Afghanistan and Oman have jointly condemned the recent attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. The condemnation came during a phone conversation between Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Oman’s foreign minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. Both ministers discussed bilateral relations and expressed concern over the current situation in the Middle East, describing it as alarming.

During the discussion, the two sides also addressed the situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Muttaqi briefed Oman on the Taliban government’s stance regarding Afghanistan’s defensive measures in response to Pakistan’s aggression. Both leaders emphasized the importance of diplomacy in resolving regional issues and agreed that dialogue remains the best approach to managing ongoing tensions.

Their joint statement reflects growing regional unease over escalating conflicts and the potential for broader instability across the Middle East.

A report by US media outlet Axios has presented five potential ways the ongoing Iran war could end, as US President Trump and the Pentagon send mixed signals about the conflict’s conclusion. The options include a negotiated ceasefire and nuclear deal, a Venezuela-style regime change, internal protests leading to government collapse, a special forces strike on Iran’s nuclear stockpile, and a unilateral victory declaration by Trump.

According to the report, discussions have taken place between the United States and Israel about deploying special forces to destroy Iran’s enriched uranium reserves. Meanwhile, Iran’s economy has collapsed, and the country has seen its largest protests since the 1979 revolution, though opposition forces remain fragmented. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of a negotiated settlement but expressed disappointment over Iran’s leadership choices.

The report concludes that the Iran war, which began without much warning, could end just as abruptly, depending on political and military developments in the coming weeks.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)–affiliated Tasnim News reported that major US technology companies with alleged technological cooperation with Israel could be considered potential targets. The report stated that offices and cloud infrastructures of several US-based firms have been listed as facilities whose technologies were claimed to be used for military purposes, describing them as part of Iran’s new target list.

According to Tasnim, as regional conflict increasingly involves infrastructure, Iran’s definition of legitimate targets is expanding. The companies named in the report include Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia, and Oracle. The report also noted that parts of these firms’ cloud-based infrastructures are located in various Israeli cities and in several Gulf countries.

No immediate comment was available from the mentioned companies or the countries concerned, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Iran has declared it will not seek a ceasefire despite intensified U.S. military pressure and threats from President Donald Trump. Explosions were reported in Tehran on Tuesday, while Iran warned that no crude oil would be exported from the Gulf if bombings continued. The Pentagon announced its most extensive and coordinated airstrikes across Iran, targeting missile systems and military infrastructure. The conflict follows the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli strike.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard commander, reiterated on social media that Iran would not accept a ceasefire and vowed to retaliate against aggressors. The Revolutionary Guard announced new missile attacks on Israeli cities and U.S. targets in the region. Explosions were also heard in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, according to AFP reporters.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, has been closed due to Iranian attacks on shipping. Trump warned Tehran against laying mines in the strait, threatening severe military consequences. The Pentagon reported about 140 U.S. soldiers injured and seven killed since the conflict began.

Iran’s senior armed forces spokesperson, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, has vowed to retaliate against what he described as the “shameless and brutal crimes” of the United States and Israel. According to Iran’s Defa Press news agency, Shekarchi called on regional countries to reveal the hidden bases of enemy forces to minimize civilian casualties.

He accused the US and Israeli militaries of killing civilians, including women and children, out of frustration and an inability to confront Iran’s armed forces directly. Shekarchi warned that Iran is preparing a strong response and urged readiness for severe retaliation against those responsible.

The general appealed to Muslims and regional governments to identify and disclose the secret locations of what he termed “American-Zionist forces,” claiming this would help prevent harm to civilians and allow Iran to target those allegedly using local populations as human shields.

The United States military has announced that it destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Citing intelligence sources, CNN reported on Tuesday that Iran had recently placed dozens of mines in the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments, and earlier this week Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that no oil would leave the region if US and Israeli attacks continued.

US President Donald Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social last Tuesday, said that if Iran had indeed planted mines in the strait—though confirmation was still lacking—it should remove them immediately or face “unprecedented” consequences. He added that removing the mines would be a major step in the right direction but did not specify what those consequences might be. Trump also stated that the US would use the same technology it employs against drug traffickers to permanently eliminate any vessel attempting to lay mines in the area.

The developments underscore escalating tensions in the Gulf region, with both sides issuing warnings over control of vital maritime routes.

Fresh tensions have emerged over the Strait of Hormuz, a key Middle Eastern maritime route, after the US President issued a social media warning to Iran. He stated that if any mines had been placed in the strait, they must be removed immediately, though he acknowledged that the United States had no confirmed evidence of such activity. The warning followed media reports citing US military sources suggesting Iran might be laying or preparing to lay mines in the area.

The US Central Command later announced on social media that it had attacked around 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the strait. Analysts noted that the narrow 34-kilometer-wide waterway, partly controlled by Iran, has become a major concern for the United States and Gulf nations. The strait is the only maritime route for oil exports from Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, giving Iran significant strategic leverage.

Experts cautioned that Iran could disrupt tanker traffic using small submarines or fast boats rather than large warships. Earlier, the US energy secretary deleted a post claiming such attacks had already begun after the information proved unverified.

Iran has claimed that United States and Israeli forces have carried out bombings on nearly 10,000 civilian installations across the country since the war began eleven days ago. According to Iranian sources, more than 1,300 civilians have been killed in these attacks. A large explosion was reported near Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, with CNN verifying the location of a video showing the incident.

The video, posted on social media early Wednesday local time, captured multiple loud explosions and flashes of fire. Additionally, a new airstrike hit a residential area in Tehran at dawn on Wednesday, prompting rescue operations by the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The report cites Al Jazeera as the source of information, but further details about the scale of destruction or international responses were not provided.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it has begun what it described as its most intense and powerful operation since the start of the ongoing war. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, missiles were launched overnight at various targets in Israel and at US installations in the region.

The IRGC stated that it will continue its attacks with precision and determination until the enemy fully surrenders, declaring that the war will end only when the shadow of conflict is removed from Iran. In a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States would not retreat until the enemy is completely and finally defeated.

Early Wednesday morning, air raid sirens sounded across central Israel as the Israel Defense Forces warned of missile launches from Iran. No casualties were reported, according to initial information.

North Korea has expressed support for Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and condemned what it called “illegal” attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. The statement was released through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on behalf of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry. A ministry spokesperson said Pyongyang respects Iran’s right and choice in appointing Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader, following the succession from his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the KCNA report, North Korea declared its backing for Khamenei’s appointment and voiced strong criticism of the US and Israel for their military actions against Iran. The spokesperson accused both countries of undermining regional peace and security and increasing instability in the international arena.

The statement underscores North Korea’s alignment with Iran amid heightened tensions involving Western powers, reflecting continued solidarity between the two nations against perceived external aggression.

An airstrike struck a residential area in Tehran early Wednesday, prompting rescue operations by the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The organization confirmed on social media that another residential area in the capital had been hit, and rescue and fire service teams were working at the scene. Video footage released by the Red Crescent showed rescuers entering a damaged building with a search dog amid scattered debris. The exact location of the strike within the city has not yet been confirmed.

According to Al Jazeera, at least one bank employee was killed in a separate airstrike on a Tehran bank. The report added that explosions were heard across the city overnight following new large-scale attack announcements by Israel and the United States. Tehran Governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said that, in addition to residential areas, critical infrastructure such as electricity, water, gas, and communication networks had also been targeted, as reported by Iranian state media.

The extent of the damage and the total number of casualties remain unclear as rescue efforts continue.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out its 37th round of attacks targeting several Israeli cities and US military installations across the Middle East. According to a statement published by Iran’s Fars News Agency, the operation lasted more than three hours and involved the use of new-generation “super-heavy Khorramshahr” missiles in a multi-layered coordinated strike.

The IRGC said it struck the Hayela satellite communication center south of Tel Aviv for the second time, as well as military sites in Bir Ya’akov, western Jerusalem, and Haifa. The statement also claimed that Iranian forces attacked a US base in Erbil, Iraq, and the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. Israeli media Channel 12, cited by Al Jazeera, reported that one of the Iranian missiles hit an area near Tel Aviv, injuring several people.

The report, sourced from Reuters, did not include official responses from Israel, the United States, or Iran beyond the IRGC statement.

A senior Iranian security official told Iran’s Press TV that the country’s forces are fully prepared to resist any potential sabotage or ground operation by the United States. The official stated that Iran has been preparing for such a scenario for 20 years, drawing on experiences from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and other regions to strengthen its readiness.

According to the source, Iranian forces view any confrontation as an opportunity to neutralize or capture enemy personnel. The official warned that the United States should pay closer attention to the deadly risks ahead and learn from past bitter experiences.

The statement came in response to claims from the United States and Israel about possible airstrikes or ground operations targeting Iran’s sensitive facilities, particularly its nuclear capabilities. Iranian security forces reiterated that they are ready to face any situation that may arise.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Tehran does not seek a ceasefire but intends to deliver a strong retaliatory response against aggressors. In a post cited by Tasnim News Agency, he stated that Iran must strike in a way that deters future aggression and accused Israel of perpetuating a cycle of war, negotiation, and ceasefire to preserve what he called its “shameful existence.”

The statement comes as tensions between Iran and Israel intensify following the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians. In response, the United States and Israel launched extensive military operations targeting both military and civilian areas in Iran, causing rising casualties and severe damage to infrastructure such as power, gas, and communications.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli-occupied territories and U.S. bases in the region, describing these actions as a fight for survival. Meanwhile, Washington and Tel Aviv have pledged to continue joint operations to counter what they call Iranian aggression.

Iran is pursuing a strategy to prolong its conflict with the United States and Israel rather than seeking a direct military victory. According to the report, Tehran aims to exhaust its adversaries through sustained warfare, using drone and missile strikes to spread fear and disrupt global energy supply routes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken full control of the battlefield, directing attacks and overall strategy after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since been installed as the new supreme leader with IRGC backing.

Experts cited in the report describe Iran’s approach as an existential struggle, with some warning that the country has become more dangerous after suffering heavy losses. Iran has expanded its attacks across the Gulf region, targeting energy facilities in countries from Qatar to Saudi Arabia to pressure global markets and test Washington’s resolve.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers that the war would continue until Iran is “completely and finally defeated,” though he predicted it would end soon.