Iranian media reported on Tuesday that an airstrike hit a desalination plant on Qeshm Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, rendering the facility inoperative. The exact timing of the attack has not yet been confirmed. According to Mohsen Farhadi, a Health Ministry official quoted by the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), the plant is completely out of service and cannot be repaired in the short term.

Farhadi stated that until the facility can be restored, water demand in the area will be met through tankers and other desalination plants. Hormozgan’s deputy governor, Ahmad Nafisi, told Mehr News Agency that aside from the initial strike on the Qeshm water purification center early in the conflict, no new attacks have occurred.

The report comes amid broader regional instability, with Iranian outlets linking the incident to the ongoing war that has affected infrastructure and civilian services across the region.

The Iranian government announced that one of its largest pharmaceutical companies, which produces anesthetic and cancer treatment drugs, was targeted in a joint US and Israeli strike on Tuesday. The attack reportedly damaged the company’s production lines. The statement was released through a post on the X platform, describing the incident as a strike on a civilian facility.

According to the government, the affected company is owned by the Social Security Investment Company, a state-run holding entity that manages pension funds. The announcement framed the strike as part of broader hostilities impacting civilian infrastructure.

The report did not specify the location of the facility or provide details about casualties or the extent of the damage.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that while the United States’ military strength is increasing, Iran’s military capability is weakening. He made the remarks during a briefing on the latest situation in the ongoing war involving Iran. According to Hegseth, President Donald Trump is taking actions that no previous president had dared to take.

Hegseth added that Iran launched the fewest number of missiles in the past 24 hours, suggesting a decline in its operational activity. He claimed that the morale of Iran’s armed forces has deteriorated, leading some members to leave the service and causing frustration among senior military leaders. The briefing highlighted the shifting balance of military momentum between the two nations.

The report also referenced broader regional developments, including the rise of a new alliance among four Muslim countries and the rising fuel prices worldwide due to the war’s impact, indicating the conflict’s expanding geopolitical and economic consequences.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the joint United States–Israel war with Iran is “more than halfway” toward achieving its objectives, clarifying that his remark referred to progress toward goals rather than time elapsed. He said thousands of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have been killed and that both nations are close to destroying Iran’s weapons stockpiles and nuclear infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces reported launching new strikes on Tehran hours after Iran fired missiles toward Israel. Attacks have spread across the Gulf region, including Dubai, where authorities confirmed a drone strike set a tanker ablaze but caused no reported environmental damage. Meanwhile, an Iranian parliamentary committee approved a plan to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially restricting U.S., Israeli, and allied ships.

According to the Wall Street Journal, former U.S. President Donald Trump told aides he was willing to end military operations against Iran despite the strait’s closure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “one way or another.”

Thousands of people marched in the Iranian city of Karaj to express support for the government and the military, according to state media outlet Press TV. Video footage showed participants carrying national flags and chanting slogans such as “Courage, courage!” along the streets of the city, located just west of Tehran.

The rally took place a day after an attack targeted a power substation in Karaj and Alborz Province, causing a major electricity outage in the area. The demonstration was organized in response to that incident, reflecting public backing for the authorities amid the disruption.

State media also reported that similar pro-government gatherings were held on Monday night in Tehran and in the northwestern city of Ardabil, indicating a broader wave of coordinated demonstrations across Iran.

Iran’s military announced that its air defense forces shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over the central city of Isfahan. The incident was reported on Tuesday by Press TV, according to Iranian military sources cited in the report.

In addition to the MQ-9, Iran’s forces also downed a Lucas drone over Qasem Island in the Persian Gulf. The report did not specify when the interceptions occurred or provide further details about the drones’ missions or any resulting damage. The announcement underscores ongoing tensions involving Iranian airspace and foreign surveillance activity.

No official response from the United States or other parties was mentioned in the report, leaving the broader implications of the incident unclear.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the ongoing war will end only when Iran’s national interests and conditions are fully protected. He made the remarks while presiding over a cabinet meeting on Monday, which reviewed the country’s wartime situation and evaluated the performance of various ministries in maintaining essential services.

During the meeting, cabinet members discussed the supply of essential goods, the functioning of service institutions, and measures taken to ensure public stability. Pezeshkian praised all sectors for their efforts to provide uninterrupted services during the crisis and emphasized that coordination among state institutions is a key pillar of national strength. He urged that this effort continue until final victory over the aggressors.

The president also commended the armed forces for their bravery in defending Iran’s sovereignty, describing their resistance as a “golden chapter” in the nation’s proud history. He highlighted the unprecedented unity and mass gatherings of the Iranian people over the past month as a reflection of national solidarity and a major force in overcoming the current situation.

A U.S. Department of Defense official told The Wall Street Journal that American forces carried out an airstrike using a 2,000-pound bunker-buster bomb on a large ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. The report said multiple penetrator munitions designed to destroy underground facilities were used in the attack. The strike followed the online circulation of a video showing a massive explosion in Isfahan, which former U.S. President Donald Trump shared on social media without any caption.

The report cited footage from the Baluch human rights group Halvash, showing similar explosions recorded outside Isfahan. NASA satellite data indicated that the blasts occurred near Sofeh Mountain, an area believed to host military installations. The videos showed large fireballs and repeated smaller detonations, consistent with explosions at an ammunition depot.

The incident has drawn attention due to the scale of the explosions and the use of specialized bunker-buster weapons, though official Iranian responses were not mentioned in the report.

Two Chinese container ships have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on their second attempt after initially turning back mid-journey last Friday. According to vessel tracking data, the ships passed through the critical waterway on Monday, sailing close to each other as they exited the Persian Gulf toward open waters. The ships are now moving rapidly toward the Gulf of Oman, Reuters reported.

Marine Traffic data confirmed the crossing, and Kepler analyst Rebecca Gardes noted that these are the first non-Iranian container ships to leave the region since the start of the ongoing conflict. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz but continues to allow passage for vessels from countries it considers friendly or non-hostile.

The successful passage of the two large COSCO Shipping-operated vessels is seen as a sign of diplomatic coordination between China and Iran, suggesting that Tehran may be expanding its list of friendly nations.

US President Donald Trump has signaled that American forces may move to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub in the northern Persian Gulf. The island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports and lies in deep waters suitable for large crude carriers. The United States reportedly struck nearly 90 military targets on the island on March 13 but avoided oil infrastructure. Analysts suggest any US operation would likely be temporary, aimed at pressuring Tehran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz and meet Washington’s demands.

Iran has reinforced its defenses on Kharg Island, deploying surface-to-air missile batteries and warning of severe retaliation if US troops attempt to land. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed that any invading force would face “a rain of fire.” The US has positioned about 5,000 naval personnel and 2,000 paratroopers in the region, fueling speculation about a potential assault.

Despite military readiness, the report notes that a prolonged occupation would be difficult for the US to sustain and unpopular domestically. Trump also indicated that ongoing talks with Iran could still avert a military confrontation.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran has received various proposals and requests for talks from the United States, but these were delivered through intermediaries, including Pakistan, rather than directly. He clarified that since the start of the ongoing conflict with the United States, Iran has not engaged in any direct negotiations.

Regarding a possible ceasefire, Baghaei reaffirmed that Iran remains firm in its previous stance. He emphasized that with continued U.S. military aggression, Tehran’s main priority is to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and existence. His remarks came amid heightened tensions and conflicting statements between the two nations.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had claimed that discussions between the United States and Iran were continuing and progressing positively. Iran directly rejected that claim, asserting that it has not participated in any such talks and that Washington’s statements do not reflect reality.

Mohammad Safa, a senior United Nations diplomat, has resigned warning of a potential nuclear strike risk involving Iran. In a post and open letter shared on social media platform X on Monday, he alleged that the UN is preparing for a situation that could lead to a nuclear attack on Iran. Safa has served as executive director of the international organization Patriotic Vision since 2013, which holds special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and became its permanent representative to the UN in 2016.

Safa blamed an influential lobby within the UN’s top leadership for his resignation and criticized what he described as a pro-war stance. He emphasized that Tehran, home to nearly 10 million people, is not an empty city and questioned the global response if similar attacks occurred in major Western capitals. He said he resigned to avoid complicity in any crimes against humanity and to warn the world against a potential “nuclear winter.”

The UN has not yet issued any official response to Safa’s resignation or his allegations.

Iran has approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, according to the IRGC-linked Fars news agency. A member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission confirmed the approval, which also includes provisions to restrict passage for vessels from the United States and Israel. The proposal further suggests limiting access for ships from countries participating in sanctions against Iran.

AFP reported that the new toll system has already been announced on Iranian state television, which stated that the plan will be implemented in cooperation with neighboring Oman. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20 percent of the world’s daily oil and gas supply, making it a vital global energy corridor.

International observers are discussing concerns that Tehran could use control over this strategic waterway as a diplomatic pressure tool amid ongoing regional tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged Saudi Arabia to remove United States military forces from its territory, saying that now is the right time to do so. He made the statement in a post on the social media platform X, where he also shared an image of a US aircraft reportedly damaged in an Iranian attack.

In his post, Araghchi emphasized that Iran respects Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation. He added that Iran’s operations are directed against enemies and aggressors who do not respect Arabs or Iranians. His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and follow recent reports of Iranian military actions.

The statement underscores Iran’s continued opposition to US military presence in the region and signals Tehran’s intention to strengthen ties with neighboring Arab states while maintaining a firm stance against perceived external threats.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated in a press conference in Tehran on Monday that the country has never attempted to develop nuclear weapons and has no plans to do so in the future. He emphasized that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but expressed concern about whether the nation is truly benefiting from its membership.

Baghaei noted that both Iran’s parliament and the public have growing doubts about the advantages of staying in the NPT. The treaty, which took effect in 1970, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while allowing member states to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Despite Iran’s repeated insistence that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, the United States has long disputed this claim and accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons.

The remarks highlight Iran’s ongoing frustration over perceived inequities in the NPT framework and continued international scrutiny of its nuclear activities.