Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has called for the immediate transfer of power following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Al Jazeera, Pahlavi made the appeal in a post on social media platform X on March 5, 2026, urging officials of the Islamic Republic to hand over authority without delay.

In his statement, Pahlavi warned that any attempt to appoint a successor to Khamenei would fail, arguing that no new leader could gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people. His remarks come amid heightened political uncertainty in Iran after the reported assassination of its top leader.

The call reflects continuing opposition sentiment among exiled figures and adds to questions about Iran’s political transition following Khamenei’s death.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on 20 US military installations located in three Middle Eastern countries—Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The strikes were described as retaliation following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The IRGC stated that the targeted US facilities suffered significant damage. Earlier, explosions were reportedly heard in Doha, Qatar, following Iran’s earlier attacks. An AFP correspondent in Doha confirmed the sounds of multiple blasts. In response, Qatari authorities began relocating residents near the US embassy as a precautionary measure.

The report also mentioned that Azerbaijan closed its southern airspace due to Iranian drone activity, while Iranian officials said they were not concerned about the duration of the conflict. Iraq reiterated that it would not tolerate any threats against Iran.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that European Union member states would eventually face consequences if they remain silent about attacks by Israel and the United States. The statement was made by spokesperson Ismail during an interview with Spain’s broadcaster TVE on Thursday.

The spokesperson also rejected Turkey’s claim that a missile intercepted in its airspace had been launched from Iran. Earlier, Turkey stated that a NATO defense system had destroyed a missile allegedly fired from Iran into its airspace.

The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran also facing reports of drone activity affecting neighboring countries and recent attacks on hospitals within its borders, according to the World Health Organization.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United States of launching an unprovoked attack on an Iranian warship in international waters. He stated that the strike targeted the IRIS Dena, which was a guest of the Indian Navy, and warned that the United States would have to face the consequences of its actions.

According to the report, the attack occurred on Wednesday near Sri Lanka’s southern coast, when US forces allegedly fired from a submarine, causing the Iranian vessel to sink. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed that 87 bodies had been recovered and 32 survivors rescued and treated. The ship reportedly carried around 180 people.

Araghchi wrote on X that the United States would deeply regret the precedent it had set. The incident has heightened regional tensions, with Iran signaling that it will respond to what it calls an unjustified act of aggression.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has reported that at least 105 civilian facilities were damaged in joint attacks by the United States and Israel across Iran. According to the organization, the assaults began on Saturday and have so far resulted in a total of 1,332 recorded strikes at 636 different locations nationwide.

Among the affected sites are at least 14 medical centers and seven buildings belonging to the Red Crescent itself. The organization stated that the attacks have impacted at least 174 cities across the country.

The Red Crescent warned that continued strikes on civilian infrastructure could further complicate the humanitarian situation in Iran. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and cited by the outlet Amar Desh.

Iranian General Kioumars Heydari has declared that Iran will not withdraw from the ongoing war until its objectives are fully achieved. Speaking to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Heydari stated that the country will continue fighting until it delivers a decisive blow to the United States. He emphasized that the duration of the conflict is not a concern for Iran.

Heydari, who serves as deputy commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Iran’s military has gained extensive experience from its previous eight-year war and will only end the current conflict once its goals are met. He added that Iran aims to make its enemy regret and despair over its actions.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera and Iranian media, underscores Tehran’s determination to sustain military operations despite regional tensions and growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that since Saturday, it has documented 1,332 attacks by US and Israeli forces across Iran. According to the organization, strikes have occurred in 636 locations, including at least 105 civilian sites. Among the civilian targets were 14 medical centers and seven Red Crescent buildings. The attacks reportedly affected at least 174 cities across the country.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday that the conflict with Iran could last eight weeks. He said the United States possesses sufficient military equipment to defeat Iran. The Red Crescent’s report highlights the scale of the ongoing strikes and their impact on civilian infrastructure.

The situation has raised regional concerns, with reports of Gulf countries expressing anxiety over the risk of civil war in Iran. The broader Middle East tensions have also affected financial markets, including a sharp decline in South Korea’s stock exchange.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for an attack on a US tanker in the northern Gulf on Thursday morning. The IRGC stated that its naval forces struck the vessel, asserting control over maritime movement in the region.

According to the IRGC, military and commercial ships belonging to the United States, Israel, and their European allies will not be allowed to pass through the area. The force warned that any such vessels spotted would be targeted. The statement reiterated Iran’s earlier position that it has the right, under international law and resolutions, to regulate navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during wartime.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Gulf nations expressing concern over Iran’s internal instability and the broader security situation in the Middle East.

Israel has claimed responsibility for airstrikes targeting Iran’s ballistic missile launch system in the city of Qom. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the country’s air force carried out the attack, destroying the system that was allegedly preparing for a strike. The spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on social media that Israeli forces also destroyed an air defense system in Isfahan.

The Israeli military said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s defense capabilities and expanding Israel’s control over regional airspace. Israeli media reported that the army plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one to two weeks. The announcement came five days after the start of the conflict, with Israel claiming to have dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran by Wednesday.

In addition to the attacks in Iran, Israel said it had launched a new round of strikes against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Israeli media reported that the country's military has dropped more than 5,000 bombs on Iran since the start of the conflict. The announcement came from Tel Aviv five days after the war began, with the army indicating plans to continue operations in Iran for at least another one or two weeks. Israel also confirmed launching a new round of attacks against Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

According to the reports, thousands of Iranian targets have been struck, and an Israeli Air Force official claimed that thousands of Iranian soldiers were killed. The Israel Times stated that the military briefing outlined plans to hit thousands more targets within Iran’s regime structure. AFP correspondents in Paris reported new explosions in northeastern Tehran.

The Israeli military said it attacked Tehran’s security command center, several other sites, and a missile facility in Isfahan, and claimed to have shot down an Iranian fighter jet over Tehran’s airspace.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that nearly 100,000 people left Tehran within the first two days following recent attacks. The agency said that escalating violence across the Middle East and other regions has displaced large numbers of people.

According to the report, Lebanon has seen around 58,000 people taking shelter in other people’s homes, on streets, or in open spaces. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities stated that on March 2, approximately 10,000 Syrians and about 1,000 Lebanese entered Syria, which is roughly three times the country’s average daily entry rate.

The UNHCR findings highlight a rapid surge in displacement linked to the latest wave of violence, reflecting the growing humanitarian pressure in the region.

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani has claimed that more than 500 US soldiers have been killed since a war began on Saturday. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X. According to TRT World, the Pentagon has reported only six US military deaths since the conflict started, including four in Kuwait.

Larijani accused former US President Donald Trump of dragging the American people into what he called an unjust war with Iran, allegedly influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He questioned whether the United States now prioritizes its own interests or those of Israel after the reported casualties. Larijani also warned that the martyrdom of Imam Khamenei would come at a high cost.

The war reportedly began with a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, resulting in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders. Iranian authorities said around 1,050 Iranians have been killed in four days, including 165 schoolchildren in Minab. Larijani stated that Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Iran has announced that it will continue retaliatory attacks against the United States and Israel. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed this decision to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan during a phone conversation, according to Al Jazeera. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated on X that Araghchi said Iran’s armed forces would not stop until what he called the ‘enemy’s malicious activities’ cease. He added that Iran is only targeting bases used to plan and conduct attacks against it, describing the actions as consistent with international law.

The call followed Turkey’s summoning of Iran’s ambassador in Ankara after a ballistic missile flew toward Turkish airspace. Reuters reported that the missile, launched from Iran, was destroyed over the eastern Mediterranean by NATO’s air defense system. The intended target of the missile remains unclear. Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed that debris from the destroyed missile fell near the coastal area of Dortyol, without causing casualties.

Iran has sharply criticized US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him the 'Minister of War Crimes'. The statement came from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who made the remarks in a social media post citing Hegseth’s public comments. According to Baghaei, Hegseth had said that US and Israeli warplanes were flying over Tehran, bringing death and destruction from the skies.

Baghaei described Hegseth’s words as an admission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He further stated that only a 'Nazi mentality' could coldly unleash death and destruction on another nation merely to fulfill a leader’s wishes. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

The exchange comes amid reports of heavy attacks on Tehran and significant civilian displacement, with the UNHCR noting that around 100,000 people left the city within the first two days of the assault.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of carrying out recent airstrikes that damaged numerous civilian facilities across several Iranian cities. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, at least 33 sites, including hospitals, schools, residential areas, and markets, were targeted. The ministry’s spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, stated on social media that civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals had been deliberately chosen as targets.

The list of affected locations includes residential buildings in Tehran’s Niloufar Square, hospitals in Tehran and Ahvaz, Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, the historic Golestan Palace complex south of the capital, and a primary school in Minab. Additional sites reportedly hit include residential areas in Maragheh and a sports hall in Lamard, Fars Province. Iran also claimed that civilian casualties occurred during the attacks.

Iranian officials said they have evidence of 33 targeted sites but noted that neither the United States nor Israel has yet issued an immediate response to the allegations.