Iran, Israel, US war

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Israel, US launch attack on Iran; Ayatollah leaves Tehran​

Source: ANI February 28, 2026 13:22 IST
Israel has declared an immediate nationwide special state of emergency, warning that a missile and drone attack against Israeli territory and civilians is expected in the immediate timeframe.

IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, on February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Photograph: WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points​

• Israel launched preventive missile strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran.
• Israel declared a nationwide special state of emergency and shifted to Essential Activity mode amid fears of retaliation.
• The United States is reportedly involved in the strikes, according to media reports.
• The escalation comes amid ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations, with another round of talks scheduled.

Israel launched a preventive missile attack against Iran on Saturday, as reported by TPS. Citizens were advised to seek shelter after the Israel Defence Forces said sirens were sounded across the country as a proactive alert for the possibility of missiles being launched towards Israel.
TPS further reported that Defence Minister Israel Katz said the pre-emptive strikes were carried out to remove threats to the country.
The IDF called on the public to stay in proximity to protected spaces.

According to The Jerusalem Post, a security source confirmed that the United States is also involved in the strikes.

Strikes aimed to remove 'existential threat': Netanyahu​

February 28, 2026 16:28 IST
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares a joint operation with the US against Iran, citing the existential threat posed by the regime's nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, urging citizens to remain patient and follow safety guidelines.

IMAGE: An Israeli soldier speaks on the phone while holding his child during the partial evacuation of a residential building damaged by shrapnel, after missiles were launched towards Israel from Iran following strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, in Haifa, northern Israel, on February 28, 2026. Photograph: Rami Shlush/Reuters

Key Points​

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced a joint operation with the US, dubbed 'Roaring Lion', aimed at addressing the threat posed by Iran's regime.
• Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his leadership and highlighted Iran's history of hostility towards Israel and the US.
• The Israeli Prime Minister emphasised the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
• Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to overthrow the current regime and establish a free and peace-seeking Iran.
• Netanyahu urged Israeli citizens to follow the directives of the Home Front Command during the operation.

Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message to citizens.
"I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership," Netanyahu said.

"For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called for 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America.' It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people," the Israeli Premier said.
"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," he stressed.
The US held two round of talks with Iran to negotiate a deal but said that it failed to reach an agreement to stop Iran from going nuclear.
"Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," Netanyahu further added, in continuation of his position that the war was against the regime, and not the Iranian people.
"The time has come for all segments of the people in Iran -- the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Balochis, and the Ahwazis -- to rid themselves of the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran," he appealed.

Call to Action and Operation Details​

The Israeli Prime Minister advised his citizens to comply with the directives of the Home Front Command.
The coming days of Operation 'Roaring Lion' will demand patience and fortitude from all of us, he emphasised.
"We shall stand together, fight together, and ensure the eternity of Israel together," he concluded.

Iran's Supreme Leader taken to 'secure location'​

The report further said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a 'secure location', according to an Iranian official who spoke to Reuters.
The IDF also said that following a situational assessment, immediate changes were made to the Home Front Command guidelines, shifting all areas of the country from Full Activity to Essential Activity.
The guidelines prohibit educational activities, gatherings, and workplace operations, except in essential sectors.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the capital, Tehran.
According to TPS, Defence Minister Katz declared an immediate nationwide special state of emergency under Israel's Civil Defense Law, warning that a missile and drone attack against Israeli territory and civilians is expected in the immediate timeframe.

Iranian media also reported that mobile phone lines were cut in parts of eastern and western Tehran, and internet connectivity weakened in some areas.

The attack comes amid nuclear talks​

The developments come a day after US President Donald Trump described Iran as 'very difficult' and 'very dangerous' as Washington, DC considers its next steps in nuclear negotiations, while emphasizing a preference for a peaceful resolution despite ongoing military tensions.
The third round of negotiations between Iran and the United States was held in Geneva on Thursday, with another round scheduled for Saturday.
Trump said the US faces a 'big decision' in talks with Iran and stressed that any deal with Tehran must be 'meaningful.'
Iran retaliates with missiles, Israel declares emergency
Source: ANI February 28, 2026 15:05 IST
According to the IDF, defensive systems were immediately activated to intercept the incoming threat, underscoring Israel's layered missile defence capabilities.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers move a patient to a sheltered parking facility of the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) in Tel Aviv, on the day Israel's military announced they identified missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Itai Ron/Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran launched missiles toward Israel after a joint US-Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iranian territory.
• Israel activated its missile defence systems and issued shelter alerts to citizens.
• India advised its nationals in Iran and Jordan to exercise caution and limit movement.
• Israel declared a nationwide emergency, airspace was closed in multiple countries, and fears of a wider regional conflict have intensified.

In a major escalation of regional hostilities, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday confirmed that missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israeli territory following a joint United States-Israeli 'pre-emptive' strike on Iranian territory.
According to the IDF, defensive systems were immediately activated to intercept the incoming threat, underscoring Israel's layered missile defence capabilities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier condemned what it described as the 'brutal aggression of the Zionist regime' against Iran, stating that its attacks were a response to enemy actions.
'In the name of God, the Breaker of Tyrants, in response to the aggression of the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of extensive missile and drone strikes toward the occupied territories has commenced,' the Iranian Embassy in India said.

UAE reports Iranian missile attacks​

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also intercepted missiles launched by the Iranian military, according to Khaleej Times.
In a major escalation of regional tensions, Israel and the United States initiated a joint operation aimed at neutralising what they described as an existential threat posed by Iran.
The strike follows weeks of high-stakes nuclear negotiations and mounting military posturing in the region. While the full scope and impact are still being assessed, the launch signals a significant retaliatory move in the broader confrontation between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for American support and described Trump’s leadership as 'historic'.
In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel and the United States had embarked on an operation to remove what he called the 'existential threat' posed by Iran.
He also appealed to the Iranian people to rise against their government.
In a televised address posted on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the launch of a military operation targeting Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had earlier announced the strike, dubbed 'Operation Roaring Lion', stating that its objective was to eliminate threats to Israel.
Trump also warned Iranian forces to lay down their arms and surrender, offering immunity, or face 'certain death', as the Middle East plunged into a state of full-scale conflict following coordinated strikes on multiple targets across Iran.

Death toll in southern Iran rises to 40​

Sat, 28 February 20260

The death toll from an aerial strike on a girls' school in southern Iran has risen amid a major military offensive by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.

The attack struck a girls' school in Minab, a city in Iran's Hormozgan province in the Gulf region.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, at least 40 people have been killed and around 45 others wounded in the strike.

The city of Minab also hosts a base of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict.

Officials in Tehran have blamed the deaths on the joint US-Israel military campaign, but neither the US nor Israeli authorities have provided any official details or commentary on the specific attack so far.

The incident highlights the rising humanitarian toll as tensions escalate sharply in West Asia, with combat operations unfolding across multiple fronts and fears growing of a wider regional confrontation. -- Agencies
.Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi urges Iranians to rise up
Sat, 28 February 2026 16:54

West Asia finds itself plunged into another conflict as the United State and Israel conducted joint strike on Iran in what has been dubbed as Operation Roaring Lion.

The aim they say is to prevent the Islamist regime from arming itself while calling for the people to rise up and seize power.

One rallying point for the Iranian people over the last few months of intensified protests has been the former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who dubbed the strike a humanitarian intervention.

In a video posted on X Pahlavi, "My dear compatriots, Moments of destiny lie ahead of us. The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived.

"This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter--not the country and great nation of Iran. But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands.

"It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near."

The former Prince who has been living in exile in France also called on Iran's security apparatus to rise up against the Islamist regime.

"Now that the Islamic Republic is collapsing, my message to the country's military, police, and security forces is clear: You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian people--not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei's sinking ship and his regime," he said.

Reaching out to US President Trump he called the Iranian people America's natural allies urging caution from the US during its strikes.

"My message to the President of the United States, President Trump, is this: The noble people of Iran, despite the savage repression and massacres of this regime, stood firm with courage for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history," he said.

Pahlavi urged Iranians to stay safe saying he would announce a timeline for the people to return to the streets and take action.

"To you, my dear compatriots in Iran: In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran. I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security. Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time--which I will announce to you precisely--you can return to the streets for the final action. Follow my messages through social media and satellite media. If there are disruptions to the internet and satellite, I will stay in touch with you via radio waves. We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran," he said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਈਰਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਤੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ

ਡਾ. ਦਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਾਲ

ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਐਮਰੀਟਸ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਗਤ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ

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ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਨਾਲ, ਈਰਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ। ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਫਲਸਤੀਨ ਨੂੰ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਫਲਸਤੀਨੀ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਇਕਲੌਤੀ ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਦੇਖਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਖਾਤਮੇ ਦੀ ਵਕਾਲਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਭੂਸੱਤਾ ਸੰਪੰਨ ਰਾਜ ਵਜੋਂ ਮਾਨਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੰਦਾ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਜਾਇਦਾਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਮੱਧ ਪੂਰਬ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਰਤਾ ਲਈ ਖ਼ਤਰਾ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹੈ। ਦੋਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਬੰਧ ਤਣਾਅਪੂਰਨ ਬਣੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।

ਈਰਾਨ 13 ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਸੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ 1947 ਵਿੱਚ ਫਲਸਤੀਨ ਦੇ ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਆਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਵੰਡ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਵੋਟ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਸੀ। ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਦੋ ਸਾਲ ਬਾਅਦ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਾਖਲੇ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਵੋਟ ਦਿੱਤੀ। 1979 ਤੋਂ, ਈਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਕੂਟਨੀਤਕ ਸਬੰਧ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਣਾਏ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਰਿਸ਼ਤਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਦਾ ਹੈ। 1953 ਦੇ ਤਖ਼ਤਾਪਲਟ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਬੰਧਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁਧਾਰ ਹੋਇਆ, ਜਿਸਨੇ ਪੱਛਮ-ਪੱਖੀ ਨੇਤਾ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਨੂੰ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਵਜੋਂ ਬਹਾਲ ਕੀਤਾ। ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਦੇ ਰਾਜ ਦੌਰਾਨ, ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧ ਦੋਸਤਾਨਾ ਸਨ, ਪਰ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਇਨਕਲਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਇਹ ਵਿਗੜ ਗਏ। 1991 ਵਿੱਚ ਖਾੜੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਦੇ ਅੰਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਈਰਾਨ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇਆਮ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। 2025 ਅਤੇ 2026 ਵਿਚ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡੇ ਹਥਿਆਰਬੰਦ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਪਿਛੋਂ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣੀ ਹੋਰ ਵਧ ਗਈ।

ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ 1985 ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰੌਕਸੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਮੱਧ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਪਿਆ। 1990 ਦੇ ਦਹਾਕੇ ਦੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਵਿੱਚ, ਸੋਵੀਅਤ ਯੂਨੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਪਤਨ ਅਤੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਰਾਕ ਦੀ ਹਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਠੌਢੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਦਲ ਗਈ। ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਮਹਿਮੂਦ ਅਹਿਮਦੀਨੇਜਾਦ ਨੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਭੜਕਾਊ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ, ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਯਿਤਜ਼ਾਕ ਰਾਬਿਨ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਤਿਖਾ ਰੁਖ਼ ਅਪਣਾਇਆ। ਈਰਾਨੀ ਪਰਮਾਣੂ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ, ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ, ਫਲਸਤੀਨੀ ਇਸਲਾਮਿਕ ਜੇਹਾਦ, ਹਮਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਹੌਥੀ ਵਰਗੇ ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਸੰਗਠਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਈਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ, 1994 ਦੇ ਬੰਬ ਧਮਾਕੇ ਅਤੇ 1992 ਵਿੱਚ ਬਿਊਨਸ ਆਇਰਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ 'ਤੇ ਬੰਬ ਧਮਾਕੇ ਵਰਗੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ, ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਧਮਕੀਆਂ ਵਾਧੂ ਕਾਰਣ ਹਨ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਤਣਾਅ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਹੈ।ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ 2006 ਦੀ ਲੇਬਨਾਨ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋਏ। ਸੀਰੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਯਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਘਰੇਲੂ ਯੁੱਧਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਸਮੂਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ, ਈਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੇ ਬੁਨਿਆਦੀ ਢਾਂਚੇ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਸਾਈਬਰ ਹਮਲੇ ਅਤੇ ਤੋੜ-ਫੋੜ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੇਲ ਟੈਂਕਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਸਥਾਪਨਾਵਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ। 12 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਈਰਾਨ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਜੰਗ 2025 ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਟਿਕਾਣਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ।

ਸ਼ਾਹ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਦੇ ਤਾਨਾਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਅਧੀਨ, ਮੁੱਖ ਸ਼ੀਤ ਯੁੱਧ ਵੇਲੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਈਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਹਿਯੋਗੀ ਸੀ; ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ, 1979 ਦੀ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਕ੍ਰਾਂਤੀ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ, ਇਹ ਬਦਲ ਗਿਆ। 7 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ, 1980 ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ ਕੂਟਨੀਤਕ ਸਬੰਧ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਅਲੀ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਨੇ ਅਗਸਤ 2018 ਵਿੱਚ ਅਹੁਦਾ ਸੰਭਾਲਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਾਲ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਸੰਚਾਰ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀ ਲਗਾ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਸੀ। ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਨਿਆਂ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਈਰਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਡੋਨਾਲਡ ਟਰੰਪ ਸਮੇਤ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਨੇਤਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਅਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟਾਂ ਦੀ ਹੱਤਿਆ ਕਰਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਾਂ ਨਵੀਂ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣੀ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਣ ਹਨ।

1979-1981 ਦਾ ਈਰਾਨ ਬੰਧਕ ਸੰਕਟ, ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਕ੍ਰਾਂਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਈਰਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ-ਵਾਰ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ, ਲੋਕਤੰਤਰੀ ਇਨਕਲਾਬਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਸੂਸੀ ਤਕਨੀਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ 'ਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ, ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਪੱਛਮੀ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ, ਈਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ, ਅਤੇ ਹਮਾਸ (ਗਾਜ਼ਾ), ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ (ਲੇਬਨਾਨ), ਅਤੇ ਹੌਥੀ (ਯਮਨ) ਵਰਗੇ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀ ਸਮੂਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰੌਕਸੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਫੰਡਿੰਗ, ਇਹ ਸਭ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਬੰਧਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਗੜਨ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨਾਂ ਵਜੋਂ ਦਰਸਾਏ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ 1995 ਤੋਂ ਈਰਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਵਪਾਰਕ ਪਾਬੰਦੀ ਲਗਾਈ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ।

ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ 2015 ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਸਫਲਤਾਪੂਰਵਕ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ 'ਤੇ IEAIਨਿਰੀਖਣ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਸ਼ੋਧਨ ਪੱਧਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ । ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ 2016 ਵਿੱਚ ਹਟਾ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਸਨ। ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ "ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਦਬਾਅ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ" 2018 ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਈ ਜਦੋਂ ਟਰੰਪ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਪਾਸੜ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਹਟ ਕੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਹਾਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਹੌਲੀ-ਹੌਲੀ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਘਟਾ ਕੇ ਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਅੰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੰਸ਼ੋਧਨ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੋੜ ਕੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿੱਤਾ। 22 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ, 2019 ਨੂੰ, ਟਰੰਪ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਦੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਚੀਨ, ਭਾਰਤ, ਜਾਪਾਨ, ਦੱਖਣੀ ਕੋਰੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਰਕੀ ਲਈ ਛੇ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਬੰਦੀ ਛੋਟ ਜੋ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਲ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਸੀ, ਨੂੰ ਨਵਿਆਇਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ 1 ਮਈ ਤੱਕ ਖਤਮ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਤੇਲ ਦੇ ਗਾਹਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਈਰਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਤੇਲ ਖਰੀਦਣਾ ਬੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਜਾਂ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਭੁਗਤਣ ਦਾ ਜੋਖਮ ਲੈਣ। ਇਸ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਤੇਲ ਨਿਰਯਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਬਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਵਜੋਂ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ । ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੇ ਛੋਟਾਂ ਨੂੰ "ਕੋਈ ਭਰੋਸੇਯੋਗਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ" ਤੇ ਇਹ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਗੈਰ-ਕਾਨੂੰਨੀ ਸਨ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਜ਼ੁਬਾਨੀ ਝਗੜੇ ਦੇ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਵਜੋਂ ਯੂਰੇਨੀਅਮ ਸੰਸ਼ੋਧਨ ਸਥਾਪਨਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਬਾਹ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਆੜ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਈਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਬਣ ਗਏ।

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਟੀਚਾ ਈਰਾਨ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਹਟਾਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਸੁਹਿਰਦ ਰਿਸ਼ਤਾ ਸੀ। ਈਰਾਨ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਯੁੱਧ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਦਿਖਾ ਕੇ ਜਾਇਜ਼ ਠਹਿਰਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਦੋ ਦੌਰ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ, ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਵਿਕਸਤ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ 'ਤੇ ਪਹੁੰਚਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਸਮਰੱਥ ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਡੋਨਾਲਡ ਟਰੰਪ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ "ਬਹੁਤ ਖ਼ਤਰਨਾਕ" ਅਤੇ "ਬਹੁਤ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ" ਕਹਿਣ ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਦਿਨ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਾਪਰੀਆਂ ਜਦੋਂ ਵਾਸ਼ਿੰਗਟਨ, ਡੀ.ਸੀ., ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਕਦਮਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਫੌਜੀ ਚਿੰਤਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਇੱਕ ਕੂਟਨੀਤਕ ਨਤੀਜੇ ਦੀ ਤਰਜੀਹ 'ਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਈਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਵੀਰਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਜੇਨੇਵਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੀ ਤੀਜੀ ਦੌਰ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕੀਤੀ, ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਦੌਰ ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ ਲਈ ਤੈਅ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ "ਅਰਥਪੂਰਨ" ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਚਰਚਾ ਵਿੱਚ "ਵੱਡੇ ਫੈਸਲੇ" ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ। ਅਜੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਚੱਲ ਹੀ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ 28 ਫਰਵਰੀ, 2026 ਨੂੰ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਦਾਗੀਆਂ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਟੀਚਾ ਅਯਾਤੁੱਲਾ ਖੋਮਾਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਨਾ ਸੀ।



ਤਸਵੀਰ:

28 ਫਰਵਰੀ, 2026 ਨੂੰ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਇੱਕ ਧਮਾਕੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਧੂੰਆਂ ਉੱਠਦਾ ਹੈ, ਵੀਡੀਓ ਤੋਂ ਲਈ ਗਈ ਫੋਟੋ: ਵਾਨਾ (ਵੈਸਟ ਏਸ਼ੀਆ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਏਜੰਸੀ) ਰਾਇਟਰਜ਼

ਈਰਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਬਦਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਦਾਗੀਆਂ ਜਾਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਘੋਸ਼ਿਤ ਕੀਤੀ। ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਨਾਰਾਜ਼ਗੀ ਦੇ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਵਜੋਂ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਘੇਰਨ ਲਈ ਆਪਣਾ ਜੰਗੀ ਬੇੜਾ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਤਾਇਨਾਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ । ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਇਸ ਧਮਕੀ ਨੇ ਅਯਾਤੁੱਲਾ ਨੂੰ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਛੱਡਣ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਬਦਲੇ ਦੇ ਡਰੋਂ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਰਾਜਵਿਆਪੀ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਘੋਸ਼ਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਨੇੜਲੇ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਖੇਤਰ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਇੱਕ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਡਰੋਨ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਕੀਤੀ । ਇਹ ਹਮਲਾ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਇਆ। ਆਈਡੀਐਫ ਦਾ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਰਤਦਾਰ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਸਮਰੱਥਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਜਾਗਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਬਚਾਅ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਚਾਲੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਇਰਾਨ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ, ਅਤੇ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਧਮਾਕਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੈਂਕੜੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ, ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰੀਸ਼ਦ ਦੀ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ। ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸੁਪਰੀਮ ਲੀਡਰ ਅਯਾਤੁੱਲਾ ਅਲੀ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ, ਈਰਾਨੀ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨੇ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕੀਤੀਈਰਾਨੀ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਅਲੀ ਸ਼ਮਖਾਨੀ; ਈਰਾਨੀ ਰੈਵੋਲਿਊਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਗਾਰਡ ਕੋਰ ਦੇ ਕਮਾਂਡਰ ਮੁਹੰਮਦ ਪਾਕਪੁਰ; ਅਤੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਅਜ਼ੀਜ਼ ਨਸੀਰਜ਼ਾਦੇਹ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹਨ। ਗਾਰਡੀਅਨ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ 200 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ, 747 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ hoey:, ਦੱਖਣੀ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਮੀਨਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਕੁੜੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਇਮਰੀ ਸਕੂਲ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ 108 ਬੱਚੇ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਹਵਾਈ ਸੈਨਾ ਨੇ 7 ਈਰਾਨੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ[

ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ, ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੇ [ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਠਿਕਾਣਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਡਰੋਨ ਦਾਗੇ ਹਨ, ਅਰਥਾਤ, ਬਹਿਰੀਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਵੇਂ ਬੇੜੇ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਰਿਹਾਇਸ਼ੀ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਿਕਾਣਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਦੁਬਈ ਦੇ ਫੇਅਰਮੋਂਟ ਹੋਟਲ, ਬਹਿਰੀਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਅੱਡੇ, ਕੁਵੈਤ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ ਅਤੇ ਕਤਰ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ hY।ਜਵਾਬੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਘੱਟੋ-ਘੱਟ ਛੇ ਗੁਆਂਢੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਫੈਲ ਗਏ ਹਨ।ਤੇਲ ਅਵੀਵ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਰਿਹਾਇਸ਼ੀ ਇਮਾਰਤ 'ਤੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੁਣ ਤੱਕ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ 21 ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ।

ਮੱਧ ਪੂਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਡਾਣਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਘਨ ਪਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਖੇਤਰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹਨ, ਜਿਸ ਕਾਰਨ ਯਾਤਰੀ ਫਸ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਦੁਬਈ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ 'ਤੇ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਦੀ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ, ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਅਬੂ ਧਾਬੀ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ 'ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸੱਤ ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ।

ਬਦਲੇ ਦੇ ਡਰੋਂ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਅਸਾਧਾਰਨ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਗਤੀਵਿਧੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਦਲ ਗਿਆ। ਮੀਡੀਆ ਰਿਪੋਰਟਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹਮਲੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਵੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਸਨ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਦੌਰ ਯੋਜਨਾਬੱਧ ਸੀ, ਪਰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਇਹ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੋਇਆ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਬਲਾਂ ਨੇ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਕਿ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ 'ਤੇ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵੀ ਗੋਲੀਬਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਰੋਕਥਾਮ ਉਪਾਅ ਵਜੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਇਰਨ ਚਾਲੂ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਸਨ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਵਸਨੀਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਨਾਹ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਕਾਟਜ਼ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਦੇਸ਼ ਲਈ ਖ਼ਤਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਸਨ।

ਆਈਡੀਐਫ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਸੀ। ਈਰਾਨ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਇੱਛਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਤਵਾਦ ਦੇ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਤੋਂ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਏ ਹੋਂਦ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਦਾ ਹਵਾਲਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਬੈਂਜਾਮਿਨ ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਾਲ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ। ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧੀਰਜ ਰੱਖਣ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰੋਟੋਕੋਲ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ।

ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਤਾਨਾਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਏ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਦਾ ਮੁਕਾਬਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨਾਲ "ਰੋਅਰਿੰਗ ਲਾਇਨ" ਨਾਮਕ ਇੱਕ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਸਤਾਵ ਰੱਖਿਆ। ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਟਰੰਪ ਦਾ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਲਈ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਲੰਬੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਚੱਲੀ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣੀ 'ਤੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਿ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਣਾ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਹੈ।

ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਡੇਗਣ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ, ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀਪੂਰਨ ਈਰਾਨ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ। ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੌਰਾਨ, ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਮ ਫਰੰਟ ਕਮਾਂਡ ਦੇ ਆਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ। "ਆਇਤੁੱਲਾ ਤਾਨਾਸ਼ਾਹੀ 47 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ 'ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਮੌਤ' ਅਤੇ 'ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੂੰ ਮੌਤ' ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ, "ਇਸਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਤਲੇਆਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ, ਕਈ ਅਮਰੀਕੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਸਾਡਾ ਖੂਨ ਵਹਾਇਆ ਹੈ।" "ਇਸ ਕਾਤਲ ਅੱਤਵਾਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਲੈਸ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਜੋ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਸਾਰੀ ਮਨੁੱਖਤਾ ਲਈ ਖ਼ਤਰਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਯੋਗ ਬਣਾਉਣਗੇ," ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ।

ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਕਿਹਾ, "ਸਾਡੀ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਆਪਣੀ ਕਿਸਮਤ ਆਪਣੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰੇਗੀ," ਆਪਣੇ ਦਾਅਵੇ ਨੂੰ ਦੁਹਰਾਉਂਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿ ਯੁੱਧ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਬਜਾਏ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਲੜਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। "ਸਮਾਂ ਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਵਰਗਾਂ - ਫਾਰਸੀ, ਕੁਰਦ, ਅਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ, ਬਲੋਚ ਅਤੇ ਅਹਵਾਜ਼ - ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ੁਲਮ ਦੇ ਜੂਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਤ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ-ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਈਰਾਨ ਲਿਆਉਣ," ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ।

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਮ ਫਰੰਟ ਕਮਾਂਡ ਦੇ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ। ਉਸਨੇ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ "ਰੋਅਰਿੰਗ ਲਾਇਨ" ਦੇ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਧੀਰਜ ਅਤੇ ਲਚਕੀਲਾ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਰੂਰਤ ਹੋਏਗੀ। "ਅਸੀਂ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਹੋਵਾਂਗੇ, ਇਕੱਠੇ ਲੜਾਂਗੇ, ਅਤੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀ ਸਦੀਵਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਵਾਂਗੇ," ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ।

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਸਿਵਲ ਡਿਫੈਂਸ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੇ ਤਹਿਤ, ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਕਾਟਜ਼ ਨੇ ਕਥਿਤ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਦੇਸ਼ ਵਿਆਪੀ ਅਸਧਾਰਨ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਨਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਆਬਾਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਜ਼ਮੀਨ 'ਤੇ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਡਰੋਨ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੇ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਸੁਚੇਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ, ਈਰਾਨੀ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕੁਝ ਥਾਵਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਇੰਟਰਨੈਟ ਕਨੈਕਟੀਵਿਟੀ ਵਿਗੜ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਛਮੀ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਹਿੱਸਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੋਬਾਈਲ ਫੋਨ ਲਾਈਨਾਂ ਕੱਟ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ।

ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਧਰਤੀ 'ਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ ਪੂਰਵ-ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ, ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵੱਲ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਦਾਗੀਆਂ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਨਾਹ ਦੇ ਨੋਟਿਸ ਭੇਜੇ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਚਾਲੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਜਾਰਡਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਘਟਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡੇ ਖੇਤਰੀ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਦੇ ਡਰ ਵਧ ਗਏ ਹਨ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਵਾਈ ਖੇਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।

ਖੇਤਰੀ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣੀ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡੇ ਵਾਧੇ ਵਿੱਚ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਬਲਾਂ (IDF) ਨੇ ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਕਿ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਖੇਤਰ 'ਤੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਸਾਂਝੇ 'ਪ੍ਰੀ-ਐਂਪਟਿਵ' ਹਮਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਈਰਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਖੇਤਰ ਵੱਲ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਦਾਗੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਸਨ। IDF ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਰੱਖਿਆਤਮਕ ਪ੍ਰਣਾਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਸਰਗਰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਰਤਾਂ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਸਮਰੱਥਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਜਾਗਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਇਸਲਾਮਿਕ ਰੈਵੋਲਿਊਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਗਾਰਡ ਕੋਰ ਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ 'ਜ਼ਾਇਨਿਸਟ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਦੇ ਬੇਰਹਿਮ ਹਮਲੇ' ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਣਨ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੀ ਨਿੰਦਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੀ, ਇਹ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਕਿ ਇਸਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਾਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਦਾ ਜਵਾਬ ਸਨ।

ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਦੂਤਾਵਾਸ ਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ, "ਜ਼ਾਲਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੋੜਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਰੱਬ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ 'ਤੇ, ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਗਣਰਾਜ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਅਤੇ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਦੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਬਜ਼ੇ ਵਾਲੇ ਖੇਤਰਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਵਿਆਪਕ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਡਰੋਨ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਲਹਿਰ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ।" ਖਲੀਜ ਟਾਈਮਜ਼ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ, ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਅਰਬ ਅਮੀਰਾਤ (ਯੂਏਈ) ਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਫੌਜ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਦਾਗੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਮਿਜ਼ਾਈਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਸੀ।

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਅਸਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤੀ, ਜਿਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਂਦ ਦਾ ਖ਼ਤਰਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਖੇਤਰੀ ਤਣਾਅ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਹਮਲੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹਫ਼ਤਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਤੀਬਰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਧਦੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ। ਖੇਤਰੀ ਤਣਾਅ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡੇ ਵਾਧੇ ਵਿੱਚ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਂਦ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਅਸਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਹਮਲਾ ਹਫ਼ਤਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਚੱਲੀਆਂ ਉੱਚ-ਦਾਅ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਧਦੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਹੋਇਆ।

ਇਹ ਲਾਂਚ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਧਿਰਾਂ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਵੱਡੇ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡੀ ਬਦਲਾ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ ਪੂਰੀ ਹੱਦ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਦਾ ਅਜੇ ਵੀ ਮੁਲਾਂਕਣ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ, ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਬੈਂਜਾਮਿਨ ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਡੋਨਾਲਡ ਟਰੰਪ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਨੂੰ "ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ" ਕਿਹਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ੰਸਾ ਕੀਤੀ। ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਬਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ "ਹੋਂਦ ਦੇ ਖ਼ਤਰੇ" ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ, ਉਸਨੇ ਈਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਬਗਾਵਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ।

ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਟੈਲੀਵਿਜ਼ਨ ਭਾਸ਼ਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਸਹੂਲਤਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਬਣਾ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਫੌਜੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਟਰੂਥ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ 'ਤੇ ਸਾਂਝਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। "ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਰੋਅਰਿੰਗ ਲਾਇਨ" ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਇਸ ਆਪ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਡਿਫੈਂਸ ਫੋਰਸਿਜ਼ (IDF) ਦੁਆਰਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸਨੇ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਸਦਾ ਟੀਚਾ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਲਈ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਖਤਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਕਰਨਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ, ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਧਮਕੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਫੌਜਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਤਮ ਸਮਰਪਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਛੱਡੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ 'ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਮੌਤ' ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰਨਗੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਮੱਧ ਪੂਰਬ ਪੂਰੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਈ ਟੀਚਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਤਾਲਮੇਲ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੈਮਾਨੇ 'ਤੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਤਰ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।



ਕਈ ਮੋਰਚਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਲੜਾਈ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਾਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਹੋ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਖੇਤਰੀ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਵਧਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਚਿੰਤਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ, ਇਹ ਘਟਨਾ ਵਧਦੀ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਮੌਤ ਨੂੰ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਪੱਛਮੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਣਾਅ ਕਾਫ਼ੀ ਵਧਦਾ ਹੈ। ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਟੈਲੀਵਿਜ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਨੀਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਈਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਹੋਰਮੋਜ਼ਗਨ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਮੀਨਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਕੁੜੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਕੂਲ 'ਤੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਹਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ 40 ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥਣਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਅਤੇ ਲਗਭਗ 45 ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਹੋ ਗਈਆਂ, ਸਰਕਾਰੀ IRNA ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਏਜੰਸੀ ਦੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ। ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਇਸਲਾਮਿਕ ਰੈਵੋਲਿਊਸ਼ਨਰੀ ਗਾਰਡ ਕੋਰ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਖਿਡਾਰੀ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ, ਦੀ ਮੀਨਾਬ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਸਹੂਲਤ ਹੈ। ਤੇਹਰਾਨੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਮੌਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਕਾਰਨ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਫੌਜੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ, ਪਰ ਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਅਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਇਸ ਖਾਸ ਹਮਲੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੋਈ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਜਾਂ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ।



ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਤੋਂ ਫੌਜੀ ਅਤੇ ਨੈਤਿਕ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਜਲਾਵਤਨ ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸ ਰਜ਼ਾ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ, ਈਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਗਾਵਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਸੱਦਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਟੀਚਾ ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਹਥਿਆਰਬੰਦ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਣਾ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਜਨਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਬਗਾਵਤ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਲੈਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਕ੍ਰਾਊਨ ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸ ਰੇਜ਼ਾ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਹੜਤਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਨਵਤਾਵਾਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਸੀ, ਪਿਛਲੇ ਕੁਝ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਧੇ ਹੋਏ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਈਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਬਿੰਦੂ ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। X 'ਤੇ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਇੱਕ ਵੀਡੀਓ ਵਿੱਚ, ਪਹਿਲਵੀ "ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਹਮਵਤਨੀਓ, ਕਿਸਮਤ ਦੇ ਪਲ ਹੁਣ ਆ ਗਏ ਹਨ।" ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਗਣਰਾਜ, ਇਸਦਾ ਦਮਨਕਾਰੀ ਸਿਸਟਮ, ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦਾ ਕਤਲਖਾਨਾ ਇਸ ਮਾਨਵਤਾਵਾਦੀ ਦਖਲਅੰਦਾਜ਼ੀ ਦਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਹਨ, ਈਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਅਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ। ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ, ਇਸ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਦੇ ਆਉਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਜਿੱਤ ਅਜੇ ਵੀ ਸਾਡੇ ਹੱਥਾਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। "ਅਸੀਂ, ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕ, ਇਸ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ"। ਉਸਨੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਕਿਹਾ। "ਸੜਕਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਨੇੜੇ ਹੈ।" "ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਫੌਜ, ਪੁਲਿਸ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਬਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਸੁਨੇਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਗਣਰਾਜ ਟੁੱਟ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ: ਤੁਸੀਂ ਈਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਹੁੰ ਖਾਧੀ ਹੈ, ਇਸਲਾਮੀ ਗਣਰਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦੇ ਨੇਤਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ। ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਨਾ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਹੈ, ਨਾ ਕਿ ਅਜਿਹੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਜਿਸਨੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਧਕ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਅਤੇ ਦਮਨ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਆਓ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਤਬਦੀਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਯੋਗਦਾਨ ਪਾਓ। ਜੇਕਰ ਇਹ ਹੁਣ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਦੀ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਉਸਦੇ ਡੁੱਬਦੇ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਡੁੱਬ ਜਾਓਗੇ," ਉਸਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ।

ਉਸਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਟਰੰਪ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕੀਤਾ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸਾਵਧਾਨੀ ਵਰਤਣ ਦੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਸਹਿਯੋਗੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਦਰਸਾਇਆ।

"ਮੈਂ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਦੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਟਰੰਪ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਦੇ ਬੇਰਹਿਮ ਅਤਿਆਚਾਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਅੱਤਿਆਚਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਲਗਭਗ ਦੋ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਡਟੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਥੀ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ, ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਵਧਾਨੀ ਨਾਲ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧਣ ਦੀ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ। ਈਰਾਨੀ ਲੋਕ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਸਹਿਯੋਗੀ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ ਵੀ ਹਨ, ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਆਧੁਨਿਕ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਸਮੇਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਨੂੰ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਯਾਦ ਰੱਖਣਗੇ," ਉਸਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਨੇ ਈਰਾਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਰਹਿਣ ਦੀ ਚੇਤਾਵਨੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸਨੇ ਸੜਕਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਆਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਇੱਕ ਸਮਾਂ ਸੀਮਾ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਵੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ।

"ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ, ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਹਮਵਤਨ: ਸਾਨੂੰ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਜ਼ੁਕ ਸਮਿਆਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਅੰਤਮ ਉਦੇਸ਼ - ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨਾ - ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਕਿਤੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਵਚਨਬੱਧ ਰਹਿਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਲਈ, ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਫਿਲਹਾਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਘਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹੋ। ਸੁਚੇਤ ਅਤੇ ਤਿਆਰ ਰਹੋ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਹੀ ਸਮੇਂ 'ਤੇ ਆਖਰੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਲਈ ਸੜਕਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਾਪਸ ਆ ਸਕੋ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਖਾਸ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ। ਮੇਰੇ ਸ਼ਬਦਾਂ ਦੀ ਪਾਲਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸੈਟੇਲਾਈਟ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਅਤੇ ਸੋਸ਼ਲ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰੋ। ਜੇਕਰ ਸੈਟੇਲਾਈਟ ਅਤੇ ਇੰਟਰਨੈਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਘਨ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਰੇਡੀਓ ਤਰੰਗਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਸੰਚਾਰ ਕਰਾਂਗਾ। ਅੰਤਿਮ ਜਿੱਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਨੇੜੇ ਹੈ। ਸਾਡੇ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੁੜ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ, ਮੈਂ ਜਿੰਨੀ ਜਲਦੀ ਹੋ ਸਕੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹਾਂ," ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ।

ਦੋਵਾਂ ਪਾਸਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਨੇਤਾਵਾਂ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਜੇ ਨੂੰ ਤਬਾਹ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਧਮਕੀ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਨਫ਼ਰਤ ਭਰੀਆਂ ਟਿੱਪਣੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ। "ਅਸੀਂ 14 ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਠਿਕਾਣਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕੀਤਾ," ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸੈਂਕੜੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸੈਨਿਕ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਕੁਝ ਸਵਾਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਇੱਥੇ ਹਨ: ਕੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਨੂੰ ਉਖਾੜ ਸੁੱਟਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਫਲ ਹੋਣਗੇ? ਇਹ ਸੰਭਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਪਦਾ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਹ ਸਥਾਨਕ ਜਨਤਾ ਦੇ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਸੰਭਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਈਰਾਨੀ ਅਜੇ ਵੀ ਪਹਿਲਵੀ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਖਮੇਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਤਰਜੀਹ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਿਸਨੂੰ ਉਹ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਕਠਪੁਤਲੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਕੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਵਿਕਸਤ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ? ਇਹ ਸੰਭਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਚੀਨ ਅਤੇ ਰੂਸ, ਦੋ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰਬੰਦ ਦੇਸ਼, ਗੁਪਤ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਕੀਮਤ 'ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣੂ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।

ਜਦੋਂ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਪੱਛਮੀ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਅਰਬ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਕੀ ਉਹ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਧੁਰੀ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਕਰਨਗੇ? ਕੁਝ ਅਰਬ ਦੇਸ਼ ਇਸ ਧੁਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਪਣਾ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ-ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਗੱਠਜੋੜ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਈਵਾਲ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੱਖਦੇ। ਇਹ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਚਿਰ ਚੱਲੇਗਾ? ਇਹ ਇੱਕ ਲੰਮਾ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਹਾਰ ਮੰਨਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਚੀਨ ਅਤੇ ਰੂਸ ਅੰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਰ ਚਿੰਤਤ ਕਰੇਗਾ। ਕੀ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇੱਕ ਲੰਬੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ? ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਆਬਾਦੀ ਟਰੰਪ ਦਾ ਸਮਰਥਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦੀ, ਇਸ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਸੰਭਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਪਦਾ। ਸੈਨੇਟ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਯੁੱਧ ਰੋਕਣ ਅਤੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਮਜਬੂਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਆਓ ਅਸੀਂ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰਾਰਥਨਾ ਕਰੀਏ।

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

8 killed in Iranian missile attack on Israel; UAE port targeted​

Source: ANI March 01, 2026 21:15 IST
The strike in Beit Shemesh comes as part of a broader escalation in the region, with additional Iranian strikes were reported in Dubai, Qatar's capital Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

IMAGE: Emergency personnel carry a body at the site of an Iranian strike after Iran launched missile barrages following attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday, in Beit Shemesh, Israel, March 1, 2026. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters
The number of fatalities following an Iranian ballistic missile strike on the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh has increased to eight, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Israeli emergency services.

Key Points​

• The missile struck a residential area, leaving at least 27 people injured
• Emergency operations are currently underway at the scene of the explosion
• The Israeli military said that search and rescue units, along with medical personnel and a helicopter, are actively operating at the impact site

The missile struck a residential area, leaving at least 27 people injured. Medical officials confirmed that two of the wounded remain in serious condition.
Emergency operations are currently underway at the scene of the explosion. Al Jazeera noted that the Times of Israel newspaper also confirmed the missile hit a populated area within the city limits.
The Israeli military, in a statement on Telegram, said that search and rescue units, along with medical personnel and a helicopter designated for casualty evacuation, are actively operating at the impact site.
The strike in Beit Shemesh comes as part of a broader escalation in the region.
Expanding the scope of hostilities, Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was also targeted by missile strikes launched by Iran, according to a report by the Iranian state broadcaster, Press TV.
These developments follow heightened tensions in West Asia after joint missile strikes titled Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury were carried out by Israel and the United States on Iran.
Explosions were reported in Tehran and other major cities, with US President Donald Trump and Iranian state media claiming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, along with his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law.
However, an Israeli newspaper reported that there is no official confirmation regarding the fate of Khamenei.
In response, Iran declared 40 days of public mourning and vowed "the most devastating offensive operation" against US bases and Israel.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps pledged revenge, stating that it had launched attacks on 27 bases hosting US troops in West Asia, as well as Israeli military facilities in Tel Aviv.
Additional Iranian strikes were reported in Dubai, Qatar's capital Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait, with Tehran stating that US bases in the region were being targeted.
Meanwhile, an oil tanker was struck off the coast of Oman, and airlines cancelled or diverted flights in and around the West Asian region amid the escalating conflict.
Following Saturday's strikes, Israel on Sunday stated that it is attacking targets "in the heart of Tehran."
As the military confrontation intensified, international media outlets carried visuals of contrasting public reactions inside Iran.
CNN reported celebrations in several cities, with whistling, cheering, and slogans of "Death to the Islamic Republic" and "Long live the Shah" heard on the streets.
Fox News documented similar scenes in Besat Town, a suburb of Karaj.
Former Israeli spokesperson Eylon A. Levy and activist Masih Alinejad also shared footage of Iranian women dancing in the streets following news of the strikes.
Earlier, US President Trump announced the death of Khamenei on Truth Social, describing it as "justice for the people of Iran" and stating that "pinpoint bombing... will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE."
As Iran's Supreme Leader's office marks the end of a 37-year chapter by flying flags at half-mast, authorities have heightened security, particularly in Tehran, to prevent unrest.
Attention is now focused on the process of selecting Khamenei's successor and the implications for Iran's future leadership.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iranian rockets hit Jerusalem, IRGC HQ destroyed, US strikes 1,000 Iranian targets, UAE closes the Iranian embassy, and Etihad extends suspension of flights​

A rapid escalation across the Middle East. Missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel. Explosions were heard in West Jerusalem. Tehran reported strikes on police buildings, state media offices, and other sites. The United States claimed it destroyed key Iranian military targets. The conflict has disrupted oil routes, aviation, and stock markets. Countries including the UAE and UK have taken action. The European Union has called for restraint. Oil prices are expected to rise as the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption.
Iran Israel war live latest updates confirm that an Iranian rocket made a direct hit on Jerusalem, according to reports. Air raid sirens sounded across West Jerusalem. The Israeli military said it detected missiles launched from Iran. It said defensive systems were operating to intercept the threat.
The Israeli army later said it dismantled Iranian combat headquarters. It stated that command centres linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were struck. These included intelligence headquarters and air force command centres in Tehran. The military said it targeted personnel managing operations against Israel

The US Central Command said it destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It claimed over 1,000 Iranian targets were struck. These included missile sites, naval ships, submarines, air defence systems, and a police station in Rey near Tehran was hit. Iranian media said people were killed and others were trapped under rubble. Strong explosions shook Tehran around 9pm local time. Iran state TV said parts of its headquarters were struck but broadcasting continued.Command centres in iran have been struck. President Donald Trump said nine Iranian naval ships were destroyed and sunk.

Eight Iran-backed fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces were killed in Iraq. Strikes hit Diyala province and near the al-Qaim border crossing. Baghdad declared three days of mourning for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Explosions were also heard in Erbil. UK forces shot down an Iranian drone heading toward Qatar. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said UK aircraft were operating in the region. Three oil tankers were hit in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC claimed the ships were US and UK vessels. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported vessels hit by unknown projectiles.
Shipping company Maersk paused sailings through Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz. Over 200 vessels dropped anchor in the area. More than 14 million barrels per day passed through the Strait last year. Brent crude closed at $72.48 per barrel and could rise to $85–$90.
UAE closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrew its ambassador. The UAE also closed its stock markets for two days. Etihad Airways suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 14:00 UAE time. KLM cancelled flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam until March 5.

 

[Warriorlight]

Israel, US launch attack on Iran; Ayatollah leaves Tehran​

Source: ANI February 28, 2026 13:22 IST
Israel has declared an immediate nationwide special state of emergency, warning that a missile and drone attack against Israeli territory and civilians is expected in the immediate timeframe.

IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, on February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Photograph: WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points​

• Israel launched preventive missile strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran.
• Israel declared a nationwide special state of emergency and shifted to Essential Activity mode amid fears of retaliation.
• The United States is reportedly involved in the strikes, according to media reports.
• The escalation comes amid ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations, with another round of talks scheduled.

Israel launched a preventive missile attack against Iran on Saturday, as reported by TPS. Citizens were advised to seek shelter after the Israel Defence Forces said sirens were sounded across the country as a proactive alert for the possibility of missiles being launched towards Israel.
TPS further reported that Defence Minister Israel Katz said the pre-emptive strikes were carried out to remove threats to the country.
The IDF called on the public to stay in proximity to protected spaces.

According to The Jerusalem Post, a security source confirmed that the United States is also involved in the strikes.

Strikes aimed to remove 'existential threat': Netanyahu​

February 28, 2026 16:28 IST
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares a joint operation with the US against Iran, citing the existential threat posed by the regime's nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, urging citizens to remain patient and follow safety guidelines.

IMAGE: An Israeli soldier speaks on the phone while holding his child during the partial evacuation of a residential building damaged by shrapnel, after missiles were launched towards Israel from Iran following strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, in Haifa, northern Israel, on February 28, 2026. Photograph: Rami Shlush/Reuters

Key Points​

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced a joint operation with the US, dubbed 'Roaring Lion', aimed at addressing the threat posed by Iran's regime.
• Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his leadership and highlighted Iran's history of hostility towards Israel and the US.
• The Israeli Prime Minister emphasised the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
• Netanyahu called on the Iranian people to overthrow the current regime and establish a free and peace-seeking Iran.
• Netanyahu urged Israeli citizens to follow the directives of the Home Front Command during the operation.

Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message to citizens.
"I thank our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership," Netanyahu said.

"For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has called for 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to America.' It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people," the Israeli Premier said.
"This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity," he stressed.
The US held two round of talks with Iran to negotiate a deal but said that it failed to reach an agreement to stop Iran from going nuclear.
"Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands," Netanyahu further added, in continuation of his position that the war was against the regime, and not the Iranian people.
"The time has come for all segments of the people in Iran -- the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Balochis, and the Ahwazis -- to rid themselves of the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-seeking Iran," he appealed.

Call to Action and Operation Details​

The Israeli Prime Minister advised his citizens to comply with the directives of the Home Front Command.
The coming days of Operation 'Roaring Lion' will demand patience and fortitude from all of us, he emphasised.
"We shall stand together, fight together, and ensure the eternity of Israel together," he concluded.

Iran's Supreme Leader taken to 'secure location'​

The report further said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a 'secure location', according to an Iranian official who spoke to Reuters.
The IDF also said that following a situational assessment, immediate changes were made to the Home Front Command guidelines, shifting all areas of the country from Full Activity to Essential Activity.
The guidelines prohibit educational activities, gatherings, and workplace operations, except in essential sectors.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the capital, Tehran.
According to TPS, Defence Minister Katz declared an immediate nationwide special state of emergency under Israel's Civil Defense Law, warning that a missile and drone attack against Israeli territory and civilians is expected in the immediate timeframe.

Iranian media also reported that mobile phone lines were cut in parts of eastern and western Tehran, and internet connectivity weakened in some areas.

The attack comes amid nuclear talks​

The developments come a day after US President Donald Trump described Iran as 'very difficult' and 'very dangerous' as Washington, DC considers its next steps in nuclear negotiations, while emphasizing a preference for a peaceful resolution despite ongoing military tensions.
The third round of negotiations between Iran and the United States was held in Geneva on Thursday, with another round scheduled for Saturday.
Trump said the US faces a 'big decision' in talks with Iran and stressed that any deal with Tehran must be 'meaningful.'
Iran retaliates with missiles, Israel declares emergency
Source: ANI February 28, 2026 15:05 IST
According to the IDF, defensive systems were immediately activated to intercept the incoming threat, underscoring Israel's layered missile defence capabilities.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers move a patient to a sheltered parking facility of the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) in Tel Aviv, on the day Israel's military announced they identified missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, February 28, 2026. Photograph: Itai Ron/Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran launched missiles toward Israel after a joint US-Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iranian territory.
• Israel activated its missile defence systems and issued shelter alerts to citizens.
• India advised its nationals in Iran and Jordan to exercise caution and limit movement.
• Israel declared a nationwide emergency, airspace was closed in multiple countries, and fears of a wider regional conflict have intensified.

In a major escalation of regional hostilities, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday confirmed that missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israeli territory following a joint United States-Israeli 'pre-emptive' strike on Iranian territory.
According to the IDF, defensive systems were immediately activated to intercept the incoming threat, underscoring Israel's layered missile defence capabilities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier condemned what it described as the 'brutal aggression of the Zionist regime' against Iran, stating that its attacks were a response to enemy actions.
'In the name of God, the Breaker of Tyrants, in response to the aggression of the hostile and criminal enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first wave of extensive missile and drone strikes toward the occupied territories has commenced,' the Iranian Embassy in India said.

UAE reports Iranian missile attacks​

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also intercepted missiles launched by the Iranian military, according to Khaleej Times.
In a major escalation of regional tensions, Israel and the United States initiated a joint operation aimed at neutralising what they described as an existential threat posed by Iran.
The strike follows weeks of high-stakes nuclear negotiations and mounting military posturing in the region. While the full scope and impact are still being assessed, the launch signals a significant retaliatory move in the broader confrontation between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for American support and described Trump’s leadership as 'historic'.
In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel and the United States had embarked on an operation to remove what he called the 'existential threat' posed by Iran.
He also appealed to the Iranian people to rise against their government.
In a televised address posted on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the launch of a military operation targeting Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had earlier announced the strike, dubbed 'Operation Roaring Lion', stating that its objective was to eliminate threats to Israel.
Trump also warned Iranian forces to lay down their arms and surrender, offering immunity, or face 'certain death', as the Middle East plunged into a state of full-scale conflict following coordinated strikes on multiple targets across Iran.

Death toll in southern Iran rises to 40​

Sat, 28 February 20260

The death toll from an aerial strike on a girls' school in southern Iran has risen amid a major military offensive by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.

The attack struck a girls' school in Minab, a city in Iran's Hormozgan province in the Gulf region.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, at least 40 people have been killed and around 45 others wounded in the strike.

The city of Minab also hosts a base of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict.

Officials in Tehran have blamed the deaths on the joint US-Israel military campaign, but neither the US nor Israeli authorities have provided any official details or commentary on the specific attack so far.

The incident highlights the rising humanitarian toll as tensions escalate sharply in West Asia, with combat operations unfolding across multiple fronts and fears growing of a wider regional confrontation. -- Agencies
.Exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi urges Iranians to rise up
Sat, 28 February 2026 16:54

West Asia finds itself plunged into another conflict as the United State and Israel conducted joint strike on Iran in what has been dubbed as Operation Roaring Lion.

The aim they say is to prevent the Islamist regime from arming itself while calling for the people to rise up and seize power.

One rallying point for the Iranian people over the last few months of intensified protests has been the former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who dubbed the strike a humanitarian intervention.

In a video posted on X Pahlavi, "My dear compatriots, Moments of destiny lie ahead of us. The aid that the President of the United States promised to the brave people of Iran has now arrived.

"This is a humanitarian intervention; and its target is the Islamic Republic, its repressive apparatus, and its machinery of slaughter--not the country and great nation of Iran. But, even with the arrival of this aid, the final victory will still be forged by our hands.

"It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish the job in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is near."

The former Prince who has been living in exile in France also called on Iran's security apparatus to rise up against the Islamist regime.

"Now that the Islamic Republic is collapsing, my message to the country's military, police, and security forces is clear: You have sworn an oath to protect Iran and the Iranian people--not the Islamic Republic and its leaders. Your duty is to defend the people, not a regime that has taken our homeland hostage through repression and crime. Join the people and help bring about a stable and secure transition. Otherwise, you will go down with Khamenei's sinking ship and his regime," he said.

Reaching out to US President Trump he called the Iranian people America's natural allies urging caution from the US during its strikes.

"My message to the President of the United States, President Trump, is this: The noble people of Iran, despite the savage repression and massacres of this regime, stood firm with courage for nearly two months. I now ask you to exercise the utmost caution to preserve the lives of civilians and my compatriots. The people of Iran are your natural allies and those of the free world, and they will never forget your support in the most difficult period in contemporary Iranian history," he said.

Pahlavi urged Iranians to stay safe saying he would announce a timeline for the people to return to the streets and take action.

"To you, my dear compatriots in Iran: In these sensitive hours and days, more than ever, we must stay focused on our ultimate goal: reclaiming Iran. I ask you to remain in your homes for now and preserve your safety and security. Stay vigilant and ready so that, at the appropriate time--which I will announce to you precisely--you can return to the streets for the final action. Follow my messages through social media and satellite media. If there are disruptions to the internet and satellite, I will stay in touch with you via radio waves. We are very close to final victory. I want to be by your side as soon as possible so that together we can take back and rebuild Iran," he said.

It's literally the Satanist and Cannibal Elite- the Wealthiest people in the world who fund and control the worlds governments/ Illuminati (a documented organisation) doing this. Prince Andrews best friend Jeffrey Epstein was a Cannibal and Satanist- this has been all over the news and media just before Iran started bombing. The Illuminati are High Level Satanists. Being Epstein the Cannibals best friend, it stands to reason that Prince Andrew is also a Satanist and Cannibal.

These people are literally telling us what they are and why they do what they do (sacrificing and killing babies for Satan literally in Gaza, bombing and sacrficing people to Satan in the countries they just killed people. And yet noone accepts that this is the case. Guru Nanak called the rulers Butchers. These people are literal demons, that is what we are dealing with here.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Sri Lanka recovers bodies of 80 Iranian sailors killed in US strike​

Source: PTI Marh 04, 2026 22:40 IST

Sri Lanka earlier said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the distressed Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, in the southern waters on Wednesday morning.

IMAGE: The Iranian naval ship under US submarine attack off the Sri Lankan coast, March 4, 2026. Photograph: Courtesy US Department of War on X

Key Points​

• US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.
• The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India.
• Sri Lanka's deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said the bodies are now at the hospital at Karapitiya in Galle.
• Sri Lanka asserts its commitment to international maritime obligations, providing assistance regardless of the cause of the distress.

Sri Lankan authorities on Wednesday said that they have recovered some 80 bodies of Iranian sailors killed after a US submarine attack that sank an Iranian naval ship off the island's southern coast.
Sri Lanka earlier said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from the distressed Iranian frigate - IRIS Dena- in the southern waters early this morning. The frigate was carrying around 180 sailors on board.

While the Sri Lankan Navy refused to give reasons as to what caused the vessel to make a distress plea, US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.
He said it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II.
The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India. There was no immediate comment from the Indian Navy.
"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth told reporters in Washington. "Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."
Hegseth said the US military sank the Iranian ship named after "Soleimani," the former Iranian Quds Forcehief general Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by US forces during President Donald Trump's first term.
"I guess POTUS got him twice," Hegseth said, referring to General Soleimani.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that an emergency message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard at 5.08 am regarding a sinking ship named IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle.
Herath said that the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force carried out a joint rescue operation.
"Thirty of them were rescued while around 180 were said to be on board," he said.
Officials said they have recovered some 80 bodies of Iranian sailors.
Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said the bodies are now at the hospital at Karapitiya in Galle.
Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath earlier told reporters in Colombo that several bodies were found near the location of the distress signal, though the exact number was not immediately available.
"At this point, it is difficult to give any numbers, but bodies have been found. As they were found closer to the point of distress, it is accepted that they were from the same ship," he said.
"When our teams reached the scene, we observed a large oil slick, indicating that the ship had sunk," Sampath added.
In response to a question, the spokesperson had categorically rejected media reports that the ship had been sunk in a submarine attack.
"We are only concerned about our obligation to rescue them as first responders under international maritime obligations," he said.
Sampath said the cause of the distress signal would be determined later through investigations by specialised authorities.
Although the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, it fell within the country's search and rescue zone, he said.
Sampath confirmed the vessel was Iranian and the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.
Air Force spokesman Nalin Wewakumbura said no other vessels or aircraft were detected in the area where the distress signal originated.
Hearth said Sri Lankan is bound by international conventions on maritime rescue to assist anyone in distress, irrespective of the reason.
The rescued sailors were taken to the Navy's Southern Command headquarters and later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Herath added.
Officials said that security measures around the Southern Command have been increased.
Referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Herath said Sri Lanka deeply regretted the situation and urged a peaceful resolution.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Key Points​

• US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said a torpedo fired from an American submarine destroyed an Iranian warship in international waters.
• Hegseth described the Tuesday night attack as the first time since World War II that a US submarine had sunk an enemy vessel.
• He asserted that US and Israeli forces would soon establish complete control over Iranian airspace.
• Earlier, Sri Lanka reported its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from a naval ship that sank off the southern coast.
• Lanka confirmed the vessel was Iranian and said the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.

United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said that a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters.

He said it was the first sinking of an enemy vessel by torpedo since World War II.
"An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters," Hegseth told reporters.

"Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo."

Hegseth said the US military sank the Iranian ship named after 'Soleimani', the former Iranian general Qasem Soleimani who was killed by US forces during President Donald Trump's first term.

"I guess POTUS got him twice," Hegseth said, referring to General Soleimani.
Sri Lanka said its Navy rescued 32 Iranian sailors from a naval ship that sank off the southern coast, while several bodies were recovered from the site.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that an emergency message was received by the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard at 5.08 am regarding a sinking ship named IRIS Dena, located about 40 nautical miles off the southern port district of Galle.
at the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force carried out a joint rescue operation.

"Thirty of them were rescued while around 180 were said to be on board," he said.

He said that the reason for the sinking had not yet been established.

The Iranian ship recently participated in an international naval drill hosted by India. There was no immediate comment from the Indian Navy.Sri Lanka denied submarine attack earlier
Sri Lankan Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath told reporters in Colombo that several bodies were found near the location of the distress signal, though the exact number was not immediately available.

"At this point, it is difficult to give any numbers, but bodies have been found. As they were found closer to the point of distress, it is accepted that they were from the same ship," he said.

"When our teams reached the scene, we observed a large oil slick, indicating that the ship had sunk," Sampath added.

In response to a question, the spokesperson had categorically rejected media reports that the ship had been sunk in a submarine attack.

"We are only concerned about our obligation to rescue them as first responders under international maritime obligations," he said.

Sampath said the cause of the distress signal would be determined later through investigations by specialised authorities.

Although the incident occurred outside Sri Lankan territorial waters, it fell within the country's search and rescue zone, he said.

Sampath confirmed the vessel was Iranian and said the rescued crew members were wearing Iranian naval uniforms.

Air Force spokesman Nalin Wewakumbura said no other vessels or aircraft were detected in the area where the distress signal originated.

Hearth said Sri Lankan is bound by international conventions on maritime rescue to assist anyone in distress, irrespective of the reason.

The rescued sailors were taken to the Navy's Southern Command headquarters and later admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Herath added.

Security around the Southern Command had been stepped up, officials said.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Herath said Sri Lanka deeply regretted the situation and urged a peaceful resolution.

Amid rising tensions, Israel's Defence Minister has issued a stark warning that any leader succeeding Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be considered a target, as reports suggest his son Mojtaba may be next in line.

IMAGE: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters

Key Points​

• Israel's Defence Minister warns any successor to Iran's Supreme Leader will be a target for elimination.
• Reports suggest Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, may be chosen as the next Supreme Leader, though this lacks independent confirmation.
• Mojtaba Khamenei is described as having a more hard-line position and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019.
• The IDF is conducting strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut and has issued evacuation warnings.
• Israeli airstrikes have targeted Iranian soldiers, air defence systems, and command centres.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned that any leader appointed by the Iranian regime to replace Ali Khamenei will be a "target for elimination," reported the Times of Israel.

"Any leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the US and the free world and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people, will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides," Katz said in a statement.
"We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to dismantle the regime's capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it," Katz added.
Potential Succession of Mojtaba Khamenei
Israeli media had earlier reported that Ayatollah Khamenei's son Mojtaba has been chosen as the successor to his father and will take over as Supreme Leader. Senior Israeli officials told Ynet News that the Assembly is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei as successor in the coming hours.

However, no independent confirmation has come from official Iran state media on the development.

Mojtaba was said to have had a major hand in running his late father's office and maintains close ties with the top echelon of the IRGC and the Quds force, said the report.
Israeli media described Mojtaba has having a more hard-line position than his father and being behind the violent crackdowns on protesters in Iran.

In November 2019, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Mojtaba. He was designated for representing the then Supreme Leader in an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.

The US Treasury further said that the then Supreme Leader had delegated a part of his leadership responsibilities to Mojataba Khamenei, who worked closely with the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and also the Basij Resistance Force (Basij) to advance his father's destabilizing regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives.
IDF Strikes Against Hezbollah in Beirut
Meanwhile, the IDF said a new wave of strikes is underway against Hezbollah targets in Beirut. The IDF said further details will be provided later. Earlier, IDF issued evacuation warnings for two buildings in Beirut ahead of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure.

"You are located near facilities affiliated with Hezbollah," said the Israeli Army spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee, attaching maps of the buildings that are set to be targeted. Civilians in the area were instructed to distance themselves at least 300 meters from the buildings.

The IDF also showed new footage of an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an air defense system and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in Tehran on Tuesday had hit dozens of command centres of Iran's Basij paramilitary force and internal security forces.

In addition, as part of the strikes, the IDF says it struck sites belonging to the Iranian army's logistics division, missile launchers, and air defence systems.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran says US struck its ship Iris Dena, 'guest of Indian Navy', without warning​

The Sri Lankan navy received a distress call from an Iranian ship, Iris Dena. (AP)

Iran issued a warning to the US, saying it would “bitterly regret” the move against the Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.​

Mar 05, 2026 12:53 PM IST
Iran has lashed out at the US for sinking its warship ‘Iris Dena’ in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi alleged that the ship, “a guest of the Indian Navy”, was struck without warning by the US.
The Iranian vessel was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.
He also issued a warning to the US, saying it would “bitterly regret” the move against the Iranian warship.
“Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning…Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set,” the Iranian minister wrote on X, in the country's first reaction to the sinking of the ship.
Follow live updates on the US-Iran conflict here.
Iris Dena's sinking further intensified the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran that has also raked up a storm in other Middle Eastern countries. According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, this is believed to be the first sinking of a ship by torpedo by the US in the Indian Ocean since World War 2.
What India said on Iranian ship sinking

At least 87 people were killed as a US submarine torpedoed the Iranian vessel that had taken part in the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and the Milan 2026 multi-nation exercise, just a few days ago.
However, people familiar with the matter told HT that the ship was torpedoed outside India’s territorial waters after it had completed its participation in the exercise.
While an official reaction from India is awaited, government sources have told HT that the ship and its crew were “guests of India" only till February 25 and sought no help from the country after the US-Iran conflict escalated last week.
Meanwhile, the government has rejected a viral claim that the US Navy were using Indian ports for its targeting of Iran. “Claims being made on OAN, a US based channel that Indian ports are being used by the US Navy are fake and false," the ministry of external affairs' fact-checking unit said in a post on Wednesday.

The clarification came in response to a claim by retired US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, who said that the US was “falling back on Indian ports”, now that its bases in the Middle East were “destroyed” in the Iranian strikes.

US-Iran conflict rakes up global storm​

The US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran over the weekend, which also led to the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict spilt over to other parts of the Middle East, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the UAE as Tehran began to target US bases and consulates in the respective countries.
Amid the ongoing conflict, India has called for dialogue and diplomacy, emphasising the need to secure the interests of nearly 10 million Indians living in West Asia.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran released gory photo of Ali Khamenei’s body in the rubble. New visuals emerge​

An image claiming to show Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's body under rubble has been analyzed and found to exhibit signs of AI manipulation​

Mar 02, 2026 10:26 AM IST
A widely shared image circulating on social media claims to show the body of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being pulled from rubble following the airstrikes from the US and Israel.

An image claiming to show Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's body under rubble has been analyzed and found to exhibit signs of AI manipulation (REUTERS)

Early on Sunday, March 1, Iranian official television announced the death of Iran's 30-year ruler, the Supreme Leader. Khamenei was killed during the first phase of a concerted US-Israeli strike.

What does the viral image show?​

A pro-Iranian user posted a photo of Khamenei below rubble on X on March 1 with the remark, "My leader gave up his life, but the Muslim nation did not compromise or sell out the followers of Imam Hussain."
The image shows multiple rescuers standing right on the debris over Khamenei's said body, trying to retrieve him from under the heavy concrete.

The image is AI-generated​

According to multiple reports and fact checks, the rescuers are seen unusually putting full body weight on the larger piece of concrete, pressing down on the victim to remove a relatively small piece of debris. Moreover, the image bears tell-tale signs of having been created or altered by AI.
The image contains a SynthID watermark, a marker used by Google’s AI image generation tools. Another fact check by Lead Stories also identified visual inconsistencies, such as unnatural lighting and distorted object shapes.
The hand lying on the wooden beam in the foreground has six fingers, which is a common misstep in images produced by AI. Moreover, upon close examination, several of the structural components, such as the way the metal rods protrude from the concrete or the arrangement of the wooden beams, seem physically irregular or warped.

Additionally, the image has two Arabic watermarks that are easily added to any digital file and do not verify the image's authenticity.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

After Iris Dena attack, Iran says its navy struck US oil tanker in Persian Gulf: Report. This reported attack on the American oil tanker comes after a US submarine torpedoed and sank IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean.​

Mar 05, 2026 1:53 PM IS
After the sinking of Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Thursday, that it has struck an American oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf.

As per the IRGC, the American ship "was hit by a missile in the north of the Persian Gulf" and "is currently on fire". (AFP/Representational )

Iran's Mehr news agency reported an IRGC statement that claims the Iranian Navy struck the US oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf early Thursday, setting it ablaze. Track live updates on the US-Iran war here
An official statement from the US government regarding the same is awaited.
As per the IRGC, the American ship "was hit by a missile in the north of the Persian Gulf" and "is currently on fire."
Also Read | India denies claim of its ports being used by US amid Iran war: ‘Fake and false’
This alleged attack on the US tanker comes hours after Iran vowed to avenge the sinking of its warship.
"The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning," said Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, adding that Washington will "bitterly regret the precedent it has set."

A US submarine, on Wednesday, torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate Dena in the waters near Sri Lanka. This attack came days after the Iranian warship participated in a multi-nation exercise and international fleet review hosted by India in Visakhapatnam. The attack killed 87 people. 32 sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy, and several remain lost at sea.

The attack on the oil tanker, which has not been independently confirmed, also came as the IRGC said they had "full control" of the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and is a vital oil and gas transit route.
As per the Iranian Guards, the Strait of Hormuz is only open for China and Russia. US, Israel, and Europe flagged ships and ships from countries backing them will be prohibited from using the key route and will not be allowed to pass.

Abu Dhabi intercepts drone, says 6 injured from debris amid Iran-US war​

Abu Dhabi: The incident involving falling debris took place at two locations in the ICAD 2 area following the successful interception of a drone by air defences: Mar 05, 2026 4:38 PM​

Six people were injured in United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Abu Dhabi by debris from an intercepted drone, its media office said, as the missile exchange involving the US, Israel, and Iran ripping through the Middle East region entered its sixth day.

File image: Smoke billows from Zayed port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1 (REUTERS)

The incident involving falling debris took place at two locations in the ICAD 2 area following the successful interception of a drone by air defences, the Abu Dhabi media office said.
Pakistani and Nepalese nationals were among those injured in the incident.
"Authorities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi responded to an incident involving falling debris at two locations in the ICAD 2 area, following the successful interception of a drone by air defences. The incident resulted in six minor to moderate injuries to Pakistani and Nepalese nationals," the Abu Dhabi media office said in a statement.

The fighting in the Middle East, triggered by the US-Israel strikes on Iran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and intensified by Tehran's retaliation, entered the sixth day on Thursday.
On Wednesday, March 4, a US submarine sank and torpedoed IRIS Dena, an Iranian frigate. The warship was in Sri Lankan waters in the Indian Ocean after returning from a military exercise in India's Visakhapatnam.
The attack, which was done 2,000 nautical miles away from Iran, killed around 87 people. As per the Sri Lankan government, 32 sailors were rescued during search operations; however, several remain lost at sea and are presumed dead.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth confirmed the US attack and stated that the destruction of the warship was a “huge win” for Washington.
"America is winning decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy. Under the direct command of President Trump, the War Department unleashed this operation early Saturday morning," adding that the US will ensure it succeeds in this joint operation with Israel.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Israel's Finance Ministry warns that the ongoing conflict with Iran could cost the Israeli economy billions of shekels each week, prompting calls for eased restrictions to allow businesses to gradually reopen.

IMAGE: A damaged car is removed following an Iranian missile barrage amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Bnei Brak, Israel. Photograph: Nir Elias/Reuters

Key Points​

• The Finance Ministry is urging a gradual reopening of businesses to mitigate heavy economic costs.
• Current nationwide restrictions in Israel prohibit gatherings, educational activities, and most workplaces.
• Shifting to 'orange alert level' restrictions could reduce weekly economic damage to NIS 4.5 billion.
• The Finance Ministry emphasizes the need to balance security measures with economic needs during the conflict.

The ongoing war with Iran could cost Israel an estimated NIS 9.4 billion (USD 3 billion approximately) per week under current restrictions on economic activities, the Israeli Finance Ministry has warned.

"In a letter sent to the Home Front Command chief, Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom asked to ease restrictions to allow for a gradual, partial reopening of businesses and workplaces as early as Thursday," the Times of Israel reported.
"We need a solution that addresses both the security needs of the home front and the needs of the economy after two and a half years in which the economy has been paying a heavy economic price in light of the increase in security needs and the repercussions of the war," the top Finance Ministry executive reportedly said.

Israel announces austerity measures​

Soon after Israel and the US launched their joint offensive against Iran on Saturday morning, the Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) Home Front Command issued nationwide guidelines prohibiting all gatherings, educational activities, and workplaces, except for essential businesses.

The guidelines limit travel to work, encourage work from home, and has instructed educational institutions to be shut down.
On Monday, following a fresh assessment amid the conflict with Iran, the Home Front Command extended nationwide restrictions until Saturday night.

Rom asked Klapper to shift Home Front Command restrictions from allowing only essential activity to allowing limited activity, known as the orange alert level, instead of the current red level.

Economic Impact of Restrictions​

Under the current restrictions, the weekly loss to the economy is estimated at NIS 9.4 billion, taking into account the closure of educational institutions, workplace prohibitions, and mobilization of reserve soldiers, the Finance Ministry was quoted as saying.

Under limited activity restrictions (orange level alert), workplace and economic activities are permitted, subject to close proximity to protected spaces, while educational institutions remain closed.

Rom is said to have emphasized that the weekly damage to the economy under limited activity restrictions is estimated to be about NIS 4.5 billion (USD 1.5 billion), less than half the cost of activity under the red level.

"This policy will enable the expansion of economic activity while maintaining home front security in a manner that meets both economic and security needs," the finance ministry executive said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Trump said Iran needs a leader who would bring peace, warning that continuing Ali Khamenei’s policies could trigger fresh conflict with the United States.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his desire to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel joint military strike last week, as reported by Axios.
Key Points

• Trump said that Khamenei's son is a lightweight and he has to to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.
• Iranian authorities delayed announcing a successor after the death of Khamenei, though political signals suggest a decision on the next supreme leader could come soon
• The US president argued that Washington should not accept a new Iranian leader who would pursue policies similar to those of the late Khamenei

In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trump said he wanted a role in the appointment of Iran's next leader, drawing a comparison to his involvement in political developments in Venezuela in January following the capture of its former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a US military operation.
He also criticised the possible succession of the son of the late supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely viewed as a leading contender for the position.
"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said, as quoted by Axios.

Trump described Mojtaba Khamenei as "unacceptable" and said he would prefer a leader who could bring "harmony and peace" to Iran, warning that a continuation of his father's policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States in the future.

"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," the US President added, according to Axios.

According to reports, Iranian authorities have delayed announcing a successor after the death of Khamenei, though political signals from Tehran suggest a decision on the next supreme leader could come soon.
Reports further suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei, a 56-year-old cleric with close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is widely seen as the frontrunner for the position.

However, the Iranian government, via the Consulate General in Mumbai, refuted reports of Mojtaba Khamenei being named as his late father Ayatollah Khamenei's successor.

In a post on X on Wednesday, the consulate said, "Reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

According to Axios, the US president also argued that Washington should not accept a new Iranian leader who would pursue policies similar to those of the late Khamenei.

His remarks come amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries as the conflict now entered its sixth day.

Tehran's counter-strikes have also targeted American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.
Following the assassination of Khamenei, Iran's assembly of experts is currently navigating a complex selection process amidst ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Key Points​

• The 88-member Assembly of Experts is responsible for electing the new Supreme Leader of Iran.
• Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, is among the candidates being considered.
• The election process is complicated by the current tensions and attacks by the US and Israel.
• The new Supreme Leader will be supported by all Iranian officials and citizens, according to a senior Iranian official.

Iran has not yet elected the successor of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a joint US-Israeli airstrike last week, a senior Iranian official said Thursday.

Ayatollah Dr. Abdul Majeed Hakeemelahi, the representative of Iran's supreme leader in India, also said that the process to elect a new leader is still underway.
"This news is not true because, till now, they (the council) have not chosen or nominated anyone, and the process is still underway," Hakeemelahi told PTI in an interview when asked about some media reports claiming that Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as his successor.
"There are several candidates for this position, and Ayatollah Mojtaba is one of them. It is not because he is the son of Ayatollah Khamenei. Rather, because of his qualifications, they may consider choosing him. But it is not finalized, and they are still assessing to find the qualified person for this position," he said.

Explaining the process of the election of the supreme leader of Iran, Hakeemelahi said an 88-member Assembly of Experts council is elected by vote during the elections in Iran.

"One of the responsibilities of this council is to elect the supreme leader. Now they have started negotiating to get a qualified person for this position," he said.

"They (council members) did a lot of discussion, but the situation is not good because we are under attack by the US and Israel. So when they get the good situation, and they gather, they will choose the one who is qualified for this position," he added.

The supreme leader is the highest political and religious authority of Iran. He has a final say over policy matters. He is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
When asked how unified the clerical establishment would be behind the new leader, especially regarding internal stability and the influence of the revolutionary guards, he said that everyone would support the new supreme leader.

"Whoever they (the council) elect, everyone will support him and follow him. And he will be our supreme leader, and all Iranian officials and citizens will accept the choice of this council," he added.

When asked if Iran is ready to take the risk of publicly naming the new supreme leader in view of Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz's threat to target him, Hakeemelahi said, "Iran is ready to defend itself."

Israeli and US strikes recently targeted a building of the Assembly of Experts in Qom City. TV footage by local media showed the building severely damaged in the strikes. Iran's state media later reported that the building was no longer being used for meetings.

Recalling Khamenei, Hakeemelahi said, "He used to tell people to study about India-- 'If you want to know the history of Iran, you cannot understand it without understanding and studying the history of India.'"

"We will continue to follow his path. And never forget him," he added.

Khamenei, 86, who became the Supreme Leader in 1989, held the position till his assassination in the joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. His wife also succumbed to injuries days later. His daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter were also killed in the airstrike.

Hakeemelahi thanked the people of India, who "showed their sympathy, their solidarity, and their support" to Iran, and also for mourning after the assassination of the supreme leader.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

China will send Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, to the Middle East soon to work actively for the de-escalation of the tensions.

IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
China on Thursday confirmed that it will send its Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue, Zhai Jun, to the region soon to help promote de-escalation amid the ongoing conflict in the area.

Key Points​

• China says its believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solutions to resolving disputes
• Over the past few days, China has intensively reached out to various parties, the foreign ministry spokesperson said.
• The Chinese move comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on Saturday on Iranian territory

Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the country believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solutions to resolving disputes and that the continued escalation of the conflict serves no one's interests.

"China will send Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, to the Middle East soon to work actively for the de-escalation of the tensions," she said.
She added that China will continue to maintain communication with all parties involved and work with the international community to build consensus aimed at reducing tensions, adding that Beijing is "gravely concerned" over the tense situation in the Middle East and has been in close contact with several countries in recent days.

"The protraction and escalation of the conflict serve no one's interest. China believes that war and force cannot solve issues once and for all; dialogue and negotiation are the right solutions, and political and diplomatic settlement of disputes and differences should be upheld. China will continue to work with all parties, including parties to the conflict, to maintain communication, further engage with other parties, and build consensus," Mao Ning said.
"China is gravely concerned over the tense situation in the Middle East. Over the past few days, China has intensively reached out to various parties," she added.

This comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia after a joint US-Israel military strike on Saturday on Iranian territory resulted in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other senior figures, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drone and missile attacks across multiple Arab countries as the conflict now entered its sixth day.

Tehran's counter-strikes have also targeted American military bases and Israeli assets throughout the region, with Israel also continuing its strikes on Tehran and widening the conflict to Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson further said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held phone conversations with his counterparts from Russia, Iran, Oman, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the regional situation, and during the discussions, Wang stressed that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter should be upheld and called for rejecting the arbitrary use of force in international relations.

She noted that the Chinese foreign minister also urged an immediate halt to military operations and called for an early return to dialogue and negotiations to prevent further escalation and the expansion of the conflict and called on the parties involved to fulfill their international obligations, ensure the safety of civilians, and avoid attacks on civilian infrastructure.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States that Iran is ready to confront American troops if the US launches a ground invasion, calling such a move a potential 'big disaster' for Washington.

IMAGE: An explosion in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in this still image from a social media video released on March 5, 2026. Photograph: Social Media/via Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran warns the US against a ground invasion, stating it is prepared to confront American troops.
• Iran claims its military capabilities, especially missile technology, have significantly improved.
• Tehran states it is not seeking a ceasefire and sees no reason to negotiate with the United States currently.
• Iran asserts it has no plans to attack the US homeland, focusing on regional dynamics.
• The Strait of Hormuz remains open, but tanker traffic has declined due to security concerns.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned that Tehran is prepared to confront American troops if the United States launches a ground invasion, saying such a move would be a 'big disaster' for Washington.
Responding to remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the possibility of deploying American troops on Iranian soil, Araghchi said Iran was not intimidated by the threat.

In an interview with NBC TV, Araghchi said, 'We are not afraid. We are waiting for American soldiers in Iran.'

'We are confident that we can confront them. It will be a big disaster for them.'

Iran Claims Military Preparedness​

Araghchi said Iran's military is more prepared now than during what he described as the previous conflict, referring to the 12-day war with Israel from June 13 to June 24, 2025.

According to him, Iran has significantly upgraded its missile capabilities since then.

'We are more ready than the previous war,' he said. 'You must have seen the quality of our missiles upgraded after the last war. Our soldiers are ready for any scenario.'

However, he stressed that readiness for war does not mean Iran is seeking continued conflict.

'Waiting does not mean we want the war to continue,' Araghchi said. 'But we have prepared ourselves to confront any eventuality.'

Tehran Rejects Ceasefire Talks With Washington​

The Iranian foreign minister also said Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire and currently sees no reason to negotiate with the United States.

'Iran is not asking for a ceasefire,' Araghchi said. 'Why should we negotiate with the US? We negotiated with them twice in the past and every time after negotiations they attacked us.'
Iran, Araghchi added, has not sent any messages to Washington regarding possible talks.

Iran's Stance on US Attacks and the Strait of Hormuz​

Asked whether Americans should worry about possible attacks on US territory, Araghchi suggested Iran's focus would remain on regional dynamics.

'The Americans have enough army bases around Iran,' he said. 'They have enough soldiers and military bases in the Gulf region, so Iran does not need to go beyond that.'

Araghchi also addressed concerns over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

Iran, he said, has not closed the strait but acknowledged that tanker traffic has declined due to security fears.

'We have not closed it, but ships and tankers are not passing through because they are concerned,' he said. 'For the time being we have no intention to close it. As the war continues, we will consider every scenario.'

When asked whether international oil tankers could become Iranian targets, Araghchi said they were not.

'The oil tankers are concerned and therefore they are not passing through the Strait of Hormuz because they fear they will be hit by either side,' he added.

Stalled Diplomacy Between Iran and the US​

Araghchi also revealed that indirect diplomacy between Iran and the United States had stalled following a recent meeting.

'Not after last Thursday (February 26, two days before war started),' he said, referring to negotiations that lasted about seven hours.

Both sides had made 'significant progress', and the meeting had ended on a positive note.

'But I don't know what happened after they left,' Araghchi said, adding that war began shortly after the negotiations concluded.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Amid escalating tensions, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh declares Iran's unwavering commitment to a 'heroic nationalist defence' against perceived American and Israeli aggression, vowing to resist what he calls an 'invasion' to the very end.

IMAGE: Smoke rises following an explosion, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 5, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

Key Points​

• Iranian Deputy FM Saeed Khatibzadeh claims Iran is under attack by the US and Israel and will resist to the last soldier.
• Khatibzadeh accuses the US of violating international law, citing the assassination of a head of state and the sinking of an Iranian vessel.
• Iran views its resistance as a defence of international law and morality against reckless behaviour.
• Khatibzadeh dismisses CIA involvement with Kurdish groups, distinguishing between the Kurdish people and foreign-backed separatists.
• Iran emphasises its strong relationship with India, highlighting shared civilisational roots.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has asserted that Tehran has "no option" but to engage in a "heroic nationalist defence" against what he termed an American and Israeli "invasion," vowing that the nation will resist to the "last bullet" and "last soldier."

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2026, Khatibzadeh emphasised that Iran is currently enduring a state of total war.

"I think the priority right now is for Iran to exercise the ultimate resistance against the aggressor. We are under attack, under invasion by Americans and Israelis, and they are trying to impose maximum damage on Iran. As we are speaking, my fellow citizens are under constant attack by carpet-bombing, which is happening by Americans and Israelis. Tehran is under constant attack, and we have no option but to resist to the last bullet that we have and to the last soldier that we have," he stated.
The Deputy Foreign Minister characterised the conflict as a necessary stand against external atrocities.

"This is a very heroic, very nationalistic battle for us, and we have to stop the aggressor and their atrocities in Iran. What is important is everybody is supporting international law, and we hope that we are not cherry-picking international law. Now international law is under attack, as well as Iran. Unfortunately, the principles of international law have been attacked, and we have to stand together against these atrocities," Khatibzadeh told ANI.

Accusations Against the US​

He further warned that US actions, including the alleged assassination of a head of state, threaten global diplomatic norms.

"Americans have assassinated the head of another state. If it is the new norm, then nobody, no country on earth can actually have normal diplomatic relations with other countries," he said.

Khatibzadeh also addressed the sinking of an Iranian vessel in the Indian Ocean, comparing the incident to the actions of Nazi Germany.
"That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends attending an exercise, an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed. And the only precedent for that was during Nazi times, when they attacked unarmed vessels and ships away from combat zones. So Americans are exercising the practice of Nazi Germany when they attacked a ceremonial, unarmed and unloaded vessel. It is very unfortunate. Many young Iranian sailors who were attending this exercise actually lost their lives. And it cannot go with impunity for those who actually did that," he remarked.

When asked about the possibility of a US ground invasion, the minister stated that Iran remains prepared to stop what he described as a "colonial mission."

"I'm not in the Oval Office. I don't know. They change their goals and their strategy every time based on the market and the audience. What we are doing is a heroic nationalist defence. We have no option, as I told you, but to stop them from aggression and change their behaviour in the region. They cannot come a thousand miles from their border to carry out a colonial mission of changing the political structure of another country and toppling a democratically elected government," he said.
Iran's Stance on Kurdish Separatists
Khatibzadeh also dismissed reports of CIA involvement with Kurdish groups for regime change, differentiating between the Kurdish people and foreign-backed "separatists."

"First of all, please do not demonise our Kurds. Our Kurds are central to our identity, to the Iranian identity. We are very proud of our Kurdish people inside Iran. You are talking about separatists who have been nurtured by the CIA and Mossad. We are born to fight separatism. Iran has a very strong identity. Iran is the oldest living civilisation on earth, and we know how to defend our identity," he told ANI.

Iran-India Relations​

Regarding New Delhi's role, the minister confirmed high-level diplomatic contact and noted the "civilisational roots" shared between the two nations.

"I had a brief meeting with the foreign minister of India and a brief encounter with others here. Iran and India have old civilisational roots with each other. We are Indo-Persian culture and civilisation, and it is very much in line with this cultural civilisational heritage. We are attaching great importance to Iran-India relations," he said.

Iran's Resolve to Resist​

On the prospect of an "off-ramp" to end the war, Khatibzadeh maintained that Iran's resistance is a matter of historical record.

"For us, we are resisting, and this is a resistance for history, for the region, for the world, for international law, for the principles of international law, for ethics, for morality. And we are going to resist, and this is for the record of history. The Iranians are sacrificing because rogue, reckless behaviour is happening against Iran. This is what we are doing. For the other side, I don't know; you have to ask them. But I think the moment they stop the aggression, we are going to have a new dynamism in the region," he stated.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Since India took over as chair, the normally outspoken BRICS grouping of countries appears to be more cautious.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, China's Premier Li Qiang, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other leaders attend the BRICS Summit, at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6, 2025 [

Nearly a week into the United States-Israel war on Iran and the BRICS bloc, a multi-country alliance that includes Tehran, has not reacted in any form to the conflict.
To analysts and political observers, that seems out of character. When the 12-day war between Israel and Iran broke out in June last year, the bloc, which Brazil then chaired, was quick to state that US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran were a “violation of international law”.

However, since the chairmanship of BRICS shifted to India in December 2025, New Delhi’s own interests appear to be overriding the alliance’s objectives, critics say, as India signals closer ties with Israel and the US.​

The 11-member BRICS grouping was formed as an economic alliance in 2009 and is widely regarded as a “Global South” alternative to the exclusive Group of Seven (G7) alliance of industrialised economies.
US President Donald Trump once accused its members of being “anti-American”, although BRICS has said it does not see itself as competing with or countering any other groups.
In recent years, the organisation’s mandate has broadened to include security issues, with members conducting joint military drills – most recently hosted by South Africa in January this year, when India opted out.
BRICS is named after the first letters of its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Since 2024, BRICS has expanded to include Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Here’s what we know about how India’s interests may have come into conflict with those of other BRICS nations:

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L), Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enter a hall for the family photo before a plenary session of the BRICS 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia, October 23, 2024 [Maxim Shipenkov/Reuters]

How have BRICS countries responded to the US-Israel war on Iran?​

The organisation itself, under Indian leadership in 2026, has not commented directly about the US-Israeli Operation Epic Fury in Iran, which has seen multiple missile and drone attacks across the country, killing more than 1,230 people in its first six days.
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However, individually, three of its five founding members have issued statements commiserating with Iranians mourning loved ones and denouncing violations of international law.
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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose administration is embroiled in a dispute of its own with the US over the Trump-alleged, but debunked, “genocide” of white South Africans, voiced concerns about the conflict on Wednesday and warned that the fighting could go beyond the Middle East.
“We want a ceasefire, we want this madness to come to an end,” Ramaphosa told reporters, three days after his African National Congress party first issued a statement “condemning” the US and Israel’s “anticipatory self-defence based on assumption or conjecture”.
South Africa, Ramaphosa added on Wednesday, is also ready to play a mediator role to help resolve the issue and end the loss of lives. The country came in for heavy US criticism earlier in January when Iran was allowed to participate in the BRICS naval drills hosted by South Africa, amid reports of massacres of Iranian protesters.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin similarly criticised the joint US-Israel attacks and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in strikes on Saturday, in a letter to President Masoud Pezeshkian. Moscow and Tehran have close ties, with Russia providing weapons and weaponry to Iran. However, Moscow has not indicated any willingness to intervene militarily to support Iran.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there was no evidence that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons – a key issue for the US and Israel – and that the war could lead to the very outcome the two allies claimed they wanted to prevent: Nuclear proliferation across the region.
As the bombs dropped on Iran last Saturday, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US and Israel of “premeditated and unprovoked acts of armed aggression against a sovereign and independent UN member state”.
Moscow itself stands accused of aggression against a sovereign nation, amid its fifth year of war on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Gideon Saar, his Israeli counterpart, over the phone on Tuesday that Iran had been attacked as negotiations between Washington and Tehran “made significant progress, including addressing Israel’s security concerns”, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Wang added that China “opposes any military strikes launched by Israel and the US against Iran”, according to the Foreign Ministry.

[IMG alt="BRICS-plus naval drills: South Africa hosts Russia, Iran and China
"]https://cf-images.eu-west-1.prod.bo...tch/image.jpg?resize=730,410&quality=80[/IMG]

• BRICS-plus naval drills: South Africa hosts Russia, Iran and Chi
  What has India said?Of the founding members, only India has not outrightly condemned the US-Israel attacks on Iran. Under its chairmanship of BRICS, the organisation has also been unusually silent on the war.​

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On Tuesday, three days after the first attacks hit Tehran, killing Khamenei and several of Iran’s senior military officials, New Delhi made cautious calls for an “early end to the conflict” in a statement by the country’s Ministry of External Affairs.
“India strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy. We share our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict,” the ministry said, adding that the war risked regional stability and the safety of thousands of Indian nationals living and working in the Gulf region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Gulf countries and criticised retaliatory attacks on their territories, without mentioning Iran.
Critics, especially from the Indian opposition Congress party, have called out Modi’s lack of outright denunciation of the Israeli-US attacks and the killing of Khamenei, especially in light of Modi’s visit to Israel, during which he addressed the Knesset in Jerusalem, just days before the war began.
The timing of the visit gave the appearance of “tacit approval” of the attacks on Iran, the party said on Monday.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a special session of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, February 25, 2026 [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]

Is India moving closer to Israel?​

Modi undertook a state visit to Israel on February 25 and 26, 2026. He met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of war crimes related to Israel’s onslaught on Gaza.
Addressing the Knesset, Modi affirmed that “India stands with Israel, firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” even as Israel has come under fire globally for the genocidal campaign in Gaza and deadly attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Modi and Netanyahu went on to sign several trade agreements on defence and artificial intelligence, areas in which they have long collaborated. Israel also sends about 40 percent of its arms exports to India.
In a post on X, Modi wrote that the two countries had elevated “our time-tested partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership” during his visit.
About the same time, the threat of Israel-US attacks on Iran was looming. Modi may even have known about the attacks, one former Indian diplomat told Indo-Pacific-focused The Diplomat magazine.
The Modi government has not responded to this allegation.
Reuven Azar, Israeli ambassador to India, told local publication The Indian Express on Wednesday that the opportunity to launch the joint attacks on Iran came “only after Prime Minister Modi left”.

Has the US pressured India?​

India has long championed a stance of strategic autonomy, allowing it to trade with Western countries while also deepening ties with countries viewed in the West as pariah states, such as Russia. That is part of the reason it was a founding BRICS member.
A tense standoff arose with the administration of US President Donald Trump over India’s continued purchase of sanctioned Russian oil last year. Trump imposed sweeping import levies of up to 50 percent on India in August 2025, partly as punishment for this. India, whose largest trading partner is the US, described the additional tariffs as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”.
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The tariffs threatened to destabilise about 70 percent of India’s exports to the US, the country’s research council warned afterwards, urging quick trade reforms. India majorly exports electronics, pharmaceuticals, and jewellery to the US.
By February, the picture had changed. Following talks, Trump announced an agreement with India that slashed tariffs to 18 percent as he claimed that Delhi had agreed to stop buying Russian oil and to instead buy more US oil and other products.
“Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,” PM Modi wrote on the X social platform in response.

Will India’s relations with Israel and the US affect the BRICS alliance?​

When President Trump first took office, he threatened BRICS countries with an additional 10 percent tariff as part of his trade war.
Then, in July, he took aim at the group again before its annual summit, saying: “When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly.”
While India has continued to participate in routine BRICS meetings in recent months, it has notably stayed away from security issues.
In January, when BRICS countries met in South Africa to hold military drills, New Delhi was absent, although it was already the group chair at the time. India gave no reasons why. Brazil, which faced US tariff problems of its own, also chose not to participate, but was present as an observer.
Opting out for India was “about balancing ties with the US”, Harsh Pant, a geopolitical analyst at the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, told Al Jazeera at the time.
Fellow BRICS member China has similarly faced a gruelling trade war with the US, but has spoken up in support of Iran.
Some critics fault Beijing for not directly intervening in the war to support its ally. However, Dong Wang, a professor of international studies at Peking University, said those expectations misunderstand China’s position.
“China advocates mediation, not military involvement,” he said.
Comparing Beijing’s response to Delhi’s, the professor said India was choosing a “cautious, balanced posture emphasising de-escalation”.
But the differing responses from BRICS nations, he added, reflect a need for its members to come to a consensus even as they hold diverse ties and strategic priorities.
Such a consensus will be needed if the group continues to stand, and its existence is something Beijing takes seriously, Wang said.
“From China’s perspective, BRICS unity matters, and differences are normal within a diverse multilateral framework,” he said.
“Beijing continues to encourage BRICS to uphold its founding purpose: Supporting multilateralism, peaceful settlement, and the collective voice of the Global South.”

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

How US sinking of Iranian warship blew hole in Modi’s ‘guardian’ claims​

India sees itself a security provider in the Indian Ocean. On Wednesday, it couldn’t save even its own guest.
https://www.aljazeera.com/author/yashraj-sharma

Published On 6 Mar 20266 Mar 2026


New Delhi, India — Dressed in a blue Navy uniform and sleek sunglasses, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in late October, addressed a gathering of the country’s sea warriors.
He listed out the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean — the massive volumes of trade and oil that pass through it. “The Indian Navy is the guardian of the Indian Ocean,” he then said, to loud, proud chants of “Long Live Mother India” from his audience.

​

Less than five months later, India has been shown up as a “guardian”, unable to protect its own guest.
On Wednesday, the Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, was torpedoed by a US submarine just 44 nautical miles off (81km) southern Sri Lanka, as it was returning home from naval drills hosted by India. During the “Milan” biennial multilateral naval exercise, Indian President Droupadi Murmu had posed with sailors from the Dena.
Yet it took the Indian Navy more than a day after the Iranian warship was struck to respond formally to the attack, which US officials made clear was a sign of how the Donald Trump administration was willing and ready to expand its war against Iran.
“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the Pentagon on Wednesday. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.”
Tehran is furious over the attack on its warship hundreds of miles away from home. And Iran made sure to note that the IRIS Dena warship was “a guest of India’s navy”, returning after completing the exercise it joined upon New Delhi’s invitation.
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“The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles [3,218km] away from Iran’s shores,” Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said, referring to the sinking of the frigate. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret [the] precedent it has set.”
Now, the IRIS Dena is at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, and more than 80 Iranian sailors, who marched during joint parades and posed for selfies with Indian naval officers during their two-week visit, are dead.
What has also fallen, said retired Indian naval officers and analysts, is India’s self-image as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean. Instead, they said, the US attack on the Dena has exposed the limits of India’s power and influence in its own maritime back yard.

A vessel sails off the Galle coast after a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, Iris Dena, off Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 4, 2026 [Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters]

‘War reaches India’s backyard’​

After participating in the naval exercises, IRIS Dena left Visakhapatnam on India’s eastern coast on February 26. It was hit in international waters, just south of Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, in the early hours of March 4, local time.

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In response, Sri Lankan Navy rescuers recovered more than 80 bodies and picked up 32 survivors, reportedly including the commander and some senior officers from the warship. More than 100 men are still missing.
In a tweet welcoming the Dena to the naval drills, the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command had posted: “Her arrival … [reflects] long-standing cultural links between the two nations [Iran and India]”.
Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, the former vice chief of India’s naval staff, told Al Jazeera that he attended the Iranian parade at the function.
“I met and really liked them, especially their march for sailors travelling thousands of miles,” Sinha said. “It is always sad to see a ship sinking. But in a war, emotions don’t work. There’s nothing ethical in a war.”
Sinha said that the Indian Ocean — central to the strategic and energy security of the nation with the world’s largest population — was thought to be a fairly safe zone earlier. “But that is not the case, as we are learning now,” he told Al Jazeera.
“The unfolding battle [between the US and Israel on the one hand, and Iran on the other] has reached India’s back yard.
New Delhi has to be concerned,” Sinha, who served in the Indian Navy for four decades, added. “The liberty we enjoyed in the Indian Ocean has apparently shrunk.”

Security personnel stand guard as an ambulance enters inside the Galle National Hospital, following a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026 [Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters]

India’s Catch-22 situation​

Only on Thursday evening did the Indian Navy issue any formal statement on the attack — more than 24 hours after the Dena was hit by a torpedo.
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The Navy said that it received distress signals from the Iranian ship and had decided on deploying resources to help with rescuing sailors. But by then, it said, the Sri Lankan Navy had already stepped to lead the rescue effort.
Neither New Delhi nor the Navy has criticised — even mildly — the decision by the US to sink the Iranian warship.
Military analysts and former Indian naval officers say India is caught in a classic catch-22: Was India aware of the incoming US attack in the Indian Ocean on an Iranian warship, or was it blindsided by a nuclear-submarine in its backyard?
Admiral Arun Prakash, the former chief of India’s naval staff, told Al Jazeera that if New Delhi was blindsided, “it reflects on the US-India relationship directly.”
“If it is a surprise, then that’s a great concern since we have a so-called strategic partnership with the USA.”
And if India knew about the attacks, it would be seen by many as strategically siding with the US and Israel over their war on Iran.
C Uday Bhaskar, a retired Indian Navy officer and currently the director of the Society for Policy Studies, an independent think tank based in New Delhi, said that the US sinking an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean muddies the Indian perception of itself as a “net security provider” in the region.
Bhaskar said the incident is a “strategic embarrassment” for India and weakens New Delhi’s credibility in the Indian Ocean, while its moral standing “takes a beating” because of the Indian government’s near-silence.

An injured Iranian sailor is moved on a stretcher at Galle National Hospital, where the sailors are receiving treatment, following a submarine attack on the Iranian military ship, IRIS Dena, off the coast of Sri Lanka, in Galle, Sri Lanka, March 5, 2026 [Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters]

‘India on aggressor’s side’​

In the post-colonial world order, India was a leader of the non-alignment movement, the Cold War-era neutrality posture adopted by several developing nations.
India now no longer calls its approach non-alignment, instead referring to it as “strategic autonomy”. But, in reality, it has inched closer to the United States and its allies, most importantly, Israel.
Merely two days before the US and Israel bombed Iran, Modi was in Israel, addressing the Knesset and warmly hugging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called his Indian counterpart a brother.
But Iran, under the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, was a friend of India as well, with New Delhi making strategic, business, and humanitarian investments in the country.
However, Modi has not said a word in condolence after Khamenei’s assassination. On Thursday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian embassy in New Delhi to sign a memorial book. Indian governments normally deploy ministers — not bureaucrats or diplomats — for such sombre occasions.
It is against that backdrop that India’s response to the attack on the Dena has come under scrutiny.
Because the frigate was hit when it was in international waters, India had “no formal responsibility”, said Srinath Raghavan, an Indian military historian and strategic analyst.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivered a blunt warning, declaring Tehran ready even for a ground invasion as the conflict with the U.S. and Israel escalates. The statement came hours before Donald Trump issued his own hardline demand, insisting the only acceptable outcome is Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” Washington has also hinted it wants influence over Iran’s post-war leadership, while promising to keep the Strait of Hormuz open despite rising tensions. Meanwhile, Iran claims thousands of drones and hundreds of missiles have already been launched in retaliation, raising fears of a wider regional war.​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

After six days of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the conflict is escalating as regional tensions rise.
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered its seventh day, with attacks continuing across Iran and other countries in the Middle East. Iran continues its missile and drone attacks across the Gulf as Washington and Tel Aviv claim their campaign – codenamed Operation Epic Fury – is crippling Iran’s military. Estimates released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Thursday put the cost of the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury at $3.7bn, or about $891m per day. Most of this cost – $3.5bn – has not been budgeted for, CSIS reported.
Here is what has happened in the past day:

In Iran​

• Ongoing US and Israeli military campaign: The US and Israel are continuing their military strikes on Iran, marking the seventh day of the conflict. At least 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since the attacks started on Saturday.
• The Israeli military claims to have achieved “near-complete air superiority”, stating it has carried out 2,500 strikes and destroyed 80 percent of Iran’s air defence systems.
• Targeting western Iran: Israel claims to have struck more than 400 targets in western Iran on Friday alone, destroying ballistic missile launchers and drone-storage facilities.
• Missiles fired at Israel: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the start of its 23rd wave of strikes, and the Israeli military confirmed that defence systems were intercepting missiles launched from Iran.
• Leadership succession and US interference: Following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran on Saturday, the question over his succession remains, with reports circling that his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, could take over.
• However, on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he intends to play a direct role in selecting Iran’s next leader, explicitly calling Mojtaba an “unacceptable” choice.
• Invasion warnings: Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that Iranian forces are “waiting” for a potential US ground invasion and threatened to kill and capture thousands of US troops.
• Iran strikes: The US says Iran’s ballistic missile attacks have fallen by 90 percent since the first day of the conflict, while drone attacks have dropped by 83 percent over the same period.

In Gulf nations​

• Kuwait: The US suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait City following retaliatory Iranian strikes, as Kuwait’s air defence systems intercepted missiles and drones.
• Bahrain: An Iranian missile hit a state-run oil refinery in a Bahraini industrial town, but the resulting fire was contained.
• UAE and Qatar: The UAE said its air defences intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and more than 120 drones. Qatar also reported being targeted by a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones on Thursday after loud explosions were heard in the capital, Doha.
• About 20,000 Americans have left the Middle East: The State Department reported that thousands have already left the region, primarily unassisted, but the government is arranging charter flights for private citizens still looking to evacuate.
• Evacuation disruption: A French evacuation flight charted by the government to rescue citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates was forced to turn back mid-flight due to missile fire in the region.
• Military redeployments: Germany has already withdrawn troops stationed in Bahrain back to Germany and is actively preparing to withdraw its forces from Kuwait.
• Satellite imagery delayed: Planet Labs, a major provider of high-resolution space imagery, announced a mandatory 96-hour delay on all new images collected over the Gulf states. This measure is intended to prevent adversarial actors from using the images to endanger allied, NATO, and civilian personnel in the region.
• CENTCOM warnings: Brad Cooper, the head of the US military’s Middle East-based Central Command (CENTCOM), accused Iran of deliberately firing seven attack drones at civilian neighborhoods in Bahrain. He warned that Iran’s actions are “unacceptable and will not go unanswered."

In Israel​

• Tel Aviv targeted: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced it had launched a combined drone and missile attack on Tel Aviv and central areas of Israel.
• Domestic closures and West Bank violence: Amid the security threats, Israel’s Civil Administration has closed all holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City and canceled Friday prayers.
• Rhetoric from officials: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that the Dahiyeh area of Lebanon’s capital would soon look “like Khan Younis,” referring to the city in southern Gaza that was decimated during Israel’s war against Palestinians.

In the US​

• Military strikes: US Central Command reported striking approximately 200 targets in Iran over the past 72 hours, including ballistic missile launchers and naval vessels.
• Trump’s claims: Trump said Iran is being "demolished," “ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before," claiming the country now has “no air force, no air defence”. The air force is "gone," he said.
• Congressional backing: The Republican-led US House of Representatives voted 219 to 212 against an effort to halt the war and require congressional authorisation for hostilities against Iran.
• Instability denied: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against criticism, denying that the US and Israel have caused regional instability.
• Economic impact: The ongoing war has rattled US financial markets. Earlier in the week, the Dow Jones plummeted by more than 1,000 points (2.2 percent) as oil prices climbed due to the war.

In Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt

• Iraq military base: Iraqi forces shot down a drone targeting a military base with US assets near Baghdad International Airport. The drone approached the Victoria airbase overnight on Wednesday but was intercepted before reaching its target, according to reports.
• Iran attacks Kurdish groups: Iranian Press TV reported early on Thursday that Tehran was striking “anti-Iran separatist forces," referring to Iranian and Iraqi Kurdish groups believed to be based in mountainous, hard-to-reach areas near the Iran-Iraq border. It is understood that US President Donald Trump has been in talks with some of these groups with a view to their joining attacks against Iran.
• Escalating offensive in Lebanon: Israel is heavily bombarding Lebanon and has issued evacuation warnings for Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of the Bekaa Valley.
• Israel has also said it carried out strikes on more than 500 targets this week, including a strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb targeting a command centre used by the Revolutionary Guard’s navy unit.
• Egypt’s economic warning: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has warned that the country is economically in a “state of near-emergency,” as the ongoing Middle East war threatens to drive up prices.

In Europe​

• Europe under pressure: European governments are divided over how to respond to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with some deploying defensive military assets while others emphasise diplomacy.
• The United Kingdom and France have moved naval and air-defense resources to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect allied interests. A drone attack hit the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus on Monday. Other European countries, including Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, have so far focused on diplomatic responses and have not announced direct combat deployments.
• Azerbaijan: The country halted cross-border truck traffic with Iran and is preparing “retaliatory measures” after an Iranian drone attack injured four civilians in its Nakhchivan exclave.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'In India, there is this first generation migrant, say from a small village in UP. He didn't go to the Gulf to buy a big house but make the life of his family better.' 'He may have paid 1 lakh rupees to an agent to go to the Gulf. Imagine what will happen to him and his family if he has to come back. He and his family will become poor again.' 'He went to the Gulf to come out of poverty, but this war will make his family trapped in poverty once again.'

IMAGE: People gather as smoke rises at an industrial area in Doha, Qatar, March 1, 2026 after reported Iranian missile attacks. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Key Points​

• Nearly 10 million Indians -- including around 2 million Keralites -- live in the Gulf vulnerable to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
• India received over $135 billion in remittances last year, with Kerala alone getting around Rs 2 lakh crore.
• Kerala is heavily remittance-dependent,; the crisis could hit first-generation migrants from states like Uttar Pradesh or Rajasthan harder.

1980-1988. The eight year-long Iran-Iraq war.
1990-1991. Iraq attacking Kuwait.
2003. The United States attacked Iraq to capture Saddam Hussein.
These are some of the recent wars in the Middle East which had huge implications on the South Asian region.
Now comes the US-Israel attack on Iran, and the Middle East is in turmoil. So also South Asia.
Dr S Irudaya Rajan, an expert on migration, analyses how this war will affect the South Asian region, especially India. Formerly with the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Rajan is currently the Chair of the International Institute for Migration and Development and also the Chair of the KNOMAD (The Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development) World Bank working group on internal migration and urbanisation.

"The stress a migrant goes through will have consequences on his health; his physical health, mental health and social health which you cannot measure, Dr Rajan tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier.
Out of the 10 million Indians in the Middle East, Keralites form a large number. So how is the US-Israel and Iran war going to affect Kerala society and economy?
Currently there are 2.2 million migrants from Kerala outside as per the Kerala Migration Survey, 2023. Out of that, 90% of them are in the Gulf. So, you have close to 2 million Keralites in the Gulf. It means 1 out of 5 of the 10 million Indians in the Gulf region, is a Malayalee.
The six countries; the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia accommodate 90% of Keralites.
I am of the opinion that you should not restrict the impact of the war on Kerala alone.
If you do so, you are underestimating the impact.

This war has an impact on not just India but the entire South Asia, that is, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Also, Indonesia and the Philippines in South East Asia. When you take all these seven countries, you are talking about close to 15 million people. You can describe this as the largest migration globally. What I want to say is, not just Malayalees are dependent on the Gulf but people from South Asia and South East Asia.

IMAGE: Indian passengers reunite with their families as they arrive in New Delhi, March 4, 2026 from a flight via Dubai amid the international tensions in the Gulf. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo
But Kerala's economy depends heavily on petrol dollars...
You are right.
Last year India as a country received more than $135 billion as remittances from the Gulf.
If people are coming back from the Middle East due to the war, the remittances will come down.
So, it will affect not just Kerala. India as a country will have a problem.
I agree migration is more from some states in India, like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh.
But when you take Sri Lanka or Nepal, the war will have huge implications because many of the households in Sri Lanka and Nepal are dependent on remittances from the Gulf.
Of course, the Kerala economy is called the remittance economy.
But don't limit the story of the war or the crisis in the Middle East to Kerala.
Whatever impact the war will have on Kerala, it is applicable to all these countries.
It has to have a South Asia and South East Asia perspective.
I have been working on the Kerala Migration Survey data for the last 25 years.
Based on my experience, I can say whatever I say happens to Kerala families will happen to families in Pakistan, families in Indonesia and families in Sri Lanka.
'When the money does not come, there will be no food in the house'

IMAGE: Planes parked at Terminal 3 at the Dubai international airport after US and Israeli attacks on Iran, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Raghed Waked/Reuters
In what way do you think the war will affect the people of South Asia and South East Asia?
I categorise the impact into four.
One: The impact on the migrants.
A war makes the migrants highly stressed. Till now, the migrants looked at the Gulf as a safe place. Now that is being questioned. He may stay back despite the stress to make some money. He may have taken a loan in his country. Or, he may be constructing a house. The stress he goes through will have consequences on his health; his physical health, mental health and social health which you cannot measure.

Two: The second impact will be on his family, that is, his parents, spouse and children.
He may be a nurse or a housemaid or a plumber or a construction worker but he has a family back at home. The families are not migrants, they are located in the countries of origin. And when they hear about the stories of destruction, they are under stress.

Three: The third impact will be on the society they live. The community. The war happened on the 28th of February. Imagine how many households were expecting remittance from the Gulf on the 2nd of March after the person gets his salary on the 1st. If the salary is delayed, everything back at home gets stalled -- from paying the loan instalment to the construction of the house to children's school fees to parents' hospital visit. The bypass surgery or the cataract surgery scheduled for this week has to be postponed because the money has not come. This way, a whole lot of things will affect not just the family, but the whole community. If he has to come back, he is perceived as a return migrant who has returned in distress.

Four: The impact on the economy. For example, Kerala alone last year received Rs 200,000 crores as remittance according to the Kerala Migration Survey. I feel this is an underestimated figure.
Assume the remittance is reduced by Rs 50,000 crore, and how it will impact the state's economy.
When the remittance stops, the entire economy is in trouble.

IMAGE: A display board at the Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2, 2026. Photograph: Thinh Nguyen/Reuters
Do you think it will have an even more impact on the economy of Sri Lanka or even Pakistan?
The consequence of the war will be very bad for Sri Lanka as the country is dependent heavily on the remittance from the Gulf after the economic crisis they had earlier. You can expect even starvation in some of the localities where the migrants are dependent on remittances. When the money does not come, there will be no food in the house. In India itself, there is this first generation migrant, say from a small village in Uttar Pradesh. He didn't go to the Gulf to buy a big house but make the life of his family better. On the other hand, migration from Kerala has been happening for the last 60 years. So for that person from Kerala, the impact will be less.
On the other hand, the first generation migrant from UP might have paid 1 lakh rupees to an agent to go to the Gulf. Imagine what will happen to him and his family if he has to come back. He and his family will become poor again. He went to the Gulf to come out of poverty, but this war will make his family trapped in poverty once again.

This is the difference between Kerala and a state like UP or Rajasthan as Kerala has a long migration history to the Gulf. Earlier the migration was happening mainly from Kerala, but now, it is spreading to many other states too. Just look at the number of Etihad flights from India. It is flying from 14 cities in the country. Compare this to the four cities in Kerala from where flights are going to the Middle East: Trivandrum, Kochi, Kannur and Calicut.
'This crisis is worse than the Covid crisis'

IMAGE: Smoke billows from Jebel Ali port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Photograph: Raghed Waked/Reuters
Compared to the earlier wars like the Iran-Iraq War or the Gulf War, will this have more impact as there are more Indians in the Middle East now?
We have seen quite a few wars in the region earlier. The earlier wars were between two countries, like between Iran and Iraq or Iraq and Kuwait. Even the Russia-Ukraine war is also between those two countries. The earlier wars did not go beyond the two countries in war. The maximum it had gone was to the region. It did not expand to many countries which is what is happening now. Even the 2008 economic crisis when it affected Dubai badly, it had no impact on the UAE. There was business as usual there.
I would say, this crisis is worse than the Covid crisis. The current crisis in the Gulf is the worst crises migrants have faced in the last 50 years.

IMAGE: Supplies are displayed on shelves at a supermarket in Dubai, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Rula Rouhana/Reuters
Why do you think so?
This kind of psychological fear was never created in the Gulf before. The image of the Gulf as a safe haven is being questioned now. For example, yesterday the Emirates flight from Chennai to Dubai had only 35 people in it. Everything depends on how long the crisis continues to know the long term implication. The current crisis will have short term and long term implications. If the crisis continues for 20 days, the scenario will be different. So, everything depends on how long the crisis will continue. And nobody knows the answer. Anyway, the damage has been done. But we have been talking from the perspective of migrants but it will also have implication on the people who never migrated.
'Impact of the crisis goes beyond migrants'
I read a report that export of pineapple, curry leaves, flowers, etc from Karipur airport to this Middle Easter during the Ramadan period has been stalled, and it will have a huge impact on the small farmers and businesses...
That's why I said the impact of the crisis goes beyond migrants. The economy of is not just a migrants economy. When the flights are not going, airport doesn't function. Everyone connected to the aviation industry will be affected. Then, there is construction, trade, jewellery, sea food, vegetables... the list is endless.

IMAGE: Dr Irudaya Rajan
The impact of the Middle East crisis will be on every sector in the economy of the entire South Asia and South East Asia. We are only talking about the economy of these countries. What about the Gulf region itself? The economy of the Gulf is managed by migrants. And when the migrants go back, the economy of the Middle East is dead. While their economy is dependent on migrants, our economy depends on their money. What I see is, when the war ends, there will be a very huge migration to the Gulf. If there are 10 million migrants from India to the Gulf now, it will go up to 15 million. While they need our labour, we need their money. And they need migrants to bring their economy back on track, and rebuild everything.