Large crowds gathered across Iran on Quds Day to express solidarity with Palestinians. Demonstrations took place in major cities including Tehran, Khorramabad, Isfahan, Golestan, Yazd, Mashhad, and Zahedan. Participants carried flags and portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and his late father Ali Khamenei, according to footage shared by Iranian state media.

Reuters reported that in Tehran, demonstrators burned effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. Footage from Fars News Agency showed people striking coffins wrapped in U.S. and Israeli flags with nails. The rallies occurred amid ongoing Israeli military attacks, with Iranian state media also reporting explosions in Tehran, Isfahan, and other regions.

The events underscored Iran’s continued public support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel and the United States, coinciding with heightened regional tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a warning against any new anti-government protests, saying it will take even harsher measures than those used in January. The statement was broadcast on state television on Friday, signaling the government’s intent to prevent renewed demonstrations across the country.

According to the Human Rights Activist News Agency, more than 7,000 people were killed during the January protests. Iranian authorities have blamed the violence on ‘terrorists’ allegedly working for Israel and the United States. Several human rights organizations have accused Iranian security forces of deliberately firing on protesters during those events.

The report also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranians to rise against their government and overthrow the ruling system, adding to the international political tension surrounding Iran’s internal unrest.

Iran’s state media reported that Mansoureh Khozasteh Bagherzadeh, wife of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is alive but seriously injured. Earlier rumors had claimed she was killed alongside her husband in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike in Tehran. The Fars news agency stated on March 12 that previous reports of her death were incorrect and resulted from misinterpretation of initial injury updates.

Several Iranian outlets had earlier reported that Bagherzadeh had died from her injuries, while semi-official Tasnim News said she was in a coma. Fars later clarified that the confusion arose from misreading early reports. Questions resurfaced about her condition after new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei made no mention of his mother’s death in his first public statement.

Ayatollah Khamenei, aged 86, was reported killed in the February 28 airstrike on his Tehran residence. Following his death, Iran launched missile attacks targeting U.S. and Israeli bases in retaliation.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive but seriously injured. Khamenei has not appeared in public since the start of the war in Iran. An Iranian official earlier told Reuters that the leader had sustained only minor injuries and continued to perform his official duties.

In an interview with Fox News, recorded Thursday and aired Friday morning, Trump reiterated his view that Khamenei survived but was gravely hurt. The remarks come amid heightened tensions following the outbreak of war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

In his first address after assuming office, Mojtaba Khamenei declared that Iran would not retreat from its conflict with the United States and Israel. He vowed to avenge the blood of martyrs and pledged to keep the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz closed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to kill Iran’s new supreme leader, saying that neither Iran’s new Ayatollah nor Hezbollah’s leader should expect any guarantee of safety. He made the remarks during his first press conference since the start of the war, while defending Israel’s joint military operation with the United States against Iran.

Netanyahu stated that Israel’s objective was to prevent Iran from moving its nuclear and ballistic projects underground. He claimed that the attacks, which began on February 28, stopped Iran from relocating those programs. According to him, nearly two weeks of strikes have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists and inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij forces.

The report also mentioned that Iran’s new supreme leader remains alive but seriously injured, as stated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. officials told The New York Times that Iran began laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, a vital maritime route through which about 20 percent of global oil supply—around 31 million barrels of crude daily—passes. The move reportedly surprised the Trump administration, even as President Donald Trump publicly claimed that U.S. forces had destroyed Iran’s navy.

According to CNN, senior Trump administration officials privately told lawmakers that they had not previously considered the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks. A former U.S. official who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations said that planning to prevent such a scenario had long been a core principle of U.S. national security policy, expressing astonishment that the administration had not prepared for it.

The incident underscores the strategic vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz and raises concerns about potential disruptions to global oil markets if tensions escalate further.

An Israeli airstrike on the Iranian city of Arak killed a woman and a child and injured 35 others, according to the city’s deputy governor. The attack occurred early Friday, and around the same time, loud explosions were heard in several parts of Tehran. State media reported that airstrikes were detected in two eastern districts of the capital around 5:15 a.m. local time, with residents describing their homes shaking from the blasts.

Semi-official Fars News Agency confirmed the intensity of the explosions, noting widespread alarm among residents. The incidents come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump commented that the war against Iran was progressing rapidly and effectively, labeling Iran a “nation of terror and hate” and saying it was paying a high price. He made the remarks at the White House on Friday.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for supporting what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansionist delusions. In a social media post following the crash of a US military refueling aircraft in Iraq, Ghalibaf said that families of American soldiers have the right to know why their children are being sacrificed for such causes.

The post also referenced convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, noting his past association with Trump and alleged links to Israeli intelligence. Ghalibaf’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the incident involving a US KC-135 refueling aircraft.

According to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the crash occurred during “Operation Epic Fury” in friendly airspace. Two aircraft were involved; one crashed in western Iraq while the other landed safely. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Thailand has demanded a formal apology from Iran after a Thai-flagged vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The Thai government made the demand following confirmation that the ship had come under fire, leading to damage. The incident prompted Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Iranian ambassador to seek clarification regarding the attack and the extent of the vessel’s losses.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that the ship was targeted after it allegedly ignored a warning. In recent statements, Iranian officials have said that all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain prior permission from Iran. The situation has drawn attention to the growing tension surrounding navigation rights in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

The diplomatic exchange underscores rising friction between Iran and regional maritime partners, with Thailand seeking accountability and Iran asserting control over the strait’s passage.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first televised address after becoming Iran’s supreme leader, issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel. Speaking on Thursday, he declared that Iran would continue its struggle and avenge the blood of its martyrs. Khamenei stated that armed groups in Yemen and Iraq support the Islamic Revolution and will take action when instructed.

He emphasized that Yemen’s resistance fighters and Iraq’s armed factions are prepared to fulfill their duties in support of the revolution. While asserting Iran’s belief in friendship with neighboring countries, Khamenei said attacks on US military bases in the region would continue. He added that Iranian forces are targeting only American bases and demanded that all such installations be closed immediately, warning of further strikes if they remain operational.

At the start of his speech, Khamenei thanked Iran’s military for defending the nation during times of attack, praising the courage of soldiers who continue to fight for the country’s security and unity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Ali Khamenei stated that Iran remains committed to maintaining friendly relations with neighboring countries but will continue targeting United States military bases. In a televised address on March 12, 2026, he said the attacks on US installations would persist as part of Iran’s defense strategy.

Khamenei emphasized the need for national unity to safeguard Iran’s sovereignty and security. He warned that strategic maritime routes would remain closed to exert pressure on those opposing Iran. The leader also reiterated the importance of improving ties with neighboring states.

His remarks followed a series of missile and drone strikes in several regional countries, which he claimed were directed solely at US military facilities. The statement reflects Iran’s dual approach of pursuing regional diplomacy while maintaining a confrontational stance toward US military presence in the region.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei publicly thanked the country’s armed forces in his first televised address to the nation on March 12, 2026. In his remarks, he expressed gratitude to the military for protecting Iran from subjugation and division despite facing attacks. Khamenei praised the bravery and dedication of soldiers who, according to him, performed admirably under pressure.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera and local outlet Amar Desh, marks Khamenei’s first major public message since assuming leadership. His comments emphasized national unity and resilience during a period of external pressure and conflict. The address also highlighted the military’s role as a stabilizing force in safeguarding Iran’s sovereignty.

The speech signals that the new leadership intends to maintain strong ties with the armed forces and reinforce their importance in national defense and internal cohesion.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei delivered his first televised address to the nation on March 12, 2026, focusing on national unity, regional politics, and ongoing conflicts. He called for internal solidarity and reaffirmed Iran’s firm stance on protecting its security and sovereignty. Khamenei warned that all U.S. military bases in the Middle East should be closed immediately, otherwise they would continue to face attacks.

He stated that Iran seeks good relations with neighboring countries but emphasized that nations hosting U.S. military bases would remain targets under Iran’s current policy. Khamenei also announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as part of Tehran’s strategy to pressure its adversaries. He vowed to continue fighting to avenge the deaths of Iran’s former Supreme Leader and children killed in recent attacks.

Khamenei praised Iran’s armed forces for their sacrifices in defending the country from domination and division, promising financial and other support for war victims. He concluded by urging Iranians to overcome differences and work together for the nation’s interests.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a stern warning to the United States in his first public statement since assuming leadership. Speaking after his election on March 8, Khamenei demanded that all U.S. military bases in the region be shut down immediately, warning that failure to do so would result in attacks. His recorded address was broadcast publicly, marking his first message to both domestic and international audiences.

Khamenei emphasized that Iran seeks friendly relations with neighboring countries but will continue to target American bases located within those nations. His statement follows a series of events beginning on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was subsequently chosen as Iran’s new leader.

The warning signals a continuation of heightened regional tensions following the leadership transition and the earlier military strikes on Iranian territory.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that 3.2 million people have been displaced across Iran following attacks launched by the United States and Israel. The figure is based on an initial survey conducted among displaced families throughout the country, according to the agency’s statement released on March 12, 2026.

UNHCR warned that the number of displaced individuals could continue to rise as the conflict persists, describing the situation as a serious humanitarian concern. The agency’s findings highlight the growing scale of displacement and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance across affected regions.

The report underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis in Iran as the war continues, with UNHCR calling attention to the increasing pressure on relief operations and the potential for further instability if the conflict does not subside.