Iran says ready for long war, US says conflict won’t be endless

All detainees held at the Central Prison of Marivan in western Iran’s Kurdistan Province were released shortly after Israeli and US fighter jets bombed military and intelligence facilities in the city on Monday, Norway-based rights group Hengaw reported.

The rights group did not provide details on the number of detainees released or their identities.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging the United Nations and world foreign ministers to take action over the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran.

In the letter, which was also sent to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and foreign ministers worldwide, Araghchi said the attacks were a “clear violation of international humanitarian law.”

He urged the UN secretary-general, the Security Council and other relevant international bodies to take “immediate, tangible and effective measures” to condemn the attacks, prevent their continuation and help bring those responsible to justice.

China urged the United States and Israel to immediately cease military action against Iran and warned that regional turmoil could harm the global economy, including energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

China’s foreign minister said Beijing supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and is willing to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stopping the war.

The minister also held calls with his Iranian, French and Omani counterparts to discuss the situation, according to Chinese state media.

The European Union’s gas coordination group will meet on Wednesday to assess the impact of the widening Middle East conflict on gas supplies, a European Commission spokesperson said.

The group, made up of member state representatives, monitors gas storage and supply security and coordinates response measures during crises.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday the conflict with Iran “is not Iraq” and would not become an endless war, describing current operations as limited and focused on eliminating specific military threats.

“This is not endless,” Hegseth said at a news conference, adding that the mission was “clear, devastating and decisive” and aimed at destroying Iran’s offensive missile capabilities, missile production and naval assets so that it will “never have nuclear weapons.”

Hegseth accused Iran of pursuing nuclear ambitions while building what he called a conventional shield of missiles and drones, and said US forces were striking “surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically.”

He said Washington’s objectives were “realistic” and centered on defending US forces, allies and shipping lanes, not regime change or nation-building.

“This is not a so-called regime change war,” he said. “We fight to win, and we don’t waste time or lives.”

Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed after falling into a coma following US-Israeli airstrikes, state media reported on Monday. She had reportedly been in a coma since the attacks at the start of the airstrikes on Saturday.

The United States is continuing to reinforce its forces in the Middle East and additional troops will arrive later on Monday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said.

Caine said the deployments were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the US military presence in the region amid the escalating conflict.

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that the security situation in the country was reassuring and that daily life was proceeding normally.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that “crazy regimes like Iran, hell-bent on prophetic Islamist delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons,” as he defended a major US military operation against Tehran ordered by President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a news conference, Hegseth said the operation, launched two days ago under Trump’s direct orders, was “the most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history.”

He accused Iran’s leadership of waging what he called a decades-long war against the United States through proxy forces and attacks on US targets in the Middle East.

“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” Hegseth said.

“If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you,” he added.

Hegseth said Trump had drawn a clear line after years of what he called Iranian belligerence and reiterated that Washington would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.

The US-flagged product tanker Stena Imperative was damaged after aerial impacts struck the vessel while it was berthed in the Persian Gulf, Reuters cited its owner Stena Bulk and US ship manager Crowley as saying on Monday.

A shipyard worker was also said to have been killed due to the impact.

Israel’s military said it has struck more than 600 targets linked to Iranian regime infrastructure since the start of Operation Roaring Lion.

In a statement, the military said it used around 2,500 munitions, hitting more than 20 security leadership targets, over 150 ballistic missiles and more than 200 Iranian air defense systems.

US Air Force B-1 strategic bombers carried out overnight strikes on above-ground ballistic missile and command and control sites in Iran, a US official said, according to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid on X.

Iran’s cultural heritage minister said the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran sustained damage in recent US-Israeli air strikes and that Tehran will submit a formal report to UNESCO.

Visiting the site, Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri said the damage to the complex was an attack not only on a building but on "Iran’s cultural and national identity."

Polish energy group PKN Orlen said on Monday that its liquefied natural gas supplies from Qatar remained safe despite tensions in the Middle East.

The company, which is Poland’s largest oil refiner and fuel retailer, said one LNG tanker had passed through the Strait of Hormuz and was sailing along the South African coast on Sunday.

Orlen added that another LNG delivery from Qatar was scheduled for April.

Israel’s military said it killed Hussein Makled, head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, in a precise strike in Beirut.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani said Iran has prepared for a long war and is acting only in self-defense in the current conflict with the United States.

In a post on X, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Iran did not start the war and that its armed forces had engaged only in defensive action. He said Iran would defend itself “regardless of the costs” and would make its enemies regret what he called a miscalculation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Monday that a new wave of attacks was underway, involving missile launches and drone attacks on Beersheba in Israel.

Four US service members have been killed in action following Iran’s attacks, US Central Command said on Monday.

CENTCOM said a fourth service member who had been seriously wounded later died of injuries.

Major combat operations are continuing and response efforts are ongoing, it said. The identities of the dead are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Turkey has canceled flights to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon until Friday due to regional attacks, and suspended services to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates until Tuesday, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

Flights to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Jeddah and Medina and to Oman will resume, he added, saying Turkish Airlines and Pegasus staff in the region were safe.

QatarEnergy said it has stopped production of liquefied natural gas and related products after military attacks on its operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City.

Qatar’s defence ministry said one of the drones targeted a QatarEnergy facility in Ras Laffan. The company did not say how long the suspension would last.

Russia’s foreign ministry expressed deep concerns on Monday about the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East and said that any attack on civilian targets was unacceptable.

Israel’s defense establishment is preparing to significantly expand offensive activity in Lebanon in the coming period, Israeli journalist Hallel Bitton Rosen reported on Monday, citing a security assessment.

Power outages and explosions were reported in parts of Tehran and other Iranian cities on Monday amid US-Israeli airstrikes, eyewitness told Iran International.

They said electricity was cut in some areas of eastern Tehran while a large plume of smoke was seen rising in central areas.

Residents in the northwestern city of Urmia also reported hearing several explosions, while others in Karaj, central Iran, said they heard fighter jets flying overhead.

Saudi Arabia shut its Ras Tanura refinery after a drone strike, while major Israeli gas fields and most oil output in Iraqi Kurdistan were also halted as regional strikes stretched into a third day.

Offshore Israel, the Leviathan gas field was temporarily shut, and companies in Iraqi Kurdistan stopped production as a precaution, with no damage reported.

Explosions were also heard at Iran’s Kharg Island export hub, though it was unclear if facilities were affected.

Brent crude rose about 10% to above $82 a barrel on supply concerns.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani instructed security forces on Monday to counter any action that would undermine the country’s security and stability.

Israel’s military said its air force began a new wave of strikes against the Iranian regime targets in central Tehran.

In a post on X in Farsi, the military said the attacks were guided by military intelligence and marked the sixth wave of air operations since the start of the campaign.

Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco shut its Ras Tanura refinery after it was hit by a drone, an industry source said on Monday, an apparent escalation on the third day of strikes across the region launched by Tehran in response to the US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic.

Two unmanned drones heading toward Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus were successfully intercepted, Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on X on Monday.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Monday that the government would implement a ban on Hezbollah’s military activities.

Israel’s military said on Monday that it killed senior members of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, including Yahya Hamidi, the deputy minister of intelligence for Israel affairs, in the opening strike of operation Roaring Lion.

Iran International reported in 2024 that Yahya Hosseini Panjaki, alias Yahya Hamidi, served as a deputy for internal security and the official in charge of the Israel desk at the Intelligence Ministry, and was a main architect of operations targeting Islamic Republic opponents abroad.

According to the Israeli army’s statement, Jalal Pour Hossein, identified as head of an espionage division, was also killed.

The two men were targeted in operations guided by precise intelligence along with other senior officials, Israel’s military said.

Sirens sounded at Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus shortly after midday on Monday, hours after it was hit by an unmanned drone, Cyprus state TV CyBC reported.

CyBC said aircraft were seen taking off from the base near the southern city of Limassol.

A video received by Iran International showed a fire at the Ahvaz oil pipeline following an explosion.

The only lasting solution to the crisis in Iran is a diplomatic one, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday.

“This means a credible transition for Iran, the definite halt to both the nuclear and ballistic programs and an end to destabilizing activities in the region,” she told reporters in Brussels.

“We must work hard to de-escalate and stop the conflict from spreading,” she added.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Kheibar missiles struck the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shortly after launches were detected from Iran.

There was no evidence that any of the missiles had reached Israel.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he has instructed ministers and heads of executive bodies to ensure government operations continue without disruption during the war.

In a post on X, he said officials had been given sufficient authority and special plans to carry out their duties and support the public, adding that the government stands with the people.

Five Iranian army members were killed in a US attack on the western city of Khorramabad, the public relations office of the 84th Lorestan Infantry Division said.

The office said the deaths followed the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory and the city of Khorramabad.

It said the five were members of the 184th Brigade of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.

The statement named the dead as Behzad Dalvand, Javad Khosravi, Abolfazl Habibi, Mehrdad Nazari and Hossein Asadipour.

Israel and the United States have set no timeline for their joint military campaign against Iran, Israel’s foreign minister said on Sunday, describing the strikes that began on Saturday as an effort to weaken the country’s leadership.

Speaking to Euronews, Gideon Sa'ar said the operation would continue without a fixed end date.

“So there is no time like the operation there. There is no timeline that you're looking at. There is no timeline of this operation. Now, we hadn't gave to ourselves timeline,” Sa’ar said.

“Naturally, we want it to be as short as possible. This is clear. But we didn't put to ourselves any timeline,” he added.

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The Kremlin said on Monday that talks between the United States and Iran had been reported to be making progress before the overall situation deteriorated into what it described as “outright aggression.”

Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday that the Natanz nuclear facility was one of the sites affected by attacks on Iranian nuclear installations.

Asked which facilities were hit, Reza Najafi said “Natanz,” highlighting damage to the uranium enrichment site that has been at the center of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Israel will begin reopening its airspace later on Monday in a “controlled, monitored, and coordinated manner,” the military’s Home Front Command said.

Air traffic will resume in line with a situational assessment, it said.

Israel’s airspace has been closed since the start of the conflict with Iran on Saturday morning.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday there was no indication that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been damaged.

“Regarding the status of the nuclear installations in Iran, up to now, we have no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities have been damaged or hit,” Grossi said.

He added that efforts to contact Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities were ongoing, “with no response so far,” and said he hoped an “indispensable channel of communication can be reestablished as soon as possible.”

Grossi reiterated his call for “maximum restraint to avoid further escalation,” adding: “We must return to diplomacy and negotiations.”

“So far, no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran,” Grossi said. “The situation today is very concerning, we cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities,” he added.

A tall column of black smoke rose over the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas following an explosion, according to videos received by Iran International.

Israel’s defense minister said on Monday that the head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah is now a “marked target for elimination.”

A limited fire broke out at a refinery due to debris, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry spokesperson told Al-Arabiya TV on Monday.

The spokesperson said there were no civilian injuries resulting from the attack.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that one Chinese national was killed in Tehran, and expressed condolences to the family of the victim, the ministry said.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said on Monday that a number of US fighter jets fell, adding that the pilots were safe.

Britain is setting up support systems to help evacuate its citizens from the Persian Gulf and is sending rapid deployment teams to the region, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday.

Cooper told Sky News the government was working with the travel industry and considering evacuation options if necessary, noting that about 300,000 British nationals live in the region.

She said Britain wanted airspace to reopen and was coordinating with partners to assist departures.

Iran’s internet blackout surpassed 48 hours on Monday, NetBlocks said, leaving much of the country unable to communicate as the conflict in the region widened.

The London-based monitoring group said Iran’s connectivity had fallen to near-total levels, limiting access to online services and contact with relatives outside the country.

"Shutdowns are a go-to tactic for the regime, with the previous instance in January lasting several weeks and masking severe human rights violations," NetBlocks said on X.

Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco shut its Ras Tanura refinery as a precaution after it was hit by a drone, an industry source told Reuters on Monday.

The source said the situation was under control.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urged people in Israel on Monday to stay away from military bases and government and security sites and leave the country immediately.

“We recommend that residents of the occupied territories stay away from military bases, security and government centers and immediately leave the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement.

It said the latest wave, involving Kheibar missiles, targeted what it described as government facilities in Tel Aviv and military and security centers in Haifa and eastern Jerusalem, adding that “the sirens in Israel will never fall silent.”

The Israeli military released images on Monday showing air force activity on the third day of Operation Roaring Lion, which began on Saturday.

China’s foreign ministry said Monday that more than 3,000 Chinese nationals have evacuated from Iran and urged its citizens to leave as soon as possible, adding that one Chinese national was killed in Tehran.

Seven locations were struck by the United States and Israel early Monday, including six sites in the central cities of Ardakan and Yazd and one along the Yazd–Mehriz road, provincial authorities said.

Israel’s Health Ministry said on Monday that 777 people had been evacuated to hospitals since the start of Operation Roaring Lion on Saturday.

Of those, 86 were hospitalized or in emergency rooms, the ministry said. Four were in serious condition, including two whose injuries were not directly caused by missile strikes.

Twenty people were listed in moderate condition and 58 in good condition, while four others were undergoing medical evaluation.

The ministry added that dozens of people were injured in accidents while running to shelters.

China’s foreign ministry said Monday it opposes the use of force in international relations following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, said on Monday Tehran will not negotiate with the United States, rejecting reports that Iran sought renewed talks with Washington following recent US-Israeli strikes.

Larijani made the remarks on X, dismissing back-channel engagement.

Smoke was seen rising near the US Embassy in Kuwait, with firefighters and ambulances at the scene, a witness told Reuters on Monday. The embassy said there is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait and urged people not to come to the compound and to take cover.

At least 31 people were killed and 149 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, Lebanese media reported based on an initial toll. The outlets also reported a new wave of Israeli strikes.

Cyprus’ president said the British air base at Akrotiri was struck by an unmanned Shahed drone, adding that authorities are on full alert and that Cyprus has no involvement in military operations in the region.

A new wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, Al Arabiya reported. Reuters also wrote that several loud explosions were heard in Dubai and Doha.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote to the UN secretary-general and Security Council on Sunday calling for "accountability" of the United States and Israel over the killing of Ali Khamenei in joint US–Israeli strikes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will brief Senate and House leaders on Monday after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to his public schedule.

The Pentagon will also hold a press conference on Monday on Operation Epic Wrath, with the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff set to appear.

Iran's top security official Ali Larijani on Monday morning accused US President Donald Trump of plunging the region into turmoil with what he called “delusional ambitions,” saying Washington is now worried about further American casualties.

"Trump dragged the region into chaos with 'delusional ambitions' and is now concerned about further casualties among American forces," Larijani said in a post on X.

"With delusional conduct, he turned his self-made slogan “America First” into “Israel First” and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s power-seeking.…And with new fabrications, he once again imposes the cost of his personality cult on American soldiers and their families."

"The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," President Donald Trump told ABC. "It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead," he added.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has made a fresh push through Omani mediators to resume talks with the United States, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday citing Arah and American officials.

Larijani, however, dismissed the report, saying in a post on X, "We will not engage in any negotiations with the United States."

"I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well I got him first," President Donald Trump told ABC News regarding the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, apparently referring to a 2024 Iran-linked plot to assassinate him.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with his Omani counterpart, thanked Muscat for its "constructive" role in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region, saying Iran is ready for any serious initiative aimed at restoring stability.

The US military intends to sustain its strikes on Iran for “four to five weeks” if necessary, President Trump told The New York Times on Sunday, adding that it “won’t be difficult” for Israel and the US to maintain the intensity of the battle even as he warned of the possibility of more US casualties.

"US forces are taking bold action to eliminate imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime. Strikes continue," US CENTCOM said Sunday night, releasing a video of the Iranian targets hit by the US military.

Several projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory fell in open areas, the Israeli military said early Monday, a development that may signal the beginning of Hezbollah’s engagement in the ongoing conflict in support of Iran.

"In response to projectile fire toward northern Israel, the IDF is striking Hezbollah targets across Lebanon," the Israeli military said.

"Hezbollah is operating on behalf of the Iranian regime, opening fire against the Israeli civilians, and bringing ruin to Lebanon," it added.

Warplanes flew over Iran’s Ahvaz, and back-to-back explosions were heard in the southwestern city, eyewitnesses told Iran International.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday the US military operations in Iran are continuing at full capacity and will not stop until Washington’s objectives are achieved.

One person was killed after a fire broke out in Bahrain’s Salman Industrial City following a missile interception, the Interior Ministry said.

Two others were severely injured, and the fire was later brought under control, according to the ministry.

Several loud explosions were heard in Shahid Bagheri residential complex in western Tehran at 3:30 a.m. (local time), eyewitnesses said. A picture obtained by Iran International also shows explosions near the area.

Last June, an underground meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council was targeted in the same area.

Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi says Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told him on Sunday that he "will try to organize a bipartisan group at Senate level" for the prince to present his plan for a transition to democracy in Iran.

"Both the administration and Congress will understand better what we have in mind and we will get more into details... (of) the Iran Prosperity Project," he told Fox News.

Brent crude oil prices climbed sharply on Sunday rising more than 8% to around $79.34 per barrel as markets reacted to escalating US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Traders cited fears of supply disruptions through key energy routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, and a broader geopolitical risk premium.

In intraday trading, Brent briefly touched above $82 per barrel before settling near $79. The surge reflects growing concerns over regional instability and its impact on crude flows from the Middle East.

Following the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an interim leadership council has assumed authority under Iran’s constitution and met on Sunday.

The council is led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, and Expediency Council member Ahmad-Ali A’rafi. It will carry out Khamenei’s duties until a successor is selected by the Assembly of Experts.

The Bahrain Defense Force said on Sunday its air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 61 missiles and 34 drones launched by Iran targeting the Kingdom.

“We condemn the attacks on civilian infrastructure and private property as grave violations of international humanitarian law, principles of distinction and proportionality, and a direct threat to regional peace,” the statement said.

“Bahrain reaffirms its right to defend its sovereignty and urges residents to stay indoors except for essential activities,” the statement added.

Retired US General Jack Keane said on Fox News on Sunday that several Persian Gulf states are preparing for offensive operations in coordination with US Central Command.

Keane said the states are already defending themselves, with some preparing for combat and one reportedly having already begun operations. He added that two others are “about to get going.”

The operations, Keane said, will involve “coordinated, selected targets” under the oversight of Admiral Cooper and Central Command, and will contribute to the “offensive nature” of ongoing military actions in the region.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that GCC foreign ministers, in an extraordinary meeting, strongly condemned Iran's "blatant and unjustified" attacks on GCC countries and reaffirmed their right to take all necessary measures to protect security and stability.

Two Iranian ballistic missiles were fired toward Cyprus but were intercepted, UK Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed on Sunday.

Officials said the missiles were likely aimed at nearby US carrier groups and not at RAF Akrotiri or the island itself.

No impacts were reported, and reports of explosions are believed to relate to the missile interceptions.

The United Kingdom has agreed to let US forces use its bases in the Middle East and surrounding areas for defensive operations, including protecting allied forces and intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. The bases include Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The UK has not granted permission for offensive strikes on Iran, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Defense Secretary John Healey said. On Sunday, Healey said that the US must provide the legal justification for any operations and reiterated that Britain’s role is strictly defensive.

Two senior Shiite religious authorities in Iran, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani and Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, issued fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to take revenge for the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack.

Nouri Hamedani responded in writing to a request from the presidium of the Assembly of Seminary Students and Scholars in Qom, and on Sunday he said all Muslims are religiously obliged to avenge Khamenei’s death at the hands of the perpetrators.

Makarem Shirazi issued a fatwa identifying the United States and Israel as the “main perpetrators” and described retaliation as a religious duty for Muslims worldwide “until the evil of these criminals is eradicated from the world.”

Over the past 36 hours, the United States and its partners have launched Operation epic fury, one of the largest, most complex, most overwhelming military offenses the world has ever seen. Nobody has seen anything like it.

We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems. Just now was announced that we knocked out nine ships plus their naval building, all in a matter of literally minutes.

Iran's formerly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even 1000s of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless 1000s of innocent people all across many countries.

Last night, all over Iran, the voices of the Iranian people could be heard cheering and celebrating in the streets when his death was announced. The entire military command is gone as well, and many of them want to surrender into saving their lives. They want immunity. They're calling by the 1000s.

Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives. They could have done something two weeks ago, but they just couldn't get there.

Earlier today, CENTCOM shared the news that three US military service members have been killed in action as one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen. And sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is. Likely be more but we'll do everything possible. Or that won't be the case, but America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization.

They have waged war against civilization itself, our resolve and likewise, that of Israel has never been stronger. America is now again the richest, most powerful nation in the world by far. But the only reason we enjoy the quality of life that we do and the freedom and security is we have done things that others are unable to do, but it's because of warriors who are willing to lay down their lives to do battle with our enemies, and they do battle better than anybody an Iranian regime armed with long range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American.

We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons. Would allow them to extort the world to their evil will not going to let it happen, not happening to us, and we're not going to let it happen to others.

The United States has the strongest military the world has ever seen. I rebuilt our military in my first term. There's never been a military like we possess, and frankly, there's nobody even close. But we are now using that military for good. We want to have it for good purpose. We're undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us, many, many years ago, this is the duty and the burden of a free people.

These actions are right and they are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats. For almost 50 years, these wicked extremists have been attacking the United States while chanting the slogan, Death to America, or death to Israel, or both. They are the world's number one state sponsor of terror. We are the world's greatest and most powerful nation, so we can do something about what they do. These intolerable threats will not continue any longer.

I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain. Death won't be pretty. I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country. America is with you. I made a promise to you, and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, and we'll be there to help. Thank you. God bless you to our incredible warriors, and God bless the United States of America.

"Iran's formerly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. This wretched and vile man had the blood of hundreds and even 1000s of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of countless 1000s of innocent people all across many countries. Last night, all over Iran, the voices of the Iranian people could be heard, cheering and celebrating in the streets, when his death was announced," Trump said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine is closely watching every development around Iran, with intelligence and foreign ministry fully engaged and actions coordinated with partners.

Zelensky said the need to use this opportunity for real change in Iran, supporting the Iranian people against a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its citizens, fueled regional wars and supplied Shahed drones to Russia. He called for clear international backing for the people and human lives.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires in Amman to protest attacks targeting Jordan and other Arab countries.

The Institute for Science and International Security reported on Sunday strikes near Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) headquarters in Tehran, home to the Tehran Nuclear Research Center and its small research reactor.

“The reactor is not expected to be targeted by Israel or the US as satellite imagery shows no signs of damage. In June last year attacks, Israel struck nearby internal security forces and centrifuge manufacturing sites," the post said.

Donald Trump remained open to more talks with the Iranians but could not say whether they would happen “soon,” the Daily Mail reported on Sunday, citing an interview with the US president.

“I don’t know,” the Daily Mail quoted Trump as saying. “They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week, not this week.”

Trump also outlined a potential timeline for the war with Iran, suggesting the fighting could continue for the next four weeks.

“It’s always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four week process, so as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks or less,” Trump said.

Trump administration officials will brief all House members on Tuesday on the situation with Iran, according to an invitation obtained by MSNOW News.

Briefers include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine.

France, Britain and Germany said Iran’s recent missile attacks on regional countries were “indiscriminate and disproportionate” and urged Tehran to refrain from such strikes.

"We will take the necessary measures to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region. This may potentially include, if necessary, enabling proportionate military defensive measures to destroy Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones at their source," the E3 said in a join statement.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said Iran attacked a maritime facility near Salman Port and that efforts were underway to bring the resulting fire under control.

The US military’s Central Command said it has struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets in the ongoing operation against Iran.

Seven Iranian military commanders were killed in strikes on the country, including the head of the office of the armed forces commander-in-chief, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

Reports indicate Iran's state broadcaster IRIB satellite feed was hacked for several minutes on Sunday. During the disruption, speeches by US President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed to the Iranian people were aired, along with footage of strikes on various sites including the office of Ali Khamenei.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday convened an emergency Defense Council meeting at the presidential palace to discuss the situation in Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday in an interview with Al Jazeera that some military units have become “independent and somewhat isolated” and are operating only on pre-issued general instructions.

“What happened in Oman was not our choice. We have already told our Armed Forces to be careful about the targets they choose,” Araghchi said.

The European Union said Iranian attacks on countries in the region are “inexcusable and unacceptable” and that Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes, in a statement on Sunday.

"Europe reiterates its solidarity with the Iranian people and supports their aspirations for a future in which their rights and freedoms are fully respected," the statement added.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday the closure of its embassy in Tehran and the withdrawal of its ambassador from Iran, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"These hostile attacks against civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports, and service facilities, endangered innocent civilians in a serious and irresponsible escalation and constitute a flagrant violation of national sovereignty, as well as a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations," the statement said.

The Israeli military said it struck dozens of Iranian military command centers including headquarters belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday.

A senior White House official said on Sunday Iran's potential new leadership has indicated readiness to negotiate with the United States after US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials.

The unnamed official told the Associated Press that President Donald Trump is willing to negotiate “eventually” but military operations will continue without pause for now.

The official did not identify the potential new leaders.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the bombings in Tehran have no impact on the country's ability to conduct war.

“We've had two decades to study defeats of the US military to our immediate east and west. We've incorporated lessons accordingly,” he posted on X. “Bombings in our capital have no impact on our ability to conduct war. Decentralized Mosaic Defense enables us to decide when - and how - the war will end.”

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said on Sunday it conducted 23 operations using dozens of drones targeting US air bases in Iraq and the region.

A Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet operating from Qatar shot down an Iranian drone heading toward Qatari territory, Britain’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday urged a credible transition in Iran to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, end regional destabilization, restore stability and support the democratic aspirations of Iranians, following Iran's missile strikes on Qatar.

"I called for a credible transition in Iran that stops its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, ends its destabilizing actions in the region, restores stability and supports the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people," Von Der Leyen posted on X after a phone call with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Iran’s state television broadcast was interrupted after a strike on its headquarters on Sunday, state media reported.

Iran-backed Iraqi militant group Saraya Awliya al-Dam said it carried out a drone attack on US military bases in Iraq’s Erbil on Sunday.

“Iranian strikes in Manama were unjustified and unacceptable. I told Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday, condemning the attacks on the Bahraini capital.

US Central Command on Sunday rejected as false Iran's claim at the UN that its responses targeted only US military bases and assets.

CENTCOM said Iran struck 14 civilian locations, including airports in Dubai and Kuwait, hotels in Dubai and Bahrain, the Port of Dubai, the Haifa oil refinery, and residential areas in Israel, Bahrain and Qatar and provided a list.

The list of given locations including: ·

· Dubai International Airport

· Kuwait International Airport

· Zayed International Airport, Dubai

· Erbil International Airport, Iraq

· Fairmont Palm Hotel, Dubai

· Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

· Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bahrain

· Port of Dubai

· Haifa Oil Refinery

· Residential areas in Beit Shemesh, Israel

· Residential areas in Tel Aviv, Israel

· Residential area of Era Views Towers, Bahrain

· Residential areas in Qatar

Parts of Iran’s national radio and TV headquarters hit in Tehran strikes on Sunday, state media reported.

“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important,” President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.

“We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!” Trump added.

US Central Command on Sunday confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers, armed with 2,000 lb. bombs, struck Iran's hardened ballistic missile facilities Saturday night.

"No nation should ever doubt America's resolve," CENTCOM posted on X with a video shows B-2 in hangar and ready to fly.