Middle East Monitor Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa

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  Iran launches retaliatory strikes across Middle East, dozens dead

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes over the weekend against eight countries across the Middle East, killing dozens and wounding hundreds, as a second day of explosions shook the region following joint US-Israeli military operations against Tehran, Anadolu reports. So far, Iranian strikes have hit Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Inside Iran, the Iranian Red Crescent reported at least 201 people killed and 747 injured from US-Israeli attacks that began Saturday. In Israel, nine Israelis were killed in an Iranian missile strike that directly hit a building in Beit Shemesh in west Jerusalem on Sunday. The US also reported casualties, with US Central Command confirming three service members killed and five

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  Trump says US destroyed, sank 9 Iranian naval ships, vows to sink ‘the rest’

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Sunday that US forces had destroyed and sunk nine Iranian naval vessels, including some he described as “relatively large and important”, Anadolu reports. “We are going after the rest — they will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. In a separate attack, Trump said Iranian naval headquarters had been “largely destroyed,” adding with sarcasm: “Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!” Earlier on Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said US forces struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette in the Gulf of Oman. READ: US forces hit Iranian warship in Gulf of Oman: Central Command “The ship is currently sinking to the bottom

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  US, Israeli strikes hit parts of Iran’s state television headquarters in Tehran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran reported US-Israeli airstrikes on parts of the state television headquarters in the capital Tehran on Sunday evening, Anadolu reports. The state-run Press TV said US and Israeli warplanes hit parts of the headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran. Attacks also targeted residential districts in the capital, the broadcaster added. Meanwhile, the state news agency IRNA reported that explosions were heard in the eastern, southeastern and central areas of Tehran. READ: US-Israeli strike hits Red Crescent building, surrounding areas No information was yet available about casualties. The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with a series of drone and missile

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  Trump says he agreed to talk to Iran amid strikes: Report

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Sunday he had agreed to hold talks with Iran’s new leadership even as US-Israeli strikes on the country continue, Anadolu reports. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk,” Trump told The Atlantic, adding that Iran should have made concessions earlier. “They waited too long,” he said. Trump said he cannot tell when such a discussion may take place, noting that some of the Iranian officials who had been involved in recent negotiations are no longer alive. In a separate interview, he told Fox News that 48 Iranian leaders had been eliminated “in one shot,” saying “nobody can believe the success we’re having.” He added that the US knew how many targets remained

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  Iranian foreign minister says Tehran open to ‘serious efforts’ to halt escalation

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that Tehran is open to any “serious efforts” aimed at stopping escalation and restoring stability amid continued US-Israeli attacks, Anadolu reports. Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with his Omani counterpart, Badr Al-Busaidi, according to a statement from the gulf nation’s Foreign Ministry. During the call, Araghchi expressed appreciation for Oman’s diplomatic role between the sides and its ongoing efforts to defuse the current crisis for a return to dialogue and negotiations. He conveyed Iran’s “call for peace,” saying the Israeli-US attack on his country “had exacerbated tensions and fear across the region.” The Iranian minister affirmed Tehran’s openness to “any serious efforts that contribute to halting escalation and returning to stability.”

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  US strikes Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with B-2 stealth bombers: CENTCOM

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s “hardened ballistic missile facilities” overnight, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The bombers were armed with 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) bombs during the operation, CENTCOM said on US social media company X. It marks the second major deployment of B-2 stealth bombers against Iran. Last June, the aircraft were used to strike Iran’s three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan during the 12-day Israel-Iran war, strikes Trump has credited with obliterating Iran’s nuclear facilities. The latest strikes are part of the joint US-Israeli military campaign launched Saturday that has killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries. Three

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  US denies Iranian claim USS Abraham Lincoln was struck by ballistic missiles

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday denied Iranian claims that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier had been struck by ballistic missiles, calling the assertion a “lie”, Anadolu reports. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had targeted the carrier with four ballistic missiles, saying its strikes against US forces had “entered a new phase” and that “land and sea will become more and more the graveyard of terrorist aggressors.” CENTCOM dismissed the claims, asserting the missiles “didn’t even come close” to the Lincoln, which it said continued launching aircraft in support of attacks against Iran. The exchange of claims came as the US-Israeli joint operation against Iran, launched Saturday, entered its second day. The strikes killed several senior

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  Turkish president urges diplomacy in call with Kuwait’s emir after Iranian attacks

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday spoke by phone with Kuwaiti Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to express his sadness over attacks targeting Kuwait, Turkiye’s Directorate of Communications said, Anadolu reports. During the call, expressing his sympathies, Erdogan underlined that diplomacy and negotiations are the most rational way to resolve disputes. He also pledged that Turkiye would continue efforts to help quickly restore a climate of peace. The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes that hit several Gulf countries. Israel and the US launched a similar attack on Iran last June, triggering a 12-day war before a ceasefire

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  German chancellor reaffirms support to US-Israeli attacks on Iran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday expressed support for the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, while acknowledging concerns about their legitimacy and the uncertainty of what will happen next, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Merz accused the Iranian government of repressing its own population, supporting terror organizations for decades, destabilizing the region, and threatening other nations with its nuclear program and long-range missiles. “The German government therefore shares the relief felt by many Iranians that this mullah regime is now coming to an end,” Merz said. “We share the interest of the United States and Israel in seeing an end to this regime’s terror and its dangerous nuclear and ballistic weapons program,” he added. The conservative leader

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  Russian, Chinese foreign ministers condemn US-Israeli strikes on Iran, call for truce

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday condemned the massive US-Israeli attacks on Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the two leaders, during a phone call, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasized the need for a political and diplomatic resolution of issues related to Iran, including ensuring the legitimate security interests of all Gulf states. Lavrov and Wang underlined that the US-Israeli “aggression” violates international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and destabilizes the situation in the entire region. They rejected policies aimed at “overthrowing the legitimately elected authorities of sovereign states,” the statement said, underlining

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  Shipping firm Maersk suspends vessel crossings in Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Danish shipping company Maersk on Sunday announced that it is suspending vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz after reports that it had been closed following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Anadolu reports. “The safety of our crews, vessels and customers’ cargo remains our key priority. We are suspending all vessel crossings in the Strait of Hormuz until further notice,” Maersk announced in a statement. It also announced that all sailings on Middle East-India to Mediterranean and Middle East-India to East Coast US on services will be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope until further notice due to the “deteriorating security situation” in the region. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) also announced suspending “all bookings for worldwide cargo to

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  Malaysia condemns killing of Iran’s Khamenei, calls for immediate ceasefire

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday “unreservedly” condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Anadolu reports. “This act places the Middle East on the edge of grave and sustained instability,” he said in a statement on the US social media company X, offering condolences to Iran and the Iranian people. “Those who greet his death with approval should recognize the consequences of such actions. Existential threats seldom yield predictable reactions. The deliberate targeting of a head of state sets a dangerous precedent and weakens the norms and principles that underpin the international order,” Anwar added. He also urged Tehran to “respond with the utmost restraint,” as well as endorsing calls on all parties “to step back from

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  US forces hit Iranian warship in Gulf of Oman: Central Command

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US forces struck an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette on the Gulf of Oman during the opening phase of “Operation Epic Fury,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday, Anadolu reports. “The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier,” the agency said on US social media company X. “Abandon ship,” it said, relaying US President Donald Trump’s call for Iranian armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards and police to “lay down your weapons.” READ: Air traffic disrupted in Asian nations amid US-Israeli, Iranian airstrikes across Middle East Iran has not yet confirmed the strike. The announcement came as US-Israeli strikes on Iran entered a second day. The joint operation, launched Saturday, killed several senior Iranian

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  Air traffic disrupted in Asian nations amid US-Israeli, Iranian airstrikes across Middle East

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Air travel across the Asia-Pacific region faced widespread disruptions Sunday after Iran launched missiles across the Middle East in retaliation for strikes by the US and Israel, Anadolu reports. Tehran said the US-Israeli attacks killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials on Saturday. Airlines across Asia reported cancellations, diversions and stranded passengers as airspace closures spread across the Middle East. In India, authorities canceled about 350 flights and issued an advisory for seafarers due to the escalating regional situation. Hundreds of passengers crowded departure counters at Hong Kong International Airport on Sunday seeking information about suspended flights, particularly routes to Riyadh, Doha and Dubai, according to South China Morning Post. Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific suspended

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  Israel launches attacks on Iran, multiple explosions heard in Tehran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  As the Iranian army announced the launch of new attacks targeting US and Israeli objectives, a series of explosions were reported in Iran’s capital, Tehran on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The strikes hit the northern and eastern parts of the capital, with plumes of smoke rising from the affected sites. The crisis began early Saturday when Israel and the US carried out strikes on multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Qom, Tabriz, Bushehr, Kermanshah and Ilam. READ: Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strike on Iran as explosions rock Tehran Israel described the operation as a “pre-emptive attack,” with Trump announcing “major combat operations” targeting Iran. Israel and Iran closed their airspace. Israel declared a state of emergency, and civilians were urged to seek

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  US-Israeli strike hits Red Crescent building, surrounding areas

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  The Iranian Red Crescent reported US and Israeli attacks on areas close to medical and humanitarian facilities in the capital Tehran on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The organization said the attacks struck areas near the Red Crescent Building, Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, Behzisti facilities, and Motahari Hospital in the capital. No information was yet available about casualties or damage. The US and Iran launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, with Tehran staging retaliatory missile and drone strikes. Iran on Sunday confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials in Israeli and US attacks on the country. READ: Iranian armed forces will continue targeting ‘enemy bases,’ Iran’s president vows

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  Iranian armed forces will continue targeting ‘enemy bases,’ Iran’s president vows

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday the country’s armed forces will continue operations against “enemy bases,” while announcing that an interim Leadership Council has officially begun its duties following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Anadolu reports. In a recorded video statement, Pezeshkian said the Iranian armed forces “are working and will continue working forcefully to destroy enemy bases and will disappoint them as before.” At the beginning of his message, the Iranian president offered condolences over Khamenei’s death. He confirmed that an interim Leadership Council has started carrying out its responsibilities. The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with a series of drone and missile

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  EU chief says death of Iran’s supreme leader carries ‘real risk of instability’

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday warned that the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could bear a risk of instability, Anadolu reports. “With Khamenei gone, there is renewed hope for the people of Iran. We must ensure that the future is theirs to claim and shape. At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence,” von der Leyen wrote on US social media platform X. Her remarks came after a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, to whom she expressed the bloc’s solidarity following Iran’s retaliatory strikes. “We are engaging closely with all key actors, as well as with our

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  Iran confirms attack on oil tanker for ‘defying orders’ not to cross Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran confirmed Sunday that it had attacked an oil tanker for defying orders not to cross the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. The state television reported that the tanker “was illegally attempting” to cross the passage. Activists on social media circulated images of the oil tanker on the verge of sinking, with plumes of smoke rising from it after it was targeted. Oman’s Maritime Security Center said early Sunday that four people were injured in an attack on a Palau-flagged oil tanker north of Khasab Port on the Srait of Hormuz. In a statement, the center said SKYLIGHT tanker was targeted five nautical miles north of the port in the Musandam Governorate. “All 20 crew members, including 15 Indian

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  FACTBOX – 5 airports in 4 Arab countries sustain damage in Iranian retaliatory attacks

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Five airports across four Arab countries sustained damage following Iranian missile and drone strikes in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to official statements and media reports monitored by Anadolu. The attacks targeted airports in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, killing one person, injuring several others, and causing material damage. UAE Abu Dhabi Airports said Sunday that authorities were dealing with an incident resulting from the interception of an unidentified drone targeting Zayed International Airport. The interception caused debris to fall, killing an Asian national and injuring seven others, the company said in a statement. The Dubai Government Media Office also reported an incident at Dubai International Airport late Saturday, adding that emergency response teams were

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  Peace ‘not built with mutual threats,’ pope says after US-Israel strikes on Iran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Pope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced his concern over the conflict sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran and warned that peace should not be achieved through threats and weapons, Anadolu reports. “Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” Pope said, according to Vatican News. Expressing his “deep concern” over the recent developments, he reportedly warned of a “tragedy of enormous proportions” if violence gets out of control. READ: Israel launches ‘preemptive’ strike on Iran as explosions rock Tehran “I address to the parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before

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  China denounces assassination of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  China on Sunday denounced the assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s capital a day earlier, Anadolu reports. “The attack and killing of Iran’s supreme leader is a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on US social media company X. “It tramples on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms in international relations. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” the statement said. Reiterating the call for an “immediate” end to the military operations in the Middle East, the ministry stressed the need for a “joint effort” to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the “world at large.” Tehran

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  Qatar, Saudi Arabia condemn Iranian attacks on Oman as ‘unacceptable escalation’

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned Iranian attacks on Oman’s Duqm commercial port and an oil tanker off the country’s coast as “a violation” of Omani sovereignty and “an unacceptable escalation,” Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed its “strong condemnation of the Iranian attacks that targeted Duqm commercial port in the sisterly Sultanate of Oman and an oil tanker off its coast,” describing the attacks as “a violation of the Sultanate’s sovereignty, an unacceptable escalation, and a cowardly targeting of a country playing an active mediation role.” The ministry said Oman has been engaged in efforts to mediate between Iran and the international community “to defuse tensions and promote constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.” Qatar

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  At least 10 killed as protesters storm US Consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi over Khamenei killing

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  At least 10 people were killed and 40 others injured in clashes between police and charged protesters who managed to enter the US Consulate in Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi on Sunday to protest the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel attack, Anadolu reports. Dr. Sabir Memon, head of the Trauma Center at Civil Hospital, told Anadolu that bodies of nine protesters with gunshot wounds were brought to the facility, while another one died during treatment. Another 31 injured, he added, were being treated, whereas at least eight were shifted to a private hospital by their families. Two police constables were among the wounded, according to police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed. Police fired teargas and resorted

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  Gaza fishermen grounded by fear of boat attacks amid Israel’s war on Iran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  IMAGES: Displaced in Gaza During Ramadan

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  Gulf bloc set to hold emergency meeting on Sunday amid US-Iran conflict

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is set to hold an emergency meeting on Sunday amid a US and Israeli attack on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran, Anadolu reports. The Qatari television Al Jazeera, citing an unnamed source, said the meeting will be held via video conference. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Sunday’s meeting comes a day after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, killing several top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes that hit several Gulf countries. Israel and the US launched a similar attack on Iran last June, triggering a 12-day war before a

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  4 top Iranian military officials killed in US-Israeli strikes

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iran’s armed forces said on Sunday that four senior military officials were killed in US-Israeli attacks on the country that started a day earlier, Anadolu reports. A statement said the officials were targeted while attending a meeting of the Defense Council. The statement added that those killed in the strikes were Chief of the General Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Aziz Nasirzadeh. State media also reported the death of senior Intelligence Ministry official Mohammad Baseri in US-Israeli strikes. Iran’s police intelligence chief Gholamreza Rezaian was also reported dead in the attacks. Iranian authorities have yet to confirm the killings. Besides the top

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  Putin offers condolences to Iran’s president over assassination of supreme leader

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday offered condolences to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian over the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Anadolu reports. “Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the assassination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family,” said a message published on the Kremlin website. It said the assassination was committed in “cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.” Putin added that in Russia, Khamenei will be “remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a huge personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations and brought them to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.” READ: Russia condemns ‘unprovoked armed

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  UK refuses to rule out joining offensive action against Iran

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  UK Defense Secretary John Healey said on Sunday Britain is focused on defensive operations but declined to rule out future strikes as tensions escalate across the Middle East, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Sky News and the BBC, Healey confirmed that the Royal Air Force jets are operating over the region in what he described as a defensive capacity. “They will shoot down missiles or drones heading towards UK allies, such as Qatar and Cyprus,” he said. Healey said 300 British personnel were stationed near a military base in Bahrain when Iran struck it on Saturday, with some “within several hundred yards of the strike.” He said he was concerned that the “increasingly indiscriminate attacks from Iran widely across the Middle

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  Alireza Arafi selected as clerical member of Iran’s interim Leadership Council

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iranian authorities have selected Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a clerical member of the Guardian Council, to serve on Iran’s interim Leadership Council, according to an official statement on Sunday. Mohsen Dehnavi, spokesperson for Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, said in a post on the US social media company X that the appointment was made in accordance with Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution. He explained that until a new supreme leader is chosen, a temporary Leadership Council is formed comprising the country’s president (Masoud Pezeshkian), the head of the judiciary, and one clerical member of the Guardian Council. Dehnavi added that the council selected Arafi as its clerical representative to ensure continuity of leadership while the Assembly of Experts proceeds with selecting

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  Trump’s US-Israel war on Iran is denounced abroad, unconstitutional at home

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  While President Trump cast the opening salvo against Iran as an act of defence—insisting the strikes were necessary “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime”—the scale of what followed shattered any claim of limited protection. The world awoke not only to the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but to a region in flames. Tehran stands scarred by smoke and fire. In retaliation for the US–Israeli assault, ballistic missiles and drones have crossed the Arabian Peninsula, striking across Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Air defenses have been activated over Doha and Abu Dhabi. Civil aviation has been disrupted. What was presented in Washington as defensive necessity has already metastasized into

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  London: PFB raises over £41,000 for Gaza at its tenth annual iftar

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) announced that it has raised more than £41,000 in support of the people of Gaza during its tenth annual Iftar, held in London and attended by more than 1,100 participants from across Britain, including members of the Arab community, friends of Palestine, and advocates of justice and human rights. The Iftar was marked by significant political and civic participation, led by the Independent MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn, alongside representatives of the Green Party of England and Wales, as well as leading figures from major solidarity organisations active in support of Palestinian rights. These included the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Muslim Association of

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  Safety of our allies ‘not conditional,’ US envoy tells UN

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  The US said Saturday that the safety of its allies is “not conditional” as it defended military attacks against Iran during an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Anadolu reports. “Iran’s continued pursuit of advanced missile capabilities, coupled with its refusal to abandon nuclear ambitions, despite diplomatic opportunities, presents a grave and mounting danger,” said US envoy to the UN Mike Waltz. Reiterating Washington’s position on Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, he said, “The international community has long affirmed a simple and necessary principle: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” “That principle is not a matter of politics. It’s a matter of global security, and to that end, the United States is taking lawful actions,” he added. Waltz argued that Washington had

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  Supreme leader’s daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter killed: Iranian media

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  The daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei were killed, the Fars News Agency reported Sunday, citing sources close to the leader’s office. Fars said the deaths were confirmed after contact was established with informed sources at the supreme leader’s residence. The agency also reported that one of the supreme leader’s daughters-in-law was killed in a Saturday morning attack. It did not provide details about the circumstances of the attack. READ: Iranian state TV says Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israeli attacks

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  Trump warns Iran against hitting ‘very hard’ after Khamenei killing confirmed

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday against a “very hard” response after Iranian state media confirmed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli attacks launched a day before, Anadolu reports. “Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before,” Trump said on Truth Social. “They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before,” he added. Starting Saturday morning, Israel and the US have carried out strikes on multiple Iranian cities, killing the supreme leader and many other top security officials. Israel said the operation was meant to remove the “existential threat”

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  Iranian state TV says Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israeli attacks

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Iranian state television announced Sunday that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli attacks targeting Iran on Saturday. Iranian television said that “the Leader of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, was martyred” in the US-Israeli aggression that started early Saturday. The Fars News Agency reported that Khamenei “was martyred in his office while carrying out his duties during the early hours of Saturday,” and his daughter, son-in-law and grandson were also killed in the attacks. The Iranian government declared 40 days of national mourning and ordered the suspension of official institutions for seven days. “This great crime will not pass without response, and a new chapter will be written in the history of

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  Mendacious rationales: The lies behind Operation Lion’s Roar

  by MI on March 1, 2026

  Many in the United States would scarcely identify the difference between Iran and Iraq, both countries based on ancient civilisations so chronologically distant as to be fiction.  If not Marvel, it’s not marvellous.  But another fiction came into play towards the end of February as the United States and Israel reprised their role as world rogues and crockery breakers by attacking Iran for a second time in less than a year in a joint campaign called Operation Lion’s Roar and Epic Fury.  Following the vulgar playbook on regime change used against Iraq in 2003 by the US-led forces, a variation of the same theme is being used against Iran.   The difference here is that neither the US nor Israel are

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  Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is ‘dead’

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is “dead,” Anadolu reports. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump said in a post on his social media company Truth Social. His remarks came after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. “This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs,” Trump said. Trump added that this is “the single greatest chance” for the Iranian people to take back their country. READ: Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran to ‘protect Americans’

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  UN chief ‘deeply’ regrets diplomacy ‘squandered’ after US, Israeli attacks on Iran

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep regret Saturday for the failure of diplomacy following US and Israeli strikes against Iran, Anadolu reports. “International law and international humanitarian law must always be respected,” Guterres said at a Security Council emergency meeting, stressing that “we are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security.” “Military action carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world,” he said. Stressing that there is “no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes,” Guterres noted that “genuine dialogue and negotiations” are the only way for a lasting peace. Citing the latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks, which concluded Thursday in

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  UN nuclear watchdog urges restraint in Middle East to avoid any nuclear safety risks

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday called for restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks in the Middle East as tensions escalate after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, Anadolu reports. “The IAEA is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region,” the agency said in a post on the US social media platform X. Noting that the agency is in permanent contact with countries in the region, the IAEA said: “So far, no evidence of any radiological impact.” It added that the agency will continue monitoring the situation and providing updates. Israel and the US early Saturday launched a joint military operation

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  Israeli army kills Palestinian child, wounds another in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Israeli artillery fire killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded another teenager east of Gaza City on Saturday, marking a fresh breach of the ceasefire in the enclave, Anadolu reports. Medical sources told Anadolu that Abed Raed Radi was killed near Israeli-controlled areas east of the Zeitoun neighborhood. Salman Yahya al-Malalha, 16, was wounded in the same shelling and remains in moderate condition. Earlier in the day, two Palestinians were wounded when Israeli naval forces opened fire on fishing boats off Gaza City and in the Sheikh Ajlin area. A Palestinian woman was also shot in the foot in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, the sources added. Israel has killed 618 Palestinians and wounded 1,663 since a ceasefire

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  Colombian leader says Trump ‘made a mistake’ by striking Iran

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump “made a mistake” when he launched joint attacks on Iran alongside Israel that have prompted sweeping Iranian retaliation, Anadolu reports. “I believe President Trump has made a mistake today. It is world peace that is the common cause of humanity. Peace and life are the foundations of existence,” Petro wrote on X. “The helpless United Nations must convene immediately and declare that it is time for world peace. Nuclear weapons cannot be spread and they must all be destroyed.” Tensions spread across the wider Middle East on Saturday as Iranian missiles targeted US-linked facilities and several countries reported interceptions, following the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. In Bahrain,

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  Russia condemns ‘unprovoked armed attack’ on Iran by US, Israel

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday condemned the “unprovoked armed attack” on Iran by the US and Israel, a ministry statement said, Anadolu reprots. In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Lavrov said the strikes on Iran violate the principles and norms of international law and disregard the grave consequences for regional and global stability and security. He noted Russia’s readiness, including at the UN Security Council, to facilitate the search for peaceful solutions based on international law, mutual respect, and a balance of interests. Lavrov also emphasized the need to immediately cease attacks against Iran and return to a political and diplomatic resolution. Araghchi, for his part, briefed Lavrov on steps taken by the

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  UK should resist being drawn into Middle East conflict, says UK committee chair

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  The UK should resist being drawn into a conflict in the Middle East unless it is directly attacked, said Emily Thornberry, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Israel launched an attack against Iran early Saturday under the name ‘Lion’s Roar,’ declaring a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country. The UK government said it “does not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict,” after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Thornberry said she did not believe recent US-Israeli strikes were legal. The Labour MP said: “As far as I’m aware, we’re not involved in this. There’s not been British

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  Gulf countries condemn ‘Iranian’ attacks on UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait on Saturday condemned “Iranian” attacks targeting several countries in the region, and warned of serious consequences, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression and the flagrant violation of the sovereignty” of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan. The ministry affirmed Saudi Arabia’s “full solidarity and standing alongside the brotherly countries,” adding that the kingdom would place “all its capabilities” at their disposal in support of any measures they take in response. It also warned of the “grave consequences of continued violations of state sovereignty and the principles of international law.” The statement called on the international

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  US-linked sites targeted in Bahrain as Iran says it struck bases across Gulf

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Tensions spread across the Gulf on Saturday as missiles targeted US-linked facilities and several countries reported interceptions, following Israel’s attack on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions, Anadolu reports. In Bahrain, missiles struck a service center affiliated with the US Fifth Fleet, according to the National Contact Center, which said further details would be provided and urged residents to follow official instructions. Smoke was seen rising in the Juffair area, which hosts a US naval base. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that four major US bases in the region were subjected to intensive missile attacks by the Revolutionary Guards, targeting facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE. In Qatar, the Defense Ministry said it successfully intercepted several missiles targeting the

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  At least 85 killed in Israeli strike on girls’ school in southern Iran

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  At least 85 people, including students, were killed after Israeli strikes targeted a girls’ primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province on Saturday, Feb. 28, according to Iranian officials, Anadolu reports. Footage from the aftermath of the attack… pic.twitter.com/lg6gnokSUG — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) February 28, 2026 At least 85 people, including students, were killed after Israeli strikes targeted a girls’ primary school in the city of Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province on Saturday, Feb. 28, according to Iranian officials. Footage from the aftermath of the attack was released by the Iran Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, showing the destroyed school building and smoke rising at the site. The US and Israel launched

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  Spanish premier rejects ‘unilateral military action’ by US, Israel

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country rejected the “unilateral military action” launched by US and Israel against Iran on Saturday and warned that the world cannot afford another “devastating war” in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. “We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order. We likewise reject the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard,” Sanchez wrote on US social media platform X. He noted that another “prolonged and devastating war” in the Middle East cannot be afforded. “We demand immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law. It is time to resume dialogue and achieve a lasting

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  Iran launches retaliatory missile strike on Israel

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Israel’s military said its air defense systems intercepted several missiles over Jerusalem on Saturday, following reports of a retaliatory strike from Iran, Anadolu reports. Air-raid sirens sounded across the city as the missiles were detected and destroyed mid-air, with smoke visible in the sky after the interceptions. Earlier Saturday, Israel launched the “preemptive” attack under the name ‘Lion’s Roar,’ declaring a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country. US President Donald Trump also confirmed “major combat operations” in Iran aimed at defending the American people by “eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.” READ: Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran to ‘protect Americans’

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  Netanyahu says joint Israel-US operation to reshape Iran’s future

  by Marwa A on February 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel and the US have begun a joint operation against Iran to eliminate what he described as an “existential threat” posed by the Iranian regime, Anadolu reports. In a video message, Netanyahu said the “murderous terror regime” in Tehran must not be armed with nuclear weapons capable of threatening “all of humanity.” “Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” he said. Netanyahu called on what he described as all parts of the Iranian people, including Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baloch and Ahwazi, to throw off “the yoke of tyranny” and establish a “free and peace-loving Iran.” He said the