Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed the death of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the country’s Basij force. The confirmation came through a statement cited by Iran’s Tasnim news agency on March 18, 2026. According to the IRGC statement, Soleimani was killed in an attack carried out by what it described as American-Zionist enemies.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Katz claimed that Israel had killed both Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Soleimani in separate strikes. However, the IRGC statement only confirmed Soleimani’s death and made no mention of Larijani. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera, as cited by the Iranian outlet.

The confirmation marks a significant development amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, though the IRGC has not provided further details about the circumstances of the attack or its location.

Iran has begun discussions with FIFA to hold its World Cup matches in Mexico rather than the United States. The confirmation came from Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, who said the decision followed concerns about the team’s safety on U.S. soil. He stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump himself admitted he could not guarantee the Iranian team’s security, prompting Iran to request that its matches be hosted in Mexico. FIFA has not yet issued any response to the proposal.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) General Secretary Windsor Paul John said Iran remains a participant in the tournament and that the AFC is monitoring the situation. However, Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamall declared that the government had decided not to send the team to the United States under current conditions. Trump had earlier warned that Iran’s players could face life and safety risks if they traveled to the U.S.

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Iran’s group-stage matches originally planned for Los Angeles and Seattle.

Israel announced that it has killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in a targeted attack, vowing to continue pursuing the country’s top leaders. The strike is part of a broader campaign that began when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran.

Since the start of the joint offensive, several senior Iranian figures have been reported killed. Following the first day of strikes on February 28, Iran declared the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other casualties from the initial wave included security adviser Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guard commander General Mohammad Pakpour, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdul Rahim Mousavi.

The report underscores the severe impact of the ongoing military operations on Iran’s leadership structure, though further details about the attacks or Iran’s response were not provided.

Iran has rejected a ceasefire proposal sent by the United States, according to an Iranian official cited by Reuters. The proposal was delivered to Tehran through two intermediary countries. The announcement came on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly took a firm stance against both the United States and Israel during his first foreign policy session.

The official said Khamenei expressed a hardline position on taking ‘revenge’ against the two nations, though it was unclear whether he attended the meeting in person. In his response, Khamenei stated that peace would not be possible until the United States and Israel admitted defeat, bowed down, and paid compensation. The rejection underscores Tehran’s continued defiance amid escalating hostilities.

The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched attacks targeting Iran’s top leadership. Those strikes killed the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, and several senior military commanders. Following his father’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei was declared Iran’s new Supreme Leader.

The United Nations has launched an investigation into a deadly attack on a school in Iran, calling for a transparent and independent inquiry. The organization emphasized the need for accountability for the victims and assessment of the attack’s impact on civilians. It has also requested access to Iran to conduct on-site verification of the incident.

Max du Plessis, a member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, stated that during the first day of U.S.-Israel strikes, two missiles hit the Shajare Tayyebah primary school, killing 168 children. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, he said the investigation is in its early stages and that credible reports confirm the death toll, underscoring the urgency of an impartial investigation.

According to a U.S. military inquiry, American forces may be responsible for the attack, though no final conclusion has been reached. If confirmed, it would mark one of the deadliest civilian casualty incidents involving U.S. military action in the Middle East in decades.

Iran announced that it carried out attacks on Israeli cyber technology and weapons production centers as part of an operation named 'True Promise 4'. The statement was released on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by Iran’s military, which said the strikes targeted what it described as facilities belonging to the occupying Israeli regime.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing the country’s armed forces, the attacks specifically hit the Israeli police’s cyber technology center and several weapons manufacturing sites. The report added that drone strikes began in the morning, focusing on Israel’s cyber-technology hub and the Rafael weapons production center.

The report, sourced from Al Jazeera, did not include details on the scale of damage, casualties, or Israel’s response to the attacks.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced that it has confiscated hundreds of Starlink systems capable of connecting to the internet via satellite networks. According to the ministry, the devices were illegally brought into the country by the United States and Israel. The announcement was reported by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

The ministry stated that the search for illegal Starlink systems will continue until all satellite internet terminals serving what it called “enemy services” are fully identified. It further declared that possessing or using Starlink systems constitutes a crime that could warrant the “harshest punishment” during wartime, particularly for individuals linked to or working on behalf of hostile entities.

The statement underscores Iran’s ongoing efforts to control access to foreign communication technologies and to prevent what it describes as external interference through satellite-based internet systems.

A handwritten note attributed to senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani was posted on his social media account on X, even as Israel claimed he had been killed. Tehran has not confirmed any information regarding his reported death. According to Al Jazeera, the note was also shared by Iranian state-affiliated media and was written in memory of Iranian naval personnel killed in a recent U.S. strike. Their funeral was scheduled to take place today.

In the note, Larijani expressed admiration for the bravery of the Iranian Navy members and prayed for their eternal honor, saying their sacrifices would strengthen the Islamic Republic’s armed forces. The message appeared to reaffirm loyalty to Iran’s military and religious values.

Israel’s Defense Minister Katz had earlier claimed responsibility for a targeted nighttime airstrike that allegedly killed Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, describing them as joining the late Ayatollah Khamenei “in the depths of hell.” Tehran has yet to issue an official response to these claims.

Iran has held the United States and Israel responsible for the ongoing tensions and disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the situation cannot be viewed in isolation, describing it as a reflection of a broader regional conflict. He made the remarks during a telephone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging all peace‑concerned nations and international organizations to condemn the roles of the United States and Israel.

Araghchi further called on the international community to take a firm stand against what he described as continuing military aggression toward the Iranian people. According to Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim News Agency, Tehran believes that the current instability, particularly the disruption of shipping, stems from wider regional conflicts that are making the situation increasingly complex.

The report, citing Al Jazeera as its source, underscores Iran’s view that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is part of a larger geopolitical struggle rather than an isolated maritime issue.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has claimed that Iran’s top security chief Ali Larijani was killed. However, Iranian media reported that Larijani would soon deliver a message, suggesting he may still be alive. At least two Iranian outlets confirmed that the message was expected to be released within minutes.

An Israeli military official told the BBC that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had targeted Larijani. In a separate claim, the Israeli army said it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij Force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), during an attack on Monday night. Iranian authorities have not yet issued any official response or comment on either claim.

According to the Israeli military, Soleimani’s death would represent a major blow to Iran’s command-and-control structure. The situation remains unclear as Iranian media await Larijani’s statement and no confirmation has been provided from Tehran.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has claimed that Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani has been killed. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Katz said the Israeli military was responsible for the attack. The Israeli army also claimed responsibility for killing Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij Force under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an assault on Monday night.

According to the Israeli military, Soleimani’s death represents a major blow to Iran’s command-and-control structure. Israel further pledged to continue using force against Iranian commanders. As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued any official response or comment regarding these claims.

The report noted that since the war began on February 28, Israel and the United States have been targeting Iran’s senior leadership, resulting in the deaths of several top military commanders, including the country’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Analysts believe Soleimani’s killing could further weaken the Basij Force’s control system.

Nearly 12,000 houses in Tehran have been partially or completely destroyed in attacks carried out by the United States and Israel over the past 18 days, according to Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian. The information was reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency and cited by Middle East Eye.

Motamedian stated that residents whose homes were damaged can apply for compensation through their respective municipal offices. The report did not specify the exact dates or nature of the strikes, nor did it mention any casualties or further details about the affected areas.

The statement highlights the scale of destruction in Iran’s capital following the recent attacks, though broader political or military responses were not included in the report.

An Israeli military official confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council. The incident was reported on March 17, 2026. It remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or injured in the attack.

The same Israeli military source also claimed responsibility for killing Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Basij force. The report did not specify where or how the attacks took place, and no further details were provided by either side.

The situation adds to ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, though the immediate consequences of the reported attacks remain uncertain.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed the arrest of ten foreign spies during its ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. According to a report by AFP citing Iran’s ISNA news agency on Tuesday, the IRGC’s intelligence branch in the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan stated that the individuals were identified and detained after being labeled as mercenaries and traitors.

The ISNA report did not disclose the nationalities of those arrested. The IRGC alleged that four of the detainees were gathering information about Iran’s sensitive facilities and economic infrastructure, while the others were linked to a group described as a “monarchist terrorist” organization.

No further details were provided about the timing of the arrests or the specific charges, leaving uncertainty about the broader implications of the detentions.

The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for killing Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij Force, a paramilitary unit under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the Israeli statement, Soleimani was killed in an attack on Monday night. Israel described his death as a major blow to Iran’s command-and-control structure and vowed to continue using force against Iranian commanders. Iran has not yet issued any official response to the claim.

The report comes amid heightened regional tensions following failed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that took place from February 6 to 27 without reaching an agreement. On February 28, the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran, while Israel simultaneously began its own campaign called “Operation Roaring Lion.”

In retaliation, Iran has been launching waves of drone and missile strikes targeting U.S. bases in Israel and six Gulf countries—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. These attacks are reportedly ongoing, according to Al Jazeera.