U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is either dead or in very poor condition. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative Priority forum in Miami, Florida, Trump said Iran currently has no leader and asserted that U.S. military actions have destroyed Iran’s leadership and defense capabilities.

During his speech, Trump stated that Iran’s navy and air force have been completely destroyed, with their warplanes and communication systems eliminated. He added that the U.S. is now targeting Iran’s weapons stockpiles and missile and drone factories, aiming to dismantle the country’s defense industry entirely.

According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s new supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28, the first day of the Iran-U.S.-Israel war. Mojtaba was injured in the same attack and is currently receiving treatment in a Moscow hospital after traveling there on March 12 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stern warning to neighboring countries following recent attacks on Iran’s critical infrastructure and economic centers. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that Iran would deliver a 'terrible' response to the assaults. Pezeshkian also cautioned Middle Eastern neighbors not to allow Iran’s enemies to use their territories for military operations if they wish to ensure their own security and development.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the joint forces of the United States and Israel. On Friday, both countries reportedly carried out strikes on several highly significant Iranian sites, including the Mobarakeh Steel Industries in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces, as well as the Khondab heavy water production facility in Markazi province. In retaliation, Iran launched counterattacks that caused damage at Kuwait International Airport and targeted the Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where several people were reported injured.

The escalation underscores the growing regional instability and the potential for further confrontation if diplomatic efforts fail to de-escalate the situation.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 1,464 civilians, including 217 children, have been killed in Iran during the first month of the ongoing conflict that began on February 28. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported dropping more than 12,000 bombs across Iran, including 3,600 on Tehran alone. The US Central Command stated that it has carried out strikes on over 9,000 targets throughout the country.

Many of the attacks targeted police stations, Basij militia buildings, military and police universities, IRGC residences, and suspected ammunition depots, several of which were located in densely populated areas. Residents told BBC Eye that the strikes on residential zones have heightened anger, even among those previously critical of the Iranian government. The IDF confirmed the attacks but declined further comment, while the US Department of Defense did not respond.

Iran has also launched attacks on civilian infrastructure in neighboring countries, including airports and hotels in Gulf states allied with Washington. Tehran residents expressed frustration over the lack of visible safety measures or evacuation support, as internet disruptions and unclear guidance have left many feeling unsafe and uncertain.

Iran has remained largely cut off from the global internet for the past four weeks, according to NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet connectivity. The group described the situation as a state of 'digital darkness' resulting from the ongoing war in the Middle East. The blackout has severely restricted Iranians’ access to information and communication, effectively isolating the country from the outside world.

The report noted that this is not the first internet disruption in Iran this year. In January, authorities also shut down internet services for several weeks during anti-government protests. Iran is currently operating a two-tier internet system, where senior government officials and individuals linked to the ruling establishment have uninterrupted access, while ordinary citizens face heavy restrictions.

Most citizens are now limited to using Iran’s National Information Network, a domestic and tightly controlled system that functions separately from the global internet, further curbing open communication and access to external information.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his diplomatic efforts to promote peace amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Iran. During an hour-long phone conversation, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of building mutual trust to halt conflict and facilitate dialogue. He thanked Pakistan for its cooperative role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

According to Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Iranian leader commended Sharif’s sincere diplomatic initiatives following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory. In response, Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its constructive role in restoring regional peace and stability.

Earlier in the call, Sharif strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of more than 1,900 lives, underscoring Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran during the crisis.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, representing Donald Trump, said Washington is hopeful about holding a meeting with Iran later this week. He added that the United States is awaiting Tehran’s response to a proposed 15-point agreement submitted earlier in the week.

The statement comes amid a surge in regional violence. Several powerful explosions were reported in Tehran, while Iran claimed its Bushehr nuclear power plant was attacked for the third time this month. Israel announced it had successfully struck the Arak heavy water plant in central Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel of targeting civilian facilities and warned that they would pay a heavy price for such aggression.

Meanwhile, several Gulf states reported intercepting new aerial threats. The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems successfully neutralized ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

U.S. and European officials have reported that Russia is sending an upgraded version of the Shahed drone to Iran. The drones, previously used by Russia in the Ukraine war, now include jet engines, AI-based navigation systems, advanced jammer resistance, and Starlink internet devices. These enhancements are said to make the drones significantly more powerful, and the current shipment is reportedly being delivered to Tehran.

European officials believe the drones are being transported through Azerbaijan under the guise of humanitarian aid. However, it remains unclear how large the shipment is or whether it represents a one-time delivery or part of an ongoing supply chain. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as baseless, while White House spokesperson Olivia Wells stated that Iran’s acquisitions would not affect U.S. operations.

The report notes that Iran has continued drone attacks in the Middle East for over a month following U.S. and Israeli strikes. Analysts suggest that if these advanced drones reach Iran, they could pose a serious challenge to U.S. and allied air defense systems in the region.

The National Interest reported that Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for one-fifth of global oil supply, following drone and missile attacks on Israel and Gulf energy facilities. The closure has sharply increased insurance rates and halted most shipping through the strait, threatening to paralyze international trade for weeks or months.

According to the report, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could turn the narrow waterway into a minefield, with an estimated five to six thousand naval mines capable of sealing the passage within hours. The United States faces limited options to remove the mines, as its mine-clearing fleet relies mainly on coastal ships and helicopters, insufficient for the scale of the threat. Western nations have pledged assistance to reopen the strait, but their commitments remain uncertain.

The report warns that prolonged mine-clearing operations could keep global oil markets unstable, drive up insurance premiums, and disrupt tanker movements, potentially shaking the world economy.

An Iranian military spokesperson from the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters stated that Iranian forces carried out an attack on a US military support ship located far from the port of Salalah in Oman. The statement was reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency on March 28, 2026.

According to the same report, Iran reiterated that it respects the national sovereignty of Oman, describing the country as both brotherly and friendly. The announcement did not specify the extent of the attack, potential damage, or any casualties. The claim was cited by Al Jazeera as the source of the information.

No immediate details were provided regarding the US response or the broader regional implications of the incident.

A new attack struck near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant on Friday night, marking the third such incident in ten days. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that no radioactive material was released and that the reactor sustained no damage. The agency said the facility continues to operate normally and remains structurally intact following the strike, which occurred amid ongoing regional conflict.

According to the IAEA, the attack followed Israeli military operations targeting a heavy water reactor and a uranium processing site in central Iran, though Israel did not mention Bushehr specifically. Iran’s state news agency Fars reported that a projectile hit the plant’s grounds at 11:40 p.m. local time and blamed the United States and Israel for the incident. No casualties or damage were reported.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged all parties to exercise maximum military restraint. The Bushehr plant, located in southwestern Iran, is the country’s only operational nuclear power facility and has been connected to the national grid since 2011.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that his country has reached an agreement with Iran concerning the Hormuz Strait. Under the deal, Iran will allow Thai oil tankers to pass safely through the strategic waterway. The announcement was made on Saturday during a press conference, where the prime minister said the arrangement would ease concerns over energy imports, as Thailand relies heavily on oil from the Middle East.

Earlier this month, a cargo ship flying the Thai flag was damaged by a projectile in the Hormuz Strait. The Omani navy later rescued the vessel’s crew, though three sailors remain missing. The incident had raised safety concerns for Thai shipping operations in the region.

The new agreement is expected to reduce risks for Thailand’s oil transport routes and stabilize its energy supply chain, according to the prime minister’s remarks.

According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, the United States and Israel carried out an attack on the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran early Saturday. The report did not provide further details about the nature or scale of the strike. The incident adds to a series of recent assaults across Iran.

Since February 28, the death toll in Iran has reportedly reached 1,900. At a United Nations press conference on Friday, Maria Martinez, head of the Iranian Red Crescent delegation, said medical teams were attempting to rescue survivors from collapsed buildings caused by US and Israeli attacks across the country. Many rescuers reportedly discovered the bodies of their own family members during the operations.

The report also mentioned other recent incidents, including repeated attacks on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility and missile strikes that ignited fires in the United Arab Emirates’ industrial zone, underscoring a period of heightened regional tension.

The war in Iran, launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, marked its first month on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Thousands have been killed across the Middle East, with widespread destruction leaving many families homeless. At a United Nations press conference on Friday, Maria Martinez, head of the Iranian Red Crescent delegation, said medical teams were still rescuing survivors from collapsed buildings, with some workers finding their own relatives among the dead.

The conflict has expanded beyond Iran into neighboring Gulf areas. Since February 28, at least 1,900 people have been killed in Iran. In Lebanon, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 1,142 people, including 122 children, and injured 3,315 others. Iraq has reported 96 deaths, including 13 in the Kurdistan region. Four Palestinians were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank by Iranian missile strikes.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed the deaths of 13 American soldiers since the war began. Israel reported 19 civilian deaths within its territory and four soldiers killed in southern Lebanon.

The United States and Israel launched attacks on two of Iran’s largest steel factories, Khuzestan and Mobarakeh, amid ongoing regional tensions. Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported the strikes on Friday, while emergency units were deployed to the sites. According to provincial governor Mehdi Jamalinejad, one person was killed and 15 others injured in the Esfahan attack.

Israel also targeted key infrastructure, including a power plant and civilian nuclear facilities. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the actions, calling them a violation of the diplomatic timeline set by the United States and warning that Tehran would exact a “heavy price” for Israel’s actions. The attacks follow a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28 that killed more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In retaliation, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes on US military bases in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries, causing casualties and infrastructure damage, further intensifying the regional conflict.

One month after the joint US and Israeli assault on Iran began on February 28, 2026, the country continues to fight back despite widespread destruction and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war. Tehran has launched repeated counterattacks on Israeli targets and US bases across the Middle East, while maintaining control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, thousands have been killed, including 1,937 in Iran and 1,116 in Lebanon, with tens of thousands injured.

Iran’s Red Crescent reported over 92,000 civilian structures damaged, including homes, schools, and health centers. The education ministry confirmed 250 teachers and students killed and more than 700 educational institutions damaged. Analysts, including former MI6 chief Alex Younger, said Iran holds a strategic advantage due to its dispersed military capacity and resilience. The US has suffered at least $800 million in base damages and plans to deploy 10,000 additional troops.

President Donald Trump announced a 10-day suspension of strikes on Iranian energy facilities until April 6, citing ongoing talks. However, Iran rejected US proposals as one-sided, while Germany accused Russia of aiding Iran in identifying targets.