International Figures Discuss Iran’s Future at “Iran at Crossroads” Conference

Jubin Katiraie
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International Figures Discuss Iran’s Future at “Iran at Crossroads” Conference
An international online conference on March 5, 2026, brought together political leaders, former officials, and lawmakers from Europe and North America to discuss Iran’s political situation and the proposal for a provisional government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The event, titled “Iran at Crossroads: Supporting the NCRI Provisional Government,” focused on the opposition coalition’s vision for political transition and the framework it has proposed for a future democratic system. Participants examined the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan and its newly announced provisional government initiative, which supporters say is intended to guide a transitional period and prepare the ground for democratic elections. The conference featured remarks from a range of international figures who addressed both the political climate in Iran and the role opposition movements may play in shaping the country’s future.

Rajavi Presents Transition Plan

Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, opened the conference by outlining the purpose of the proposed provisional government. She said the initiative is intended to facilitate the transfer of sovereignty to the Iranian people during a transitional phase following political change. According to Mrs. Rajavi, the provisional government would organize elections for a constituent assembly within six months. That assembly would then be responsible for determining the country’s future political structure through democratic procedures. Mrs. Rajavi also highlighted the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, which includes commitments to gender equality, the separation of religion and state, and protections for the rights of ethnic communities in Iran. She described the plan as a framework for establishing a secular and democratic republic. In her remarks, Mrs. Rajavi also referred to PMOI-affiliated Resistance Units operating inside Iran. She described them as organized groups working despite what she characterized as significant repression by authorities.

International Speakers Address Iran’s Political Situation

Several speakers at the conference shared their perspectives on Iran’s political landscape and the role of opposition organizations. James Jones, former United States National Security Advisor, said that developments in Iran could represent an important moment in the country’s political trajectory. Drawing on years of observing the Iranian opposition, Jones praised the persistence of the NCRI and its leadership. Jones also referred to the activities of Resistance Units inside Iran, describing them as young activists continuing their opposition despite the risks involved. He emphasized that the future of Iran should ultimately be determined by its own people rather than by outside powers. John Bercow, the former Speaker of the UK House of Commons, addressed debates surrounding alternative political models for Iran. He criticized proposals advocating the return of the Pahlavi monarchy, arguing that such ideas represent a return to the past rather than a path toward the future. Bercow said the NCRI’s long-standing political platform and its network of supporters demonstrate an organized alternative that has developed over decades.

Discussion of International Support

Other participants focused on the role of the international community in responding to developments related to Iran. Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian senator, described the current situation as a potential turning point and argued that moments of political uncertainty require structured alternatives to prevent instability. She said the NCRI’s proposal for a provisional government deserves serious international attention. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament, said Iran’s ruling system is facing pressures both internally and externally. He described the combination of domestic opposition and international pressure as a significant factor shaping the country’s political environment. Former U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli also addressed the conference, saying that political transitions often require organized movements capable of filling governance gaps. He pointed to the NCRI’s political structure and international connections as elements supporters believe could allow it to play such a role. Louis Freeh, former director of the FBI, similarly described the NCRI as an organized opposition coalition with networks that could contribute to managing a future transition.

Democratic Principles and Policy Proposals

Several European officials emphasized democratic governance and human rights during their remarks. Robert Joseph, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, referred to the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan as a political framework emphasizing democratic institutions and civil liberties. French lawmaker André Chassaigne stressed that decisions about Iran’s political future should ultimately be made by the Iranian people. He warned against narratives that could lead either to the continuation of the current political system or to the revival of earlier forms of authoritarian rule. Christine Arrighi, another member of the French National Assembly, noted that thousands of parliamentarians worldwide have expressed support for the Ten-Point Plan. She highlighted provisions including equality between men and women, the abolition of the death penalty, and the separation of religion and state.

Policy Measures and Legal Accountability

Several speakers also outlined potential policy measures for Western governments. David Jones, a former UK minister, called for stronger diplomatic pressure on Iran, including designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and expelling Iranian diplomats from Western capitals. Former UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox emphasized that the Iranian people must determine their own political future and argued that national sovereignty should remain central in any discussion of political change in the country. Ola Elvestuen, a former Norwegian minister, described the current political climate as one of the most difficult periods for Iran’s ruling system in decades and said international support for democratic movements could be important. The conference also addressed legal accountability in a possible post-transition period. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former German minister of justice, said that addressing human rights violations would be a critical element of any political transition and highlighted the possible role of international legal institutions in that process. Throughout the conference, speakers returned to the themes of political transition, democratic governance, and the potential role of organized opposition movements in shaping Iran’s future.

35 IRGC Centers Targeted in Western Iran; Tehran Targets Iraq with Drones

Sia Rajabi
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35 IRGC Centers Targeted in Western Iran; Tehran Targets Iraq with Drones
On the seventh day of the joint U.S.–Israel military campaign against Iran’s regime, a wave of heavy airstrikes was carried out against 35 centers belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regime’s security forces in the western belt of Iran. At the same time, Iran’s regime carried out drone attacks against targets in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region. In the recent attacks, 35 bases affiliated with the IRGC in western Iran were targeted, leaving heavy human casualties.
Seventh Day of War: Iran Regime’s Firepower Declines Amid Expanding Conflict
According to these sources, among the targets were the IRGC headquarters and the Basij command center in Ilam, Basij facilities in the cities of Sarab-Bagh (in Abdanan County), Badreh, Dareh-Shahr, Dehloran, Delgosha (in Malekshahi County), Lumar and several surrounding villages, as well as the headquarters of the Imam Hossein Battalion in the city of Ilam. These attacks were accompanied by a retaliatory response from Iran’s regime, and parts of Iraq—including Basra Airport and targets in the Kurdistan Region—were struck by drone attacks. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on Friday, March 6, citing a security official, that a drone launched by Iran struck the cargo terminal of Basra Airport in southern Iraq. He added that two other drones targeted the facilities of a U.S. company in the Burjesia oil complex, while a fourth drone targeted the Rumaila oil field, where the major energy company BP operates. Iraq, which for years served as a proxy battleground between the United States and Iran, has said it does not want to be drawn into the war engulfing the Middle East. However, despite these statements, it has not been spared the consequences of the ongoing conflict. CNN reported early Saturday, March 7, that since it was revealed that the United States is arming Iranian Kurdish forces for a possible ground offensive, the camps of Kurdish groups opposed to Iran’s regime have become constant targets of the regime’s drones and ballistic missiles. According to Agence France-Presse, explosions were heard on Friday near Erbil Airport, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources also announced on Friday that oil production at a field operated by a U.S. company had been halted following an attack that occurred the previous day in Duhok province. The ministry stated that the attack was carried out from areas under the control of Iraq’s central government and called on Baghdad to prevent such attacks against civilians, economic infrastructure, and the oil and gas sector in the northern region. Iran’s regime threatened on Friday that if Iranian Kurdish militias are allowed to enter Iran, it will target all facilities in the region. Several opposition sources told Agence France-Presse on Thursday that no forces have entered Iran so far. Kurdish militias and parties are currently in a position that can be described as a kind of preemptive deployment along the front lines, although a ground offensive has not yet begun. Nevertheless, the heavy U.S. and Israeli attacks in western Iran may indicate that measures are underway to prepare the battlefield ahead of a possible ground operation.

US Takes Action to Confiscate $15 Million Linked to Shamkhani Network

Mehdi Hosseini
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US Takes Action to Confiscate $15 Million Linked to Shamkhani Network
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has filed two civil complaints in a federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to confiscate more than $15.3 million in assets linked to an illegal Iranian oil sales network. The network is attributed to Mohammad-Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, a former senior official of the Iranian regime who previously served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
EU Sanctions Hossein Shamkhani: A Blow to the Oil and Weapons Network of Iran’s Regime and Russia
According to U.S. officials, the network used front companies, intermediaries, and a fleet of vessels to sell Iranian oil while concealing its origin in order to evade U.S. sanctions. According to the Department of Justice, this complex structure allowed regime operatives to launder billions of dollars from global sales of Iranian and Russian oil through various financial systems—revenues that largely originated from Iran’s national resources and wealth. U.S. officials say that a significant portion of the oil buyers involved in this network are located in China, and the transactions were conducted in ways designed to conceal the oil’s origin and transfer the money. The U.S. Department of Justice said the action was taken to prevent the misuse of the U.S. financial system to finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and networks affiliated with it. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said that under the leadership of President Donald Trump, there will be zero tolerance for individuals who use the U.S. financial system to support enemies of the country. She added that the defendants in this case helped finance the IRGC by violating sanctions and transferring millions of dollars, and they will now face serious legal consequences.

Seventh Day of War: Iran Regime’s Firepower Declines Amid Expanding Conflict

Jubin Katiraie
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Seventh Day of War: Iran Regime’s Firepower Declines Amid Expanding Conflict
On Friday, March 6, as the war between the United States and Israel and Iran’s ruling regime entered its seventh day, reports indicated intensified strikes inside Iran alongside a significant decline in the regime’s missile and drone capabilities. According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), since the beginning of the conflict Iran’s ballistic missile attacks have dropped by 90 percent and its drone attacks by 83 percent.

Explosions Reported in Several Iranian Cities

Early Friday morning, reports emerged of airstrikes and explosions in multiple areas across Iran. Local sources reported blasts near Isfahan, Rasht, and Qom.
Iranian Regime Missile Stockpiles Are Running Out
In Tehran, fighter jets were seen flying at low altitude while several explosions were reported in different parts of the city, including the Pirouzi district. Regime-affiliated media acknowledged that some areas of central Tehran had been targeted. In western Iran, reports also indicated a heavy airstrike and explosion in the city of Paveh.

Iranian Military Actions and Proxy Activity

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had launched the “21st wave of operations,” firing Kheibar missiles toward Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq claimed they carried out 27 operations in the past 24 hours against U.S. and allied bases in Iraq and the region. Qatar’s Ministry of Defense announced that a drone attack targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base had been intercepted. Security sources also told Reuters that a drone strike targeted Iranian opposition positions near Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Expansion of U.S. Military Operations

CENTCOM reported that in the past 72 hours U.S. bombers had struck around 200 targets deep inside Iran. According to the command, stealth B-2 bombers deployed dozens of bunker-busting bombs against underground ballistic missile launchers. The commander also stated that U.S. forces have sunk more than 30 vessels belonging to the Iranian regime during maritime operations. He added that the next stage of the campaign will focus on destroying Iran’s missile production capabilities. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned that if the Iranian regime believes Washington cannot sustain the war effort, it is making a “serious miscalculation.” However, he emphasized that the United States does not intend to expand its military objectives in Iran beyond the current scope.

Trump Calls on Iranian Forces to Lay Down Arms

Former U.S. President Donald Trump called on members of Iran’s military and security forces to lay down their weapons. Addressing members of the IRGC, the army, and police, he said: “Once again, I ask all of you to put down your weapons.” Trump also urged Iranian diplomats around the world to seek asylum.

International Political Reactions

Diplomatic reactions to the conflict have intensified. The President of France called on Iranian authorities not to drag Lebanon further into the war and announced that France would strengthen military cooperation with the Lebanese army. Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Iranian regime is a major “exporter of war” and has repeatedly attacked other countries. Foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union also held an emergency meeting to discuss the growing tensions and strongly condemned Iran’s attacks as unjustified.

Debate Over Iran’s Future Leadership

As the war continues, discussion about the future leadership of Iran has emerged. According to Axios, Donald Trump said he should personally play a role in selecting Iran’s next leader, similar to the role he played in political developments in Venezuela. Trump reportedly identified Mojtaba Khamenei as the most likely successor but stated that such an outcome would be unacceptable and that the United States would not accept a leader who continues the policies of Ali Khamenei. Inside Iran, Ahmad Khatami, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said that selecting a new leader would be carried out at the earliest opportunity, noting that the country is currently in wartime conditions.

Attacks on Oil Tankers Raise Regional Tensions

Regional tensions have also spread to the energy sector. Reuters reported that several oil tankers in the Persian Gulf have been targeted since the conflict intensified. One tanker carrying crude oil under the Bahamas flag, anchored near Iraq’s Khor al-Zubair port, was reportedly struck by a remote-controlled explosive boat linked to Iran. Another tanker near Kuwait suffered a large explosion in its hull, causing flooding and an oil leak. According to reports, at least nine ships have been attacked since the conflict began.

Rising Tensions With Azerbaijan

Tensions have also increased in the Caucasus region. According to Sky News, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered the country’s military to prepare for retaliatory strikes against Iran, accusing Tehran of a terrorist act and unjustified aggression. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry previously stated that Iran had launched a drone attack targeting the Nakhchivan autonomous region.

Lebanon Moves Against IRGC Presence

In Lebanon, the government has taken new steps against the activities of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. According to Al Arabiya, the Lebanese cabinet has banned any security or military activity by the IRGC on Lebanese territory. Lebanon’s Minister of Information said authorities have been instructed to arrest any IRGC personnel identified in the country and prepare for their deportation. The Lebanese government has also decided to require visas for Iranian citizens entering Lebanon.

Casualties and Damage Across Iran

Inside Iran, reports indicate widespread destruction and casualties. According to the state-affiliated ILNA news agency, 174 counties across the country have been affected by attacks. In total, 1,332 strikes have been recorded in 636 locations. Some reports mention attacks on the Sanandaj state broadcasting building, damage to facilities connected to Channel Two of Iranian state television, and strikes on the municipal building in Tehran’s District 18. Reports indicate that more than 6,000 people have been injured, with around 2,500 still hospitalized. Reuters, citing Iranian state media, reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed, including at least 175 students, although detailed figures for military casualties have not been disclosed.

Continuing Military Escalation

Iran has reportedly launched a new wave of missiles toward Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that it had begun a large wave of airstrikes against targets in Tehran, with explosions reported in Tehran and Karaj. Israeli officials also said that any successor to Ali Khamenei would remain a target if they continued the same policies.

A Widening Conflict

Overall, developments on the seventh day of the war indicate that the conflict is continuing to expand. Beyond the battlefield, the war is producing significant political, humanitarian, and diplomatic consequences across the region and internationally.

Trump Assassination Plot Suspect Says Iran’s Regime Planned It, Threatened His Family

Esmaeil Mohades
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Trump Assassination Plot Suspect Says Iran’s Regime Planned It, Threatened His Family
A suspect in the plot to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump said the assassination had been planned by Iran’s regime and that his family had been threatened. Asif Raza Merchant, a Pakistani man accused of planning the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump and several other senior American politicians, told the court that the plot had been imposed on him under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Merchant, who was charged in September 2024 with attempting to hire a hitman to assassinate American politicians, said during his trial that he was forced to participate in the plot in order to protect his family, who live in Tehran.
Pakistan National Arrested in U.S. On Charges of Trying to Hire a Hitman on Behalf Iran’s Regime
Merchant said in court through an Urdu interpreter: “My family were under pressure and threats, and I had to do this.” According to him, although he had not received a specific order to kill a particular individual, his Iranian contact mentioned the names of several American political figures during the course of the plot. Merchant told the court that among the names mentioned were Donald Trump, former U.S. president Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. This case comes as earlier reports had indicated that after the killing of Qassem Soleimani in 2020, the IRGC had attempted to target senior American officials, including Trump. U.S. officials had previously stated that Merchant had close connections with Iran and that his alleged plot was entirely consistent with the typical methods used by Iran’s regime. Merchant also told the court that he began cooperating with an individual from the IRGC around 2022. According to judicial officials, he had attempted to hire individuals to carry out the assassination who were in fact undercover FBI agents, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Repression and Human Rights Violations in Iran – February 2026

Mehdi Hosseini
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Repression and Human Rights Violations in Iran – February 2026
What distinguishes the page of Iran’s history at the beginning of 2026 more than ever before is the emergence of an uprising that reflects the public’s anger toward Iran’s regime. Images of the piled-up bodies of those killed in the uprising in warehouses and morgues have recorded a bitter yet telling picture in Iran’s history. Something that until a day earlier was unimaginable for the people and the majority of society suddenly occurred, not as an isolated incident in one corner of the country but in an organized manner across most cities in Iran.
Resistance Units Intensify Activities Across Iran Amid External Military Strikes
But immediately after that crime, the people of Iran became caught in a war that itself represents another scene of human rights violations by the ruling dictatorship as well as by the attacking countries.

The Human Rights Situation in Iran in February

The situation of repression and human rights violations in Iran in February 2026 can be summarized as follows:

Executions

According to published reports, at least 295 people were executed in various prisons across Iran during this month. Among those executed were three Baluch individuals, 12 Kurds, and three Afghan nationals.

The breakdown of executions is as follows:

  • Men in prison: 291
  • Women in prison: four

Women Executed

  • Shahla Dowlatabadi: Executed on February 9, 2026, on murder charges in Kerman Central Prison.
  • Esmat Najafi: Executed on February 15, 2026, on murder charges in Qom Central Prison.
  • Mina Nasirpour: She was 40 years old and was executed on February 16, 2026, on drug-related charges in Tabriz Central Prison. Her husband had also been executed in November 2025.
  • Soheila Asadi: Executed on February 23, 2026, on murder charges in Isfahan Central Prison.

Arrests

Following the January uprising, the wave of arrests continued during this month as well. However, the exact number of arrests has not yet been fully released. According to available reports, at least 244 people whose names have been announced were arrested during this month, though the real number of arrests is believed to be much higher. Reports were also published this month of one case of arbitrary arrest and two cases of arrests involving followers of other religions.

Arbitrary Killings and Torture

Regarding arbitrary killings and cases of torture in prisons and detention centers following January 2025, no precise statistics have been released, but evidence and reports indicate that the number of such cases is likely significant.

Iranian Regime Missile Stockpiles Are Running Out

Mehdi Hosseini
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Iranian Regime Missile Stockpiles Are Running Out
The Telegraph newspaper reported that due to the sharp decline in the number of missiles launched from Iran, it appears that the Iranian regime may be losing its capability to fire ballistic missiles. The Telegraph wrote on Wednesday, March 4, that the reason for this appears to be both the depletion of missile stockpiles and the destruction of missile launchers during Israeli and U.S. attacks. It added that according to analyses published by countries targeted by the Iranian regime’s attacks, Tehran has significantly reduced the number of ballistic missiles it launches within a 24-hour period. The newspaper added, quoting experts, that this could be the result of the loss of ground-based missile launchers in U.S. strikes.
Resistance Units Intensify Activities Across Iran Amid External Military Strikes
It is believed that in the first days of this conflict, the Iranian regime launched hundreds more missiles than it had fired during the 12-day war with Israel in June last year. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait publish daily statistics on Iranian missiles and drones launched toward them. During the first two days of the war, the Iranian regime fired an average of 58 ballistic missiles per day toward the United Arab Emirates, but by the fourth day this number dropped to only 10 missiles. A defense analyst said this is an early indication that Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles are running out. Bahrain announced on Tuesday that it had successfully intercepted a total of 70 missiles since the start of the attacks. This number reached 74 by Wednesday. While seven ballistic missiles were launched at Bahrain on Monday, that number fell to four on Wednesday. Kuwait said that it dealt with 97 ballistic missiles during the first 24 hours of the war, but it did not release new figures in the following days. Qatar’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that the country was targeted by two ballistic missiles, one of which struck Al Udeid Air Base but caused no casualties. Qatar says that at least 101 ballistic missiles have been launched toward the country in total, most of them during the first and second days of the war. The U.S. strategy has focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities, and in recent days many of Iran’s ground-based missile launchers have been destroyed. Satellite imagery also shows that major damage has been inflicted on missile facilities across Iran. Given that this conflict is far more critical from the regime’s perspective and that short-range ballistic missiles are still usable, a much higher level of ballistic missile use would have been expected—unless Iran’s missile capability and launchers had been severely weakened, which appears to be the case. At the same time, The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, reported that the United States is also rapidly consuming its stockpiles of precision weapons and may be only a few days away from having to prioritize targets for interception.

Resistance Units Intensify Activities Across Iran Amid External Military Strikes

Sia Rajabi
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Resistance Units Intensify Activities Across Iran Amid External Military Strikes
In late February 2026, as tensions escalated between the Iranian regime and foreign powers, developments inside Iran pointed to another dynamic unfolding across the country. Following the announcement of a provisional government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), networks associated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) reported a series of coordinated activities in multiple Iranian cities. On February 28, the NCRI declared the formation of a provisional government intended, according to the organization, to provide a framework for transferring sovereignty to the Iranian people. Around the same time, activists affiliated with the PMOI’s internal network—commonly referred to as “Resistance Units”—carried out operations in Tehran and at least 18 other cities. The activities were reported in cities including Karaj, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Ahvaz. According to information released by the network, a total of 31 separate operations were conducted, many of which targeted institutions associated with the Iranian state’s security and propaganda apparatus.

Targets linked to security and state institutions

Among the targets were facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its paramilitary arm, the Basij. Activists reportedly set fire to Basij bases in several locations, including Tehran, Fardis, Falavarjan, and Ahvaz.   In the northeastern city of Chenaran, Resistance Units targeted the headquarters of the Khomeini Foundation, a state-run organization. The foundation is a center involved in the management of public assets and state-linked financial activity. Other operations focused on symbols and propaganda associated with the ruling establishment. Activists burned billboards displaying images of regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini, as well as signage linked to the IRGC’s intelligence structures and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. These incidents were reported in locations including Nimruz and Shiraz. The operations occurred during a period of heightened security across the country. Following recent external military strikes connected to the growing confrontation between the Iranian regime and foreign adversaries, security forces had reportedly increased their alert levels nationwide. Activities carried out under severe risk Participation in opposition networks inside Iran carries heavy penalties under Iranian law. According to the report, individuals suspected of involvement with organizations such as the PMOI face the possibility of arrest, torture, and capital punishment. The risks were underscored by events in the preceding months. During the nationwide uprisings that erupted in December 2025 and continued into January 2026, Iranian authorities responded with force. The unrest spread across numerous cities before security forces suppressed the protests in what opposition sources described as a crackdown involving thousands of casualties. Despite the security environment, Resistance Units reported that their activities were carried out publicly in multiple locations, often accompanied by slogans and symbolic displays intended to convey political messages. Slogans rejecting both monarchy and theocracy During several operations, activists chanted slogans that rejected both the current clerical establishment and Iran’s former monarchy. One frequently reported chant declared: “Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader.” In addition, demonstrators voiced support for opposition figures including Massoud Rajavi and Maryam Rajavi, who lead the broader coalition associated with the NCRI. Public displays were also reported in several cities. In Shiraz, Tabriz, Qazvin, and Khorramabad, activists held signs bearing the emblem of the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA), accompanied by the message “The NLA will return.” In Shiraz, images of Massoud Rajavi and Maryam Rajavi were installed in public areas, along with written messages such as “Let the world know Massoud is our leader” and “The democratic revolution cannot be hijacked.” According to the report, these actions were intended to signal support for the NCRI’s proposed transitional framework and the political platform associated with Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. The program outlines measures including the dissolution of the IRGC, the abolition of the death penalty, the establishment of gender equality, and the rejection of the doctrine of absolute clerical rule known as velayat-e faqih.

Statements amid regional escalation

The activities inside Iran coincided with rising regional tensions linked to military strikes targeting Iranian facilities. As explosions were reported in several parts of the country, Maryam Rajavi issued a public message emphasizing the safety of civilians. She called on residents and activists to “care for civilians and the general public, particularly children and the elderly,” according to the report. Rajavi also linked the confrontation with foreign powers to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, which she said had been exposed by the Iranian Resistance decades earlier. In her statement, she stressed that Iran’s future should be determined domestically rather than through external intervention. “Iran is not its regime. Iran is its people,” she said, adding that the country’s future “can only be built by the Iranian people themselves.” Activity across multiple provinces Taken together, the reported incidents reflect a coordinated campaign of opposition activity across numerous provinces during a period of heightened tension both inside and outside the country. While external military developments have intensified pressure on the Iranian state, the events described by the PMOI network highlight a parallel struggle unfolding within Iran’s cities. Across Tehran and other urban centers, small groups of activists have continued to stage symbolic acts of defiance—burning state imagery, displaying opposition symbols, and chanting slogans in public spaces. As the regional confrontation continues and security measures remain in place, such actions illustrate the complex environment within Iran, where geopolitical conflict abroad intersects with ongoing political dissent at home.

Day Five of US and Israeli Strikes on Iran: Military Infrastructure Hit as Conflict Spreads Across the Region

Esmaeil Mohades
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Day Five of US and Israeli Strikes on Iran: Military Infrastructure Hit as Conflict Spreads Across the Region
The military confrontation between Iran’s ruling establishment, the United States, and Israel entered its fifth day on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, amid sustained bombardment and expanding regional repercussions. The escalation follows four days of unprecedented strikes that eliminated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed senior military commanders, and targeted core elements of Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, including the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant. By Wednesday morning, the focus had shifted to a broad campaign against military and security installations in Tehran and across several provinces, while Iranian forces widened retaliatory attacks against US and allied interests in the Gulf.
Day Four of the War; Uncertainty Over Iran’s Regime Next Leader

Strikes Across Tehran and Major Provinces

Israel announced the launch of “broad scale strikes” targeting security headquarters throughout Tehran. According to Israeli officials, the operation hit the headquarters of the Basij paramilitary, missile launch pads, air defense systems, and the logistics directorate of the regime’s ground forces. State media and local reports described at least seven or eight heavy explosions in the capital around 1:00 p.m. local time. Plumes of smoke rose over eastern, northern, northeastern, and northwestern districts. Severe impacts were reported near Qasr-e Firouzeh town, Qods City, Vardavard, and a law enforcement center in Maralan. The bombardment extended well beyond Tehran. In East Azerbaijan province, explosions struck the western industrial zone of Tabriz in the early hours of the morning, followed by another strike near Tabriz airport that hit a warehouse. Airstrikes were also reported in the Alborz industrial city in Qazvin. Regime media acknowledged heavy explosions in Shiraz, Isfahan, Khorramdarreh, and Qom. Military and IRGC bases in Baneh were reportedly subjected to repeated attacks. As the strikes intensified, the cumulative death toll from the conflict, according to regime-affiliated Telegram channels, surpassed 1,000.

Retaliatory Fire on US Bases and Gulf States

Tehran’s response has increasingly targeted US military installations and diplomatic sites in the region. On Wednesday morning, Qatar’s defense ministry confirmed that two ballistic missiles were fired toward its territory. One was intercepted; the other struck the US Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military facility in the Middle East. No casualties were reported. In the United Arab Emirates, a drone struck the US consulate compound in Dubai on Tuesday evening. Video footage showed flames and black smoke rising from the site. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the drone hit a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and confirmed that all personnel were accounted for, describing US diplomatic facilities as “under direct attack from a terrorist regime.” Kuwait has also been drawn into the confrontation. Its military reported intercepting multiple hostile aerial targets. A spokesperson for Kuwait’s Ministry of Health confirmed that an 11-year-old girl was killed when shrapnel from an intercepted projectile fell on her home, injuring four family members. The incident followed earlier reports from Washington identifying four of six US service members killed in a prior drone strike on a Kuwaiti port. On Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched waves of drone attacks against bases belonging to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in Koya, Iraqi Kurdistan. While the IRGC said it launched 30 drones at “hostile groups,” regime-linked media claimed as many as 230 drones were fired across Iraqi Kurdistan and Kuwait. No casualties were reported at the PDKI sites. The National Council of Iranian Sunnis condemned the attack on the group’s Camp Liberty.

Naval Engagements and the Strait of Hormuz

At sea, the confrontation has exacted a heavy toll on Iran’s naval assets. US Central Command announced that it has struck or sunk more than 20 Iranian ships since the conflict began. Among them was the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, torpedoed by US forces in international waters in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka’s navy, responding to a distress call, rescued 32 individuals and recovered 87 bodies. Iranian media cited at least 80 fatalities in the attack. In the Gulf region, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that an “unknown projectile” struck a commercial vessel off Fujairah, causing damage. Iranian media separately claimed another ship was targeted and set ablaze while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Amid concerns over attempts to disrupt shipping lanes, US President Donald Trump stated that the US Navy may begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Leadership Vacuum and Internal Measures

The death of Ali Khamenei has created an immediate leadership crisis. State media announced that public mourning ceremonies, including a planned display of his body in Tehran, have been postponed. Reports from Reuters and Iran’s Mehr news agency indicate that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, survived the strikes and is overseeing affairs. When asked about the prospect of succession, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US officials would “wait and see,” reiterating Washington’s stated aim of ending Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Israeli officials have publicly vowed to target any individual appointed to the position of Supreme Leader. Inside Iran, senior officials have signaled heightened security measures. Ali Larijani, an advisor to Khamenei, appeared on state television urging forces to “fire at will” against what he described as internal “mercenaries.” Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said coordination between judicial and military authorities had intensified. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber stated that there was no intention of negotiating with Washington. The Defense Ministry’s spokesperson asserted that each commander has multiple deputies in place to prevent operational gaps.

Regional and International Fallout

International reactions continue to mount. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, stated that Tehran was “making a strong case for its own demise” and accused it of attempting to sow chaos across the region. Turkey has prepared for possible spillover. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci announced contingency plans to accommodate up to 90,000 migrants fleeing Iran, including the establishment of buffer zones and tent camps. He added that Iranian authorities are currently restricting their citizens from leaving the country. Elsewhere, Cyprus briefly placed flights into holding patterns at Larnaca airport following reports of a suspicious object, though officials later clarified that its airspace remained open. In Lebanon, Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel was followed by Israeli airstrikes on targets in Beirut’s Hazmieh district and in Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley. At least four people were reported killed, and evacuation orders prompted thousands to leave their homes in southern Lebanon. Five days into the conflict, airspace, shipping lanes, diplomatic compounds, and border regions across the Middle East have been drawn into the expanding confrontation, as military operations continue on multiple fronts.

Day Four of the War; Uncertainty Over Iran’s Regime Next Leader

Hoshang Amiri
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Day Four of the War; Uncertainty Over Iran’s Regime Next Leader
Developments in the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026, pushed the region into a new phase of regional war. A series of air, missile, and drone strikes were reported in Iran and several Middle Eastern countries. At the same time, US, Israeli, and Iranian regime officials announced their official positions. These events are unfolding as the debate over succession to the supreme leadership in Tehran has also intensified. US President Donald Trump, in an interview with NewsNation, stated that a response to the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh and the killing of US military personnel would be delivered soon. He emphasized that the response would be decisive. At the same time, media outlets affiliated with the Iranian regime reported extensive airstrikes in Tehran.\
Resistance Announces Interim Government After Khamenei’s Death, Drawing Global Attention
Early Tuesday, the compound of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian regime’s state broadcaster in Tehran, was targeted in an airstrike. Fighter jets also struck several locations in Tehran and Karaj. Precise details about the extent of damage and casualties have not yet been released. Reports indicate impacts at multiple sites. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that part of the wall of Evin Prison in Tehran was destroyed in a missile strike. The area around Imam Hossein University, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the prison wall were targeted. The organization warned that the condition of the prisoners is unknown and their lives are in immediate danger. This incident has intensified human rights concerns amid the regional war. In another development, a political activist from Abdanan reported that nearly all detainees from the January 2026 uprising in that city have been released. Only Ahmad Alizadeh remains in custody. This news was published amid the escalation of the regional war. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) told Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open. It emphasized that the Iranian regime is not conducting any patrols and that there are no signs of minelaying. CENTCOM stated that navigation continues and the strait is under control. These remarks were made amid concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies.

Expansion of the regional war across several countries

CENTCOM also announced that US forces destroyed the command headquarters of the IRGC and its control facilities. Simultaneously, Tasnim, a state-run news agency affiliated with the IRGC, reported that the US embassy in Kuwait had been targeted. In statement No. 13, the IRGC claimed it had destroyed the main command building and headquarters of a US air base in Bahrain. Reuters, citing the so-called Iraqi Resistance, reported that a drone attack was carried out against a hotel hosting US force in Erbil. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel would not enter an endless war. He stressed that the action taken would be swift and decisive. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the objectives of the US operation are to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, drones, and naval forces. He added that the most severe blows by the US military are still to come and that the next phase will be more crushing. Rubio expressed hope that the Iranian people will be able to overthrow this government and shape a new future. These positions indicate that the regional war has expanded in scope. Reuters reported that satellite images show strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. The Institute for Science and International Security also announced that two attacks on underground uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz have been recorded. In addition, Phase 11 of Pardis, a city northeast of Tehran, was targeted in the attacks.

Competition over succession in the shadow of regional war

Amid these developments, Ahmad Khatami’s colleague in the Assembly of Experts, cleric Mohsen Moallemi, stated that the time required to select a new supreme leader will not be long. He emphasized that the Assembly of Experts— the body constitutionally tasked with appointing the supreme leader—votes according to religious criteria and that political preferences are not involved. Hossein Marashi, a political figure close to the so-called reformist camp, said the Assembly of Experts must choose a leader capable of generating maximum national consensus. He added that the future leader must have social legitimacy. Reuters reported that following Khamenei’s death, Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini, are the main contenders for succession. The agency also mentioned a temporary leadership council reportedly consisting of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Alireza Arafi (a senior cleric and member of the Assembly of Experts), and Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, head of the judiciary. It was further reported that Tehran remains hopeful about enduring the war. Taken together, these developments indicate that the regional war has entered a new phase. Reciprocal attacks, the targeting of sensitive facilities, and the emergence of the succession debate have placed the region in an unprecedented state of instability. Recent developments show that the political structure ruling Iran has turned the country into a focal point of regional war. Continuing on this path will bring neither domestic stability nor regional security. The experience of the past four decades demonstrates that this cycle of tension and repression will not stop without fundamental change.
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