Iran’s judiciary announced on Thursday that three individuals convicted of killing police officers and conducting operations in favor of the United States and Israel were executed. The executions were linked to unrest that took place in January, referred to as the Dey unrest, during which the judiciary said the men were involved in the deaths of two law enforcement personnel. The announcement came as the war launched on Iran entered its 20th day.

According to Iranian authorities, 3,117 people were killed during anti-establishment protests that began in late December. Officials rejected claims by the United Nations and international human rights organizations that state forces were responsible for the deaths. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) previously reported verifying 6,872 deaths and investigating over 11,000 additional cases, while a UN special rapporteur suggested the toll could exceed 20,000.

The executions follow a series of crackdowns, including the execution of a Swedish citizen accused of spying for Israel and the arrest of hundreds across Iran. The Ministry of Intelligence said it had dismantled 111 “pro-monarchy cells” in 26 provinces overnight.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran has awakened and a storm is coming, following recent attacks targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. In a post on social media platform X, he said the ongoing war is being fought under a 'eye for an eye' principle and has reached a new level of intensity.

Ghalibaf claimed that the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran’s energy facilities in an attempt to conceal their own defeat. He asserted that the conflict has entered a new stage, emphasizing that the retaliatory equation is now active.

In another post, Ghalibaf stated that a new 'revolution' has begun in Iran in response to the US-Israel attacks, spreading from one region to another.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the ongoing war is being fought under an 'eye for an eye' principle and that the situation has reached a new level. In a post on social media platform X, he claimed that the United States and Israel targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure in their attacks but were attempting to conceal their own defeat through these actions.

Ghalibaf further said that the 'eye for an eye' equation is now in effect and that the conflict has entered a new phase. In another post, he asserted that a new 'revolution' has begun in Iran in response to the US-Israel attacks, spreading from one region to another. He added that Iran had been dormant but has now awakened, warning that a storm is rising.

The remarks highlight Iran’s increasingly defiant tone amid ongoing hostilities, signaling a potential intensification of regional tensions.

The United States has spent more than $22.8 billion in the ongoing war against Iran, according to Senator Bernie Sanders. Despite the deaths of several top Iranian leaders in US-Israeli strikes, Iran continues to resist, maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and launching attacks on American-allied bases across the Middle East. Israel’s health ministry reported 192 hospitalizations in the past 24 hours from Iranian strikes, with a total of 3,727 Israelis injured since the war began.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the killings of Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani, would not weaken Tehran’s political structure. He emphasized that Iran’s governance does not depend on any single individual. Iranian state media confirmed the death of Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in the latest US-Israeli attack.

Al Jazeera analyst Marwan Bishara criticized Israel’s targeted killings as violations of wartime norms. Araghchi stated that the conflict was initiated by the US and that Washington must bear responsibility for the resulting humanitarian and financial crises.

Iran’s resistance has intensified despite the assassinations of several top leaders in US-Israel attacks, according to a report published on March 19, 2026. Tehran continues to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and has carried out strikes on US-allied bases across the Middle East. US Senator Bernie Sanders stated that the war has already cost more than 22 billion dollars. Israel’s health ministry reported that 192 people were hospitalized in the past 24 hours due to Iranian attacks, with a total of 3,727 injured since the conflict began.

The United Arab Emirates has been the most affected among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with Iran launching about 3,000 missiles and drones, more than half targeting Abu Dhabi. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the killings of leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani, would not weaken Iran’s political structure. He emphasized that Iran’s governance does not depend on any single individual.

Al Jazeera analyst Marwan Bishara criticized Israel’s targeted killings as contrary to the rules of war, describing them as a form of terrorism. Araghchi added that the ongoing regional conflict was initiated by the United States, which must bear full responsibility for the resulting humanitarian and financial crises.

Iran has completely stopped exporting gas to Iraq following an Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity announced. The ministry confirmed that gas imports from Iran, which supply more than one-third of Iraq’s gas and electricity needs, have been suspended since the incident.

According to reports, Israel launched an early morning strike on Wednesday targeting the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve shared by Iran and Qatar. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that a petrochemical complex at the site caught fire after the attack. The South Pars field is jointly operated by both Iran and Qatar, each managing its own gas facilities within the field.

The disruption in gas supply could significantly affect Iraq’s electricity generation, as the country relies heavily on Iranian gas imports to meet domestic energy demand.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that those responsible for the killing of national security chief Ali Larijani will pay a heavy price. In a statement released Wednesday through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Khamenei described Larijani as an intelligent and committed figure and a prominent personality within the country’s political structure.

Khamenei said the assassination of such a figure demonstrates both Larijani’s importance and the hatred he inspired among the enemies of Islam. He declared that every drop of blood shed will be avenged, and that the killers of these martyrs will soon face consequences.

According to the report, Larijani and his son were killed Monday night in Tehran in an Israeli attack. In a separate strike the same day, Gholamreza Soleiman, head of Iran’s paramilitary Basij force, was also killed. The statement underscores rising tensions following the attacks.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that the United States has not observed any effort by Iran to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capacity following the attack in June last year. Her remarks were made during a briefing to lawmakers on recent intelligence assessments.

Gabbard stated that Iran and its allied forces remain capable of launching attacks against US and allied interests in the Middle East. She added that if Iran’s leadership survives the ongoing conflict, it may begin a year-long effort to rebuild its missile and drone programs. The information was reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement underscores Washington’s continued monitoring of Iran’s military and nuclear activities amid regional tensions, though no immediate reconstruction of enrichment facilities has been detected.

Iran’s military has announced plans for a decisive response following an attack on parts of the country’s energy and power infrastructure in the south. The statement, released through Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that the assault targeted sections of Iran’s energy facilities.

According to the military statement, Iran had previously warned that any attack by what it called American-Zionist enemies on its energy, gas, or economic infrastructure would trigger a powerful counterattack. The statement emphasized that Iran now considers the energy and gas infrastructure of the aggressor nations as legitimate targets for retaliation.

The declaration signals Tehran’s intent to respond forcefully to the latest strike, framing it as part of a broader confrontation over regional energy and security interests.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed the death of the country’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian expressed grief over what he described as the cowardly killing of Khatib, senior security official Ali Larijani, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and several of their family members and associates.

The deaths of Larijani and Nasirzadeh had been confirmed earlier by Iranian authorities. Prior to Pezeshkian’s statement, Israel had claimed responsibility for killing Khatib during an overnight operation. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel, following a series of targeted attacks on Iranian officials.

The confirmation from the Iranian president underscores the gravity of the situation and may lead to further political and security repercussions within the region, though no immediate response from Tehran was detailed in the report.

Russia has strongly condemned a reported missile strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 18, 2026. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran reported a projectile impact at the site but said there was no damage to the facility and no injuries. The agency warned, however, that such attacks could pose risks of radioactive contamination.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the incident as an irresponsible and completely unacceptable act, noting that the projectile landed only a few meters from an active reactor. She added that Russia had previously warned the United States and Israel about the presence of Russian citizens working at the plant.

The IAEA continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of protecting nuclear facilities from any form of military action that could endanger safety and security.

Global oil prices rose sharply after Iranian media reported an attack on a facility at one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. On Wednesday, Brent crude oil climbed to $108.60 per barrel, marking a five percent increase compared to Tuesday’s level. The report also noted that gas prices in the United Kingdom rose by nearly six percent following the news.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to energy market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Iranian report did not specify the extent of the damage or identify the perpetrators of the attack. The price surge reflects market sensitivity to potential disruptions in global energy supply.

The situation underscores ongoing instability in the region’s energy infrastructure, which continues to influence global oil and gas markets amid heightened uncertainty.

Iranian authorities announced the arrest of more than one hundred individuals accused of acting in the interests of the United States and Israel, labeling them as “traitors.” The Ministry of Intelligence stated that 111 pro-monarchy cells operating across 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces were dismantled overnight. These groups were alleged to support the US-backed regime that was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The ministry also reported the seizure of weapons and urged citizens to report suspicious activities.

According to the statement, 21 people were detained for allegedly sending videos to foreign-based “terrorist” media outlets during a nationwide internet shutdown that has lasted three weeks. Authorities further claimed to have confiscated 350 Starlink satellite internet terminals being smuggled into the country. State news agency Fars reported that some detainees in Karaj, near Tehran, had burned and desecrated images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed at the start of the current conflict on February 28.

The announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with Tehran asserting that its adversaries are facing defeat.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the United States is responsible for the recent attacks in several cities across neighboring Gulf countries. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he claimed that Iran should not be blamed for the strikes, arguing that the U.S. moved its troops from military bases to hotels in those cities, effectively making them targets.

Araghchi explained that Iran’s operations did not only target official enemy bases but also locations where U.S. forces had gathered and established facilities. His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following multiple incidents involving Iranian and U.S. interests in the Gulf region.

The statement reflects Iran’s attempt to shift responsibility for the attacks onto Washington, emphasizing that the presence and movement of U.S. forces in civilian areas contributed to the escalation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has instructed residents near five major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to evacuate immediately. Iranian state media broadcast the warning, urging people to move to a safe distance without delay. The directive came shortly after an Israeli airstrike targeted a petrochemical complex at Iran’s South Pars gas field early Wednesday, according to Israeli outlets and Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Qatar condemned the Israeli attack, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible act amid heightened regional military tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the strike on infrastructure linked to the South Pars field, which extends into Qatar’s North Field, poses a serious threat to global energy security, local populations, and the environment.

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the fire at the site has been brought under control, with no casualties confirmed so far.