US President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing military operation in Iran is progressing successfully and ahead of schedule. In multiple phone interviews with American media outlets on Sunday, he claimed that a joint US-Israel strike killed 48 Iranian leaders. Trump told Fox News that the operation in Iran is moving rapidly and that the scale of success is beyond belief.

He added that following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s new leadership expressed willingness to talk, and he agreed to it. In another interview with CNBC, Trump said the US mission is proceeding better than planned and is being conducted not only for America but for the entire world.

Speaking to MS Now, Trump mentioned that he witnessed celebrations among Iranian expatriates in the United States after Khamenei’s death. The report also noted related developments, including missile attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait, and damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for attacks on three tankers belonging to the United States and the United Kingdom in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report published by Al Jazeera on Sunday, the IRGC stated that the tankers caught fire following the strikes.

In a separate development, US President Donald Trump told Fox News that 48 Iranian leaders had been killed in an ongoing joint US-Israel operation inside Iran. Trump described the campaign as progressing rapidly and claimed that the results had exceeded expectations. The report also mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to intensify further strikes in Iran.

The developments indicate a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and Western powers, with both sides issuing strong statements and claims of military success.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders have been killed in an ongoing joint operation by the United States and Israel inside Iran. He made the statement during an interview with Fox News, saying that the success achieved was beyond belief and that the operation was progressing rapidly. In a separate interview with CNBC, Trump added that the mission was being carried out not only for the United States but for the entire world, describing the situation as moving in a very positive direction.

The remarks come amid reports of intensified military actions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The source also notes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to strengthen attacks in Iran, while Iran has claimed responsibility for assaults on three tankers belonging to the United States and the United Kingdom. Trump has also expressed willingness to engage in talks with Iran’s new leadership.

The ongoing developments suggest a rapidly evolving regional situation, with both military escalation and diplomatic overtures taking place simultaneously.

The death toll from Saturday’s attack on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, has risen to 153, according to a spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of Education, as reported by the judiciary-approved Mizan News Agency. Earlier, the Minab prosecutor had confirmed 95 deaths from the same incident.

The attack took place at Shajareh Tayebeh Girls’ School in Minab, located in Iran’s Hormozgan province. According to the Hormozgan governor’s office, 170 students were enrolled in the school’s morning shift, raising fears that the number of casualties could increase further. No additional details about the nature of the attack or those responsible were provided in the report.

Authorities have not yet released further information about the investigation or possible motives behind the attack, leaving uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that neighboring countries should direct their anger toward the United States and Israel, not Iran, following a series of retaliatory strikes. His remarks came after Iran launched attacks on US bases located in neighboring states in response to a joint US-Israeli assault on Iran. The strikes have caused damage in those countries, prompting expressions of anger from their governments.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Araghchi stated that Iran is not targeting its neighboring brothers but is striking facilities linked to US and Israeli interests. He emphasized that Iran has no choice but to defend itself. The minister added that Tehran is maintaining communication with all neighboring countries to explain its position and hopes they will understand that Iran did not create the current situation and bears no responsibility for it.

Araghchi reiterated that Iran’s actions are defensive and that the country seeks understanding from its regional partners as tensions continue to rise.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran has no intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasized that there are no plans to take any action that would disrupt maritime navigation in the area. Araghchi made these remarks in an interview with Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera on Sunday.

The statement came as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that two ships were damaged near the Strait of Hormuz. Many vessels are currently anchored on both sides of the strategic waterway, according to the same report. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global oil shipments, and any disruption could have significant implications for international trade.

While Iran’s foreign minister sought to reassure that navigation will continue unhindered, the reported vessel damage near the strait underscores ongoing tensions in the region.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in the Gulf region, according to Al Jazeera. In a statement published by local media, the IRGC said the carrier was hit by four ballistic missiles and warned that land and sea would become the graveyard of aggressors. The claim came shortly after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in US and Israeli airstrikes.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed in the Arabian Sea since late January. A US official, however, denied Iran’s claim, telling Al Jazeera that no Iranian missiles struck the carrier and that its operations remain unaffected. The official confirmed that the vessel continues its mission without interruption.

The conflicting statements highlight escalating tensions between Iran and the United States following recent attacks and leadership changes in Tehran.

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served from 2005 to 2013, has reportedly been killed in an Israeli-US airstrike, according to several international media outlets. The Jerusalem Post, citing the Iranian Labour News Agency, reported on March 1 that the attack targeted Ahmadinejad’s residence in Narnak, northeast Tehran, killing him along with several of his bodyguards.

The report has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the incident. Ahmadinejad previously held positions as governor of Ardabil province and mayor of Tehran before becoming president.

The lack of confirmation from Iranian officials leaves uncertainty about the accuracy of the reports and the broader implications for Iran’s political situation.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has condemned recent attacks by the United States and Israel while diplomatic talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program are ongoing. The condemnation came through a ministry statement issued following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to the statement, the attacks occurred as Oman was mediating discussions between Washington and Tehran, with the latest round of talks held in Geneva on February 26. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in the same statement that Khamenei’s path will continue, signaling policy continuity despite the leadership change.

The ministry’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing international focus on Iran’s nuclear activities, as well as the evolving political landscape following Khamenei’s death.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the country will choose a new supreme leader within one or two days. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, he confirmed that the constitutional process had begun following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and that an interim council had been formed to manage state affairs.

Araghchi explained that the transitional council, established under Iran’s constitution, includes the president, the chief justice, and a cleric from the Guardian Council. This three-member body will oversee leadership duties until a new supreme leader is selected. The responsibility for electing the new leader lies with the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which is expected to make a decision soon.

The foreign minister emphasized that all developments are proceeding in an orderly manner according to Iran’s laws and constitution. He also warned that Iran would not accept any restrictions on its right to self-defense.

Iran has raised a red flag over the Jamkaran Mosque in the holy city of Qom following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran. The flag, hoisted on Saturday, is described by Iranian media as a symbol of vengeance and a warning of severe retaliation against enemies at home and abroad.

According to state-run Press TV, the red flag represents the blood of the Islamic Revolution’s leader and the call for justice. Religious officials and clerics reportedly carried Khamenei’s portrait during the flag-raising ceremony. The gesture mirrors a similar event in January 2020, when Iran raised the same flag after the killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in a US airstrike.

Reports indicate that the move reflects growing anger among Khamenei’s supporters and rising tensions across the Middle East. Following the attack, Iran launched strikes on US bases and fired missiles toward Israel, escalating regional hostilities.

Global oil prices jumped sharply following US and Israeli attacks in Iran, which have pushed the Middle East into renewed conflict. According to Reuters, Brent crude rose nearly 10 percent in over-the-counter trading on Sunday, reaching around 80 dollars per barrel. Analysts warned that if the current instability continues, crude prices could hit 100 dollars per barrel by Monday.

Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS, told Reuters that any military strike tends to drive oil prices higher, but the key concern now is the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles about 15 to 20 percent of the world’s total oil, condensate, and petroleum products, and over 30 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments.

Parmar added that if the Strait of Hormuz faces prolonged disruption, oil prices could rise beyond 100 dollars per barrel. The majority of oil transported through the strait goes to Asia, with the rest to Europe, including about 24 percent of China’s total LNG imports.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that Iran will continue launching strong attacks on facilities linked to Israel and the United States. According to a statement released on Sunday, he said the country’s armed forces would keep striking enemy military bases and destroying their positions, following the path set by Iran’s supreme leader.

Pezeshkian emphasized that the Islamic Republic’s military operations would persist as part of its broader defense strategy. He also referred to the martyrdom of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the ultimate result of years of sacrifice, underscoring the government’s commitment to his legacy.

The warning comes amid reports of escalating hostilities, including claims of attacks on tankers and the deaths of Iranian leaders, as well as renewed threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intensify strikes on Iran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Putin issued a statement on Sunday describing the killing, which reportedly occurred in a joint US-Israel attack, as a brutal act and a severe breach of international law and moral principles.

Putin emphasized that Ayatollah Khamenei would be remembered in Russia as an outstanding statesman who made significant personal contributions to strengthening relations between Russia and Iran. The statement reflects Moscow’s strong condemnation of the incident and its solidarity with Tehran in the aftermath of the attack.

The report also noted that the strike resulted in the deaths of 30 senior Iranian officials, according to Israeli claims, and that Iran’s intelligence police chief was among those killed. The situation has heightened regional tensions and drawn international attention to the implications of the attack.

Alireza Arafi has been appointed as the legal member of Iran’s interim leadership council, according to an announcement by Mohsen Dehnavi, spokesperson for the Expediency Discernment Council. The announcement was made on Sunday, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The interim leadership council was formed after Khamenei’s death and includes the president, the head of the judiciary, and one legal expert from the Guardian Council. Arafi’s selection fills the legal expert position within this temporary governing body, which is tasked with overseeing leadership functions during the transitional period.

The report did not specify further details about the council’s next steps or the timeline for selecting a new supreme leader.