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Israeli emergency medical services confirmed on Sunday that six people died following a missile attack that struck the town of Beit Shemesh.

The fatal incident occurred as tensions continue to escalate in the region, with emergency responders confirming the casualties from the deadly strike.

Beit Shemesh, located in central Israel, became the target of the missile attack that resulted in multiple fatalities according to official reports from Israeli ambulance services.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi strongly condemned military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, labeling them “unacceptable” during discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.

Speaking about Saturday’s military operations, Wang characterized the “blatant killing of a sovereign leader” and efforts to provoke regime change as completely unacceptable. Iran has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei died during Saturday’s bombardment.

Beijing is demanding an immediate halt to all military operations and pushing for a swift return to diplomatic discussions and negotiations, while jointly opposing unilateral military actions, the Chinese minister stated.

The joint U.S.-Israeli military operations began early Saturday morning, focusing on Iran’s military infrastructure and capabilities.

China’s foreign ministry had already voiced serious concerns about the strikes on Saturday, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and encouraging all parties to prevent further escalation while returning to diplomatic channels. Beijing emphasized that Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial boundaries must be honored.

By Sunday, China’s embassy in Israel had issued evacuation guidance for Chinese nationals, recommending they relocate to safer regions within Israel immediately or exit through Egypt using the Taba border crossing.

Chinese authorities also advised their citizens currently in Iran to depart “as soon as possible” on Sunday, providing four overland evacuation routes through Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and Iraq.

In Sunday editorial commentary, China’s official Xinhua news agency condemned the military action, describing it as “brazen aggression against a sovereign nation” and an example of “power politics and hegemony.”

Xinhua characterized Washington’s military pressure tactics as a “flagrant violation” of United Nations Charter principles and a break from “fundamental norms of international relations.”

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Cathay Group announced Saturday that it was halting Middle East operations, impacting passenger services to and from Dubai and Riyadh, plus cargo operations through Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, according to a company statement from Cathay, which owns Cathay Pacific Airways.

The airline company indicated it is redirecting flights that normally travel through the conflict zone.

The regional conflict has triggered extensive flight disruptions and cancellations across the aviation industry.

ATHENS – Over 1,300 anti-war demonstrators gathered in the Greek capital on Sunday, staging protests outside both the United States and Israeli diplomatic missions following recent military strikes against Iran.

The crowd, consisting primarily of members and supporters of Greece’s Communist Party, carried signs with messages including “Hands off Iran” and demands to “close Souda base,” referring to the strategic U.S. naval facility.

Greek authorities had increased security measures at the Souda naval installation on Crete’s coast just one day earlier on Saturday. The base serves as a crucial strategic location for American military operations throughout the eastern Mediterranean region.

Law enforcement officials established security perimeters around both embassy locations using multiple rows of blue police vehicles to separate protesters from the diplomatic buildings.

According to police estimates, the demonstration drew more than 1,300 participants who marched through Athens streets to voice their opposition to the military actions.

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s foreign policy leader believes Iran has reached a pivotal moment following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a historic turning point for the nation.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, described the situation as offering new possibilities for Iran’s future. “What comes next is uncertain. But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape,” Kallas wrote on the social media platform X on Sunday.

The EU official emphasized her efforts to coordinate with international allies to reduce tensions in the region. “I’m in contact with partners, including those in the region that bear the brunt of Iran’s military actions, to find practical steps for de-escalation,” she stated.

According to Iranian state media reports, Khamenei died Saturday when Israeli and U.S. airstrikes destroyed his compound in central Tehran.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in on the developments, revealing she had spoken with Jordan’s King Abdullah. Von der Leyen expressed Europe’s complete support for Jordan following Iranian attacks on the kingdom.

“With Khamenei gone, there is renewed hope for the people of Iran. We must ensure that the future is theirs to claim and shape,” von der Leyen posted on X.

However, the European leader cautioned about potential consequences of the current situation. “At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence,” she warned.

Military confrontations between Israel and Iran extended into a second consecutive day Sunday, with both nations launching fresh attacks against each other’s territories.

Israeli officials confirmed they conducted additional military operations against Iranian targets, while Tehran’s forces simultaneously carried out strikes against Israeli positions. The Iranian military also expanded its operations to include attacks on American facilities located in Gulf states, Iraq, and Jordan.

The escalating situation has created widespread instability throughout the Middle East region, with multiple countries now involved in the growing conflict. The exchange of strikes marks a significant intensification of tensions between the longtime adversaries.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan authorities reported Sunday they successfully prevented Pakistani military aircraft from conducting bombing runs against Bagram Air Base, the once-major American military installation located north of Kabul, as border hostilities between the two nations entered their fourth consecutive day.

The current hostilities represent the most intense military confrontations between these neighboring countries in recent years, with Pakistan’s leadership stating the nations are engaged in “open war.” International observers have expressed growing concern about the escalating violence, especially given the region’s continued presence of extremist organizations such as al-Qaida and ISIS, which have been attempting to regain influence.

Pakistani officials have accused Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership of providing sanctuary to militant organizations that launch attacks on Pakistani soil, while also claiming Afghanistan has formed partnerships with Pakistan’s longtime adversary, India. Previous border skirmishes in October resulted in numerous fatalities among military personnel, civilians, and suspected militants before Qatar helped broker a temporary ceasefire. However, multiple diplomatic discussions held in Turkey during November failed to establish a permanent peace agreement, and sporadic exchanges of gunfire have occurred since then.

According to a Sunday statement from Parwan province’s police command, where Bagram is situated, multiple Pakistani warplanes violated Afghan airspace “and attempted to bomb Bagram Air Base” around 5 a.m. The statement indicated that Afghan military units deployed “anti-aircraft and missile defense systems” and successfully prevented the assault.

Pakistani officials have not yet responded to these allegations.

Bagram served as America’s primary military installation throughout its Afghanistan operations. Taliban forces assumed control of the facility during their rapid territorial gains following the disorganized American military departure in 2021. Former President Donald Trump indicated last year his interest in reestablishing American operations at the location.

The present conflict erupted when Afghan forces initiated extensive cross-border operations Thursday evening, claiming the actions were retaliation for Pakistani aerial bombardments conducted the previous Sunday.

Pakistan had stated its airstrikes targeted the banned Pakistani Taliban organization, known as TTP. Afghan officials maintained that only civilian casualties resulted from those strikes.

The TTP militant organization, while distinct from Afghanistan’s governing Taliban, maintains close ties with the ruling group and conducts operations within Pakistan, where authorities blame the group for hundreds of deaths through bombing campaigns and other violent attacks spanning multiple years. Pakistani leadership accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of offering protected territory within Afghanistan for TTP operations, which Afghan officials reject.

Following Thursday’s Afghan military action, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif announced that “our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us.”

Throughout the ongoing hostilities, both nations claim to have eliminated hundreds of opposing forces while reporting significantly lower casualty figures for their own military units.

Afghan representatives confirmed that combat operations continued through the night and into Sunday across border regions.

Said Tayyeb Hammad, spokesman for Nangarhar province’s police command, reported that anti-aircraft missiles were deployed from the provincial capital Jalalabad and nearby locations against Pakistani fighter aircraft conducting overflights Sunday morning.

Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatulah Khowarazmi stated that Afghan military units conducted sniper counterattacks across the border from Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar provinces during overnight operations. He alleged that two Pakistani unmanned aircraft were destroyed and numerous Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Pakistani drone strikes targeted civilian residences in Nangarhar province late Saturday evening, resulting in the deaths of one woman and one child, while mortar fire killed another civilian when it struck a home in Paktia province.

Pakistani officials have not immediately addressed these allegations.

Within just one hour of American and Israeli missiles hitting Iranian targets, President Donald Trump delivered a direct message encouraging political upheaval. In a video address aimed at Iranian citizens, Trump declared, “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”

The concept appears straightforward at first glance. With Iran’s widely disliked leadership weakened by devastating air attacks, key officials either killed or unaccounted for, and Washington offering its backing, overthrowing an oppressive government might seem achievable.

Historical precedent suggests otherwise.

America’s track record with toppling foreign governments spans decades and continents. The list includes Vietnam during the 1960s and 70s, Panama in 1989, Nicaragua throughout the 1980s, Iraq and Afghanistan following September 11th, and Venezuela in recent weeks.

Iran itself experienced American-backed regime change before. In 1953, the CIA orchestrated the removal of Iran’s democratically chosen prime minister, installing Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with sweeping authority. Yet like the Shah, who fell during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution after growing increasingly unpopular over decades, government overthrows seldom proceed according to plan.

American efforts to install friendly administrations typically begin with noble goals, whether promoting democracy in Iraq or supporting anti-Communist leadership in Congo during Cold War tensions. However, these missions frequently become mired in political chaos where democratic aspirations devolve into civil warfare, once-cooperative dictators become liabilities, and American service members come home in coffins.

Trump has frequently referenced this troubled history. “We must abandon the failed policy of nation building and regime change,” he stated in 2016.

During a 2025 address in Saudi Arabia, Trump criticized previous administrations, saying, “In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built.” He condemned American efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, arguing that “interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand.”

Following Saturday’s military action, a crucial question arises: Does the current administration comprehend the complexity of its undertaking?

Iran faces severe economic turmoil, and popular dissent persists despite brutal government suppression of January protests that killed thousands and imprisoned tens of thousands more. The country’s primary military allies and proxy forces — including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Syria’s Assad regime — have suffered significant losses or elimination. Early Sunday reports from Iranian state media confirmed that Israel and the United States had eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Washington has not articulated a post-conflict strategy and may not seek complete governmental overthrow. Similar to the Venezuelan situation, potential allies within Iran’s existing power structure might be willing to fill leadership voids.

Jonathan Schanzer, who leads the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank highly critical of Iran’s government, explained the challenges ahead. “But there’s a lot that needs to happen between now and a possible scenario along these lines. There needs to be a sense that there is no salvation for the regime as such, and that they will need to work with the United States.”

In a nation where core leadership remains bound by shared ideology and religious conviction, achieving such cooperation may prove exceptionally challenging.

“The question to my mind right now is have we been able to penetrate the ranks of the regime that are not true believers that are more pragmatic,” Schanzer noted. “Because I don’t believe that the true believers will flip.”

Determining whether political momentum is building in Tehran remains premature. Future leaders might prove equally oppressive or face domestic rejection as American puppets.

Phillips O’Brien, who teaches strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, cautioned about expectations. “We’ll see whether elements of the regime start moving against each other. Air power can damage a leadership, but it can’t guarantee that you’ll bring in something new.”

America’s intervention history in Latin America extends back over two centuries, beginning when President James Monroe declared the hemisphere part of America’s sphere of influence.

While the Monroe Doctrine initially aimed to exclude European powers from the region, by the 1900s it justified everything from Central American coups to the unsuccessful 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Historians note that such interventions frequently resulted in violence, bloodshed, and widespread human rights abuses.

Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at London’s Chatham House, argues that direct American involvement has rarely “resulted in long-term democratic stability.” He cites Guatemala, where 1950s U.S. intervention sparked a four-decade civil war that claimed over 200,000 lives.

Nicaragua presents another example, where American support for Contra rebels fighting the Sandinista government during the 1980s fueled prolonged civil conflict that devastated the economy, caused tens of thousands of deaths, and intensified political divisions.

Though large-scale American involvement in Latin America largely ended with the Cold War, Trump has revived this approach.

Since taking office, Trump has authorized naval strikes against Caribbean drug traffickers, imposed a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports, and intervened in electoral processes in Honduras and Argentina. On January 3rd, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, transporting him to face American drug and weapons charges.

The aftermath in Caracas may preview White House expectations for Tehran. Many anticipated American support for María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s prominent opposition figure. Instead, Washington marginalized her while demonstrating willingness to collaborate with President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s deputy.

Schanzer observed the distinction: “There are those who could claim that what we did in Venezuela is not regime change. The regime is still in place. There’s just one person that’s missing.”

North Korea has strongly criticized recent military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran, with a foreign ministry representative condemning the operations as unlawful acts of aggression that violate Iran’s national sovereignty, according to a Sunday report from the Korean Central News Agency.

The North Korean spokesperson characterized the U.S. military action against Iran as being “within the range of expectations,” describing it as a predictable result of what they termed America’s “hegemonic and gangster-like” behavior.

According to the statement, any “war of aggression” conducted by the United States and Israel cannot be justified under any conditions.

The North Korean official also called on Middle Eastern nations and other countries with common interests to step up and take action to restore peace and stability throughout the region.

These condemnations follow Israel’s announcement Sunday that its forces had conducted extensive strikes in central Tehran. The Israeli military reported carrying out a major operation that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking concerns about potential widespread unrest across the Middle East.

LONDON – Iranian state media has confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following joint strikes by American and Israeli forces that targeted the country on Sunday, March 1st.

The announcement has prompted responses from leaders across the globe, with reactions varying significantly based on international relationships and regional interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his sympathies, stating: “Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard struck a more measured tone, acknowledging the potential implications while warning of continued regional instability.

“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed dead. This could open a window of opportunities. But there are still many uncertainties remaining,” Stenergard said. “Iran’s future must belong to the people. But the road there is long. The risk of a spiral of violence in the Middle East remains great.”

Indonesia’s Muslim Clerical Council, known as the Ulema Council, issued a statement condemning the February 28th attack while questioning American involvement in Middle Eastern peace efforts.

“The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) expressed its deepest condolences for the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, as a result of the Israeli-American attack on February 28,” the organization stated.

The council went further, challenging U.S. peace initiatives in the region: “The United States, which is playing a central role in managing the Palestinian conflict through the BoP (Board of Peace), faces a major question: is this strategy truly aimed at a just peace, or is it actually strengthening an unequal security architecture and burying Palestinian independence? Therefore, the MUI urges the Indonesian government to revoke its membership from the BoP.”

The strikes represent a significant escalation in Middle Eastern tensions, with the full implications of Khamenei’s death yet to be determined.

The passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has revealed stark divisions across the nation, as citizens responded with both mourning and celebration following his death after 36 years in power.

Iranian state television broke the news during the early morning hours on Sunday, with the announcer’s voice filled with emotion while confirming that Khamenei had perished in Saturday’s U.S.-Israeli strike. Video from Tehran captured crowds of mourners gathering in a public square, many wearing black clothing and visibly weeping.

However, social media footage revealed contrasting scenes of jubilation across various Iranian cities. In Dehloran, located in Ilam province, people cheered as they brought down a statue. Residents of Karaj city in Alborz province danced in the streets, while celebrations erupted in Izeh within Khuzestan province.

In the southern Iranian town of Galleh Dar, citizens destroyed a memorial dedicated to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic in 1979, according to verified social media video.

“Am I dreaming? Hello to the new world!” a man can be heard shouting in the video, as fires burned on a traffic circle where the monument was toppled, prompting cheers and applause.

Additional footage showed people celebrating in the southern town of Lapuee outside the residence of Pooya Jafari, a 15-year-old who was fatally shot during anti-government demonstrations in January.

The January protests resulted in thousands of Iranian deaths during government crackdowns, marking the most deadly period of civil unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Following Saturday’s announcement of the Iranian attack, President Donald Trump called on Iranian citizens to take advantage of the situation to overthrow their government.

At a memorial gathering for Khamenei in Tehran, one attendee expressed that the news had filled him with animosity “towards Israel and America. We must avenge the blood of the leader.”

“We said last night until the morning that God willing, it is a lie. Unfortunately, it was the truth,” said a woman mourning Khamenei’s death, in a pool report via WANA.

Throughout Khamenei’s leadership, Iran experienced multiple periods of civil disorder, including student demonstrations in 1999 and 2002, upheaval in 2009, and the recent “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022, which began after a young woman died while in morality police custody.

A 33-year-old Isfahan woman told Reuters she wept from both happiness and shock upon learning of Khamenei’s death. Speaking from Iran, she described joining street celebrations to “share my happiness with my people,” hoping his death would signal the end of the Islamic Republic. She requested anonymity due to safety concerns.

However, Atousa Mirzade, an elementary school educator in Shiraz, said she couldn’t celebrate their leader’s death at the hands of foreign forces.

“I also cannot be happy because I don’t know what will happen to our country. We saw what happened in Iraq — chaos and bloodshed. I would prefer the Islamic Republic to that situation.”

Hossein Dadbakhsh, a 21-year-old university student in Mashhad, vowed that Iran would seek retribution for its leader.

“I am ready to sacrifice my life for Islam and for my Imam Khamenei. The Zionist regime and Trump will pay a heavy price for the martyrdom of my leader,” he said by phone, his voice trembling with emotion.

LONDON – The United Kingdom’s Defense Secretary John Healey stopped short of endorsing weekend military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran, telling reporters Sunday that America must “set out the legal basis of the action it took.”

Iranian state media has confirmed that the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in Saturday’s air strikes.

Speaking to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Healey emphasized that Britain had no involvement in the military action, though the UK shares Washington’s goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities.

When pressed about whether the strikes complied with international law, Healey responded: “It is for the U.S. to set out the legal basis of the action that it took.”

The Defense Secretary described Iran’s response as increasingly reckless, noting that Iranian forces have been targeting civilian infrastructure including airports and hotels alongside military installations.

“We have strengthened the UK defences in the region, we are active in regional defence operations,” Healey stated during an interview with Sky News.

He confirmed that British military aircraft stationed at bases in Qatar and Cyprus are currently conducting operations to intercept drone attacks aimed at allied forces and installations in the region.

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday condemned the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a “cynical” assassination that breaks international law and basic human decency.

In an official message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released by the Kremlin, Putin expressed his condolences, stating: “Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”

According to Iranian state media reports, the 86-year-old Khamenei died Saturday during military strikes carried out by Israeli and American forces.

Putin praised the deceased Iranian leader’s role in strengthening ties between Moscow and Tehran, saying: “In our country, Ayatollah Khamenei will be remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a huge personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations and bringing them to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.”

The Russian president concluded his statement by extending sympathy to Iran’s leadership and citizens: “I ask you to convey my most sincere sympathy and support to the family and friends of the Supreme Leader, the government and the entire people of Iran.”

A commercial oil vessel sustained damage near Oman’s coastline on Sunday, leaving four crew members wounded, according to the nation’s maritime security officials. The incident followed separate drone attacks on Oman’s Duqm commercial port facility.

These attacks represent the initial strikes targeting Omani territory or nearby waters amid escalating regional tensions following retaliatory actions by Tehran against Gulf nations. The broader conflict stems from coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, which have sparked a new phase of warfare in the region.

The vessel, named Skylight and registered under Palau’s flag, had its entire 20-member crew evacuated following the assault, which took place approximately 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port on the Musandam peninsula, according to Oman’s Maritime Security Centre’s social media announcement. Officials did not identify what weapon struck the tanker.

Four crew members sustained injuries of different degrees of severity, maritime authorities reported. The ship’s crew consisted of 15 Indian nationals and five Iranian citizens.

The Musandam peninsula, where Oman is located, jointly controls the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. This narrow waterway serves as a crucial shipping lane for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.

Earlier the same day, Oman’s official news service confirmed that two drones struck the Duqm commercial port, wounding one foreign worker.

Wreckage from an additional drone landed close to fuel storage tanks at the Duqm facility, though this incident resulted in no injuries or property damage, according to the news agency.

The world’s major oil-producing nations are weighing a substantial increase in crude output this weekend following disruptions to shipping lanes caused by escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to two sources within the OPEC+ alliance, the group will contemplate boosting production beyond previously anticipated levels during Sunday’s emergency meeting. The discussions come after Iran issued warnings that effectively shut down navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy shipments.

The oil cartel has traditionally responded to supply disruptions by ramping up production, though energy experts note that most member countries currently lack significant unused capacity to meaningfully increase output. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates possess substantial spare production capability.

Sources indicate that Saudi Arabia has already begun increasing both production and exports in recent weeks, anticipating potential U.S. military action against Iran.

Maritime traffic carrying oil, natural gas, and other commodities through the Strait of Hormuz ceased on Saturday after shipping companies received Iranian advisories declaring the waterway closed to vessels.

Sunday’s OPEC+ meeting will examine raising daily production by 411,000 barrels or potentially more, sources revealed to Reuters. This represents a significant jump from initial projections of just 137,000 barrels per day.

Energy markets reacted sharply on Friday, with oil prices climbing to $73 per barrel – the highest point since July. The increase reflects growing concerns about broader Middle Eastern conflict and potential supply shortages through Hormuz, which handles more than 20% of worldwide oil transportation.

Veteran OPEC analyst Helima Croft from RBC reported that Middle Eastern officials have cautioned Washington that military action against Iran could drive oil prices above $100 per barrel. Barclays analysts have issued similar warnings about potential price spikes.

However, Croft emphasized that any large-scale OPEC production increase would have minimal market impact due to limited actual production capabilities beyond Saudi Arabia’s reserves.

The emergency session scheduled for 1100 GMT Sunday will include eight key OPEC+ members: Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Oman. While OPEC+ encompasses the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus allies like Russia, these eight nations have handled most production adjustments in recent years.

The eight-member group had previously agreed to boost production quotas by approximately 2.9 million barrels daily from April through December 2025 – roughly 3% of global demand – before temporarily suspending increases for January through March 2026 due to seasonal market conditions.

KARACHI, Pakistan — Deadly violence erupted in Pakistan’s largest city Sunday when hundreds of angry demonstrators launched an assault on the United States Consulate, resulting in at least six fatalities and approximately a dozen injuries during confrontations with law enforcement and paramilitary units, according to local officials.

The deadly unrest followed reports that American and Israeli forces had conducted an operation that resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Medical personnel at a Karachi hospital confirmed that around eight individuals sustained injuries during the fierce confrontations.

Dr. Summaiya Syed Tariq, serving as police surgeon at the city’s primary government medical facility, verified that six deceased individuals and numerous wounded protesters were transported to the hospital. Karachi serves as both the capital of Sindh province in southern Pakistan and the nation’s most populous urban center.

According to senior law enforcement official Irfan Baloch, demonstrators temporarily breached the consulate’s outer security perimeter before being pushed back by authorities. “The situation is now fully under our control,” Baloch stated.

Baloch refuted unverified claims suggesting portions of the consulate facility had been set ablaze. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that protesters had burned down a nearby police station and damaged consulate windows before security personnel arrived to restore order.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that numerous Shiite demonstrators continued to gather approximately one kilometer away from the diplomatic compound, encouraging additional participants to join their cause. Pakistan’s Shiite population comprises roughly 15% of the country’s 250 million residents, representing among the world’s most significant Shiite communities. While anti-American and anti-Israeli demonstrations have occurred previously, violent confrontations of this magnitude remain uncommon.

Similar protests also took place near the American Consulate in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab province in eastern Pakistan, law enforcement reported. Senior police official Faisal Kamran explained that demonstrators attempted to stage protests outside the diplomatic facility but were prevented from doing so. Authorities dispersed the gathering when protesters tried to march toward the consulate building, he confirmed.

Iran has declared a 40-day period of national mourning following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during coordinated military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel this past Saturday.

The Iranian leadership confirmed the death of their highest-ranking official after the joint military operation targeted Iran. President Trump has since issued a stern warning to Tehran, advising against any retaliatory measures in response to Khamenei’s death.

The strikes mark a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the Western allies, with the death of the Supreme Leader representing a major blow to Iran’s theocratic government structure.

Airlines around the globe continued suspending Middle Eastern routes on Sunday following military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a fresh regional crisis.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed nearly empty skies across Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, while ongoing military operations forced major aviation hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha to either close completely or operate under severe limitations.

Here’s how individual carriers are responding to the crisis, organized by airline:

AEGEAN AIRLINES: Greece’s flagship carrier halted service to Tel Aviv, Israel; Beirut, Lebanon; and Erbil, Iraq through March 2.

AIR ASTANA: The airline group suspended all Middle Eastern routes until March 3.

AIR CANADA: Canadian flights to Israel remain grounded through March 8, while Dubai service is cancelled until March 3.

AIR EUROPA: Spain’s Air Europa scrapped Tel Aviv flights for Sunday and Monday, with Tuesday operations under review.

AIR FRANCE KLM: Air France eliminated Saturday flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut. KLM’s Dutch operations cancelled weekend service to Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh, while moving up the suspension of Amsterdam-Tel Aviv routes to Saturday.

AIR INDIA: The carrier scrapped Sunday departures from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to London, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Frankfurt and Paris, plus additional European destinations including Birmingham, Amsterdam, Zurich, Milan, Vienna and Copenhagen.

AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES: Service to Dubai, Doha, Jeddah and Tel Aviv remains suspended.

BRITISH AIRWAYS: The IAG subsidiary cancelled Tel Aviv and Bahrain flights through March 3, along with Saturday’s Amman service.

CATHAY PACIFIC: Hong Kong’s Cathay Group suspended regional operations affecting Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights, plus cargo service at Dubai’s Al Maktoum airport.

EMIRATES: Dubai’s flagship carrier halted all operations until 3 p.m. UAE time on March 2 due to widespread airspace restrictions.

ETIHAD: UAE’s Etihad suspended Abu Dhabi departures until 2 p.m. local time Sunday.

FLYDUBAI: The budget carrier temporarily grounded all Dubai flights until 3 p.m. local time Sunday.

IBERIA EXPRESS: The Spanish subsidiary cancelled Saturday’s 5 p.m. Tel Aviv departure.

INDIGO: India’s largest airline extended suspension of select international routes using Middle Eastern airspace through Monday.

ITA AIRWAYS: Italy’s carrier suspended Tel Aviv service and banned use of Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7, while Dubai flights remain cancelled through March 1.

JAPAN AIRLINES: Saturday’s Tokyo Haneda-Doha flight and Sunday’s return service were cancelled, according to Nikkei reports.

LOT POLISH AIRLINES: Tel Aviv service remains suspended until March 15, with Dubai and Riyadh flights cancelled through March 2.

LUFTHANSA: Germany’s flag carrier suspended Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman routes until March 7, cancelled weekend Dubai flights, and banned use of Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace through March 7.

NORWEGIAN AIR: The Nordic carrier suspended Dubai service through March 4, though Tel Aviv and Beirut routes remain unaffected as they operate only during summer months.

PEGASUS AIRLINES: Turkish carrier cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon through March 2.

QATAR AIRWAYS: All flights remain suspended due to Qatari airspace closure, with updates expected by 9 a.m. local time Monday.

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES: Saturday’s Copenhagen-Tel Aviv flight was cancelled, with future dates under review.

TURKISH AIRLINES: Saturday flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Oman were cancelled, along with service to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan through March 2.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: The British carrier is avoiding Iraqi airspace, causing flight rerouting, and cancelled Saturday’s London Heathrow-Dubai service.

WIZZ AIR: Hungary’s budget airline immediately suspended flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman through March 7, with ongoing schedule reviews as conditions change.

KARACHI, Pakistan — Violent confrontations between Pakistani authorities and demonstrators outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi resulted in nine fatalities on Sunday, as crowds responded to reports that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran.

Similar demonstrations took place near Baghdad’s Green Zone in Iraq, where the American Embassy is situated, as supporters of Iran expressed their outrage.

Both Pakistan and Iraq contain the world’s second and third largest populations of Shi’ite Muslims, following Iran itself.

In Karachi, demonstrators managed to breach the exterior barrier of the consulate before being repelled by security forces, according to a local government representative. The crowd ignited a car near the facility’s main entrance during the confrontation with police.

Authorities confirmed that nine individuals lost their lives during these violent encounters.

News reporters on the scene documented the sound of weapons fire and witnessed law enforcement deploying tear gas throughout the area surrounding the diplomatic compound. Video evidence captured flames burning under a bridge in the vicinity.

Officials reported no injuries from the street violence itself.

Neither the Karachi consulate nor the U.S. Embassy press office in Islamabad provided responses to media inquiries.

Demonstrations of significant size also took place throughout other regions of Pakistan.

In Skardu, located in the northern Gilgit Baltistan area known for its mountainous terrain and tourism, angry crowds set fire to a United Nations facility. This region typically remains calm and has a Shi’ite majority population.

Local government representative Shabbir Mir confirmed to reporters that demonstrators had assembled at the UN office in the region and destroyed the structure through arson, though no injuries occurred.

Earlier that day in Lahore, hundreds gathered near the American consulate in Pakistan’s central region. While minor altercations with law enforcement took place, no violent incidents were documented.

Eyewitness Aqeel Raza described the scene, stating: “Some of the protesters tried to damage the security gate, hundreds of yards away from the Consulate. However, police stopped them without use of force.”

In Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad, law enforcement blocked all routes to the red zone containing diplomatic buildings and the parliament, preventing vehicle and pedestrian access.

A seasoned Iranian political figure has stepped into a leadership vacuum after announcing Sunday that a temporary governing council will take charge following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike.

Ali Larijani, who has risen to become one of Iran’s most influential security officials over the past year, has been handling a wide range of critical issues including nuclear diplomacy, regional relationships, and the government’s harsh response to domestic protests.

The establishment veteran, who comes from a prominent religious family, had been leading Iran’s attempts to negotiate a nuclear agreement with America – this came just one month after the U.S. imposed sanctions on him in January for his alleged role in violently suppressing anti-government demonstrations.

On Sunday, Larijani blamed the United States and Israel for attempting to “plunder and disintegrate Iran” and issued warnings to “secessionist groups” about severe consequences if they take action, according to state television reports. This statement came nearly a full day after attacks against Iran commenced.

Iranian state media also reported that Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi died in the strikes.

Since taking over as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council in August, Larijani has maintained senior positions throughout his career, earning recognition for his unwavering loyalty to Khamenei and his skill at working with competing factions within the system.

His position as a trusted advisor to Khamenei became clear last month when he traveled to Oman, which serves as a mediator, to lay groundwork for indirect nuclear discussions with the United States. This occurred as Washington increased its military presence in the Middle East to pressure Iran before launching strikes.

In recent months, Larijani has also made multiple visits to Moscow, Iran’s important ally, to discuss various security partnerships, demonstrating his return to high-level international diplomacy.

LARIJANI VIEWS NUCLEAR DISPUTE AS ‘SOLVABLE’

Having previously led the SNSC two decades ago, Larijani returned to this leadership position after last year’s 12-day aerial conflict between Iran and Israel, which also involved the United States, bringing him back to the center of Iran’s security apparatus.

His public comments regarding nuclear issues have often reflected a practical approach.

“In my view, this issue is resolvable,” Larijani stated to Oman state television last month about the U.S. negotiations. “If the Americans’ concern is that Iran should not move toward acquiring a nuclear weapon, that can be addressed.”

However, following January’s widespread anti-government protests, Washington criticized his security council position.

A U.S. government statement announcing sanctions against Larijani and other officials for their response to the protests described him as leading the effort to suppress the demonstrations that occurred across Iran in January.

“Larijani was one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people,” stated a U.S. Treasury announcement on January 15, noting that Larijani acted on Khamenei’s orders.

Human rights organizations report that thousands died during the government’s crackdown on the protests, marking Iran’s most severe internal unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

‘TRADING A PEARL FOR CANDY’

While Larijani, like other Iranian officials, showed some sympathy for demonstrations driven by economic difficulties, he condemned violent actions that he claimed were encouraged by Israel, Iran’s primary adversary.

“Popular protests must be completely separated from these terrorist-similar groups,” state media quoted him as saying on January 10. “The rioters are an urban quasi-terrorist group,” he was reported as saying on January 26.

A former Revolutionary Guards member, Larijani worked as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator from 2005-2007, defending Tehran’s claimed right to uranium enrichment. He famously compared European offers to halt nuclear fuel production to “exchanging a pearl for a candy bar.”

During that period, Iranian experts believed he tried to convince Western nations through diplomatic means and was viewed as a moderate.

The United States and Israel maintain that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons that could endanger Israel’s survival. Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely for peaceful purposes.

From 2008 to 2020, Larijani served as parliament speaker. While in this role, Iran reached a nuclear agreement with six global powers in 2015 following nearly two years of complex negotiations. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of this carefully negotiated deal in 2018 during his first presidency.

WORKING WITH PUTIN

Larijani has warned that Iran’s nuclear capabilities “can never be destroyed.”

“Because once you have discovered a technology, they can’t take the discovery away,” he explained to PBS Frontline in September 2025. “It’s as if you are the inventor of some machine, and the machine is stolen from you. You can still make it again.”

Through frequent trips to Moscow and meetings with President Vladimir Putin, Larijani has helped Khamenei maintain relations with a crucial ally and global power that balances pressure from Trump.

Larijani also oversaw negotiations with China that resulted in a 25-year cooperation deal in 2021.

He ran for president unsuccessfully in 2005 and later attempted to compete in the 2021 and 2024 presidential races but was rejected both times by the Guardian Council, which pointed to concerns including personal conduct standards and family connections overseas.

Born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1958 into a prominent Iranian religious family, Larijani relocated to Iran during childhood and eventually obtained a philosophy doctorate. Multiple brothers have also served in high-ranking government positions, including in the court system and foreign ministry.

In January, one of Larijani’s daughters lost her medical teaching job at Emory University in the United States after Iranian-American activists protested her father’s involvement in suppressing that month’s demonstrations.

LONDON — Military strikes targeting Iran have created widespread travel chaos throughout the Middle East, forcing the closure of major airports and leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide as the conflict entered its second day Sunday.

Major transportation hubs across the region remained shuttered Sunday following the joint U.S.-Israeli operation. Emirates Airlines halted all Dubai operations until at least Sunday afternoon, while Qatar Airways announced its airport would stay closed through Monday morning. Israeli airspace also continued its closure Sunday.

The widespread airspace restrictions have affected hundreds of thousands of travelers globally.

On Saturday, massive travel disruptions began when Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain all sealed their airspace to civilian aircraft. The United Arab Emirates implemented what officials called a “temporary and partial closure” of its airspace, effectively grounding all flight operations, according to flight monitoring service FlightRadar24.

The closures shuttered critical aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, resulting in more than 1,800 flight cancellations by major Middle Eastern carriers. The three primary airlines serving these airports — Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad — normally handle approximately 90,000 daily passengers through their hubs, plus countless additional travelers bound for Middle Eastern destinations, aviation data company Cirium reports.

UAE authorities reported direct impacts at two of their airports, condemning what they described as a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles” on Saturday.

Dubai International Airport — the UAE’s largest facility and among the world’s busiest — confirmed four people sustained injuries, while Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport reported one fatality and seven injuries from a drone attack. Kuwait International Airport also experienced strikes.

While Iran has not officially acknowledged responsibility, the retaliatory strikes that Gulf states blame on Iran went beyond the American military installations Iran had previously threatened to target.

“For travelers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this,” stated Henry Harteveldt, airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group. “You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”

Airlines operating Middle Eastern routes must now redirect flights around the conflict zone, with many aircraft routing south through Saudi Arabian airspace. These longer flight paths will add hours to journey times and increase fuel consumption, raising operational costs that airlines must absorb. Extended conflicts could drive ticket prices higher.

The increased air traffic will strain Saudi Arabia’s air traffic control systems, potentially requiring slower traffic flow to maintain safety standards. Meanwhile, countries with closed airspace will lose revenue from overflight fees that airlines typically pay.

However, Mike McCormick, former Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control overseer and current Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor, believes partial airspace reopening may occur within days once American and Israeli officials share military flight information and Iran’s remaining missile capabilities with airlines.

“Those countries then will be able to go through and say, okay, we can reopen this portion of our space but we’ll keep this portion of our airspace closed,” McCormick explained. “So I think what we’ll see in the next 24 to 36 hours how the use of airspace evolves as the kinetic activity gets more well defined and as the capability of Iran to actually shoot missiles and create additional risk is diminished due to the attacks.”

The duration of flight operation disruptions remains uncertain. For reference, the Israeli and U.S. military action against Iran in June 2025 continued for 12 days.

Rapidly changing conditions prompted airlines to advise passengers to verify flight status online before traveling to airports.

Several carriers have issued travel waivers allowing affected passengers to reschedule flights without additional fees or fare increases.

Jonathan Escott and his fiancé discovered their situation firsthand Saturday when they reached Newcastle, England’s airport only to learn their direct Emirates flight to Dubai had been canceled, stranding all passengers.

Escott returned to family accommodations an hour from the airport but remains uncertain about future travel plans.

“No one knows,” Escott said. “No one really knows what’s going on with the conflict, really. Not Emirates, Emirates don’t have a clue. No one has a clue.”

Flight tracking service FlightAware recorded at least 145 aircraft diverted to alternate airports in Athens, Istanbul, and Rome after being rerouted from destinations like Tel Aviv and Dubai early Saturday. Other flights returned to their departure points, including one aircraft that spent nearly 15 hours airborne after leaving Philadelphia, reaching Spain before turning back to its starting location.

Multiple airlines suspended weekend international service to Dubai as India’s civil aviation authority classified much of the Middle East — including airspace over Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon — as high-security risk zones at all flight levels.

Air India canceled all Middle Eastern flights. Turkish Airlines suspended service to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until Monday, while also halting flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The carrier warned of potential additional cancellations, joining numerous other airlines suspending regional service through the weekend.

American carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines paused Tel Aviv flights at least through the weekend. Dutch carrier KLM had already announced earlier this week its suspension of Tel Aviv service.

Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia and Pegasus eliminated all Lebanon flights, while American Airlines suspended Philadelphia-to-Doha service.

Virgin Atlantic announced it would avoid Iraqi airspace, potentially extending flight times to and from India, the Maldives and Riyadh. The airline, already avoiding Iranian airspace, said all flights would carry extra fuel for potential short-notice rerouting.

British Airways suspended Tel Aviv and Bahrain flights until next week, while canceling Saturday’s Amman, Jordan service.

“Travelers should anticipate that there will be a lot of disruptions,” Harteveldt warned. “To be honest, if you haven’t left home, chances are you won’t be leaving home if you’re supposed to travel to or through these destinations for at least several days, if not longer. And if you are returning home, you will have to be very creative about how you get home.”

International air travel faced severe disruptions Sunday as ongoing military strikes forced the closure of critical Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai – the world’s busiest international airport – creating one of aviation’s most significant disruptions in recent memory.

Major transit hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, along with Doha in Qatar, either closed completely or operated under heavy restrictions as regional airspace remained largely inaccessible. The Gulf region continues dealing with instability following U.S. and Israeli military operations that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

Israeli forces announced additional strikes against Iran on Sunday, while explosive sounds echoed for the second consecutive day near Dubai and above Doha, following Iran’s retaliatory aerial attacks on neighboring Gulf nations.

Iran’s assault caused structural damage to Dubai International Airport, with facilities in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait also suffering hits. Flight tracking service FlightAware reports thousands of flights throughout the Middle East have been impacted since U.S. forces initially struck Iran on Saturday.

The consequences extend well beyond Middle Eastern borders. Dubai and Doha serve as crucial connection points for east-west aviation routes, managing long-distance traffic between Europe and Asia through carefully coordinated flight networks. With these major hubs offline, planes and flight crews remain displaced, creating worldwide airline scheduling problems.

“It’s the sheer volume of people and the complexity,” explained John Strickland, a UK-based aviation analyst.

“It is not only customers, it is the crews and aircraft all over place.”

Airlines throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East have canceled flights or changed routes to bypass closed airspace, resulting in longer travel times and increased fuel expenses. The situation worsened with the loss of flight paths over Iran and Iraq, routes that became more valuable after the Russia-Ukraine conflict forced carriers to avoid those nations’ airspace.

According to Ian Petchenik, communications director at Flightradar24, the Middle Eastern airspace restrictions are forcing airlines into tighter flight corridors, while ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan present additional risks.

“The risk of protracted disruption is the main concern from a commercial aviation perspective,” Petchenik stated.

“Any escalation in the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan that results in the closure of airspace would have drastic consequences for travel between Europe and Asia.”

Residents of Dubai and Doha reported hearing powerful explosions throughout Sunday, marking the second consecutive day of Iranian retaliatory attacks targeting Gulf region locations following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.

While Iranian officials had initially indicated their focus would be on American military installations in the area, the strikes have expanded to include various civilian and commercial locations throughout major Gulf cities.

In Dubai, two residents sustained injuries when debris from intercepted drones crashed into residential properties, according to an official statement from Dubai’s Media office.

The attacks caused significant damage to several of Dubai’s most recognizable sites, including the busy international airport, the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, and the exclusive artificial Palm Jumeirah Island development.

Dark smoke clouds remained visible rising from the Jebel Ali port district, where a dock facility ignited Sunday morning due to falling debris from a missile that was shot down during an aerial interception.

As the Middle East’s largest center for tourism and commerce, Dubai operates one of the globe’s most heavily trafficked airports for international travel.

Officials from Qatar’s interior ministry confirmed Sunday they were addressing a contained fire at an industrial facility caused by falling debris from a successfully intercepted missile.

NAIROBI – Six individuals perished in a helicopter accident that occurred Saturday in Kenya’s western region, with a sitting member of parliament among the victims, according to police and government sources.

The aircraft went down in Nandi County, located in the North Rift area of the country. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fatal crash. Samuel Mukusi, the county’s police commander, confirmed to Citizen TV that the casualties included the parliamentarian, the aircraft’s pilot, and four additional passengers.

In a social media statement, President William Ruto named the deceased lawmaker as Johana Ng’eno, who represented the Emurua Dikirr constituency.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, the people of Emurua Dikirr, and all the victims and families affected by the helicopter crash in Mosop, Nandi County,” Ruto wrote.

Authorities have not released the identities of the remaining passengers who died in the crash.

Belgian military forces have intercepted and taken control of an oil tanker suspected of operating as part of Russia’s covert shipping network, according to an announcement from Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Sunday.

The operation involved Belgian armed forces working in coordination with French defense personnel to board the vessel at sea, Francken revealed in a social media statement posted early Sunday morning.

“Over the past few hours, our armed forces, with the support of the French Defence, have boarded an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet,” Francken wrote on X.

The intercepted tanker is now under military escort heading toward Zeebrugge port, where Belgian authorities plan to formally confiscate the vessel, the defense minister confirmed.

“The vessel is currently being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be seized,” Francken stated in his announcement.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian forces launched missile attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf nations on Sunday, responding to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a coordinated American-Israeli military operation. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran against additional escalation following the strikes.

Tehran confirmed Khamenei’s death occurred during the combined US-Israeli air assault on Saturday at his office complex in the Iranian capital, creating uncertainty about the Islamic Republic’s future and heightening concerns over regional stability.

Iranian state television reported that the 86-year-old leader died at his workplace, stating this “demonstrated his unwavering commitment to remain with his people and fulfill his duties while facing what authorities describe as global tyranny.”

Trump declared that eliminating Khamenei provided Iranians with their “best opportunity” to “reclaim” their nation.

“Khamenei, among history’s most wicked individuals, is deceased,” Trump posted on social media.

Iran’s government pledged this “heinous act will face consequences,” while the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard promised to execute their “most aggressive military campaign” in history, focusing on Israeli and American installations.

“You have violated our boundaries and must face retribution,” declared Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf during a televised speech Sunday. “We will inflict such crushing defeats that you will find yourselves pleading for mercy.”

“Iran has announced they plan to strike with unprecedented force today,” Trump responded via social media. “THEY HAD BETTER RECONSIDER, BECAUSE IF THEY PROCEED, WE WILL RESPOND WITH POWER NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED!”

Following the initial attacks, Iranian forces immediately deployed missiles and drones against Israeli territory and American military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Israeli defense officials reported Iran launched numerous missiles toward Israel, with many successfully intercepted. The Magen David Adom emergency service confirmed Saturday evening that a woman in the Tel Aviv vicinity died from injuries sustained during an Iranian missile strike.

Aviation across the Middle East faced disruptions, while air defense systems activated over Dubai, the UAE’s business hub, with explosions persisting through Sunday morning. Iranian missile fragments striking the UAE capital resulted in one fatality according to state media, while debris from aerial intercepts sparked fires at the city’s primary port and damaged the famous Burj Al Arab hotel’s exterior.

The Iranian operation marks a dramatic escalation in US military involvement, carrying potential for retaliatory attacks and broader warfare, representing a bold display of force from an American president who campaigned on “America First” principles and promised to avoid prolonged conflicts.

Eliminating Khamenei during Trump’s second administration, marking the second Iranian assault in eight months, will likely generate a leadership crisis given no clear successor exists and the supreme leader maintained ultimate authority over major decisions throughout his decades-long rule. He controlled Iran’s religious establishment and Revolutionary Guard, the governing theocracy’s primary power centers.

“This represents the greatest opportunity for Iranian citizens to reclaim their nation,” Trump stated.

Iran rapidly established a governing council to oversee the country while selecting a new supreme leader.

State media additionally reported deaths of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander and a senior security advisor to Khamenei in the airstrikes. Major General Mohammad Pakpour assumed leadership of the Guard following Israel’s elimination of the previous commander during last June’s 12-day conflict. The advisor, Ali Shamkhani, had served as a prominent figure within Iran’s security apparatus, IRNA reported.

As news emerged regarding Khamenei’s death, witnesses in Tehran informed The Associated Press that some citizens celebrated, shouting from rooftops, sounding whistles and making celebratory calls.

Mourners displayed a black funeral flag above the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and significant Shiite Muslim pilgrimage destination. Iranian officials announced 40 days of public mourning and a week-long national holiday honoring Khamenei’s death.

The semi-official Fars news agency, considered aligned with the Revolutionary Guard, cited unnamed sources reporting several Khamenei family members also perished, including a daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandchild.

The collaborative US-Israel mission, which officials indicate required months of planning, occurred Saturday during Ramadan’s Muslim holy fasting period and Iran’s workweek beginning. It followed tense negotiations and Trump’s warnings, who previously celebrated his administration’s success in dismantling the country’s nuclear capabilities but characterized recent actions as necessary to prevent their restoration.

Approximately 12 hours after attacks commenced, US military officials reported no American casualties and minimal base damage despite “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone assaults.” They stated Iranian targets included Revolutionary Guard command centers, air defense installations, missile and drone launching sites, and military airfields.

Israeli forces reported eliminating the Revolutionary Guard Corps commander and Iran’s defense minister, plus the Iranian Security Council secretary, a close Khamenei advisor.

An Iranian diplomat informed the United Nations Security Council that hundreds of civilians suffered casualties in the strikes. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and US regional military bases, with fighting continuing overnight.

Initial Iranian strikes appeared to impact areas near Khamenei’s offices, the Islamic Republic’s second leader who succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israeli officials confirmed the death, followed by Trump’s announcement.

Democrats criticized Trump for acting without congressional approval. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated the administration briefed several Republican and Democratic congressional leaders beforehand.

Tensions escalated recently as the Trump administration assembled the largest American naval and air presence in the Middle East in decades. The president emphasized wanting an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program while the country faced growing internal dissent following nationwide demonstrations.

Despite Trump declaring Iran’s nuclear program destroyed in previous strikes, the country was rebuilding lost infrastructure, according to a senior US official speaking anonymously about Trump’s decision-making. Intelligence indicated Iran developed capabilities for producing high-quality centrifuges, crucial for creating highly enriched uranium required for weapons.

Iran expressed hopes to prevent war while maintaining uranium enrichment rights.

Iran claimed no enrichment since June but blocked international inspectors from visiting bombed sites. Associated Press satellite imagery analysis revealed new activity at two locations, suggesting Iran attempts to assess and potentially recover materials.

Israel stated the operation involved months of US coordination. Air Force pilots struck “hundreds of Iranian targets,” Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir announced.

Israeli campaign targets included Iran’s military, government symbols and intelligence sites, according to an operation-briefed official speaking anonymously about classified attack details.

Trump acknowledged Saturday that American casualties remained possible, stating “that frequently occurs during warfare.” He aimed to “eliminate” Iran’s navy and destroy Tehran-supported regional proxies. He urged Iranian Revolutionary Guard members to surrender, offering immunity or warning of “inevitable death” for resistance.

In southern Iran, at least 115 people reportedly died when a girls’ school was hit, with dozens more injured, the local governor told Iranian state television. US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said he was “aware of reports” about the school strike and officials were investigating.

Iran’s IRNA news agency reported at least 15 deaths in the southwest, quoting Lamerd region governor Ali Alizadeh stating a sports facility, two residential areas and a school-adjacent hall were struck.

The strikes could disrupt global markets, particularly if Iran threatens Strait of Hormuz commercial shipping. One-third of worldwide seaborne oil exports passed through the strait in 2025.

Saudi Arabia reported repelling Iranian attacks on its capital and eastern regions. Bahrain said missile attacks targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters on the island nation, with three buildings damaged in Manama and Muharraq city by drone strikes and intercepted missile debris.

Kuwait’s aviation authority reported a drone targeting the main international airport, injuring several workers. Kuwait’s state news agency said three soldiers suffered shrapnel injuries from strikes hitting Ali Al-Salem air base. Explosions were also audible in Qatar. Jordan reported “handling” 49 drones and ballistic missiles.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — During the sacred month of Ramadan, Algerian families face a challenging reality: the traditional evening meals that break the daily fast are becoming too expensive for many to afford.

While Ramadan holds deep spiritual meaning for Muslims worldwide, it also traditionally brings families together around tables filled with abundant, diverse foods after the evening call to prayer signals the end of each day’s fast.

However, these ceremonial meals now carry price tags that many Algerians cannot manage, as their buying power has weakened over recent years. This economic decline has occurred despite the country’s substantial oil and natural gas resources, forcing increasing numbers of citizens into poverty.

Grocery costs have skyrocketed, and marketplace disputes sometimes turn violent.

Following massive nationwide demonstrations in 2019 that shook Algeria, government officials grew worried about potential social upheaval and made commitments to provide economic assistance.

“Back in the 1970s, our wages weren’t high, but we could prepare for Ramadan and buy fresh meat, fruit, and vegetables,” Ahmed Messai, a former railroad employee, shared with The Associated Press while shopping at the Clauzel market in downtown Algiers.

The market’s main level serves as the pulse of business activity in Algeria’s capital city, where vendor booths overflow with attractively arranged fruits and vegetables.

However, as Ramadan drew near, costs increased sharply.

One elderly woman, wrapped in her customary white haik robe, complained about onion prices jumping from 45 dinars per kilogram to 100 dinars (35 cents to 77 cents) within just two days. She angrily confronted a stoic merchant who explained his profit requirements to her. Carrots now cost 150 dinars per kilogram, bell peppers 200 dinars, and green beans 550 dinars.

The woman left with an empty shopping basket.

Algeria’s leadership has attempted to prosecute Ramadan price manipulators, with minimal success. During a recent special cabinet meeting focused on Ramadan food availability, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared, “all conditions must be guaranteed to allow citizens to spend the holy month in perfect peace and without worry.”

His commitments included government purchases of 144,000 sheep and 46,000 cattle to increase meat availability for Ramadan dining. Premium local lamb from Algeria’s High Plateaus, prized for its taste and fragrance, along with young beef from the Kabyle mountains, have become unaffordable even for middle-class workers.

Community organizations provide crucial support for financially strained families during Ramadan. Restaurant proprietors convert their businesses into charitable dining halls or “mercy restaurants” offering complimentary meals.

“It’s a good mechanism for solidarity and civic awareness,” explained academic Hocine Zairar, “but the proliferation of this type of restaurant says something serious about our society: how poverty is gaining ground in our country.”

The Algerian Red Crescent operates one of Algiers’ most extensive mercy restaurant programs across multiple neighborhoods. Diners occupy long table rows inside a massive tent erected in a downtown plaza to end their daily fast. “The atmosphere is family-friendly and we serve up to 800 meals a day,” explained Nour el-Houda Remdani, an event coordinator, while moving among the rows of people receiving the free food.

These charitable restaurants previously served mainly single individuals, homeless people, or travelers. However, in recent years, complete families now depend on these temporary dining facilities.

The president has acknowledged significant economic changes in recent years.

“The middle class, once the pride of Algeria, is now being decimated by the crisis,” Tebboune stated during a television interview on Algerian media earlier this month.

Tebboune has also committed to raising the minimum wage from 20,000 to 24,000 dinars, boosting retirement payments by 5 to 10 percent, and increasing jobless benefits for college graduates from 15,000 to 18,000 dinars.

Algeria’s typical income equals 42,800 dinars, roughly $330 using official currency rates, and under $235 on unofficial markets.

Professor Redouane Boudjema from Algiers’ Institute of Journalism described the government’s Ramadan assistance programs as attempts to maintain “social peace” and “absorb political anger stemming from restrictions on civil and trade union freedoms.”

The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation has plunged the Islamic Republic into uncertainty and heightened fears of widespread regional conflict.

Iranian state television and the official IRNA news agency confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death on Sunday morning. Hours before the Iranian announcement, President Donald Trump had already revealed Khamenei’s death, stating it provided Iranians with their “greatest chance” to “take back” their nation.

The confirmation followed a combined American-Israeli air campaign that struck Iranian military installations and government facilities. Trump described the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” as an operation that would persist throughout the week or for as long as required.

This military action represents a dramatic escalation in U.S. involvement in Iran, becoming the second American attack on the country within eight months during ongoing nuclear program negotiations. Khamenei’s elimination after holding power for decades is expected to trigger a substantial leadership crisis, as no clear successor has been identified and the supreme leader controlled all major policy decisions.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard responded on Sunday with warnings of launching their “most-intense offensive operation” ever against Israeli and American military installations.

Argentine President Javier Milei commended the joint American-Israeli mission that led to Khamenei’s death, calling him “one of the most evil, violent, and cruel individuals in modern history.”

Milei referenced the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which claimed 85 lives and wounded hundreds in one of Argentina’s deadliest terrorist incidents.

The Argentine leader emphasized that seeking justice for AMIA victims remains a national priority. “We will continue until the last person responsible pays with his freedom or his life for this horrific crime,” Milei declared.

Chinese authorities are organizing evacuations for their nationals in Iran, according to media reports.

Over 200 Chinese citizens are currently dispersed throughout Iran, Iran Federation of Chinese Organizations president Tan Kai informed the Global Times. The organization is preparing evacuation procedures under Chinese Embassy guidance, Tan explained.

Embassy officials confirmed that land crossings with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey remain accessible for those choosing to leave independently.

The Chinese embassy in Israel has instructed citizens to relocate to secure areas away from Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem city centers, as well as airports, power facilities and similar infrastructure. Officials announced they would begin registering citizens on Sunday who require evacuation assistance to Egypt.

Two senior Iranian officials died in the American-Israeli airstrikes, state media confirmed Sunday.

IRNA reported the death of Major General Mohammad Pakpour, who had assumed leadership of the Revolutionary Guard after Israel eliminated his predecessor during the 12-day June conflict.

Ali Shamkhani, a longtime prominent figure in Iran’s security apparatus, also perished in the strikes, according to IRNA. Shamkhani had sustained injuries during the June war.

A governing council has been established to lead Iran following Khamenei’s death.

This council operates under Islamic Republic law and includes Iran’s current president, the judiciary head, and a Guardian Council member selected by Iran’s Expediency Council, which provides guidance to the supreme leader and resolves parliamentary disputes.

The council comprises reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

Iranian law mandates that the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible,” select a new supreme leader.

Questions about duration, escalation, and global implications are reverberating worldwide as international leaders respond with careful concern to military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, amid reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

President Donald Trump announced on social media that Khamenei had died, describing it as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” Iranian state television confirmed early Sunday that the 86-year-old leader had passed away, though no cause of death was provided.

Anonymous Israeli officials had previously confirmed to The Associated Press that Khamenei was dead. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during a televised announcement that there were “growing signs” indicating Khamenei was killed during Israel’s Saturday morning strike on his compound.

The potential death of Iran’s second supreme leader since the Islamic Republic’s founding, who had not named a successor, could plunge the nation’s future into chaos and heighten existing fears of wider regional warfare. An emergency UN Security Council session has been scheduled.

Many nations appeared hesitant to directly address or criticize the joint military operations, possibly to avoid further straining relationships with Trump, instead focusing their condemnation on Tehran’s retaliatory response. Middle Eastern governments followed a similar pattern to European nations, denouncing Iran’s attacks on Arab countries while remaining quiet about American and Israeli military actions.

Some nations took clearer positions: Australia and Canada publicly backed the U.S. strikes, while Russia and China issued sharp criticisms.

Saturday’s major assault by the U.S. and Israel prompted Trump to urge Iranian citizens to “seize control of your destiny” by overthrowing the Islamic government that has controlled Iran since 1979. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at Israeli targets and American military installations throughout the Middle East.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement urging both the U.S. and Iran to restart diplomatic discussions and expressed preference for a peaceful resolution. They clarified that their nations did not participate in the Iranian strikes but maintain ongoing communication with the U.S., Israel, and regional allies.

These three European powers have spearheaded diplomatic efforts to negotiate a solution regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“We condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes,” they stated. “Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.”

During a subsequent emergency security session, Macron emphasized that France was “neither warned nor involved” in the military action. He advocated for increased diplomatic efforts, stating “no one can think that the questions of Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic activity, regional destabilization will be settled by strikes alone.”

The Arab League, comprising 22 member nations, characterized the Iranian attacks as “a blatant violation of the sovereignty of countries that advocate for peace and strive for stability.” This alliance has traditionally criticized both Israeli and Iranian actions it considers destabilizing to regional peace.

Morocco, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates all condemned Iranian missile strikes against U.S. military facilities across the region, including installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Emirates.

Syria’s response was particularly notable, as the country under former President Bashar Assad had been among Iran’s strongest regional partners and fierce Israeli critics. However, its foreign ministry statement focused solely on condemning Iran, demonstrating the new government’s efforts to repair relationships with regional economic powers and the United States.

Saudi Arabia declared it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian aggression and the blatant violation of sovereignty.” Oman, which has served as a mediator in U.S.-Iran negotiations, criticized the American action as constituting “a violation of the rules of international law and the principle of settling disputes through peaceful means, rather than through hostility and the shedding of blood.”

New Zealand offered qualified acknowledgment rather than full endorsement, recognizing Saturday’s U.S. and Israeli attacks as preventing the Iranian government from continuing as an active threat. “The legitimacy of a government rests on the support of its people,” stated New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters jointly. “The Iranian regime has long since lost that support.”

European and Middle Eastern nations employed diplomatic language, seeking to avoid appearing either supportive of unilateral American military action or directly critical of the United States.

Other countries spoke more directly. Russia’s Foreign Ministry labeled the strikes “a pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent U.N. member state.” The ministry accused Washington and Tel Aviv of using concerns about Iran’s nuclear program as cover while actually seeking regime change.

China’s government expressed being “highly concerned” about the American and Israeli attacks on Iran and demanded immediate cessation of military operations and return to diplomatic talks. “Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

Canada, despite recent diplomatic tensions with the U.S., also voiced support for the military intervention. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East,” stated Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The UN Security Council arranged an emergency session to address the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, following requests from Bahrain and France.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank appeared largely unaffected as warfare erupted Saturday, continuing their activities despite the sounds of Israel’s Iron Dome system intercepting overhead missiles.

Palestinian cities lack the warning systems or protective shelters available in Israel, despite facing risks from falling debris or misdirected projectiles. While residents took cover less than 10 miles away in Jerusalem, Ramallah’s streets remained busy with shoppers at meat counters, produce stands, and Ramadan sweet shops, with some pausing to record distant sirens and missile interceptions.

However, Israel’s closure of checkpoints restricting movement of people and goods on Saturday led to unusually long lines at gas stations as residents filled extra containers anticipating potential supply interruptions.

The Palestinian Authority issued a statement condemning Iranian attacks on Arab nations, many of which have historically provided financial support. The statement made no reference to Israeli or American strikes.

Anxiety is evident across multiple countries. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed to Norwegian broadcaster NRK his concern that failed U.S.-Iran negotiations could lead to “a new, extensive war in the Middle East.”

The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons issued stronger criticism of the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. “These attacks are totally irresponsible and risk provoking further escalation as well as increasing the danger of nuclear proliferation and the use of nuclear weapons,” declared executive director Melissa Parke.

European Union leaders released a joint Saturday statement calling for restraint and regional diplomatic engagement aimed at “ensuring nuclear safety.” The Arab League similarly appealed to all international parties “to work towards de-escalation as soon as possible, to spare the region the scourge of instability and violence, and to return to dialogue.”

Iranian citizens are grappling with uncertainty following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in coordinated American and Israeli military operations, as Israel announced it conducted additional airstrikes against Iranian targets on Sunday.

Iranian state television confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death on Saturday, occurring hours after Washington and Tel Aviv announced their joint assault represented the most extensive military action against Iran in recent decades.

President Donald Trump defended the Iranian operations as necessary to eliminate a long-standing regional threat and prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear capabilities, despite the action appearing to contradict his previous statements opposing American engagement in complicated international conflicts.

Sunday morning’s Israeli military operations focused on Iran’s missile defense networks and ballistic weapon facilities, according to the Israeli Defense Forces. Tehran residents reported hearing explosions throughout the capital city on Sunday.

Iran responded to Saturday’s initial assault by firing hundreds of rockets and unmanned aircraft at American military installations across the region and cities in Israel and Washington-aligned Arab nations, causing widespread airline disruptions throughout the area.

Pentagon officials reported no American casualties from the Iranian counterattack, though defense analysts warned of increased risks to U.S. personnel. A senior intelligence source informed Reuters that while military bases faced the greatest immediate danger, Iranian cyber warfare units could potentially target American infrastructure systems.

The Iranian missile barrage damaged Dubai’s main airport and the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, injuring four people. Abu Dhabi’s airport authority initially reported one death of an Asian citizen and seven injuries at Zayed International Airport before removing the social media announcement.

Tehran announced Saturday that it had blocked the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway carrying approximately 20 percent of global petroleum shipments, sparking predictions of significant oil price increases.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a Sunday statement promising their largest-ever retaliatory operation against American bases and Israeli territory.

At an emergency United Nations Security Council session Saturday, Iranian UN representative Amir Saeid Iravani stated that hundreds of civilians died and sustained injuries in the American-Israeli bombardment. Iravani characterized Iran’s military response as justified self-defense, declaring that hostile forces’ installations constitute valid military objectives.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged immediate hostility cessation and expressed regret that diplomatic opportunities had been “squandered.”

Social media footage showed Iranian citizens celebrating in Tehran, nearby Karaj, and central Isfahan following news of Khamenei’s death, though Reuters could not independently confirm the video authenticity.

Two American sources and one official revealed that Israel and the U.S. coordinated their attack timing with a high-level meeting between Khamenei and his senior advisors.

Iranian media reported that Khamenei was conducting business in his office when Saturday morning’s strike occurred. The attack also killed his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law, according to state broadcasters.

The Revolutionary Guards released a statement mourning “a great leader,” while Trump posted on social media calling him “one of the most evil people in History.”

Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranian citizens to revolt against their government following the attacks, which eliminated at least seven top military commanders according to Israeli military reports.

Regional analysts suggested that while Khamenei’s death and other leadership losses would significantly damage Iran, it might not end the established religious government or diminish Revolutionary Guard influence over the population.

Israeli military campaigns over the previous two years had already eliminated several Iranian senior officers and substantially weakened Tehran’s regional proxy organizations across the Middle East.

Following Israel’s 12-day aerial campaign against Iran in June, supported by American forces, both nations had warned of additional strikes if Iran continued its nuclear and missile development programs.

During Saturday’s Security Council meeting, Russian and Chinese diplomats condemned American and Israeli actions for attacking while Tehran engaged in negotiations with Washington. Russian UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya accused the U.S. of stabbing Iran “in the back” and challenged American justifications for preventing Iranian nuclear weapons acquisition.

Senior American officials said Saturday that recent diplomatic discussions revealed Iran’s unwillingness to abandon uranium enrichment capabilities, which Iranians claimed supported nuclear energy but U.S. officials argued would enable weapons development.

DUBAI – Explosive blasts and massive fireballs from Iranian rockets flying over Gulf nations have confirmed what regional leaders have long worried about: Tehran’s ability to bring armed conflict directly to their territories, potentially strengthening Arab support for coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operations.

In Dubai’s most exclusive resort area, The Palm, explosions shook buildings and struck an upscale hotel, forcing frightened residents to seek shelter as rockets and defense systems streaked overhead. The incident served as clear evidence that the fighting had extended past Iran’s boundaries, exactly as Tehran had previously threatened.

“What has now been proven is that we – not the United States – are in the line of fire,” said Dr Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President of the Emirates Policy Center. “When Iran struck, it struck the Gulf first under the pretext of targeting U.S. bases.”

Regional experts believe Iran’s attacks on Gulf territories are designed to show that no American partner in the area is safe from retaliation, while increasing the price of supporting Washington’s military efforts.

“The danger is that any miscalculation could push the region from an exchange of signals into an open war,” added al Ketbi.

EXISTENTIAL CONFLICT

Sources throughout the Gulf region indicate that by striking oil-wealthy Gulf nations, Tehran is expanding the conflict zone internationally and endangering worldwide petroleum supplies, not merely regional stability.

For rapidly developing economies like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – which rely on unrestricted airspace, safe maritime routes and international commerce – a wider war would cause severe economic disruption.

By presenting the conflict as an effort to overthrow Iran’s government, Trump has made it a fight for survival, increasing the likelihood that Tehran will strike back aggressively, according to Mohammed Baharoon, director-general of the Dubai Public Policy Research Center (B’huth).

“If Iran miscalculates and carries out an act of war against Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the conflict will change fundamentally. People can’t stand by while lives are being lost and assets destroyed and do nothing.”

Regional analyst Abdelkhaleq Abdulla believes Iran is making a serious error by attacking its neighboring countries.

“It is foolish of Iran to alienate the people nearest to it,” Abdulla said. “Tehran may believe it is targeting U.S. military bases, but Gulf states see this as a blatant act of aggression– a violation of their sovereignty and an attack on their land.”

During recent behind-the-scenes negotiations between the U.S. and Iran designed to prevent all-out war, Tehran agreed to negotiate regarding its nuclear activities but maintained that its missile program and support for regional armed groups were non-negotiable topics, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Iran has signaled that any conversations about its rocket capabilities and allied militias should occur only within a regional setting, excluding Washington from participation, the sources revealed.

However, Gulf Arab nations – long-standing American allies who have previously been targeted by Iran and its proxy forces – contend that excluding Washington would undermine rather than strengthen the region’s security framework.

From the Gulf nations’ viewpoint, Iran’s missile stockpile and proxy forces represent immediate dangers. Tehran proposed a regional security arrangement without American involvement, but Gulf states found little merit in such a plan without external security backing.

“The implications are huge for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf,” said one source close to government circles. “All U.S. allies in the region are now united against Iran.”

TRUMP ESCALATES STAKES

Paul Salem of the Middle East Institute observed that Trump’s messaging has changed dramatically. While recently he portrayed potential American attacks as pressure to force Iran into nuclear negotiations, his announcement speech explicitly demanded government change.

Unlike the massive 2003 American ground invasion of Iraq, Trump seems to be wagering on a brief, decisive operation that produces clear outcomes within days or weeks, minimizes American casualties and reduces domestic political consequences.

The strategy assumes that rapid success would benefit him politically, while extended fighting – particularly if it affects oil prices or broader economic conditions – could prove damaging.

While the Bush administration invested months developing legal and political justification and deployed approximately 300,000 soldiers in a ground invasion leading to years of military occupation, Trump has chosen a restricted aerial bombardment campaign.

But if hostilities expand – involving American military installations, diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure or the world’s most critical oil transport channel through the Strait of Hormuz – the economic and political dangers would increase dramatically for the United States, Gulf nations and international markets.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following the passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, critical questions emerge regarding the nation’s political direction. While religious authorities are responsible for selecting his successor, the transition process within Iran’s theocratic government structure presents numerous complexities.

Key details about the succession:

The responsibility for choosing Iran’s supreme leader falls to the Assembly of Experts, a body comprised of 88 members. This same group also holds the authority to dismiss a supreme leader, though such action has never been taken.

This assembly consists exclusively of Shiite religious scholars who win their positions through popular elections held every eight years. However, their candidacies must receive approval from the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional oversight body. This council has a history of rejecting candidates across various Iranian elections, including Assembly of Experts races. In March 2024, the Guardian Council blocked former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, considered a moderate who helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear agreement with international powers, from running for the Assembly of Experts.

According to Iranian legal requirements, the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible” select a new supreme leader. However, during the interim period, a leadership council may “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”

This temporary council would include Iran’s current president, the nation’s top judicial official, and a Guardian Council representative selected by Iran’s Expediency Council, which provides counsel to the supreme leader and resolves legislative conflicts. Under current circumstances, this leadership council would feature Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian alongside hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

Religious discussions regarding succession and related political maneuvering occur behind closed doors, making it difficult to determine leading candidates.

Earlier speculation centered on Khamenei’s ally, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, as a possible successor. However, Raisi died in a helicopter accident in May 2024. This development has brought attention to Mojtaba, one of Khamenei’s sons and a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, as a possible contender, despite his lack of government experience. However, a father-to-son succession for the supreme leader position could generate significant backlash, not only from Iranians who oppose clerical governance, but also from system supporters. Many might view such a transition as contrary to Islamic principles and reminiscent of establishing another religious dynasty following the 1979 overthrow of U.S.-supported Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s regime.

Iran has experienced only one previous supreme leader transition since the position was established following the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini passed away in 1989 at age 86, having served as the revolution’s symbolic leader and guiding Iran during its devastating eight-year conflict with Iraq. This current transition occurs following Israel’s 12-day military campaign against Iran in June 2025.

The supreme leader position represents the core of Iran’s intricate power-sharing Shiite theocratic system and maintains ultimate authority over all state decisions.

The role also includes serving as commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces and the influential Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary organization that the United States classified as a terrorist group in 2019 and which gained significant power under Khamenei’s leadership. The Guard, which has spearheaded the self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance” — a network of militant organizations and allies throughout the Middle East designed to oppose U.S. and Israeli influence — also controls substantial financial resources and assets within Iran.

The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at age 86 marks the end of a 36-year reign that transformed Iran into a formidable anti-American power while expanding its military reach throughout the Middle East, even as he brutally suppressed domestic opposition.

Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei died Saturday in combined airstrikes by Israel and the United States that destroyed his central Tehran headquarters, following the collapse of decades-long diplomatic attempts to resolve Iran’s nuclear program peacefully.

Initially viewed as weak and indecisive, Khamenei appeared an improbable successor to the charismatic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who established Iran’s Islamic Republic. However, Khamenei’s ascension to the nation’s highest position gave him complete control over Iranian politics.

Karim Sadjadpour from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described Khamenei to Reuters as “an accident of history” who transformed from “a weak president to an initially weak supreme leader to one of the five most powerful Iranians of the last 100 years.”

Throughout his leadership, the ayatollah maintained constant criticism of Washington, continuing his attacks even after Donald Trump began his second presidential term in 2025.

During recent protests sweeping Iran with chants like “Death to the dictator,” and as Trump threatened intervention, Khamenei declared in January that Iran would never “yield to the enemy.”

This statement exemplified the intensely anti-Western position Khamenei held since taking power in 1989.

By preserving Khomeini’s hardline approach, Khamenei consistently blocked the goals of various independently-minded elected presidents who pursued more moderate domestic and international policies.

Critics argue this approach guaranteed Iran’s international isolation.

ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY

For years, Khamenei rejected Western claims that Iran’s nuclear program aimed to create atomic weapons. In 2015, he reluctantly endorsed a nuclear agreement between global powers and pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani’s administration that limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. This hard-fought deal partially ended Iran’s economic and political isolation.

However, Khamenei’s anti-American sentiment remained unchanged, growing stronger in 2018 when Trump’s first presidency abandoned the nuclear agreement and restored sanctions that devastated Iran’s oil and shipping sectors.

After America’s withdrawal, Khamenei aligned with hardline supporters who attacked Rouhani’s conciliatory Western policies.

When Trump pressured Iran for a new nuclear agreement in 2025, Khamenei criticized “the rude and arrogant leaders of America.” “Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?” he demanded.

Khamenei regularly condemned “the Great Satan” in public addresses, satisfying hardliners who viewed anti-American hostility as central to the 1979 revolution that expelled Iran’s last shah.

Iran experienced significant student-led demonstrations in 1999 and 2002. However, Khamenei faced his greatest challenge in 2009, when disputed presidential election results he had endorsed sparked violent street protests, creating a legitimacy crisis that persisted until his death.

In 2022, Khamenei suppressed protesters outraged by the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, who died while detained by morality police in September that year.

Confronting some of the most severe unrest since the revolution, Khamenei blamed Western adversaries before ordering protester executions and displaying their bodies hanging from cranes after months of demonstrations.

The Iranian people understood the message clearly.

As supreme leader, Khamenei wielded absolute power. He controlled massive authority, including military command and the right to select numerous senior officials, such as judicial heads, security agency leaders, and state media directors.

He placed allies in command of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

As Iran’s ultimate decision-maker in its complicated system combining clerical rule and restricted democracy, Khamenei worked to prevent any faction, including close supporters, from gaining sufficient power to oppose him and his anti-American position.

International scholars described him as a secretive ideologue afraid of betrayal — fears intensified by a 1981 assassination attempt that permanently damaged his right arm.

Global organizations and activists consistently condemned human rights violations in Iran. Tehran claimed it maintained the best human rights record in the Muslim world.

UNEXPECTED PATH TO POWER

Born in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, in April 1939, Ali Khamenei showed early religious dedication by becoming a cleric at age 11. He pursued studies in Iraq and Qom, Iran’s religious center.

His father, a religious scholar with ethnic Azeri background, was a traditional cleric who opposed combining religion and politics. Conversely, his son embraced the Islamist revolutionary movement.

“He (Khamenei’s father) came across as a modernist or progressive cleric,” explained Mahmoud Moradkhani, a nephew who opposes Khamenei’s leadership and lives in exile. Unlike his son, “he was not a part of the fundamentalists,” Moradkhani stated.

In 1963, at 24, Khamenei began his first of multiple imprisonments for political activities. Later that year, he spent 10 days in a Mashhad prison where he endured severe torture, according to his official biography.

Following the shah’s overthrow, Khamenei assumed various positions in the Islamic Republic. As deputy defense minister, he developed military connections and played a crucial role in the 1980-88 war with Iraq, which killed an estimated one million people total.

A gifted speaker, Khomeini appointed him as Friday prayer leader in Tehran.

Questions surrounded his rapid, unusual advancement. He secured the presidency with Khomeini’s backing — becoming the first cleric in that role — and was a surprising selection as Khomeini’s successor, lacking both Khomeini’s popular support and superior religious qualifications.

GROWING REGIONAL POWER

His Revolutionary Guards relationships proved valuable in 2009, when the force crushed protests following President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election amid opposition claims of electoral fraud.

He also controlled a massive financial network through Setad, an organization Khomeini established but Khamenei greatly expanded, accumulating assets worth tens of billions of dollars.

Khamenei extended Iranian power regionally, strengthening Shiite militias in Iraq and Lebanon, and supporting then-President Bashar al-Assad by sending thousands of troops to Syria.

Over four decades, he invested billions in these partners — the “Axis of Resistance,” including Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist organization, and Yemen’s Houthis — to counter Israeli and American influence in the Middle East.

However, in 2024, Khamenei watched these partnerships collapse and Iran’s regional power diminish, with Assad’s removal and Israel’s successive victories against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, including eliminating their leaders.

Under Khamenei’s leadership, Iran and Israel conducted a covert war for years, with Israel assassinating Tehran’s nuclear scientists and Revolutionary Guard commanders.

This conflict became public during Israel’s Gaza war against Hamas starting in 2023. In April 2024, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel after it attacked Tehran’s embassy compound in Damascus. Israel retaliated by striking Iranian territory.

This was merely preparation for June 2025, when Israel’s military deployed hundreds of fighter jets against Iranian nuclear and military facilities and senior personnel. The surprise assault triggered massive missile exchanges, escalating simmering tensions into full warfare. The United States joined the 12-day air campaign against Iran.

The United States and Israel had threatened additional strikes if Iran continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and on Saturday, they executed the most extensive attack on Iranian targets in decades.

Discussions between American and Iranian representatives occurred as recently as Thursday, but senior U.S. officials reported Iran’s unwillingness to abandon uranium enrichment capabilities, which Iranians claimed supported nuclear energy but Americans said enabled nuclear weapon development.

Diplomatically, Khamenei rejected any normalization with the United States. He claimed Washington supported extremist groups like Islamic State to fuel regional sectarian conflict.

Like all Iranian officials, Khamenei denied nuclear weapon development intentions and issued an Islamic ruling, or fatwa, in the mid-1990s regarding “production and usage” of nuclear weapons, declaring: “It is against our Islamic thoughts.”

He also endorsed Khomeini’s 1989 fatwa calling on Muslims to kill Indian-born author Salman Rushdie following publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses.”

Khamenei’s official website confirmed the death order’s continued validity as recently as 2017. Five years later, Rushdie was stabbed during a New York public lecture. The author suffered serious injuries but survived. The attacker, sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2025 for attempted murder, remained silent during trial.

The deceased ayatollah leaves an Islamic Republic facing uncertainty amid attacks from Israel and the United States, plus increasing domestic dissent, particularly among younger generations.

“I just want to live a peaceful, normal life … Instead, they (the rulers) insist on a nuclear programme, supporting armed groups in the region, and maintaining hostility toward the United States,” Mina, 25, told Reuters by phone from Kuhdasht in western Lorestan province at the beginning of 2026.

“Those policies may have made sense in 1979, but not today,” the unemployed university graduate continued. “The world has changed.”

The United States and Israel carried out their largest military strike against Iran in decades on Saturday, an operation that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The massive foreign policy decision represents President Donald Trump’s boldest international move during his presidency, coming despite his campaign promises as a “peace president” and previous statements favoring diplomatic solutions with Iran. Trump provided limited advance explanation to Americans before the operation, briefly addressing the situation during last Tuesday’s State of the Union address and then through a video statement released Saturday, where he outlined five primary goals:

STOPPING IRAN’S NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT

Trump has consistently stated, including in Saturday’s video, that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons. He claimed to have “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities during strikes last June, but stated this week that Tehran had tried to restart the program. “Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message,” Trump stated Saturday.

Both the United States and Israel justified the June bombings by citing Iran’s dangerous proximity to nuclear weapon production capability.

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency and U.S. intelligence agencies have independently concluded that Iran ended a nuclear weapons development program in 2003. Tehran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons while asserting its right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Western nations argue there’s no legitimate civilian reason for Iran’s uranium enrichment to current levels, with the IAEA expressing serious concerns. Historically, no other nation has enriched uranium to these levels without eventually developing nuclear weapons.

STOPPING IRAN’S MISSILE DEVELOPMENT

During both his State of the Union address and Saturday’s statement, Trump highlighted Iran’s missile program progress as a growing danger to America. Saturday, he said Iran had tried “to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland.”

Trump offered no supporting evidence for these claims, though Iranian state media has reported Tehran’s development of missiles capable of reaching the United States.

ELIMINATING THREATS TO AMERICANS AND ALLIES FROM IRAN AND PROXIES

Trump stated Saturday’s attacks aimed “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”

He described Iran’s “menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.”

Trump referenced multiple attacks including Iran’s violent seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran starting in 1979, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days; a “proxy” attack on a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 killing 241 American military personnel, and “countless” other actions against U.S. forces in the Middle East recently, plus attacks on international shipping.

He also highlighted Iran’s backing of Hamas, which conducted a deadly cross-border assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.

RESPONDING TO PROTESTER KILLINGS

In his State of the Union speech, Trump repeated allegations that Iran had killed at least 32,000 protesters in recent months, figures that remain unverified. Saturday, he referenced Iran killing “tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested.”

The U.S.-based monitoring group HRANA reported recording 7,007 confirmed deaths with 11,744 cases under investigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated Tehran had published a “comprehensive list” of all 3,117 killed during the unrest. An Iranian official told Reuters last month that authorities had confirmed at least 5,000 deaths, including approximately 500 security personnel.

REGIME CHANGE

Saturday, Trump appealed to “the great proud people of Iran” to overthrow their current leadership.

“I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,” he declared. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Trump, who monitored the operation from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, announced Saturday afternoon that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had died in the strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously confirmed Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed, and a senior Israeli official told Reuters his body had been recovered.

Iranian state media subsequently confirmed Khamenei’s death in the attack.

While urging Iranians to overthrow their government, Trump warned: “The heavy and pinpoint bombing … will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The man who controlled Iran’s theocratic government for more than 30 years has died following a joint military strike by Israel and the United States. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, built Iran into a regional force while clashing with Western powers over nuclear weapons and brutally suppressing pro-democracy movements at home.

Iranian state television confirmed Khamenei’s death early Sunday morning, hours after President Donald Trump announced that the supreme leader had been eliminated in the coordinated attack.

Khamenei fundamentally transformed Iran’s Islamic Republic after assuming power following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989. While Khomeini was the passionate revolutionary who overthrew the shah and established clerical rule, Khamenei — a more reserved figure with lesser religious standing — was tasked with institutionalizing that revolutionary ideology.

His tenure ultimately lasted much longer than his predecessor’s. Khamenei significantly expanded the influence of Shiite clergy and transformed the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into Iran’s most powerful institution. The Guard evolved into a massive military and economic force, controlling Iran’s missile program and maintaining influence across numerous business sectors.

However, mounting pressures became increasingly difficult to manage. Economic struggles and political oppression sparked larger and more frequent mass demonstrations. Outrage over Mahsa Amini’s 2022 death while in custody for improper hijab wearing triggered nationwide protests against social restrictions. By early January, hundreds of thousands demonstrated across Iran, with many shouting, “Death to Khamenei.”

Khamenei’s response was the most violent suppression in nearly five decades of clerical leadership, as security forces fired on protesters, resulting in thousands of deaths.

Meanwhile, the Middle East conflicts following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault on Israel began dismantling Khamenei’s regional “Axis of Resistance” network. For the first time in 2024, Israel and Iran launched direct attacks against each other. Israel struck Iran again in June 2025, with the U.S. joining efforts to target nuclear facilities and eliminate senior military commanders and nuclear experts. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel.

Khamenei’s passing creates uncertainty about Iran’s political future.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of predominantly hardline clerics, will select Khamenei’s successor. However, no obvious replacement has been identified.

During February’s bombing campaign, President Trump urged Iranians to “take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.” The country’s direction may largely depend on institutions like the Revolutionary Guard, which has consistently demonstrated readiness to use overwhelming force to maintain control despite growing dissatisfaction among Iran’s 90 million citizens.

“Culturally, the government is bankrupt,” said Mehdi Khalaji, an analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in 2017. “The ideology of the Islamic Republic did not work at all.”

Saturday’s attack also claimed the lives of Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and daughter-in-law, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, citing unnamed sources.

Iran’s leadership has announced 40 days of public mourning and declared a week-long national holiday to honor Khamenei’s death.

Ali Khamenei was born into a religious household in Mashhad, a northeastern holy city that became a center of anti-shah activism during the resistance against Western-backed monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Following the path of many Iranian leaders, he studied under Khomeini at Qom’s seminary south of Tehran during the early 1960s, before Khomeini’s exile to Iraq and France.

Khamenei participated in the anti-shah resistance, experiencing both imprisonment and periods in hiding. When Khomeini returned triumphantly to Iran in February 1979 and declared the Islamic Republic, Khamenei joined the secretive Revolutionary Council. He won election as Iran’s third president in 1981; that same year, a bombing by opposition forces left one of his hands paralyzed.

With his thick-rimmed glasses, Khamenei lacked Khomeini’s intense presence and revolutionary charisma. He also fell well below Khomeini’s religious scholarship, holding only the relatively modest rank of “hojatolislam” in Shiite clerical rankings.

Upon becoming supreme leader after Khomeini’s death, he was immediately elevated to grand ayatollah status at the hierarchy’s peak, though he faced years of skepticism regarding his qualifications.

Khamenei openly acknowledged these concerns with modesty. “I am an individual with many faults and shortcomings and truly a minor seminarian,” he said in his first speech in his new post.

Despite lacking charisma, Khamenei brought stability to Iran after the devastating 1980s conflict with Iraq and maintained power for over three decades — significantly longer than Khomeini.

Conservative supporters viewed him as second only to God in authority. Khamenei established an expanding network of Shiite clerics and government agencies with overlapping responsibilities, positioning himself as the final decision-maker. When Iran debated whether to maintain the Revolutionary Guard after the Iraq war, Khamenei preserved the force and enabled its powerful grip on Iran’s economy. He also employed appointed officials to weaken the civilian government chosen by voters.

During Khamenei’s leadership, Iran completely shifted from traditional warfare to proxy support, creating the “Axis of Resistance” to advance regional objectives. The Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah, formed with Iranian assistance in the 1980s, forced Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 and fought Israel to a standstill in the month-long 2006 conflict.

Through Hezbollah, Iran developed a strategy of allying with local militant groups to project influence — often through violence. Iran applied this approach when supporting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who captured the capital Sanaa in 2014 and maintained control for over a decade in a stalemated conflict in the Arab world’s poorest country — despite facing a Saudi-led coalition and later U.S.-led airstrikes over Red Sea attacks.

Additionally, suspected Iranian-backed militants bombed a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994, killing 85 people. Iran was also allegedly connected to the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. military personnel. Iran denied involvement in both incidents.

Iran became a major beneficiary of the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq invasion, which replaced its primary regional enemy, Saddam Hussein, with a friendly Shiite-dominated government. Iranian-supported militias conducted a brutal insurgency against American forces and established themselves within Iraq’s political system.

Khamenei most effectively utilized the Guard’s overseas Quds Force after Sunni extremists from the Islamic State seized large portions of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Guard personnel advised Shiite militias, Iraq’s most effective fighters, and provided essential support to President Assad during Syria’s civil war.

This secured Assad’s position for a decade, until the turmoil following Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel. Israel devastated Gaza and conducted airstrikes and ground operations that destroyed Hamas, which Iran had armed and funded for years. Israel is widely believed to have assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a Tehran operation in 2024, further humiliating the Islamic Republic.

Hezbollah saw its members targeted by exploding communication devices and an Israeli campaign eliminated longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Then in December 2024, rebel forces overthrew Assad in a Syrian offensive, ending five decades of his family’s authoritarian rule.

The supreme leader maintained deep distrust of America, calling it the “Great Satan” even after President Barack Obama took office in 2009, offering dialogue and renewed relations.

He dismissed U.N. sanctions and advanced Iran’s nuclear program, which America and allies claimed concealed a secret weapons project until 2003. Khamenei issued a verbal fatwa, or religious decree, declaring nuclear weapons un-Islamic, but vowed Iran would never abandon what he termed its right to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

Under Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, Tehran agreed to dramatically reduce uranium stockpiles and enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. However, just three years later, Trump in his first presidency unilaterally withdrew America from the deal, arguing it was insufficient.

Iran has since violated all nuclear deal restrictions and accumulated uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, now sufficient to pursue multiple nuclear weapons if desired. Diplomatic efforts to restore the agreement under President Joe Biden stalled.

In a March 2011 speech, Khamenei cited overthrown Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who had abandoned his nuclear program years earlier, as an example of why Iran’s nuclear program remained crucial amid Arab Spring upheavals in the Middle East.

“Just the way you give a lollipop to a child, Westerners gave ‘incentives’ to them and they gave up everything,” Khamenei said.

Khamenei’s first significant challenge emerged in 1997, when pro-reform politicians gained parliamentary control and cleric Mohammad Khatami won the presidency by a landslide, supported by young voters. The reformists demanded relaxation of strict revolutionary social rules and called for improved international relations, including with America.

Khamenei-supported hardliners moved to restrict the liberal movement, fearing it would eventually demand an end to clerical rule. Khamenei prevented parliament from relaxing media restrictions in an unusually direct intervention. Clerical institutions blocked other key liberal legislation and barred many reformist lawmakers from seeking reelection, ensuring hardliner control returned in 2004 elections.

This paved the way for hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 2005 election and his disputed 2009 reelection amid vote-rigging allegations. Mass protests erupted, creating the greatest threat to Iran’s clerical leadership in decades. The Revolutionary Guard, Basij militia, and police launched a crackdown killing dozens and arresting hundreds.

The unrest, and reports of protesters being tortured to death or sexually assaulted in prison, severely damaged Khamenei’s reputation.

As sanctions intensified, popular unrest increased. Economic protests occurred in 2017 and demonstrations escalated in 2019 over government gasoline price increases. The violent crackdown that followed killed over 300 people, according to activists.

While Khamenei struggled to maintain the Islamic Revolution’s ideological purity, Iran’s government largely failed to eliminate Western influence. Satellite dishes, theoretically banned, cover Tehran’s rooftops. Prohibited social media platforms are widely used, even by prominent politicians, despite being blocked.

Protests resumed in 2022 over Amini’s death, a young woman detained for improper hijab wearing according to authorities. More than 500 people died and tens of thousands were arrested when security forces again crushed the demonstrations.

In late December 2025, new economic protests erupted and grew into what appeared to be the largest protest movement ever. Hundreds of thousands nationwide took to the streets, openly demanding the Islamic Republic’s end. Some even chanted for the return of the shah’s son, living in exile since 1979. The crackdown’s brutality shocked Iranians.

With President Trump, Khamenei faced a more aggressive and unpredictable American campaign to halt Iran’s nuclear program. Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, restoring sanctions.

The two sides nearly went to war after an American drone strike killed Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020. At Soleimani’s massive funeral drawing millions to the streets, Khamenei wept over the coffin of the man he once called a “living martyr.” Two days later, the Guard mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian airliner departing Tehran, killing all 176 aboard.

Iran accelerated uranium enrichment back to 60% purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade 90% levels. Still, when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Khamenei resumed negotiations, highlighting the severe impact of sanctions. Iran’s struggling economy entered freefall, worsening domestic unrest.

However, an agreement remained out of reach. In June 2025, Israel and America bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, causing significant damage, though the program’s setback remained unclear.

During January’s nationwide protest crackdown, Trump renewed strike threats, demanding Iran make major negotiating concessions. Three rounds of indirect talks followed. Then came Saturday.

SEOUL – During Sunday’s commemoration of the 107th March 1 Independence Movement Day, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his desire for North Korea to quickly return to diplomatic negotiations aimed at establishing a fresh chapter in relations between the two nations.

The South Korean leader emphasized his commitment to working toward restarting conversations with Pyongyang as part of broader efforts to achieve lasting peace across the Korean peninsula.

Lee’s remarks came as he addressed the nation during ceremonies honoring the historic independence movement that began on March 1, 1919.

WASHINGTON – American military forces launched strikes against Iranian targets Saturday using an unprecedented combination of advanced weaponry, including the first-ever combat deployment of inexpensive suicide drones based on Iranian technology.

U.S. Central Command shared images and details of the military operation, designated Operation Epic Fury, showcasing the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-18 and F-35 fighter aircraft in the coordinated attack.

Military officials confirmed they utilized kamikaze-style drones that closely resemble the newly developed LUCAS (Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System), produced by Spektreworks in Phoenix, Arizona. The defense contractor did not provide comment when contacted.

According to Pentagon officials, this marked the inaugural combat use of single-use attack drones designed to mirror Iran’s Shahed drone technology. These expendable drones are intentionally affordable and designed for mass production by multiple manufacturers, defense officials explained.

Each LUCAS drone carries a price tag of approximately $35,000. The growing importance of drone technology in modern warfare has been highlighted by Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, prompting the U.S. and allied nations to adopt an “affordable mass” approach – stockpiling large quantities of cost-effective weapons systems.

The military also deployed Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, which are long-distance cruise missiles designed for deep-strike operations launched from naval vessels. These precision weapons can engage targets up to 1,000 miles away, even in heavily fortified airspace. Each Tomahawk measures 20 feet in length with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighs roughly 3,330 pounds.

Raytheon, a division of RTX, manufactures these conventional (non-nuclear) Tomahawks for both land and sea-based launches. Pentagon procurement records indicate plans to purchase 57 of these missiles in 2026, with each unit costing an average of $1.3 million. Ongoing modernization efforts involve millions in upgrades, including enhanced guidance systems.

A recent Pentagon-Raytheon contract aims to boost Tomahawk production capacity to 1,000 missiles per year. These GPS-guided weapons have undergone extensive testing and operational use, including recent deployments by U.S. and British naval forces against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Central Command also released visual documentation of F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets participating in the Iranian strikes. The F-35 represents fifth-generation stealth technology capable of avoiding radar detection while delivering precision munitions. These aircraft have been extensively deployed throughout Middle Eastern operations and are also utilized by Israeli forces.

The F-18, manufactured by Boeing, serves as a versatile multi-role platform capable of air-to-air combat and ground attack missions using various bombs and missiles. F-35s can deploy specialized missiles designed to target and eliminate radar installations, effectively blinding enemy defenses.

Iranian state media outlets reported Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died following strikes carried out by Israeli and American forces.

The death of Khamenei, who has served as Iran’s highest-ranking political and religious authority, represents a major shift in the regional power structure of the Middle East.

State-controlled media in Iran confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death on March 1st, attributing it to coordinated military action by Israel and the United States.