Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced that 193 children have been killed in recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The youngest victim was an eight-month-old girl, and a four-month-old child was reported injured. Mohajerani presented the figures during a press briefing in front of a board displaying photos of the deceased children, according to Iran’s state news agency Mehr News.

She also reported that 11 healthcare workers were killed in the attacks, while four ambulances and one rescue helicopter were completely destroyed. The Iranian government described the strikes as serious violations of international human rights and the laws of war.

The statement underscores Tehran’s position that the assaults have targeted civilian and medical infrastructure, intensifying its accusations against Washington and Tel Aviv for breaching humanitarian norms.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that thousands of Afghan nationals are returning to Afghanistan from Iran each day as the country faces ongoing US-Israel attacks. In an interview with Al Jazeera from the Afghanistan-Iran border, UNHCR’s Afghanistan representative Arafat Jamal said approximately 2,000 Afghans are crossing the border daily to return home.

Jamal explained that many of those leaving cited the war situation in Iran as their main reason for departure, though no targeted problems against Afghans have been reported so far. Since the beginning of the year, around 110,000 Afghans have left Iran, including long-term residents and migrant workers. He added that fear of potential bombings, economic weakness, and job shortages are also driving factors behind the mass return.

Jamal cautioned that many of these returnees are “fleeing one war only to return to another,” as Afghanistan currently faces heightened tensions with neighboring Pakistan. He noted that for many, there are no good options available.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has escalated its counterattacks, describing the latest phase as the 33rd stage of “Operation Promise IV.” The country announced plans to deploy its heaviest missiles, weighing around one ton or more, against Israel and other designated targets.

According to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, China, France, and Russia have formally reached out regarding a possible ceasefire. However, he did not disclose details of any specific proposals. The deputy minister made clear that Iran will not return to the negotiation table unless it receives guarantees that current or future acts of aggression, similar to those seen in June, will not recur.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that Tehran will determine when the ongoing war ends, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the conflict with Iran could end soon. The IRGC emphasized that the balance of power and the region’s future are now under Iran’s control.

Trump earlier said the conflict with Iran might be short-lived but warned that if Iran’s leadership transition disrupts global oil supplies, tensions could escalate. Hours later, he posted on social media that if Iran blocks oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would retaliate with force twenty times stronger than before.

The IRGC’s statement underscores Tehran’s defiance and its claim of controlling the regional situation, rejecting the notion that Washington could dictate the war’s conclusion.

Iran’s state news agency Mehr has alleged that the United States carried out a missile strike targeting a school in the central city of Khomein. According to the report, the missile hit the Dr. Hafez Khomeini School, damaging several nearby residential houses. No casualties were immediately reported following the incident.

The report noted that this follows an earlier alleged U.S. missile attack on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, where at least 170 people, mostly teenage students, were reported killed. The recent incidents have drawn growing concern from the international community, with calls intensifying for an impartial investigation into the attacks.

The situation has heightened tensions surrounding U.S.–Iran relations, as international observers continue to urge transparency and accountability in assessing the reported strikes.

Iran’s senior official Kamal Kharrazi has warned that the country is prepared for a long-term war with the United States. In an exclusive interview with CNN in Tehran, Kharrazi, who serves as the foreign policy adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, suggested that Iran may continue attacks on Gulf countries to pressure them into persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from the conflict.

Kharrazi dismissed the possibility of pursuing diplomatic solutions, asserting that the war could only end through economic pressure or military impact. His remarks came on the tenth day of the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance, signaling Tehran’s firm stance against any ceasefire or negotiation efforts.

The statement follows reports that Iran considers the U.S.-Israel war effort a failure, while neighboring Azerbaijan has sent humanitarian aid to Iran, including food and medicine.

Reports indicate that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has lost at least eight family members in airstrikes carried out by Israel and the United States. According to NDTV, Khamenei’s wife Zahra Haddad-Adel and one of his two sons were killed during the attacks linked to Iran’s nuclear program. His father, former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and mother Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh also died in separate strikes. In total, four of his closest relatives—father, mother, wife, and son—have been confirmed dead.

Additional reports suggest that four more of his relatives, including a sister, a nephew, a niece, and a brother-in-law, were also killed, though NDTV could not independently verify these claims. Chinese and Russian authorities have welcomed Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, a position chosen by an 88-member clerical council through an undisclosed vote count.

Despite the leadership transition, the conflict continues. Israeli forces launched new strikes in central Iran and targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut, showing no sign of de-escalation.

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has warned that the Strait of Hormuz cannot remain secure if the ongoing war with the United States and Israel continues. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and came in response to comments from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron had stated that France and its allies were preparing a defensive mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz operational. In reply, Larijani said that the conflict ignited by the United States and Israel in the region makes it impossible to ensure security in the vital waterway.

The statement highlights growing tensions in the Gulf region as multiple international actors express concern over the escalating conflict and its potential impact on global maritime security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a Kremlin statement released on March 9, 2026. Putin expressed confidence that Khamenei would continue his father’s work with dignity and maintain unity among the Iranian people during challenging times. He reaffirmed Russia’s unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with the Iranian people.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade said he spoke with Trump after the announcement, and the president told him he was “not satisfied.” The remarks were reported by Fox News, citing Trump’s reaction to the leadership change in Tehran.

The developments highlight contrasting international responses to Iran’s leadership transition, with Russia signaling strong backing while the United States voiced disapproval.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has accused the United States of attempting to divide Iran with the aim of seizing its oil resources. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Baghaei said Iran remains committed to maintaining good and friendly relations with other countries but reserves the right to defend itself if any attack is launched using another nation’s territory. He emphasized that such defensive actions should not be interpreted as hostility.

Addressing recent allegations that Iranian drones or missiles struck targets in Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, Baghaei denied any attacks originating from Iranian territory. He suggested that these claims might be a staged act by hostile forces to create rifts between Iran and its neighbors. When asked about possible mediation or ceasefire efforts, Baghaei stated that such discussions were not relevant at this time, as Iran’s focus remains solely on defending its homeland.

Baghaei further asserted that Iran did not initiate the current conflict and that the war, though imposed, has now become unavoidable.

The European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has released images showing the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln near the coast of Iran. According to the report, the carrier was positioned off the coast of Oman last Saturday before moving northwest toward the Strait of Hormuz. The images were captured and published as part of the EU satellite monitoring program.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) also shared several photos on the social media platform X, stating that the images depict the carrier’s operations at sea on the same day. The publication of these images comes amid heightened regional attention to military movements in the Gulf area.

The release of the photos highlights ongoing monitoring of naval activities in the region, though the source does not specify any official statements regarding the purpose or duration of the carrier’s deployment.

The United States has expressed frustration following an Israeli airstrike on Iranian oil storage facilities earlier this week, which caused massive fires and killed four people, according to a report by Axios on Sunday. The attack, carried out on February 28, targeted three oil depots and a refinery in and around Tehran, leading to widespread destruction and environmental hazards.

Axios reported that Israel had informed Washington in advance, claiming the sites were used to supply fuel for missile launches. However, the scale of the attack exceeded US expectations, leaving American military officials shocked. An Israeli official told Axios that Washington’s initial reaction was one of disbelief. Neither the White House nor the Israeli Defense Forces have issued any official comments on the incident.

The strike caused uncontrolled fires, thick black smoke, and reports of “acid rain” in Tehran, prompting authorities to advise residents to stay indoors. The event marks the first major disagreement between the two allies since the start of the Iran war.

China has described Iran’s appointment of Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader as a completely internal affair. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press conference that the decision was made in accordance with Iran’s constitution. Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged respect for Iran’s sovereignty and warned against any external attempts to alter its political system, saying that so-called color revolutions or regime-change plans would never gain public support.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the new Iranian leader, according to a Fox News program. Host Brian Kilmeade said he spoke with Trump after the announcement, and Trump told him he was “not happy,” though no further details were provided.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body, selected Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader shortly after midnight Tehran time on Sunday, following the death of Ali Khamenei in a U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has warned Iranian civilians that it cannot guarantee their safety if they are located inside or near facilities used for military purposes. In a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday, CENTCOM said that Iran’s authorities are using densely populated civilian areas to conduct military operations. The command identified cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, and Dezful as locations being used to launch one-way drone and ballistic missile attacks.

CENTCOM cautioned that such practices endanger civilians and that any site used for military purposes would lose its protected status and become a lawful military target under international law. The command accused Iranian authorities of knowingly putting civilian lives at risk and urged civilians to remain in their homes for safety. It also alleged that Iranian forces have carried out indiscriminate attacks on civilian airports, hotels, and residential areas, threatening the safety of innocent people across the Middle East.

The warning underscores rising tensions over Iran’s military activities and the potential humanitarian risks in densely populated areas.

Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following the announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message, expressing confidence that Mojtaba would continue his father’s work with honor and unite the Iranian people even in difficult times. Putin also reaffirmed Russia’s unwavering support and solidarity with Tehran.

According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Russia welcomed the leadership transition, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Mojtaba’s selection. Fox News host Brian Kilmeade stated that Trump told him he was “not happy” about the appointment, though the U.S. president has not made any public comment on the matter.

The differing reactions from Moscow and Washington highlight the geopolitical divisions surrounding Iran’s leadership change and its potential impact on international relations.