Live updates: Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader, state media reports
The Israel Defense Forces warned that any successor to slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be a target.
What we know
- IRAN'S NEXT LEADER: Iran's Assembly of Experts said Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been selected as the third leader of the Islamic Republic, according to several Iranian state-run media outlets.
- ANOTHER U.S. CASUALTY: The U.S. military announced the death of another U.S. service member, bringing the total killed in combat to seven.
- CEASEFIRE RULED OUT: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire, telling NBC News’ "Meet the Press" that his country needs “to continue fighting for the sake of our people.” He declined to say whether Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence support.
- ESCALATION IN LEBANON: Israel has ordered residents south of the Litani River to evacuate as it intensifies operations against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes have killed nearly 400 people in Lebanon.
- REGIONAL SPILLOVER: Attacks have spread beyond Israel and Iran, with strikes in Persian Gulf countries and the first reported deaths in Saudi Arabia.
- TRUMP CONTRADICTS ANALYSIS: President Donald Trump told reporters he believes Iran is behind the strike on an elementary school that killed at least 168 people. Preliminary findings from the Trump administration indicate it is increasingly likely a U.S. munition was responsible for the strike, sources told NBC News.
- DEATH TOLL: Hundreds of people have been killed across the Middle East. In Iran, at least 940 have been killed by Israeli and American strikes, Iranian state media reported, and 11 have died in Israel as Iran fired back.
32 reported injured in Iranian drone strike in Bahrain
Thirty-two people, including a 2-month-old infant, have been injured in an Iranian drone attack in Bahrain, media in the United Arab Emirates reported, citing Bahrain’s Ministry of Health.
Of those injured, four people are in serious condition, according to the UAE’s official Emirates News Agency. They include two children between the ages of 7 and 8 with injuries to their lower limbs, as well as a 17-year-old girl who suffered injuries to her head and eye.
All of the injured are Bahraini citizens, the report said.
United Arab Emirates intercepts drones and missiles from Iran
The United Arab Emirates’ air defense system is intercepting missiles and drones from Iran, its defense ministry said.
“The sounds heard are the result of the Air Defense Systems intercepting missiles and drones,” it said in a post on X, adding that members of the public should follow safety protocols.
European reactions to war 'fragmented,' analyst says
European reactions to the war in Iran have been “fragmented,” an analyst said, as Trump continues to clash with his transatlantic allies.
“Spain took the most defiant stance, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explicitly denying the U.S. permission to use the jointly operated Rota and Morón military bases,” Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst, told NBC News.
“The risk is to be seen as effectively supportive of the Iranian regime,” he added. “Madrid appears willing to take the risk.”
France, Horowitz said, is “actively sending military assets, though largely because of its interests in the Gulf, and as part of a defensive mission.”
Germany, meanwhile, “is striking a more balanced tone by not directly criticizing the strikes,” he said.
“European countries have reacted differently, but they all reacted to the same thing, namely being treated as an afterthought,” Horowitz said. “Washington gave European leaders only minutes of advance warning before launching the strikes, despite the stakes.”
Saudi Arabia says 2 killed by projectile in Al-Kharj were both Bangladeshi nationals
Two Bangladeshi nationals died after a projectile fell on a residential site in the central part of the kingdom, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense said.
Earlier, officials had said the dead were one Bangladeshi national and one Indian national.
The Civil Defense added that 12 others were injured by the projectile — 11 from Bangladesh and one from India. It did not mention who was responsible for the attack.
In a statement posted to X, the Indian embassy in Riyadh responded by saying that it was a “matter of relief” that there were no Indian deaths in what it called an “unfortunate incident.”
Markets in Asia are battered as oil surpasses $100 a barrel
Asian markets are nosediving after the war in Iran sent the price of oil surging past $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022.
Leading the losses is South Korea’s benchmark Kospi, which is down more than 8% as of midafternoon. Earlier today, trading was briefly suspended in the second “circuit breaker” since last week, when the index fell 10.6% for its biggest weekly loss since March 2020.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 is down almost 7%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 is down more than 3%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is down more than 2.5%. U.S. futures are down as much as 2.3%, signaling that U.S. stocks will continue to fall when markets reopen.
Trump said Sunday that a short-term rise in oil prices was “a very small price to pay” for ending the nuclear threat from Iran. “Only fools would think differently!” he said in a social media post.
Iran Mission to the U.N. says interception of missiles by U.S. may have caused them to hit unintended targets
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations has maintained that the country is only targeting U.S. military bases and assets, blaming impacts on unintended targets on U.S. interception.
“With regard to strikes on non-military sites, our preliminary assessment indicates that some of these incidents may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems, which may have diverted the projectiles from their intended military targets,” the mission said on X.
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attacks against Gulf nations
Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks against Gulf nations, calling it “unacceptable and unjustifiable."
“Attacking civilian targets, airports, and oil installations only demonstrates a persistent threat to security and stability and a blatant violation of international conventions and international law,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on X.
The ministry added that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s statement saying Iran has no plans to attack neighboring countries has “no basis in reality.”
“The Iranian side has not implemented this statement on the ground, either during or after the Iranian President’s speech," it said, adding that Iranian attacks represent further escalation and "will have a profound impact on relations, both now and in the future."
United Arab Emirates responds to missile threat
The United Arab Emirates’ air defense systems are responding to a missile threat, its emergency crisis and disaster management authority has said.
“Air defense systems are currently responding to a missile threat,” it said on X. “Please remain in a safe location.”
It did not elaborate on where the missiles were coming from or provide any further information.
War with Iran has the potential to disrupt more than just gas prices
The national average for gas prices is now $3.45, up 47 cents from a week ago. But a spike in oil prices may affect more than just the cost at the pump.
The prices of food, transportation and manufacturing may also rise.
Iran's president hails choice for supreme leader as proof of resilience
The president of Iran today hailed the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's supreme leader, saying the choice reflects Iran's resilience and unity in the face of attacks by the United States and Israel.
"This valuable choice reflects the will of the Islamic community to strengthen national unity; a unity that, like a firm barrier, has made the people of Iran resilient against the conspiracies of their enemies," Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement on Telegram.
The new supreme leader will face the war with "wise leadership and by creating an atmosphere based on trust, solidarity, participation and the broad resistance of the people," Pezeshkian said.
He said Mojtaba Khamenei is getting a good start by standing on the foundation built by his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the incursion's opening round of attacks.
"The achievements of your honoured martyred father in preserving the system and elevating the revolution have created a solid foundation for Iran’s future, which under your leadership will reach a bright horizon of lasting independence, scientific and technological progress, and comprehensive development," Pezeshkian said.
Trump has said any supreme leader chosen without his approval "is not going to last long."
Nonemergency U.S. government employees ordered to leave Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, tonight ordered all nonemergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave the country.
In a post on X, the embassy cited "safety risks" for the order, which is an update to a previous advisory that had authorized nonemergency personnel and their families to leave.
Saudi Arabia has been the target of attacks since the Iran war broke out. Last week, the U.S. Embassy was hit by two Iranian drone strikes.
Hegseth says Iran war will be different than conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan
Speaking in an interview that was recorded Friday and aired tonight on CBS News’ "60 Minutes," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said some of the heavier munitions the U.S. plans to use in Iran will "showcase" how the military will carry out its goals.
“The ability for us to be up over the top and hunting with more conventional munitions — gravity bombs, 500-pound, 1,000-pound, 2,000-pound bombs on military targets,” he said, “we haven’t even really got to start that effort of the campaign, which is going to showcase even more how we will execute on those objectives.”
He also compared the war to past conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying that a lot of “foolish” approaches were used during those wars and that this time will be different.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaking during the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters in Doral, Fla. last week. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Hegseth, however, did not rule out American troops on Iranian soil.
Trump has said Iran must agree to an "unconditional surrender," which the country's president has said is a "dream" by the U.S. Asked what an "unconditional surrender" would look like, Hegseth did not provide an exact definition.
“We’ll know when they’re not capable of fighting. There will be a point where they’ll have no choice, but to do that, whether they know it or not, they will be combat-ineffective. They will surrender,” he said.
Lebanese foreign minister denounces Hezbollah's 'unlawful activities'
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi denounced Hezbollah's "unlawful activities" in defense of Iran, including an attack on a U.K. military airbase in Cyprus.
Raggi said those actions "defy the will of the Lebanese government and people."
"We will not allow Lebanon to be turned into a platform for Iranian agendas," he said in the statement.
Days ago, Raggi announced that the country’s Council of Ministers had adopted a decision to ban the military and security activities of Hezbollah, which required the group to "hand over its weapons."
The decision directs the Lebanese Armed Forces to enforce a plan "to place all weapons under the exclusive authority of the state,” Raggi said.
Trump says spike in oil prices is 'short term' and a 'small price to pay'
Responding to political pressure over the nation's rapid rise in gas prices, Trump said today that the underlying spike in oil costs caused by war in the Middle East is temporary and a "very small price to pay."
"Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace," he said on Truth Social.
The price for a barrel of oil reached $100 today — the first time since July 2022 that it had reached or surpassed that mark. About one-fifth of the world's oil supply is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, off southern Iran, which remains essentially impassible as a result of the war.
Patrick De Haan, analyst for the price-tracking service GasBuddy, said on X that it's highly likely the national average for a price of a gallon of gas will reach $4 per gallon within a month. It was $3.45 per gallon today.
Trump challenged the thinking behind any claims that rising prices at the pump will be long-term.
"ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!" he said.
Schumer urges Trump to release oil from strategic reserve
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on Trump today to release oil from the nation's strategic reserve in an attempt to lower prices at gas pumps.
Schumer said in a statement that gas nationwide has jumped 43 cents per gallon since the Iran war started and squeezed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.
“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve exists for moments exactly like this,” he said. “When wars and global crises disrupt energy markets, the United States has the ability to act, but President Trump and his administration are refusing to do so."
Trump said yesterday on Air Force that tapping the reserve is unnecessary because the U.S. has more than enough oil to power the nation.
"We figured our prices would go up, which they will," he said. "They’ll also come down."
An oil pump jack in Corpus Christi, Texas last month. Eddie Seal / Bloomberg via Getty Images file
Schumer also said he will introduce legislation to prevent Trump from selling oil to China. He said the coming bill is a response to reports Trump is considering such sales.
Trump boasted of lower gas prices during his recent State of the Union speech. Schumer is making the war-driven spike in prices an issue that could work against him.
"Real Americans are already suffering under Trump’s higher costs for electricity, groceries, and healthcare," Schumer said.
The reserve contained a little more than 415,000 barrels of oil as of the end of last month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It was established on Dec. 22, 1975, after an oil embargo by OPEC in 1973 and 1974 squeezed U.S. supplies and created a crisis of price and availability at gas pumps.
The reserve can hold up to 727 million barrels of oil.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard declares 'full obedience' to new supreme leader
Iran's potent military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, today declared its "full obedience" to the country's third supreme leader, named today by the 88-member Assembly of Experts.
In a statement aired on state-affiliated IRIB television, the guard described Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of its recently slain supreme leader, as "his eminence" and "the fully qualified jurist, the young thinker and the most knowledgeable in political and social matters."
An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps soldier in Tehran last week. Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via Getty Images
"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a soldier and powerful arm of the guardianship, while supporting the decision of the Assembly of Experts, declares its readiness for full obedience and self-sacrifice in carrying out the divine commands of the guardian jurist of the time, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, and for safeguarding the values of the Islamic Revolution and protecting the precious legacy of the two leaders of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei," it said.
The guard also vowed to continue to fight the United States and Israel until Iran is victorious.
"With glorious and epic participation in defence of the guardianship," it said, "the system and the Islamic Revolution, the nation should continue on the path towards completing Iran’s victories over arrogant powers, dictatorships, monarchies and Zionists until the realisation of the new Islamic civilisation and the appearance of the great sun of guardianship."
Trump has warned Iran's new leader won't last long without his approval
Iran appointed a new supreme leader just days after Trump warned that the leader “is not going to last long” without his approval.
The Assembly of Experts — the panel of Shiite clerics responsible under Iranian law for choosing the country’s top leader — announced today that Mojtaba Khamenei will be the new leader. He is the second son of Iran’s slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and someone Trump has made it clear he does not approve of.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me," he told Axios last week.
State media says Iran names Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as new surpreme leader
Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader, according to Iranian state media.
Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran in 2019. Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via Getty Images
A statement from the Assembly of Experts — the panel of Shiite clerics responsible under Iranian law for choosing the country’s top leader — said Mojtaba Khamenei had been selected as the third leader of the Islamic Republic, according to reports from IRIB state TV and the Fars, Tasnim and ISNA news agencies.
IDF says it targeted IRGC headquarters and carried out 100 strikes in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces says it targeted the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force today, describing it as the "main command-and-control center" used to direct unit's activity.
NBC News has not independently verified the report.
Earlier today, the IDF said it eliminated three senior commanders in the IRGC's Lebanon Corps in an overnight strike on Beirut. The IDF identified the commanders as Majid Hassini, Ali Reza Bi-Azar and Ahmad Rasouli. NBC News has not been able to independently verify the report.
The Israeli military said it conducted 100 aerial strikes on Lebanon in the past day.
U.S. service member dies of wounds in Iranian attack, bringing total killed to seven
A seventh U.S. service member has died from injuries sustained in Iran's initial attacks across the Middle East, U.S. Central Command said.
The service member was seriously wounded during an attack March 1 on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia and died last night.
The death brings the number of U.S. service members killed in action during Operation Epic Fury to seven.
CENTCOM said the service member's identity will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
Iran says new supreme leader will be announced 'soon'
Iranian state media said an announcement naming the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be made "soon," according to Ayatollah Hosseini Bushehri, the vice chairman of the Assembly of Experts and head of its secretariat.
It is unclear whether “soon” means the announcement could come within hours or take several days.
Iran says U.S. is launching attacks from neighboring countries
Iran accused the United States of launching attacks from neighboring countries and using regional airspace to strike targets inside Iran.
“To those who insist on ignoring the rationale behind our defensive strikes on U.S. military bases and assets in the region,” Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement, “missiles are being launched at Iran from residential areas in the territory of neighboring countries.”
Macron calls for de-escalation in the Middle East after speaking with Egypt's president
French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and is working to de-escalate the war in the Middle East.
Macron said they discussed efforts to restore peace in the region and prevent further escalation, including in Lebanon, where the IDF has been conducting a campaign against Hezbollah.
"We must act to avoid escalation at any cost, return to a ceasefire and strengthen Lebanese state sovereignty by supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces," Macron said.
He also warned that the conflict could disrupt global trade, which he described as essential to the world economy. Macron added that the war should not hinder the progress toward the second phase of a peace plan in Gaza and called for fully reopening the Rafah crossing to allow much-needed aid to reach the enclave.
Nearly 400 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since Monday, health minister says
Mourners grieve by the bodies of victims killed last week during an Israeli attack on the village of Nabi Sheet, Lebanon, on Sunday. Nidal Solh / AFP via Getty Images
Nearly 400 people have been killed since Israel started its campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah last week, the country's health minister said.
Health Minister Rakan Nasser said 394 people have been killed and 1,130 have been wounded since Monday.
The dead include 83 children and 42 women, while the wounded include 254 children and 274 women, Nasser said.
"The attacks are not targeting soldiers and facilities as they claim, but civilians," he said at a briefing today.
Saudi Arabia reports its first deaths since war started
Two people were killed and 12 others were wounded when a military projectile landed in a residential compound in Saudi Arabia's Al-Kharj governorate, the country's Civil Defense said today.
The deaths are the first to be reported in Saudi Arabia since the war started a week ago.
The compound belonged to a maintenance and cleaning company, according the state-run Saudi Press Agency, citing an official spokesperson for the Civil Defense.
Officials said the two people killed were an Indian national and a Bangladeshi national. The 12 injured people were Bangladeshi nationals.
Pope Leo calls for end to conflict
Pope Leo XIV has renewed his plea for an end to conflict in the Middle East, expressing concern that the growing conflict could spread across the region.
"From Iran and from throughout the Middle East, news continues to arrive that causes deep dismay," he told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square this morning, warning of fears "that the conflict may expand" and push more countries into turmoil.
Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images
The pope specifically mentioned Lebanon, saying he feared it could once again be drawn into the conflict.
"Let us raise our humble prayer to the Lord that the roar of bombs may cease, that the weapons may fall silent and that a space for dialogue may open in which the voice of peoples may be heard," he said in Italian.
Trump and U.K. prime minister hold phone call
President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone and discussed the war in the Middle East.
They also dicussed "the military cooperation between the U.K. and U.S. through the use of RAF (Royal Air Force) bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region," according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
This call comes after Trump publicly expressed disappointment with Starmer's decision not to join U.S. strikes against Iran. The prime minister defended the decision, saying it was in the best interest of the United Kingdom.
Trump says Iran's new leader 'is not going to last long' without his approval
President Donald Trump. Win McNamee / Getty Images
Trump said in an interview with ABC News that Iran's new supreme leader "is not going to last long" if Iranian leaders do not get his approval.
"If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long," Trump told ABC News. "We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it."
In an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," moderator Kristen Welker asked Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi whether Iran would allow Trump to have a role in selecting the new supreme leader.
"We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs," Araghchi said. "This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader. They have already elected the Assembly of Experts, and the Assembly of Experts will do the job. It’s only the business of the Iranian people, and nobody else’s business."
Two Israeli soldiers die in combat in southern Lebanon, IDF says
Two Israeli soldiers have died in combat in southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
One soldier was identified as 38-year-old Maher Khatar, while the other soldier has not been publicly identified.
Israeli forces are operating in southern Lebanon as part of an ongoing campaign against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Almost 400 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of this campaign, including 83 children and 42 women, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
IDF issues evacuation warning for large area in southern Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces issued an evacuation warning for residents of Lebanon living south of the Litani River, a large and densely populated area of the country's south.
First aid responders are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Palestinian refugees camp of Ain al-Helweh, in Sidon, Lebanon, on Sunday. Mahmoud Zayyat / AFP via Getty Images
The IDF said it is targeting the area with "great force" due to the presence of militants from the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.
"For your safety and the safety of your families, you must move immediately to the north of the Litani River," an IDF spokesperson said in a statement. "Staying south of the Litani River could endanger your life and the lives of your families."
The warning comes after the IDF previously issued evacuation notices for neighborhoods in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, as it conducted strikes on Hezbollah targets.
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner warned this week that Israel's blanket displacement orders in Lebanon have affected hundreds of thousands of people and added to the suffering of an already strained population.
"These warnings and displacement orders issued for the south of Lebanon reportedly affected more than 100 towns and villages — home to tens of thousands of people, and risk affecting many more," the office said. "In addition, on Thursday, the Israeli army urged the complete evacuation of almost the entire southern suburb of Beirut, creating fear and panic among residents, as well as the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon."
Australia orders dependents of officials to leave UAE over 'deteriorating security situation'
Dependents of Australian officials in the United Arab Emirates have been directed to leave the country "due to the deteriorating security situation," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to the UAE," Wong said.
U.S. military warns civilians in Iran they could be at risk
U.S. Central Command issued a safety warning urging civilians in Iran to stay in their homes, accusing the Iranian government of conducting military operations from heavily populated areas.
CENTCOM said Iranian forces have launched one-way droned and ballistic missiles from cities including Esfahan, Shiraz and Dezful, placing civilians at risk.
“Iran’s terrorist regime is blatantly disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners while compromising the safety of their own people,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.
The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, launching the current conflict in the region. Since then, Iran has retaliated with strikes in Israel and what officials say are U.S. military bases and assets across the Middle East.
"The U.S. military takes every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians but cannot guarantee civilian safety in or near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes," CENTCOM said.
Trump will 'deal with it accordingly' if Russia is helping Iran, Mike Waltz says
United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz has discussed reports of Russia sharing intelligence with Iran, saying he had “no doubt President Trump will deal with it accordingly.”
Asked on NBC News' “Meet the Press” whether he considered Russia to have entered the conflict, Waltz said “we know that both Russia and Iran have had this symbiotic relationship.”
“If they are providing anything, it certainly hasn’t been very effective, because the U.S. military is decimating Iran’s air force, air defenses, navy, ground forces, command and control,” Waltz said. “So whatever they’re providing, if they’re providing anything, hasn’t shown to help them very much.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East, telling NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that his country needs “to continue fighting for the sake of our people.”
The U.S. and Israel “are killing our people, they are killing girl students, you know, they are attacking hospitals,” he told moderator Kristen Welker.
He said Israel and the U.S. had already shattered the ceasefire reached to end last year’s 12-day war, adding, “And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesn’t work like this.”
“There needs to be a permanent end to the war,” Araghchi said. “Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security.”
NBC News reported Friday that Russia was providing intelligence to Iran on the location of U.S. forces in the Middle East, including intelligence that could help Iran locate American warships, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.
Pressed on whether Iran is receiving Russian support, Araghchi said that “cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new.” He did not say whether Russian intelligence was helping Iran locate U.S. military assets.
“They are helping us in many different directions. I don’t have any detailed information,” he said.
Hakeem Jeffries won’t commit to blocking additional Iran war funding
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday would not commit to blocking any additional funding for the war in Iran, saying the president has so far failed to justify the war but “we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
The New York Democrat was asked on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” whether House Democrats would move to block a funding request if the White House were to ask for more money for the military.
Jeffries said the administration has so far “failed to make its case ... for this war of choice in the Middle East,” and unless President Donald Trump provides a “compelling rationale,” he’s “going to have a difficult case to make on Capitol Hill.”
Strikes on Tehran oil facilities releasing 'toxic substances,' says Iran Foreign Ministry
Airstrikes on oil facilities in Tehran have released "hazardous materials," risking danger to civilians, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said today.
Several oil depots in Tehran were hit by airstrikes yesterday, according to semiofficial news agency Fars, with video from the city showing large fires and an orange sky.
“By targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air, poisoning civilians, devastating the environment, and endangering lives on a massive scale,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.
NYPD officer dies in ‘medical episode’ while deployed in Kuwait
A New York Police Department officer died Friday from a medical episode while serving in Kuwait as part of Operation Epic Fury.
The NYPD identified the officer as Sorffly Davius, a major in the 42nd Infantry Division in the U.S. Army National Guard. He started at the NYPD in 2014, the department said in a statement.
Further details about his cause of death were not provided.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch extended their condolences in a joint statement.
“His career was defined by service — to his country and to New York City," they said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul described Davius as a devoted husband and father. She said he died at Camp Buehring.
"Major Davius was the 'Citizen Soldier' in every sense. A dedicated NYPD officer and decorated Army veteran, he spent his career protecting others," Hochul said in a statement. "Before his overseas deployment, he served with distinction on Joint Task Force Empire Shield, defending the state’s most high profile locations from threats."
U.S. and Israel 'torpedoed diplomatic efforts,' says Iran Foreign Ministry
The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran have "torpedoed diplomatic efforts," a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said today.
The war in the Middle East has "shattered the very foundations of international law, and unleashed a devastating assault on humanity itself," Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement.
"Iran is now exercising its inherent right to self-defense under international law," he added.
Drones that targeted British base in Cyprus were sent from Lebanon, Cypriot minister says
The "explosive-laden" drones that targeted a British base in Cyprus were sent from Lebanon, Cyprus' foreign minister said today.
European powers have rallied behind Cyprus, a member of the European Union, since the attack on the RAF Akrotiri base, which is classed as a British Overseas Territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Cyprus on Monday to show support for the European Union member that was targeted by a drone strike last week, the French presidency said this morning.
Britain's The Sun newspaper published a photograph showing a hole in the side of an airplane hangar at the base last week, while the British Defense Ministry said the strike on the airbase caused limited damage and “no casualties." E.U. member states, as well as the U.K., deployed warships to Cyprus in the wake of the attack.
The U.S. and Israel are targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure as Israel steps up its war on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
NBC News’ Matt Bradley also reports on "Sunday TODAY" that the Iranian body responsible for selecting a new leader after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reached a decision, but has yet to disclose the name of the chosen leader.
U.S. Embassy blast in Norway may be 'linked to current security situation,' police say
An overnight blast at the U.S. Embassy in the Norwegian capital Oslo may have been a deliberate attack "linked to the current security situation," the country's police force told Reuters today.
Police have no suspects at the moment but are looking for one or more potential perpetrators, according to the report. Police are looking at several hypotheses.
The blast occurred at the embassy compound at around 1 a.m. local time.
Death toll in Gulf climbs as Iran attacks kill two in Kuwait
The death toll from Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates has risen to four, the country's defense ministry said today.
Meanwhile, Kuwait confirmed two interior ministry officers were also killed "while performing duties," bringing the death toll there to five, in addition to the six American soldiers who died in Kuwait during military operations.
Strikes killed one person in Bahrain last week after a fire broke out, according to its interior ministry.
Photos: Iranians line up to donate blood for those injured in U.S.-Israeli attacks
Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty Images
Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty Images
Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty Images
Iranians lined up at the Tehran Blood Donation center on Saturday for people wounded in Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran, as strikes continue.
Iran chooses new supreme leader, but does not name him
Iran's Assembly of Experts has chosen a new supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"The majority of the Assembly of Experts members have reached a consensus on an option, and this choice has also been transferred to the Board of Experts," Iranian state media reported today.
Ayatollah Amireza Hodayi said earlier today that most members had agreed on one candidate, and that this decision has been sent to the Assembly’s leadership board, as reported by Iranian state media.
Strikes kill four during attack on Iranian oil facilities
An attack on four oil storage facilities and one fuel transfer center in Tehran and nearby Alborz killed four people, Iranian state media reported today.
An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran yesterday. Atta Kenare / AFP - Getty Images
The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company said "people should not pay attention to rumors and should go to fuel stations only when they have a real and urgent need," according to the report, adding that there was "enough gasoline stored in fuel depots."
The report said the facilities were attacked by "enemy aircraft." It is unclear who launched the strikes.
Iran attacks breach international law, Swiss defense minister says
The United States and Israel have broken international law with their attacks on Iran, Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister said in an interview published on Sunday, the latest European leader to raise concerns about the conflict.
Legal experts have said many countries will consider the attacks unjustified under the United Nations Charter, under which member countries must refrain from using force or the threat of force without U.N authorization or unless acting in self-defense.
“The Federal Council is of the opinion that the attack on Iran constitutes a violation of international law,” Pfister told SonntagsZeitung, referring to the Swiss Cabinet.
“In our view it constitutes a violation on the prohibition of violence,” he added, calling on all parties involved to halt the fighting to protect the civilian population.
Pfister said he was referring to all the countries not complying with the prohibition on violence, including the United States and Israel.
“The Americans and Israel have attacked Iran from the air. In doing so, they, like Iran, violated international law,” Pfister said.
Israel warns it will pursue any successor to Ayatollah Khamenei
The Israeli military has warned it will pursue any successor to slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran says it is close to announcing his replacement.
A women holds a portrait of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a protest outside Gandhi Hospital in Tehran yesterday. Majid Saeedi / Getty Images
"We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue any successor and anyone who seeks to appoint a successor," it said in a statement.
A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said earlier today that most members had agreed on Khamenei's successor.
The IDF said the Assembly of Experts was set to convene in the city of Qom.
"We warn everyone who plans to attend the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you as well," it said. "This is a warning!”
Photos: Fire blazes in northeast Tehran following strike on oil depot
A video shared on social media yesterday and verified by NBC News shows the fiery aftermath of an airstrike on an oil depot in northeast Tehran.
@Vahid / via X
@Vahid / via X
Iran close to announcing new supreme leader
Iran's Assembly of Experts is close to agreeing on who will replace Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a member of the Assembly.
"The main duty of the Assembly of Experts is to introduce a new leader as soon as possible," Ayatollah Amireza Hodayi said today, as reported by Iranian state media.
Most members have agreed on one candidate, and this decision has been sent to the Assembly’s leadership board, he said.
When ready, board representative Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri will announce the name of Iran's new supreme leader to the public.
Araghchi: If Trump seeks escalation, he will get it
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s openness to de-escalation was turned down by Trump, who he said misinterpreted Iran’s capabilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Shadati / Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images file
“If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our Powerful Armed Forces have long been prepared for, and what he will get,” Araghchi said in a statement posted on X. “Responsibility for any intensification of Iran’s exercise of self-defense will lie squarely with the U.S. Administration.”
Araghchi also commented on the human toll of the war in Iran for the U.S., as well as the cost of it, adding that the National Intelligence Council determined the war “is destined to fail.”
Iran has continued to hit targets in the Middle East after Pezeshkian said it will only attack neighbors used to launch strikes. The attacks included strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to local state media and officials.
Oil depots in Iran hit by airstrikes
Several oil depots in Iran were hit by airstrikes, according to semiofficial news agency Fars and an Iranian oil company.
Two of the depots that Fars said were struck, the Sharan and Shar Rey facilities, are in different parts of Tehran. Video from the city showed large fires and an orange sky. One showed huge plumes of dark smoke visible from a highway.
Explosions erupt following strikes at Tehran Oil Refinery in Tehran on March 7. Atta Kenare / AFP via Getty Images
Fars also reported a depot was hit in the nearby city of Karaj.
The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company said missiles struck several facilities in Tehran and Alborz provinces and that firefighting teams were working to put the fires out.
Israel launches new wave of strikes as it advises some to seek shelter
The Israeli military is launching a new wave of strikes against Iran targeting military infrastructure, it said in a statement.
It also indicated that Iran launched missiles that targeted locations on Israeli soil. Israel and its automated defense systems were working on intercepting the munitions, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Officials, including Israel’s Home Front Command, asked residents of targeted areas to find a “protected space” and seek shelter. It sent a precautionary alert to the cellphones of people living in those areas, the IDF said.
Iran’s president says it doesn’t want conflict with neighbors amid backlash to strikes
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country’s regional neighbors are “brothers” as he downplayed its retaliatory strikes as an obligation not intended to undermine Iran’s connections to other Middle Eastern states.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Evgenia Novozhenina / AP file
“The enemy wants us and neighboring countries to be in war and tries to create differences between us and other countries,” he said during a visit to a hospital. “We consider neighboring countries our brothers and we must have good relations with them.”
At the same time, Pezeshkian said, Iran must respond to attacks.
“Responding to an attack does not mean we want conflict with that country or want to upset its people. We are forced to respond,” he said.
Earlier, he said neighboring countries would be spared its military offensives “unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries.”
Some of Iran’s most influential regional neighbors include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, which all host U.S. military personnel.
“If any country attacks our land, we must respond to that attack,” Pezeshkian said in remarks posted to telegram.
The president said Iran must reject the killing of “innocent” people during the war, and he asked if the United States also felt this way.
“Iran has not bowed and will not bow to bullying, injustice and invasion,” Pezeshkian said.
He urged people of the Middle East to stand together and take to the streets.
“Everyone should come because we want to defend the land and water of our country,” Pezeshkian said.
