A new debate has emerged over whether Iran is using China’s advanced Beidou satellite navigation system to target military installations in the Middle East belonging to Israel and the United States. According to a French intelligence expert, Iran may be receiving assistance from Beidou to improve its targeting accuracy.

Alain Juillet, former director of France’s foreign intelligence, stated on the independent French podcast ‘Tocsin’ that Iran’s targeting precision has significantly improved since a 12-day conflict with Israel in June. He suggested that this improvement could be linked to Iran gaining access to China’s Beidou satellite navigation network.

Experts cited in the report noted that if Iran is indeed using Beidou, it could challenge the long-standing U.S. dominance in real-time satellite intelligence on the battlefield.

US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran’s government remains largely intact and is not at risk of collapse, according to a Reuters report citing three sources familiar with the matter. The latest assessment was completed in recent days and indicates that Tehran continues to maintain control over its population despite ongoing regional tensions.

The report highlights that multiple intelligence analyses reached similar conclusions about the resilience of Iran’s ruling system. It also notes that the evaluation underscores the stability of Iran’s political leadership even after threats against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and following the US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

A senior Israeli official acknowledged in the same report that Israeli authorities also recognize there is no guarantee the ongoing conflict will lead to the fall of Iran’s government.

A US intelligence assessment has concluded that Iran’s leadership remains intact and faces no imminent risk of collapse, despite nearly two weeks of airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Reuters reported the findings on March 12, 2026, citing sources familiar with the intelligence analysis. The report indicates that Iran’s ruling system continues to maintain control over its population and that internal cohesion remains strong.

According to the sources, the latest intelligence review was completed in recent days. Rising oil prices have increased political pressure on US President Donald Trump, who is expected to end the military campaign in Iran soon. The report also notes that even after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the attacks, Iran’s religious leadership has remained unified. An Israeli official acknowledged in closed-door discussions that the war offers no guarantee of regime collapse in Iran.

The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, and the White House declined to comment on the report.

A Thai-flagged cargo ship named Mayuri Naree was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz while en route to Gujarat, India, leaving three crew members missing. According to Precious Shipping, the vessel came under attack from Iran, and the missing crew are believed to be trapped in the engine room. The incident occurred on Wednesday and resulted in a fire on board after the ship was hit by an unidentified projectile.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the ship had ignored prior warnings. Following the strike, the Omani navy conducted a rapid rescue operation, successfully evacuating 20 sailors from the vessel, though three remain unaccounted for.

The attack adds to a series of recent maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, where several other ships have reportedly been targeted, raising renewed concerns over regional maritime security.

Former CIA Director and former US Central Command chief General David Petraeus has suggested that the United States may be responsible for a recent attack on a school in southern Iran. He made the remark when asked about possible US involvement in the incident. Although Petraeus said he had not personally reviewed the evidence from the investigation, he believed that the US likely carried out the strike using Tomahawk missiles.

Petraeus added that there might have been outdated intelligence indicating the targeted building was once part of a larger Iranian naval compound. According to CBS, a US partner of the BBC, preliminary assessments also indicate that the United States was likely responsible for the deadly strike, though the attack on the school was unintentional and occurred by mistake.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions, with recent attacks in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, as well as Iranian strikes on Israeli targets, further complicating the security situation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined three conditions for ending the ongoing war. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, he stated that Tehran demands recognition of its legitimate rights, compensation, and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The announcement comes as Iran seeks to define its stance in the conflict.

Amid escalating regional tensions, Pezeshkian held telephone conversations with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan as part of diplomatic efforts. He reportedly emphasized Iran’s position during these discussions. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios that the war would end 'soon' and claimed there was 'nothing left to strike' in Iran, asserting that it would end whenever he decided.

The statements from both sides highlight contrasting narratives about the conflict’s trajectory, with Iran focusing on conditions for peace and the United States projecting control over the war’s timeline.

Iran has claimed that more than 200 US troops have been killed or injured during ongoing hostilities with the United States across the Middle East. According to Reuters, around 150 American soldiers were reported injured within the first ten days of the conflict. The Pentagon initially confirmed only eight serious injuries but later revised the figure to about 140, noting that most were minor and 108 soldiers had already returned to duty. The clashes intensified after an Iranian drone strike on March 1 killed seven US soldiers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The conflict began after a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on American military bases, embassies, and infrastructure across the region. The New York Times identified at least 17 US installations damaged by Iranian attacks, supported by satellite imagery and verified videos. Iran reportedly fired thousands of missiles and drones, while US officials claimed to have intercepted most of them.

Pentagon officials stated that US forces continue to target Iranian missile sites, reducing the frequency of attacks. However, both sides remain engaged in sustained military exchanges across the Gulf region.

Iran has intensified its confrontation with the United States and Israel, employing a saturation strategy that overwhelmed regional defense systems and exposed their limitations. According to multiple international reports, Iran launched extensive drone, ballistic, and cruise missile attacks across Gulf states following US-led strikes. These assaults targeted military bases, airports, and energy infrastructure, severely affecting civilian areas and disrupting the global energy market.

In the United Arab Emirates, drone strikes near Dubai International Airport injured civilians and damaged shipping routes, while attacks in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted one of the world’s key oil transport corridors. The United Nations Security Council urged Iran to halt its operations, but Tehran rejected the pressure and continued coordinated strikes. Amnesty International expressed concern over the humanitarian and environmental risks, and European leaders warned of long-term threats to energy security and international law.

Analysts cited by the Atlantic Council and other outlets noted that Iran’s modular and decentralized strike tactics are reshaping modern warfare, forcing Gulf nations to reassess defense costs and strategic stability amid volatile oil markets.

Iran has called on Middle Eastern countries and Muslims in the region to provide information about American and Israeli military assets. Brigadier General Abul Fazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, made the appeal in a statement published by the state-run Defa Press on Wednesday. He said the data would help Iran carry out more precise attacks, reducing civilian casualties during ongoing conflicts.

Shekarchi accused the United States and Israel of using regional populations as human shields and urged people not to serve as protection for American forces. He argued that sharing intelligence would enhance regional security and help free local populations from what he described as American and Israeli control. The Iranian official also alleged that US and Israeli forces were deliberately targeting civilians, including women and children, out of frustration over battlefield losses.

The statement comes amid reports of intensified Iranian attacks on Israel, including claims of strikes on Israeli intelligence headquarters and injuries to 179 people within the past 24 hours.

Iran has proposed ending the ongoing war against US-Israeli attacks on two conditions: compensation for damages and an international guarantee preventing future aggression. President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the proposal on social media platform X, stating that he had spoken with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to regional peace.

Pezeshkian emphasized that the war could only end if Iran’s legitimate rights were recognized, compensation was paid, and firm international guarantees were established against future hostilities. He accused the United States and the Zionist government of igniting the current conflict.

Analysts noted that Iran’s conditions could further complicate the political dimensions of the war and add new pressure to ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

Iran has launched what it calls its most intense and heavy military campaign since the start of its war with the United States and Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck multiple US and Israeli installations across the Middle East, including bases in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, as well as military sites in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. The attacks also targeted oil infrastructure and shipping routes, with Iran claiming to have effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

Footage released by Iranian state media showed missile launches, while several Gulf states reported intercepting drones and missiles. Explosions were reported near Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport following Israeli airstrikes. The Red Crescent Society said nearly 20,000 civilian buildings in Iran have been damaged by joint US-Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, the EU imposed sanctions on 19 Iranian officials and entities over alleged human rights violations.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was reported safe after being injured earlier in the conflict. The US may use Romanian bases for operations against Iran, as approved by Romania’s parliament and NATO defense councils.

Iran has announced its withdrawal from the upcoming World Cup, citing security concerns following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and the ongoing war between the two countries. The decision was confirmed by Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Ahmad Daneyamali, on state television, according to a WPDE News report. He stated that the Iranian team would not be safe in the United States and described the situation as untenable after two wars and thousands of deaths within months.

The conflict between Iran and the United States has intensified since the killing of Khamenei, with Tehran declaring that playing on American soil is both unsafe and unacceptable. In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump, who assured that Iran’s team would be welcome if it chose to participate. Infantino emphasized the importance of global unity through football and thanked Trump for his stance.

The situation underscores the intersection of global politics and sports, with FIFA calling for unity despite escalating geopolitical tensions.

Iran has rejected the United States’ claim that its missile capabilities have been destroyed. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on social media platform X that the initial large-scale missile attacks were intended to blind enemy radar and defense systems. He added that Iran can now strike any target with greater precision using fewer missiles.

Earlier, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had asserted that Operation Epic Fury was systematically destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles and production centers. Ghalibaf’s statement directly refuted that claim, emphasizing that Iran’s missile program remains functional and effective.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington amid broader regional hostilities involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The United States military has instructed Iranian civilians to avoid all port areas in the Strait of Hormuz where the Iranian navy is active. The directive, issued by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday, called for immediate avoidance of Iranian naval ships and military equipment. The warning specifically targeted port workers, administrative staff, and commercial vessel crews, urging them to stay clear of naval zones.

According to the CENTCOM statement, the guidance follows a series of US military actions against Iranian naval assets. Since February 28, the United States claims to have sunk or destroyed around 60 Iranian vessels, significantly weakening Iran’s naval capabilities. The information was reported by Al Jazeera.

The advisory underscores heightened tensions in the region following recent hostilities involving Iran and its allies. The situation remains volatile, with continued military activity in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States military has issued an immediate directive for Iranian civilians to avoid all port areas in the Strait of Hormuz. The warning, released by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), specifically urges people to stay away from ports where Iran’s navy is active. The statement advises Iranian port workers, administrative staff, and commercial ship crews to steer clear of naval vessels and military equipment.

According to the CENTCOM statement cited by the source, the United States has destroyed or sunk around 60 Iranian naval vessels since the start of attacks on February 28. The US claims these operations have significantly weakened Iran’s naval capabilities. The advisory reflects ongoing military tensions in the region and a continued focus on maritime security in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

The warning underscores the risk of further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments, though the source does not specify any new military actions beyond the advisory.