Reactions and statements from the international community
Israeli officials confirmed an overnight airstrike in Tehran that targeted Ali Larijani, Secretary of the National Security Council of the Islamic Regime, though his condition is still unknown. #Israel 🇮🇱 #Iran
On Monday, the Israeli army conducted a large-scale operation against the Islamic Republic's infrastructure in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz using dozens of fighter jets guided by military intelligence. Targets included security institutions, missile storage sites, and air defense systems.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a list of countries forming a coalition with the United States to secure the transit of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz will be announced soon.
Amid the conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated when a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, killing at least 400 people and injuring 250 others, according to the Taliban government spokesperson. Pakistan denied the claim, stating that its target was military facilities and terrorist infrastructure.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, domestic media in Iran reported repeated explosions in northern Tehran near the Sa'dabad Palace complex, while Al Jazeera stated that several large explosions were heard in the area. The Israeli army announced via Telegram that it had launched attacks against governmental infrastructures across Tehran, with some citizen reports on social media indicating that areas in the Ozgol, Farmanieh, Andarzgoo, and Kamranieh neighborhoods were targeted.
On March 16, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed American diplomats to pressure Washington's allies to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon's Hezbollah as terrorist groups, citing the need for coordinated international action to reduce the threat posed by these entities.
Segments of Iran's security and military forces are showing signs of discontent, including declining morale, financial difficulties, and resignations, according to reports received by Iran International. Special units of the Law Enforcement Command have faced delayed salary payments, causing some personnel to refrain from participating in pro-government rallies, while retirees and army personnel have not received salaries for two consecutive months.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on the social network X the destruction of multiple military positions in Iran, stating that thousands of Iranian military targets have been struck by the United States Army to neutralize threats posed by the Iranian regime.
The head of IDF intelligence stated that the IRGC has only recently realized the extent of their miscalculation, with their command structure severely damaged and capabilities significantly reduced due to relentless pressure from Israeli and U.S. airpower, leading to the IRGC being unable to launch more than minimal missile attacks.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged allies in Europe and the Middle East to support U.S. efforts to counter the perceived threat from Iran, citing President Donald Trump's actions under operations "Midnight Hammer" and "Epic Fury" as timely interventions to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
A senior Hezbollah figure, who previously served as bodyguard to Safieddine—the former head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council—was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
During an interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that countries relying on the Strait of Hormuz for oil transit must ensure its security, accusing Iran of using the strait as an economic weapon.
