The United States military announced that it has carried out strikes on approximately 2,000 targets inside Iran. According to the US Central Command, the operation was nearly twice the scale of the 2003 Iraq invasion. The commander reported that 17 Iranian ships were destroyed, and senior Admiral Brad Cooper stated that no Iranian vessels remained in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman.

Cooper described the campaign as the largest US troop deployment in the Middle East in a generation, involving more than 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers. He said the attacks focused on eliminating potential threats to US forces and targeted Iran’s navy, including its most capable submarines.

The report also noted that there was no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, despite the scale of the operation.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they killed Daud Ali Zadeh, commander of the Lebanon branch of Iran’s Quds Force, in an airstrike in central Tehran. IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Efi Defrin stated that the attack specifically targeted the senior Quds Force officer. The Quds Force is a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the report, Israel said it has launched renewed attacks inside Iran. Earlier, strikes were reported against the Iranian presidential complex and residences of top leaders. Since February 28, various sources have claimed that the United States and Israel have been conducting attacks in Iran, with reports alleging the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family.

In response, Tehran reportedly announced plans for retaliatory strikes against Israeli and U.S. bases across the Middle East, signaling a potential escalation of regional conflict.

The United States has launched a large-scale military operation against Iran involving more than 50,000 troops, 200 warplanes, two aircraft carriers, and several bombers, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The announcement was made on Tuesday, with Cooper describing the campaign as the largest American military mobilization in the Middle East in decades.

Admiral Cooper stated that additional military support is being sent and that US forces are focusing on destroying targets that could pose threats to them. He said Iranian naval assets, including their most capable submarines, have been targeted. Cooper further claimed that 17 Iranian ships have already been destroyed and that the United States is conducting continuous attacks on Iran across sea, air, and cyberspace.

The report, citing The New York Times, underscores the scale of the operation and the intensity of US military engagement in the region.

Political analyst and Jedaal Television presenter Ali Alizadeh stated that Iran possesses sufficient resources to sustain a prolonged war compared to the United States and Israel. Speaking from London, he said Iran’s defense strategy is far less expensive than Western air defense systems, as the country produces missiles and drones domestically at low cost. According to him, if the conflict continues, it will likely benefit Iran.

Alizadeh referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of preparing for a four- to five-week war, noting that the 12-day Israel-U.S. war against Iran last June showed that each additional day of fighting would become harder for Israeli citizens. He added that as Israel and U.S. missile defense systems and other supplies deplete, their next steps will be uncertain.

He further argued that Israel dragged Trump into the conflict and that Trump underestimated Iran’s resilience. Alizadeh described Iran’s government as patient and strong, suggesting that Trump is realizing he has been cornered by a joint war effort.

Iran’s Defense Ministry has declared that the country is prepared for a prolonged conflict against the United States and Israel. The ministry’s spokesperson, Reza Talaei-Nik, stated that Iran possesses the capability to maintain resistance and continue offensive defense over an extended period. He emphasized that the nation has not yet deployed its most advanced weapons and military equipment.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and both the United States and Israel. According to the ministry, the current confrontation has been imposed on Iran, but the country remains confident in its long-term military endurance. The remarks reflect Tehran’s effort to project strength and deterrence at a time of escalating regional hostilities.

The ministry’s comments suggest that Iran may be holding back its most sophisticated arsenal, signaling potential for further escalation if the conflict continues.

The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 1,097 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28 amid ongoing violence. According to the agency, the victims include 181 children under the age of ten. The number of injured has risen to 5,402, with at least 100 children among them.

HRANA’s report stated that in the past 24 hours alone, at least 104 attacks occurred across the country, targeting military bases, medical centers, and residential areas. The organization also noted that reports of several hundred additional deaths are still being verified.

The figures highlight the scale of the recent escalation in Iran, though the report indicates that casualty numbers may continue to rise as verification continues.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Iran-based media outlet Iran International reported on Wednesday that the Assembly of Experts made the decision under pressure from the country’s Revolutionary Guard.

According to Fars News Agency, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, will be buried in the holy city of Mashhad. The 86-year-old leader had served as Iran’s top religious authority for 36 years before his death. He was born in Mashhad and had expressed his wish to be buried at the Imam Reza shrine complex there.

The exact time of the burial has not yet been announced, but preparations are reportedly underway in Mashhad, which holds deep religious significance for Iranians.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is alive and unharmed despite widespread rumors of an assassination attempt, according to sources cited by Iran International on Tuesday, March 3. The sources said Ahmadinejad suffered no physical injuries and has been moved to a secure location for safety reasons.

Confusion about his status spread across Iranian media following recent Israeli attacks, with some outlets falsely claiming he had been killed while others could not confirm the reports. The contradictory information fueled speculation about his whereabouts and condition.

Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and was known as a hardline leader critical of Western policies. His controversial 2009 re-election triggered nationwide protests, marking one of the most turbulent periods in Iran’s recent political history.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Washington launched preemptive strikes in Iran to support Israel and prevent potential Iranian retaliation against American forces in the Middle East. Rubio said intelligence indicated Israel would attack Iran, prompting fears that Tehran might target US troops and bases. Republican congressional leader Mike Johnson echoed this justification, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to endorse the legality of the US action under international law.

The conflict entered its fourth day with heavy Israeli and US bombardments across Tehran and other Iranian cities, including strikes on the presidential office and state broadcaster IRIB. Iran reported 787 deaths nationwide. In response, Iran continued missile and drone attacks on US and Israeli targets across the region, hitting bases in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The US closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after drone strikes and urged citizens to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries.

President Donald Trump said the war could last four to five weeks, while Iran vowed to continue fighting until US and Israeli aggression ends. The situation has triggered widespread regional instability and diplomatic fallout.

The United States and Israel have continued heavy air and missile strikes on Iran, marking the fourth day of coordinated attacks across Tehran and other cities. Israeli forces targeted Iran’s presidential office and state broadcaster, while US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defended the strikes as preemptive measures to prevent Iranian retaliation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to endorse the legality of the US attack under international law. The assaults have killed at least 787 people, including civilians, and damaged more than 150 cities, according to Iranian sources.

Iran has launched counterstrikes across the region, hitting US bases, embassies, and allied infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. The US closed its embassies in Riyadh and Kuwait City after drone attacks, and President Donald Trump warned of further retaliation. Iran’s envoy to the UN vowed to continue defensive operations until US and Israeli aggression ends. Meanwhile, Hezbollah joined the conflict from Lebanon, attacking Israeli military sites as Israel expanded operations into Lebanese territory.

The US has urged its citizens to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries immediately, underscoring the escalating regional instability and risk of broader conflict.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint attack by the United States and Israel, will be buried in the city of Mashhad, according to Fars News Agency on Wednesday. The 86-year-old leader was targeted in an assault last Saturday morning. Before his death, Khamenei had served as Iran’s highest religious authority for 36 years.

Mashhad, considered a holy city by Iranians, is also Khamenei’s birthplace. His father was buried at the Imam Reza shrine there, and Khamenei had reportedly expressed his wish to be laid to rest at the same site. However, the exact date of his burial has not yet been announced.

The report highlights the symbolic importance of Mashhad in Iran’s religious and political landscape, as it houses one of the country’s most revered shrines and now will become the final resting place of its long-serving leader.

Iran has warned that it will target all major economic centers in the Middle East if attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites continue. The threat was issued on Tuesday by General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if its key facilities were struck, emphasizing the country’s readiness to escalate its response.

General Jabbari also announced that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. He noted that oil prices had risen above 80 dollars per barrel and could soon reach 200 dollars, with Brent crude surpassing 85 dollars per barrel for the first time since July 2024. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential for further disruption in global energy markets if the situation escalates.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the ongoing war could only be stopped if the United States and Israel ceased their attacks on Iran. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference held at a school in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran had tried to avoid war until the last moment but that other parties had chosen conflict.

Baghaei urged the international community to act before it was too late, calling on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility to restore regional security and stability. He said the council must compel the aggressors to end their attacks to prevent the war from expanding further.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance that external military actions are the root cause of the current conflict and that international intervention is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ali Bahraini, stated that the country will continue its defense operations until ongoing aggression ceases. Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, Bahraini emphasized that Iran’s defensive actions are directed against Israel and the United States as long as hostilities persist.

He further warned that any military base in a neighboring country used to launch or support attacks against Iran would be considered a legitimate target. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and reflect Tehran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions.

The statement underscores Iran’s position that its military actions are defensive in nature and contingent on the cessation of what it describes as aggression from opposing forces.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has suspended operations at Iran’s only nuclear power plant located in the city of Bushehr. According to Interfax, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that the Moscow-built facility is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. More than 600 Russian personnel working at the site are gradually leaving Iran.

The decision follows a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday, after which around 100 workers were initially evacuated from the Bushehr plant. With rising tensions and fears of a larger assault, Rosatom has now opted to completely shut down all activities at the facility.

The suspension underscores the growing instability in the region and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid escalating hostilities.