Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom has decided to continue its operations in Iran despite recent US-Israeli attacks. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev confirmed that the company will not withdraw from the country and that construction of two additional units at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant remains a priority.

Rosatom previously built the first 1-gigawatt unit at Bushehr, Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant. Following the attacks launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, Rosatom temporarily suspended work on the new units and evacuated some staff. Likhachev stated that around 450 Rosatom employees are currently involved in the project, with 150 having recently returned to Russia.

Under a bilateral agreement between Russia and Iran, a total of eight nuclear units are planned, including four in the city of Bushehr. The company’s decision signals continued Russian commitment to its nuclear cooperation with Iran despite the ongoing conflict.

Russia has called on the United States and Israel to stop their attacks on Iran and return to negotiations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow supports steps aimed at reducing tensions and bringing the conflict back to a diplomatic path. She warned that the humanitarian situation across the region has become extremely difficult and that the ongoing escalation is a matter of deep concern.

The appeal from Moscow comes amid reports of Israeli claims of strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and multiple attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The situation has heightened regional instability, with recent Iranian attacks on Israel reportedly injuring 179 people within the past 24 hours.

Russia’s statement also comes as it remains engaged in its own prolonged conflict with Ukraine, now entering its fifth year, underscoring the broader geopolitical complexities surrounding its call for de-escalation.

Israel has claimed responsibility for striking a “nuclear weapons development compound” in Tehran, saying the attack took place over the past few days. The Israeli military stated that it has launched a “large-scale assault” across Iran, targeting what it described as the ruling regime’s infrastructure. The announcement was made through a post on the Telegram social network.

According to BBC Arabic, Israeli media earlier reported that Israeli and U.S. officials had discussed the possibility of attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities. Kan News added that the discussions included whether enriched uranium stored under the ruins of the Fordow site could be destroyed by airstrikes. An Israeli official was quoted as saying that “plans are ready, only a decision remains.”

The report also mentioned that Russia has called for an end to the attacks on Iran, while tensions in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait have escalated following multiple ship attacks and recent Iranian strikes on Israel that injured 179 people.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that the country will take revenge for the blood of its citizens. According to Iranian state television, cited by the BBC, Khamenei made the statement in his first message after being chosen as the nation’s top religious leader. He referred specifically to the attack on a girls’ school in Minab, which Iran attributes to Israel, saying 168 people were killed, including about 110 children.

Khamenei also declared that Iran would continue targeting the Hormuz Strait and advised neighboring countries to close U.S. military bases on their soil, warning that such bases could be attacked. Despite emphasizing a policy of friendship with neighboring states, his remarks underscored a hardline stance toward foreign military presence in the region.

Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by Iran’s 88-member Assembly of Experts as the third Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28 after leading Iran for 37 years.

International media reported that six additional ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Iran war. The attacks targeted vessels linked to the United States and Europe, bringing the total number of ships hit in the region to at least sixteen since the conflict began. Maritime traffic through the narrow strait has nearly come to a halt since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.

According to reports, an explosive-laden Iranian boat attacked oil tankers in Iraqi waters on Wednesday, killing one crew member and destroying two ships. The incidents followed projectile strikes on four other vessels in the Gulf. Iraqi port officials identified the destroyed ships as the Marshall Islands-flagged Safe Sea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged Zephyros, both carrying fuel products from Iraq. Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO said Safe Sea Vishnu had been chartered by an Iraqi firm under contract with them, while Zephyros was transporting fuel for the Basra Gas Company.

The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments, and the attacks have raised concerns about further disruption to energy transport in the region.

Iran’s military has claimed responsibility for drone attacks targeting the headquarters of Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, and two Israeli air bases. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, cited by Al Jazeera, the attacks took place on Thursday and struck multiple sites, including the Shin Bet headquarters in Tel Aviv’s Ramat Aviv area, the Palmachim air base west of Yavne on the Mediterranean coast, and the Ovda air base in southern Israel.

The Shin Bet headquarters, known as the “Invisible Shield,” serves as the central command for Israel’s internal security and intelligence operations. Iran’s statement described the strikes as drone-based assaults on these strategic locations. The report also noted that the attacks followed earlier claims by Israel of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and incidents involving ships in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

The developments mark a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two countries, with reports indicating widespread attacks in Israel over the past 24 hours that left 179 people injured.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Ali Khamenei, announced in a televised address that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to exert pressure on Iran’s adversaries. The statement, broadcast on state television on March 12, 2026, emphasized the need for national unity to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and security. Khamenei warned that the strategic maritime route would be shut down as part of efforts to apply strategic pressure on those opposing Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes, through which a significant portion of global crude oil normally passes. Analysts cited in the report noted that any closure of this passage could have a major impact on international energy markets.

The announcement marks one of Khamenei’s first major policy declarations since assuming leadership, signaling a potentially tense phase in regional and global energy dynamics.

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.