U.S. military strikes against Iran continue. According to the latest reports, U.S. Central Command stated it has conducted another strike on Iranian targets. The U.S. released a video on a social platform showing the new round of offensive actions. On March 1, the Israeli Defense Forces issued a statement saying the Israeli Air Force is attacking western and central regions of Iran.
The Middle East situation is escalating in turn. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the "most fierce offensive operation in history" by Iranian armed forces is about to begin, targeting bases of Israel and the United States. The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, vowing to make the U.S. and Israel regret their actions.
After Iranian media confirmed Khamenei's death in an attack, reports indicated that the country would be led by Iranian President Pezeshkian, the Judiciary Chief, and a jurist from the Guardian Council. Separately, U.S. media reported that President Trump stated he has a "suitable candidate" in mind to lead the Iranian government.
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The U.S. military announced a new round of strikes. On March 1, reports cited U.S. Central Command confirming renewed strikes on Iranian targets. A video posted on social media showed the latest offensive actions.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated on the 1st that the Israeli Air Force is attacking western and central Iran, having struck over 30 targets, including air defense systems, missile launchers, and military command centers.
Air raid sirens were activated multiple times in Tehran, with thick smoke rising in the night sky.
According to further reports, a Pentagon official cited by a U.S. aviation website stated that as of early March 1, the U.S. military had conducted nearly 900 airstrikes within 12 hours, originating from "land, air, and sea, including drones."
Simultaneously, U.S. forces detected Iran launching approximately 300 missiles, with its stockpile potentially reaching 4,000. The official confirmed that Iranian missiles hit an empty warehouse and a radar station belonging to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, adding that it would take several days for the U.S. and Israel to fully suppress Iranian air defenses.
Reports also indicated heightened activity at several pizza shops near the Pentagon.
"Iranian President and Others to Lead the Nation." On March 1, Iranian media reported that following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, the country would be led by President Pezeshkian, the Judiciary Chief, and a jurist from the Guardian Council during the transition phase.
Separately, U.S. President Trump was quoted as saying that U.S. airstrikes were "proceeding well" and a diplomatic solution remained "easily" achievable. Trump added, "Obviously easier than yesterday, because they are being hit hard." He also stated he had a "suitable candidate" in mind to lead Iran.
Regarding Iran's retaliatory actions, Trump said, "This was expected," noting that the scale of Iran's response so far was smaller than anticipated by the U.S. and its allies.
Iran: To Launch Most Fierce Attack. Reports confirmed that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated the "most fierce offensive operation in history" by Iranian armed forces is imminent, targeting Israeli and U.S. bases.
Iranian media reported that the Guard Corps issued a statement vowing to "severely punish the perpetrators" responsible for Khamenei's death. The statement expressed deep mourning for the "great leader" and pledged that the Iranian people would "mete out extremely severe, decisive, and painful punishment." Iran vowed to "resolutely confront domestic and foreign plots and punish the aggressors."
The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces declared it would make the U.S. and Israel regret their actions, stating, "We will continue on the path of Leader Khamenei, resisting the enemy until the last drop of blood."
According to the Associated Press, the Arab League stated on February 28 that U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran marked a moment where "the Arab-Israeli conflict has escalated into a full-scale regional war." The League's Permanent Observer to the UN accused Israel of using the war with Iran to evade ending its occupation of Palestinian territories, prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and "impose hegemony in the Middle East by military means." He claimed Israel launched "unrestricted military attacks" allegedly to "prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons," while Israel itself refuses to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. The observer added that Israel also refuses to participate in UN conferences on establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
