Economic impacts and financial reports
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has been in a coma and on life support for 65 days, with his body being preserved in a refrigerator pending burial, according to a tweet by an anonymous user.
The IRGC Aerospace Force retaliated against UAE airstrikes on Iran’s petrochemical plants by targeting Emirati petrochemical facilities with one-way attack drones and short-range ballistic missiles; authorities in Fujairah reported a fire at a petroleum industrial site following a drone attack, while residents in Dubai heard multiple explosions.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released footage showing strikes against U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Navy has ordered its ships to pass through Omani territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz to enhance safety and reduce risk amid tensions. This move comes as military operations continue in the region.
Five USAF refueling tankers are operating over the Persian Gulf, coinciding with reports of updated rules of engagement that authorize strikes on hostile threats in the region. Fighter jets are also likely patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.
"Narjes," an individual based in the United States, used an image originally posted by a struggling Iranian to claim that living costs in Iran are low, without understanding the financial hardships faced by Iranians due to inflation and economic difficulties.
Iranian state media reports that UAE fighter jets participated in airstrikes on Iran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bennett, in an interview with Fox News, described the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "corrupt institution" and stated that seized assets will be preserved for the people of Iran after the conflict, highlighting ongoing economic pressures against the Islamic Republic.
Israel is preparing for a potential U.S. strike on Iran and a possible preemptive Iranian response, with the Israeli Chief of Staff contacting CENTCOM Commander Cooper to coordinate, according to Channel 12.
Mehrab Gholizadeh, an economic journalist, stated that managing the economy for the Islamic Republic has become extremely difficult due to current conditions, warning that a continued U.S. naval blockade would cause a sharp surge in the dollar price and leave the Pezeshkian government unable to control the exchange rate.
Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi, a member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, warned that America and its regional allies are planning major assassinations and bombings in Iran, threatening that if war resumes, the Islamic Republic will target all adversaries with full force. Azghadi also criticized the perceived impunity of Western leaders in issuing orders for attacks on Iran.
Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation, returned to Iran after being denied entry into Canada when he stated that 90 million Iranians are members of the IRGC in response to a question from Canadian Border Police.
