Reactions and statements from the international community
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reports that U.S. forces are continuing operations to locate and neutralize Iranian targets deemed threatening to Americans and neighboring countries in the region.
Additional footage shows IRGC forces using force to disperse Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations in Tehran’s Chitgar area, with reports of gunfire heard nearby.
Lebanese reporters on the ground report that four senior Iranian IRGC Quds Force figures, including Majid Hassini, Ali Reza Bi-Azar, Ahmad Rasouli, and Hossein Ahmadlou, were killed in a drone strike at the Ramada hotel building in central Beirut last Sunday at 01:30 AM. The strike hit the 4th floor where the individuals had gathered for a meeting.
i24 reported, quoting a senior Israeli diplomatic official, that assessments in both Israel and the United States regarding the potential collapse of the Iranian regime are gaining strength, particularly following Israeli Air Force strikes that killed Ali Larijani and a Basij commander. The report adds that Israeli security officials aim to diminish the Basij's capabilities and effectiveness through airstrikes, including the elimination of street checkpoints, sending a psychological message to Iranians.
UK Member of Parliament Priti Patel has called for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom, citing it as a threat to the country. Patel stated that the Conservatives will work with the government to proscribe the IRGC.
The Washington Post reported that senior Israeli officials, in internal communications with U.S. diplomats, warned that Iranian protesters could face a "massacre" if they return to the streets, despite encouraging a popular uprising against the Islamic Republic regime. The memo, circulated at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, detailed Israeli assessments of the ongoing conflict and meetings between U.S. and Israeli officials to discuss support for Iranian protesters.
During the Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony in Copenhagen, a group of Iranians hoisted the Lion and Sun flag atop the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy, symbolically asserting their desire to reclaim national identity and end the current regime's rule.
During a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ireland, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that without attacking Iran or canceling the JCPOA, a nuclear Holocaust would have occurred.
During a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Irish Prime Minister stated that the Iranian government supports terrorism and has been sanctioned by European countries, which have also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. The Prime Minister further noted that Iran backs Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, describing the Islamic Republic as "a highly destructive force" in the Middle East.
Baroness Chapman, the UK Foreign Office Minister, told the House of Lords that the British government would investigate threats made by the IRGC against the infrastructure of Iran International. Helena Kennedy, another member of the House of Lords, raised concerns about these threats, which could target organizations and countries cooperating with Iran International.
A social media post shared on Twitter features a young individual calling for regime change in Israel and the United States, and advocating for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. The poster is referred to as a "traitor" in the tweet.
India denied reports that it was negotiating with Iran to secure safe passage for Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the release of three seized Iranian oil tankers. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson dismissed the claims as baseless during a press conference on Tuesday, March 16.
