what it described as the office of the “criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime” and the command headquarters of the Israeli Air Force. The statement further said that Iran used its domestically developed Khaibar missiles in the operation.

The report did not provide details about the extent of the damage, casualties, or Israel’s response to the alleged attacks.

A loud explosion was reported near a nuclear facility and an airbase in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, according to reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera. The blast was heard shortly before the reports were published on March 2, 2026, though no immediate details about damage or casualties were provided.

Earlier, Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility had been attacked. Reza Najafi, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations atomic watchdog, stated that the Natanz site was damaged in a joint strike by the United States and Israel. The incident near Isfahan follows that earlier attack, raising concerns about the security of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

The reports did not specify the cause of the latest explosion or whether it was linked to the previous assault on Natanz.