Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Iranian people will respond to a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab, Hormozgan province. According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, the joint strike by the United States and Israel took place on Saturday morning, killing 53 students. Araghchi described the incident as a deliberate bombing of a school building filled with children in broad daylight.

He stated on social media platform X that the victims were innocent children who were killed without reason. Araghchi emphasized that the attack would not go unanswered, calling it a tragedy that deeply affected the nation. The statement followed reports from Al Jazeera and IRNA confirming the casualties and the location of the attack.

The minister’s remarks signal Iran’s intent to retaliate, though no specific measures or timeline were mentioned in the reports.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that the United States and Israel carried out attacks in 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces on Saturday. The organization’s spokesperson, Mojtaba Khaledi, confirmed the scale of the assaults, describing them as widespread across the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that all facilities linked to the US and Israeli operations are now considered legitimate military targets by Iran’s armed forces. In a televised address, he said that any site used to launch or support attacks against Iran would be targeted in response. The statement underscores Tehran’s readiness to retaliate against what it views as direct aggression.

According to the report, the months-long shadow conflict between Iran and Israel has now escalated into open confrontation, marking a significant shift in regional tensions. The developments suggest a potential widening of hostilities if retaliatory actions proceed.

Several leading global oil and trade companies have temporarily halted fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following the start of Israeli–US attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions on Saturday, according to reports. A senior executive from a major trading company told Reuters that their vessels would remain halted for several days, citing security risks and regional instability as reasons for the suspension.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, handling about 20 million barrels of crude oil and other fuels daily. The temporary suspension of shipments through this passage has raised concerns about potential disruptions to the global energy market.

Analysts warned that any prolonged disruption in the Hormuz Strait could lead to higher international oil prices and increased pressure on global energy supply chains.

An Israeli airstrike on a girls’ primary school in Minab, located in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, killed five students on Saturday morning, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The attack occurred as part of a broader wave of strikes launched by the United States and Israel across Iran, Al Jazeera reported.

The report stated that Tehran responded with counterattacks following the morning assaults. The incident marks a significant escalation in hostilities, with Iran targeting U.S. bases across the Middle East in retaliation. Regional reactions included condemnation from Saudi Arabia regarding attacks in Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Kuwait.

The situation underscores rising regional tensions and the potential for further military escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States, though details of the ongoing operations remain limited.

The United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes in Iran on Saturday, targeting the country’s religious and political leadership. The attacks have plunged the Middle East into a new phase of conflict, according to reports. Iranian authorities stated that despite the strikes, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other top officials remain safe, with Khamenei moved to a secure location in Tehran.

Reuters reported that some Iranian military and political leaders may have been killed in the attacks. US President Donald Trump said the operation would end a security threat to the United States and offer Iranians a chance to challenge their rulers. The strikes have raised fears of escalating regional instability, as Iran reportedly launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel.

Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and security chief Ali Larijani are unharmed. Iranian officials denied Israeli claims of successful strikes on top leaders, asserting that senior government and military figures remain in good health.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its recent strike in Tehran targeted locations where senior Iranian political and security officials had gathered. According to the IDF, the operation had been planned for months and was executed after close coordination by military intelligence to exploit the opportunity of top Iranian leaders being in one place.

The IDF further said that conducting the attack in the morning instead of at night created a 'strategic surprise.' The statement added that the results of the strike are currently being assessed. The report cited BBC as the source of the information.

Additional reports mentioned by the source indicated that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander and the country’s defense minister were killed in Israeli attacks, while Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel. The Iranian foreign minister also reportedly contacted ministers from six Middle Eastern countries following the events.

A joint airstrike by Israel and the United States on Saturday morning reportedly destroyed the palace of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. According to the report, the attack targeted the residences of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Ayatollah Khamenei, and several senior military and government officials.

Satellite images cited in the report showed that Khamenei’s palace had collapsed and the surrounding area was blackened, indicating a major explosion. The source of the report was identified as Al Jazeera. Additional reports claimed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander and the country’s defense minister were killed in related strikes, while Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel in response.

The incident marks a significant escalation in hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States, with regional tensions rising as diplomatic contacts intensify across the Middle East.

The United Nations has condemned the recent attacks on Iran carried out by the United States and Israel. In a statement issued on Saturday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk denounced the strikes and called on all parties to return to dialogue. He warned that such actions would only lead to death, destruction, and humanitarian suffering.

Türk stated that he condemned both the US and Israeli military attacks across Iran and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran. He emphasized that civilians ultimately bear the highest cost in any armed conflict. According to him, missiles and bombs are not solutions but sources of further devastation and human misery.

The UN official urged all sides to exercise restraint, act rationally, de-escalate tensions, and return to the negotiating table to prevent further harm to civilians.

World leaders have begun issuing statements following the joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent counterattack, according to Al Jazeera. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reminded that the EU has already imposed extensive sanctions against what she called Iran’s ‘murderous regime’. She urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and fully comply with international law.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office expressed solidarity with Iranian civilians and reaffirmed the importance of respecting civil and political rights. The statement added that Meloni would consult allies and regional leaders to help reduce tensions. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced support for the Iranian people’s struggle against oppression and backed US efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US and Israeli actions as reckless and violations of international law, calling for a return to political and diplomatic solutions. A UK government spokesperson said London does not want to see further escalation in the region and is prepared to protect its own interests.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran will use all its military capabilities to defend itself under the right of self-defense. According to an official statement, Araghchi held phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq.

During the discussions, Araghchi emphasized that Iran would act to protect its territorial integrity and exercise its legitimate right to self-defense. The statement also noted that he reminded these countries of their responsibility not to allow their territories or facilities to be used by the United States or Israel for attacks.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of Iranian missile and drone launches toward Israel and the death of Iran’s defense minister in an Israeli strike, according to Reuters.

Internet access across Iran has been severely restricted following joint attacks by Israel and the United States, according to monitoring organization NetBlocks. The group reported that network data indicate a complete internet shutdown in the country, describing the restrictions as among the harshest imposed so far.

NetBlocks noted that the current blackout resembles the one enforced during Israeli attacks last year, suggesting a similar pattern of government-imposed connectivity restrictions. The report did not specify how long the shutdown might last or which regions were most affected.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with reports of Israeli strikes on Iranian schools and warnings from British lawmakers about potential violations of international law.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has pledged an 'unrelenting response' following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel. The council stated that the attacks occurred while discussions with Washington were still underway. In its statement, the SNSC accused the adversaries of mistakenly believing that such 'cowardly actions' would force the Iranian people to yield to their 'petty demands'. It added that Iran’s armed forces had already begun countermeasures and that the public would be regularly informed of developments.

The SNSC warned that operations by the United States and Israel could continue in Tehran and other cities. Citizens were urged to remain calm and move to safe areas if possible. The council assured the public that the government had prepared to meet all essential needs and that there was no concern over the supply of daily necessities. It also advised avoiding crowded shopping centers.

According to the SNSC, schools, colleges, and universities will remain closed until further notice, while banking services will continue and government offices will operate at 50 percent capacity. Further updates will be provided as the situation evolves.

Iran has launched missile attacks on several military bases across the Gulf region, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. The strikes targeted Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base, Kuwait’s Al-Salem Air Base, the United Arab Emirates’ Al-Dhafra Air Base, and locations in Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the attacks involved both missiles and drones and were carried out as a retaliatory action. One person was reported killed in Abu Dhabi.

Explosions were heard in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi following the strikes. Bahrain confirmed that a missile hit a facility belonging to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The report did not specify the extent of the damage or further casualties.

The attacks mark a significant escalation of regional tensions, with multiple Gulf states directly affected by the Iranian strikes. The situation remains tense as details of the aftermath continue to emerge.

In a video statement released on February 28, 2026, President Donald Trump called on the people of Iran to take advantage of the ongoing large-scale attacks in their country to overthrow the religious leadership’s rule. He told Iranians, “When we are done, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” describing it as possibly their only opportunity in generations. Trump also warned members of Iran’s security forces that they would face “certain death” if they did not lay down their arms, but would be granted “freedom” if they surrendered.

Earlier in January, human rights activists claimed that at least 6,480 people had been killed in a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests across Iran. Following those reports, Trump had threatened Iran with bombing, warning that those responsible would “pay a heavy price,” while assuring protesters that “help is on the way.”

A few days later, Trump stated that Iran’s government had assured him the killings had stopped, and his attention shifted toward Iran’s nuclear program, a long-standing point of contention with Western nations.

Iran has warned that any aggressors will regret their actions after Israeli attacks on several Iranian cities on Saturday morning. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the strikes harmed the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty, targeting both defense infrastructure and civilian facilities. The ministry described the attacks as a clear violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In an official statement, Tehran accused the United States and Israel of renewed military aggression, calling it a direct blow to international peace and security. Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, Iran asserted its right to self-defense and declared that its armed forces are fully prepared to respond decisively. The statement emphasized that Iran has shown patience to preserve regional stability but will not surrender to aggression.

The statement concluded that Iran’s response would be firm and that aggressors would be made to regret their actions, underscoring the country’s readiness for any escalation.