Multiple explosions were reported across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, on March 23, 2026. Loud blasts were heard in the central, eastern, and western parts of the city as air defense systems were activated. According to Al Jazeera, several other Iranian cities also experienced explosions amid ongoing airstrikes by the United States and Israel. The attacks followed Iran’s earlier strikes on Israeli installations, which had caused explosions in several Israeli areas.

Reports indicated that a radio station in Bandar Abbas was hit, killing one person, while residential areas in Khorramabad and Urmia suffered attacks that left several civilians dead. At least 1,500 people have been confirmed killed across Iran, with expectations that the toll will rise as the assaults continue. Explosions were also heard in Isfahan, Karaj, and Ahvaz, where a hospital was reportedly struck.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society stated that more than 80,000 civilian structures, including hospitals, schools, and its own offices, have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing attacks.

At least one person was killed in an attack on a state broadcasting center in southern Iran, according to the country’s official television channel on Monday, March 23, 2026. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) stated that the assault targeted a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter at the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Center.

Citing AFP, the IRIB described the attackers as an “American-Zionist terrorist force.” The British newspaper The Guardian reported that the strike violated international law and resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to another staff member at the facility.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with recent reports of missile attacks and international appeals to halt hostilities involving Iran. However, no further details about the perpetrators or the broader context of the attack were provided in the official statements.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the country will not be influenced by pressure or threats from the United States and Israel regarding the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on social media platform X, he asserted that the strait is not closed and that any uncertainty in maritime traffic is not caused by Iran.

Araghchi added that ships are hesitant because insurance companies fear the war initiated by others, not Iran. He emphasized that no Iranian or insurance company will be affected by further threats. Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry had issued a statement directly blaming the United States and Israel for escalating tensions and disruptions in the strategic waterway.

The remarks underline Tehran’s firm stance on maintaining control and resisting external pressure over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy transport.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has threatened to target financial institutions investing in US Treasury bonds. His warning came after US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries. Ghalibaf posted on social media that institutions financing the US military budget are legitimate targets and claimed that US Treasury bonds are stained with Iranian blood.

He further stated that Iran is monitoring the activities of such investors and described his message as a final warning. Earlier, Ghalibaf had cautioned that if the United States attacked Iran’s power plants, Tehran would retaliate by striking regional infrastructure and energy facilities.

The threats follow Trump’s warning that the US could strike Iranian power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a series of strong responses from Iranian officials.

Iran has warned that it will deliver a proportional response to any attack targeting its critical infrastructure. The warning came from Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike key Iranian facilities, according to Al Jazeera. Gharibabadi stated that threats against power plants and other vital installations amount to targeting civilian sites, which violates international laws of war.

He further said that Iran would exercise its inherent right to self-defense, citing the United Nations Security Council’s failure to prevent aggression and uphold international law. Gharibabadi emphasized that any escalation would be the responsibility of those initiating attacks. The statement was reported by Iran’s state news agency Mehr.

The firm message from Tehran follows Trump’s remarks suggesting possible strikes on Iranian power infrastructure, signaling heightened tensions between the two nations over potential military actions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that any threats against Iran will be confronted directly on the battlefield. His remarks were directed at U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently warned of possible attacks on Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not fully reopened. Pezeshkian made his response in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Pezeshkian stated that attempts to spread fear and intimidation against Iran were only strengthening national unity. Addressing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, he clarified that the waterway remains open to all except those who violate Iran’s territorial integrity.

The exchange underscores rising tensions between Tehran and Washington over control and access to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments.

Iran’s health minister has reported that 210 children have been killed so far in the country’s ongoing war, according to a report by the state broadcaster IRIB. The minister also stated that 1,510 children have been injured as a result of the conflict.

He further noted that the war has caused extensive damage to Iran’s health infrastructure. Continuous attacks have so far damaged 300 health, medical, and emergency service centers across the country.

The report highlights the severe humanitarian toll of the conflict, particularly on children and essential health services, as the fighting continues to strain Iran’s medical system.

The CIA, Mossad, and other intelligence agencies are reportedly searching for Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose absence from public view has raised questions during the ongoing four-week war in Iran. Despite expectations that he would deliver a Nowruz address like his late father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba only issued a written statement, deepening speculation about his health, location, and authority.

According to Axios, citing U.S. and Israeli officials, there is no evidence that Mojtaba is currently issuing directives, though they believe he is alive. Reports from The Jerusalem Post suggest that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may now hold effective control of the country and could be managing Mojtaba’s activities. Mojtaba was declared Supreme Leader on March 9, following his father’s death in an Israeli and U.S. strike on February 28, but has not appeared publicly since.

The mystery surrounding Mojtaba’s condition and the IRGC’s possible dominance has fueled uncertainty about Iran’s leadership structure amid the ongoing conflict.

More than 81,000 civilian structures have been damaged across Iran following joint attacks by the United States and Israel, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The organization reported on Sunday that medical centers, schools, ambulances, and relief workers were among the targets. It described the attacks as a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

The Geneva Conventions are international treaties that set rules for warfare and the protection of civilians, which all countries are expected to follow. However, the report noted that these principles have been disregarded in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

The scale of the reported damage underscores the severe humanitarian impact of the conflict, with civilian infrastructure and essential services heavily affected across multiple regions of Iran.

Iran has warned that it will completely close the Strait of Hormuz if its nuclear power plants are attacked. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued the warning on Sunday, following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The IRGC stated that the strait would remain closed until damaged facilities are rebuilt and added that any attack on Iranian power plants would trigger extensive strikes on Israel’s energy and ICT infrastructure, as well as U.S.-owned companies in the region.

The statement further noted that power plants in countries hosting U.S. military bases would be considered legitimate targets. Since a joint U.S.-Israel strike on February 28, Iran has already restricted passage through the strait, allowing no ships or tankers to cross without its permission. This has caused severe instability in global energy markets, pushing crude oil prices above $100 per barrel. The United States has been taking measures to stabilize the market while repeatedly warning Iran not to obstruct maritime traffic.

Six countries—Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan—have expressed readiness to help secure navigation through the strait but have yet to take concrete action.

Iran has claimed that its air defense forces shot down a US-Israeli military drone over the skies of Tehran before it could begin an operation. The report, published by Tasnim News Agency and citing the Iranian military, stated that the incident occurred amid heightened tensions and ongoing hostilities in the region.

According to the same report, Iran’s air defense system has destroyed a total of 127 advanced enemy drones since the start of the current conflict. Earlier, the Israeli military had announced plans for a new strike on Tehran, while residents in the eastern and western parts of the city reported hearing explosions around the same time.

The incident underscores the continuing escalation between Iran and its adversaries, with both sides reporting increased military activity and aerial engagements over recent weeks.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed responsibility for destroying a key Iranian military installation believed to produce ballistic missiles. According to CENTCOM, the facility, named the Kuh-i Barjamali Ballistic Missile Assembly Facility, was located southeast of Tehran in the Barjamali mountain area. The operation reportedly took place earlier this month.

CENTCOM stated that the destroyed site was used for manufacturing and assembling short-, medium-, and close-range ballistic missiles. The command also released satellite images showing the facility before and after the strike to support its claim. The announcement was made through a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued any official response regarding the alleged attack or the extent of the damage. The report did not specify whether there were any casualties or further military actions planned.

Iran’s air defense forces have claimed to shoot down an F-15 fighter jet near the southern Hormuz Island. The semi-official ISNA, Mehr News, and Anadolu Agency confirmed the report on Sunday, March 22, 2026. According to a statement from Iran’s Joint Air Defense Command, the aircraft allegedly entered Iranian airspace over the southern coastal region and fired a missile moments before being downed. Tehran has not provided details about the aircraft’s origin, the pilot’s fate, or any physical evidence of the wreckage.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following a joint U.S.-Israel military operation across Iran on February 28. That offensive reportedly killed more than 1,300 people, including Iran’s then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has launched multiple drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting U.S. military assets.

The latest claim near Hormuz Island underscores the continuing volatility in the region, though independent verification of Iran’s statement remains unavailable.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a warning that any attack by the United States or Israel on Iran’s power plants would trigger the destruction of key infrastructure across the Gulf region. His statement was made on the social media platform X, according to a BBC Persian report cited by the source.

Ghalibaf stated that all energy and oil facilities in the region would be considered legitimate targets if such an attack occurred. He further cautioned that oil prices could remain elevated for a prolonged period under those circumstances.

The warning underscores heightened regional tensions and signals potential economic repercussions if hostilities escalate in the Gulf.

Iran is reportedly collecting a $2 million fee from certain ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing war, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi. He made the claim on Iran’s state television, as reported by the BBC on March 22, 2026. Boroujerdi stated that a 'new governance system' is being implemented in the strait and that 'war has its costs,' describing the move as an expression of Iran’s authority and rights.

The BBC noted that it could not independently verify the lawmaker’s claim. The report did not specify which ships were affected or how the fee was being enforced. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical maritime route for global oil transport.

The lack of verification and details leaves uncertainty about the scope and legitimacy of the reported fee collection, as well as its potential impact on international shipping through the strait.