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Iran has warned it could target parks, recreational areas and tourist spots around the world, while insisting it is continuing missile production despite ongoing attacks. The statement came nearly three weeks after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that have killed several top Iranian leaders and severely damaged its weapons and energy sectors. Iran has also launched attacks on Israel and energy facilities in nearby Gulf Arab countries during a period when many Muslims are observing a major religious occasion. At the same time, people in Iran are marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, though celebrations are quieter than usual due to the conflict. With limited information coming from inside Iran, the full extent of damage to its military, nuclear and energy facilities remains unclear. It is also uncertain who is currently leading the country. However, Iran has shown it can still carry out attacks that are disrupting oil supplies and affecting the global economy, driving up food and fuel prices. The United States and Israel have given different reasons for the war, including attempts to weaken Iran’s leadership and stop its nuclear and missile programmes. So far, there are no visible signs of an internal uprising in Iran, and it remains unclear how the conflict will end. Iran remains defiant Iran’s military spokesperson Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that tourist and recreational locations could become targets for Iran’s enemies. His comments have raised concerns that Iran might expand attacks beyond the Middle East. U.S. and Israeli officials say their strikes have significantly weakened Iran’s military. Reports indicate that several high-ranking leaders, including the country’s supreme leader and senior security officials, have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Iran’s naval and air forces have been largely destroyed and that its ballistic missile production has been halted. However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard rejected this claim. Spokesman Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini said Iran is still producing missiles even during wartime and has no shortage in stockpiling. He also suggested that Iran is not seeking a quick end to the war. Shortly after his remarks were broadcast, Iranian state media reported that he was killed in an airstrike. Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in a rare statement, said Iran’s enemies should feel insecure. He has not appeared in public since taking over after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed at the start of the conflict. Attacks spread across the region Iran has increased attacks on energy facilities in Gulf countries following an Israeli strike on its South Pars gas field earlier this week. A Kuwaiti oil refinery, Mina Al-Ahmadi, was hit by Iranian drones early Friday, causing a fire. The refinery is one of the largest in the region. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also reported incidents involving intercepted projectiles and drones targeting key areas. Explosions were heard in Dubai as air defence systems responded to incoming threats during Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Meanwhile, in Iran, people continued marking Nowruz amid reports of new Israeli strikes and explosions in Tehran. Explosions were also reported in Jerusalem following warnings of incoming Iranian missiles, leaving two elderly people slightly injured. Israel has continued strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, and expanded its operations to Syria, citing attacks on the Druze community. Rising casualties and global impact More than 1,300 people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the conflict began. In Lebanon, over 1,000 people have died and more than 1 million have been displaced. Israel has reported 15 deaths from Iranian missile attacks, while additional casualties were recorded in the West Bank. At least 13 U.S. troops have also been killed. The ongoing conflict is increasing risks to the global economy. Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, along with attacks on energy infrastructure, have raised fears of an energy crisis. Global oil prices have surged, with Brent crude rising sharply since the war began. Higher fuel costs are adding pressure to already rising prices of food and consumer goods worldwide. Disruptions in the supply of key materials are also expected to push prices higher across various industries.  

Around 90 ships, including oil tankers, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war with Iran, with the country continuing to export millions of barrels of oil even as the strategic waterway faces partial closure, according to maritime and trade data. Many vessels were “dark” transits, evading Western sanctions and likely linked to Iran, Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported. More recently, ships from India and Pakistan have also passed through after diplomatic talks with Tehran. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to urge allies to send warships and reopen the strait to ease market pressure. Most shipping traffic has halted since early March, and about 20 vessels have been attacked in the area. Despite this, Iran exported over 16 million barrels of oil since March 1, with China remaining the main buyer due to sanctions-related risks. Analysts said Iran has used its control over the strait to maintain exports and profit from oil sales. Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that of the 89 vessels passing the strait between March 1–15, 16 were oil tankers and more than one-fifth were Iran-affiliated. Pakistan- and India-flagged ships also successfully crossed, following negotiations with Tehran. Experts say Iran has effectively created a “safe corridor” near its coast for selected ships, while selectively restricting others. Oil market analysts warn that Iran may continue limiting tanker movements to maintain high energy prices.

France and Italy have begun discussions with Tehran in an effort to ensure the safe passage of their vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported. Citing three sources familiar with the matter, the report said the two European countries are trying to negotiate an arrangement with Iran that would guarantee safe navigation for their ships through the crucial maritime route. The talks remain at an early and tentative stage, the report added. The effort comes as European states seek to revive oil and gas exports from the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions. Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify the report. Separately, Reuters reported that France is also working to assemble a broader international coalition aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation improves. According to two French officials cited by Reuters, Paris has been consulting European, Asian and Gulf Arab countries on a plan that could involve deploying warships to escort oil tankers through the narrow waterway. The strait is a vital corridor for global energy supplies. Data from the Germany-based CESifo Research Network shows that in 2024 about 6.2 percent of crude oil and 8.7 percent of liquefied natural gas imported from non-EU countries passed through the passage.

Bangladesh has received reassurance from Iran regarding the safe passage of fuel shipments amid growing concerns about global oil supply disruptions. Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi on Friday said his country Iran stands ready to ensure that Bangladeshi oil tankers can pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. "I have seen that there is an energy crisis in your country. Due to the energy problem, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Energy Minister (Iqbal Hassan Mahmood) have requested the Iranian government to allow Bangladeshi oil tankers to pass through," said the Ambassador. “I have spoken with Iranian government officials and they are ready. If you have vessels willing to transport fuel, we will allow them to pass safely so that the people of Bangladesh do not face difficulties,” the Ambassador told reporters following an event in Dhaka. Iran’s secretive new leader issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel, reports AP. Early Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new threat online to Iran, writing: “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today.” Trump tallied the damage inflicted on Iran and its leaders and called it a “great honor” to be responsible for it. The remarks by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s attacks were creating conditions for the Iranian population to topple the government. “It is in your hands,” Netanyahu said at a news conference, addressing the Iranian people. “We are creating the optimal conditions for the fall of the regime.” Energy conservation plea goes unheeded as Dhaka malls glow with lights Iran will continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel, according to a statement attributed to Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, reports the BBC. His message was broadcast on Iranian state TV, but Khamenei did not appear in person. His message was instead read out by a newsreader. Iran would "avenge the blood" of Iranians killed in the war with the US and Israel, Khamenei said in the statement, which also warned neighbouring countries to stop hosting US bases. He was named supreme leader on 8 March after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the war. Ambassador Jahanabadi defended his country’s position, and said, "We are not seeking a regional war, but we cannot remain indifferent while being attacked from American bases in neighbouring countries." The first week of war with Iran cost the United States $11.3 billion, according to the Pentagon, which provided the estimate to Congress in a briefing earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting.   The US military reported spending $5 billion on munitions alone in the war’s first weekend. The war continued to escalate on its 13th day as oil prices spiraled up again to $100 per barrel, and stocks sank worldwide over fears that the conflict could drag on longer than hoped. To relieve the surge in prices, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it was further easing sanctions on Russian oil by granting a license that authorizes the delivery and sale of some Russian crude oil and petroleum products for the next month. Trump signaled earlier this week that he would take more action to address the squeeze on oil flows. The move follows the administration’s decision to grant temporary permission for India to buy Russian oil. The new exemption applies only to Russian oil already at sea. Last week, analysts estimated there were about 125 million barrels loaded on tankers. To put that in perspective, about 20 million barrels of oil per day usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Energy Agency.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday outlined several conditions for ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, saying Tehran is committed to regional peace but expects its rights to be recognised. In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said the conflict could only end if Iran’s “legitimate rights” are acknowledged, compensation is paid for damages and strong international guarantees are provided to prevent future attacks. Earlier, Iran’s armed forces warned of a major retaliation if the United States carried out strikes on Iranian ports. Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, told state-run IRIB TV that no port, economic centre or location in the Persian Gulf would be beyond Iran’s reach if Washington attacked Iranian port facilities. His comments came after the US Central Command posted a warning on its Persian-language account on X urging civilians in Iran to stay away from port areas where Iranian naval operations were taking place. The latest escalation follows joint US-Israeli attacks launched on Feb 28 targeting Tehran and several other Iranian cities. The strikes killed Iran’s then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran later retaliated by launching multiple missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US-linked targets across the Middle East.

Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, has appealed to FIFA to postpone his team’s intercontinental World Cup playoff due to the disruptions caused by the escalating war in Iran. The Iraqi squad faces major challenges ahead of their winner-takes-all match against either Suriname or Bolivia, set for March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico. With Iraqi airspace closed until April 1, Arnold’s team — mostly made up of domestic league players cannot fully assemble. Many players are also unable to secure visas for Mexico because of embassy closures, while Arnold himself is stuck in the United Arab Emirates amid the conflict. “Please help us with this game because right now we are struggling to get our players out of Iraq,” Arnold, a former Australian national team coach, told the Australian Associated Press. The turmoil has already forced the cancellation of a planned training camp in Houston. Arnold said relying only on overseas-based players is not a viable solution. “It wouldn’t be our best team, and we need our best squad for the country’s biggest game in 40 years,” he said. Arnold has suggested a strategic delay: let Suriname and Bolivia play their preliminary match this month, but postpone Iraq’s final playoff until a week before the World Cup starts. “This would give us time to prepare properly and allow FIFA to see how the situation with Iran develops,” he said. “If Iran withdraws, we go to the World Cup, and it also gives the UAE, who we beat in qualifying, time to prepare for either Bolivia or Suriname.” Iraq Football Association president Adnan Dirjal is reportedly working tirelessly to make the World Cup dream a reality, and Arnold stressed that a quick decision from FIFA is crucial.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been chosen as the new supreme leader of Iran amid the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel, according to state media reports. Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war when attacks targeted his compound in Tehran. The strike also killed Mojtaba’s mother, wife and one of his sisters. The 56-year-old cleric was reportedly not present at the time and survived the bombing. Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader, confirmed his appointment and called for national unity. In a statement carried by state media on Sunday, the assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen through a “decisive vote”. The body urged Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities”, to “pledge allegiance to the leadership and maintain unity”. Although he has never run for public office or faced a nationwide vote, Mojtaba Khamenei has long been considered an influential figure within the inner circle of Iran’s leadership. Over the years he developed strong connections with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated paramilitary forces. His rise to the top position suggests that hardline factions within Iran’s political establishment continue to hold significant influence, potentially signalling limited willingness by Tehran to enter negotiations in the near future. For years Mojtaba Khamenei had been mentioned as a likely successor to his father, who served nearly eight years as president and then ruled as supreme leader for more than three decades before his death. However, the new leader has largely kept a low public profile. He rarely gives speeches or public lectures, and many Iranians have never heard his voice despite his long-standing influence within the ruling establishment. His possible succession had long been considered sensitive because it could resemble a hereditary transfer of power similar to the monarchy that ruled Iran before the Iranian Revolution. Allegations over protest crackdowns For nearly two decades, critics inside and outside Iran have linked Mojtaba Khamenei to the suppression of anti-government protests. Reformist figures first accused him of influencing the disputed 2009 presidential election that returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power. The election triggered mass demonstrations known as the Green Movement. Opposition groups claimed that the paramilitary Basij force, which operates under the Revolutionary Guard, was used to crack down on protesters. The Basij has since played a central role in suppressing several waves of nationwide demonstrations, including recent protests in which international organisations and the United Nations said thousands of people were killed during security operations earlier this year. Iranian authorities have repeatedly blamed the unrest on “terrorists” and “rioters” allegedly supported by the United States and Israel. Military ties and economic influence Mojtaba Khamenei built close links with the Revolutionary Guard during the 1980s when he served in its Habib Battalion during the Iran–Iraq War. Many of his former comrades later secured influential positions in Iran’s security and intelligence institutions. Western governments have imposed sanctions on him, and media reports have alleged that he controls a large financial network spanning several countries. According to reports cited by Bloomberg, he has been linked to Iranian businessman Ali Ansari, whose Bank Ayandeh collapsed last year after heavy debts and controversial loans to insiders. The bank’s dissolution reportedly worsened Iran’s inflation as some losses were covered using public funds. Neither Khamenei nor Ansari has publicly responded to the allegations. Questions over religious credentials Another issue surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership is his clerical rank. He holds the title of hojatoleslam, a mid-ranking position within the Shiite clerical hierarchy, rather than the higher title of ayatollah traditionally associated with the supreme leadership. However, his father was also not an ayatollah when he assumed the role in 1989, and Iran’s laws were later adjusted to accommodate his leadership. A similar arrangement could again be made if needed. With heavy bombing continuing across Iran and authorities imposing widespread internet restrictions, it remains unclear when the government will formally announce the next steps in its leadership transition. With inputs from Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump said the decision on when to end the war with Iran will be a “mutual” one taken together with Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking in a phone interview, Trump said he and the Israeli prime minister had “been talking,” adding that he would “make a decision at the right time”. When asked whether Israel could continue the war against Iran if the United States decided to stop its strikes, Trump dismissed the scenario, saying: “I don't think its going to be necessary”. Trump also declined to comment on reports that Mojtaba Khamenei had been named the country’s new supreme leader, saying: “We'll see what happens”, according to a report by The Times of Israel. He has previously expressed opposition to Mojtaba’s leadership, saying: “Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me”. Source: BBC

Trump declines to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei appointment; Lindsey Graham criticises move US President Donald Trump has declined to comment on Iran’s reported appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, saying only “we’ll see what happens” when asked about the development in an interview, according to The Times of Israel. Trump also indicated that any decision regarding ending the conflict with Iran would be taken jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything will be taken into account,” the Israeli news outlet quoted Trump as saying. During the interview, Trump also urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges. Referring to the Israeli prime minister by his nickname “Bibi,” Trump said Netanyahu should be pardoned immediately so he could focus on the war rather than the ongoing legal case. He criticised Herzog for not granting the pardon. Separately, US Senator Lindsey Graham criticised Iran’s decision to choose Mojtaba Khamenei as successor to his slain father, Ali Khamenei, saying the move does not represent the change the United States wants to see, reports Al Jazeera . Posting on the social platform X, the Republican senator from South Carolina said he believes it is only a matter of time before Mojtaba meets the same fate as his father. Graham has consistently advocated for stronger military action against Iran. A recent report by The Wall Street Journal said he had advised Netanyahu on how to persuade Trump to take action against Tehran.    

At least 6,668 civilian sites have been hit in US-Israeli attacks since the war began on February 28, according to statistics from the Iranian Red Crescent Society cited by the Fars news agency. The report detailed that the strikes damaged 5,535 residential units, 1,041 commercial properties, 14 medical centres, 65 schools, and 13 facilities linked to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, reports Al Jazeera. Several rescue and relief vehicles were also damaged, and multiple Red Crescent personnel were injured while conducting emergency operations, the report added.