Iranian officials have warned that the United Arab Emirates will face extensive attacks on its state assets if the United States proceeds with a ground offensive against Iran. According to a report by Middle East Eye citing two senior Iranian officials, Tehran believes the UAE is playing an active role alongside the US and Israel in the ongoing conflict. The warning comes as US President Donald Trump reportedly plans a ground operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has kept closed since the war began.

The officials claimed that the US assault could target Kharg Island, a key hub for Iran’s crude oil exports, and that the operation might be launched from Gulf Arab states, including the UAE and Bahrain. They alleged that the UAE has provided air power and bases to US forces and that Iran has already conveyed a message to Abu Dhabi about potential consequences.

If the ground attack originates from Emirati territory, Iran said it will treat the UAE as a direct enemy and expand strikes beyond military and intelligence sites to include government-owned civilian infrastructure.

An Iranian official this week introduced a new condition for ending the war initiated by the United States and Israel, demanding recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, has become a central element of Tehran’s strategy. Iran now aims to turn it into a major source of annual revenue worth hundreds of billions of dollars while leveraging its global economic influence.

Analysts noted that Iran’s long-standing threat to close the strait in case of attack has gained new weight. The country’s leadership, including new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized the strategic importance of using the strait’s blockade potential. Bloomberg Economics’ Middle East head Dina Esfandiary said Iran was surprised by how effective and inexpensive it was to pressure the global economy through this route.

According to a CNN estimate cited in the report, if Iran charged $2 million per large oil tanker daily, its monthly income could exceed $800 million, potentially surpassing Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues.

Russia has sent a shipment of drones, including advanced models, to Iran to help counter potential joint attacks by the United States and Israel, according to US and European officials cited by the Associated Press this week. The drones were originally supplied by Tehran to Moscow after the start of the Ukraine war. The transfer marks a reversal in the flow of military technology between the two countries.

Following the February 28 US-Israeli strikes, Iran has carried out continuous drone attacks on Israel, its Gulf neighbors, and US bases across the Middle East for over a month. Although Iran possesses its own Shahed drones, Russia reportedly improved their design during the Ukraine conflict, adding enhanced navigation capabilities.

Officials said Russian and Iranian representatives held “very active” discussions this month about the drone transfer. However, it remains unclear whether the shipment is a one-time delivery or part of a larger series. The number of drones sent and the strategic significance of the transfer have not been disclosed, and Moscow’s motive for providing Tehran with advanced drones remains uncertain.

Multiple Iranian cities were struck in recent hours by airstrikes from the United States and Israel, according to Iranian media reports. One of the attacks targeted a water supply facility in Haftkel, Khuzestan province, which contained a 10,000-cubic-meter reservoir. Israeli and American warplanes also reportedly hit two universities on Saturday night, causing damage in several areas including Tabriz, Shiraz, and Hormozgan.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted Deputy Governor Valiollah Hayati as confirming the strike on the critical water facility. Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Mohammad Val said Iran typically responds to such attacks with counterstrikes across the region, warning that the situation remains highly dangerous for civilians.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a strong statement threatening retaliatory attacks on US-linked universities across the region. The full extent of the damage in Tehran and other cities remains unclear as reports continue to emerge.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah, addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, on Saturday, calling on US President Donald Trump to reject any deal with Iran and instead pursue regime change. Declaring his intention to “make Iran great again,” Pahlavi received a standing ovation from the audience, some of whom chanted “Long live the king.” His remarks coincided with the one-month anniversary of the US and Israel’s joint war against Iran, which has killed at least 1,937 people and injured tens of thousands.

Pahlavi has become a prominent opposition figure among the Iranian diaspora, whose supporters often display his image and the pre-revolutionary flag at global protests. While some exiles have voiced concern over the war’s toll on civilians, Pahlavi has aligned himself with Trump’s most hawkish allies, insisting that “this regime in its entirety must go.” Analysts, however, caution that Iran’s government is unlikely to collapse and may emerge more hardened.

Within the US, the war has exposed divisions among conservatives. Polls show strong Republican support for the conflict, while overall US voters largely oppose it. Some right-wing commentators and younger activists have criticized the war as a betrayal of Trump’s earlier promises to avoid foreign entanglements.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that its forces identified and defused 120 cluster bombs in the southern province of Fars. According to a report by Al Jazeera citing Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, the explosives were allegedly dropped during recent attacks carried out by the United States and Israel in and around the village of Kafri.

An IRGC public relations deputy in Fars province stated that security forces conducted an operation to locate and neutralize the dangerous explosives. The report did not provide further details on the timing of the attacks or any casualties.

The claim underscores ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, though independent verification of the incident was not mentioned in the report.

Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesperson, Ebrahim Rezaei, has indicated that Iran may withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In a post on social media platform X on March 28, 2026, Rezaei stated that Iran has gained no benefit from the treaty and that it has failed to protect the country from attacks. He argued that Iran’s nuclear facilities have repeatedly been targeted despite international agreements.

Rezaei reaffirmed that Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons and that its policy on this issue remains unchanged. He criticized the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for making what he called a “provocative and dangerous” remark about Iran’s nuclear program. Rezaei also pointed out that while the United States has withdrawn from 60 international organizations and treaties, any Iranian withdrawal from the NPT would likely face Western opposition.

Rezaei concluded that the time has come for Iran to leave the treaty, signaling a potential shift in Tehran’s nuclear policy direction.

Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the parliament’s National Security Commission, has warned that anyone attacking Kharg Island will not return alive. The statement was reported on Saturday by Iran International. Rezaei said any assault on the island would be met with a severe response, emphasizing that those who attempt such an attack would face deadly consequences.

Kharg Island is one of Iran’s key oil export hubs, controlling a major portion of the country’s energy shipments. Recent reports indicate growing tension and military alerts surrounding the island. Tehran previously claimed that intelligence suggested enemies, with the help of a regional country, were planning to seize an Iranian island, which Al Jazeera indicated was Kharg.

In response, Iran warned that any attack would trigger strikes on the critical infrastructure of the involved regional country. The Iranian parliament speaker added that Tehran is monitoring enemy movements and would launch continuous retaliatory attacks if provoked.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has warned that the situation at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant is deteriorating, with recent attacks posing a direct threat to nuclear safety. The agency’s chief said on Saturday that repeated strikes in the Bushehr area are alarming and could lead to a major nuclear risk. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that this was the third attack near the facility in the past ten days.

According to the IAEA, Iran reported no damage to the operating reactor and no radiation leaks following the incidents. However, continued military activity around the nuclear site could increase the likelihood of a serious accident, potentially affecting both regional and global security.

The warnings underscore growing international concern over the safety of nuclear infrastructure in conflict zones, as repeated attacks heighten the risk of a broader crisis if containment measures fail.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is either dead or in very poor condition. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative Priority forum in Miami, Florida, Trump said Iran currently has no leader and asserted that U.S. military actions have destroyed Iran’s leadership and defense capabilities.

During his speech, Trump stated that Iran’s navy and air force have been completely destroyed, with their warplanes and communication systems eliminated. He added that the U.S. is now targeting Iran’s weapons stockpiles and missile and drone factories, aiming to dismantle the country’s defense industry entirely.

According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s new supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28, the first day of the Iran-U.S.-Israel war. Mojtaba was injured in the same attack and is currently receiving treatment in a Moscow hospital after traveling there on March 12 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stern warning to neighboring countries following recent attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure and economic centers. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that Iran would deliver a 'terrible' response to the assaults. Pezeshkian also cautioned Middle Eastern neighbors not to allow Iran’s enemies to use their territories for military operations if they wish to ensure their own security and development.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the joint forces of the United States and Israel. On Friday, both countries reportedly carried out strikes on several highly significant Iranian sites, including the Mobarakeh Steel Industries in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces, as well as the Khondab heavy water production facility in Markazi province. In retaliation, Iran launched counterattacks that caused damage at Kuwait International Airport and targeted the Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where several people were reported injured.

The escalation underscores the growing regional instability and the potential for further confrontation if diplomatic efforts fail to de-escalate the situation.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 1,464 civilians, including 217 children, have been killed in Iran during the first month of the ongoing conflict that began on February 28. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported dropping more than 12,000 bombs across Iran, including 3,600 on Tehran alone. The US Central Command stated that it has carried out strikes on over 9,000 targets throughout the country.

Many of the attacks targeted police stations, Basij militia buildings, military and police universities, IRGC residences, and suspected ammunition depots, several of which were located in densely populated areas. Residents told BBC Eye that the strikes on residential zones have heightened anger, even among those previously critical of the Iranian government. The IDF confirmed the attacks but declined further comment, while the US Department of Defense did not respond.

Iran has also launched attacks on civilian infrastructure in neighboring countries, including airports and hotels in Gulf states allied with Washington. Tehran residents expressed frustration over the lack of visible safety measures or evacuation support, as internet disruptions and unclear guidance have left many feeling unsafe and uncertain.

Iran has remained largely cut off from the global internet for the past four weeks, according to NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet connectivity. The group described the situation as a state of 'digital darkness' resulting from the ongoing war in the Middle East. The blackout has severely restricted Iranians’ access to information and communication, effectively isolating the country from the outside world.

The report noted that this is not the first internet disruption in Iran this year. In January, authorities also shut down internet services for several weeks during anti-government protests. Iran is currently operating a two-tier internet system, where senior government officials and individuals linked to the ruling establishment have uninterrupted access, while ordinary citizens face heavy restrictions.

Most citizens are now limited to using Iran’s National Information Network, a domestic and tightly controlled system that functions separately from the global internet, further curbing open communication and access to external information.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his diplomatic efforts to promote peace amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran. During an hour-long phone conversation, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of building mutual trust to halt conflict and facilitate dialogue. He thanked Pakistan for its cooperative role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

According to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Iranian leader commended Sharif’s sincere diplomatic initiatives following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory. In response, Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its constructive role in restoring regional peace and stability.

Earlier in the call, Sharif strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of more than 1,900 lives, underscoring Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran during the crisis.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, representing Donald Trump, said Washington is hopeful about holding a meeting with Iran later this week. He added that the United States is awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposed 15-point agreement submitted earlier in the week.

The statement comes amid a surge in regional violence. Several powerful explosions were reported in Tehran, while Iran claimed its Bushehr nuclear power plant was attacked for the third time this month. Israel announced it had successfully struck the Arak heavy water plant in central Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel of targeting civilian facilities and warned that they would pay a heavy price for such aggression.

Meanwhile, several Gulf states reported intercepting new aerial threats. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems successfully neutralized ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.