“I apologize on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to neighboring countries that have been attacked by Iran.” These were the words of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside the announcement of a halt to attacks against neighboring countries, dominating discussion on the eighth day of war in Iran amid strikes from the U.S. And Israel.
President Pezeshkian later clarified his position on X, stating: “We have not attacked our friendly and neighboring countries; rather, we have targeted U.S. Military bases, facilities, and installations in the region.” Pezeshkian asserted Tehran’s right “to defend itself against military aggression from the United States and the Zionist regime. We remain steadfast until the last breath in the defense of our country and we resist. Iran’s defensive operations are directed exclusively against targets and structures that represent the origin of aggressive actions against the Iranian nation.”
Trump: “No indications that Russia is helping Tehran”
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the American military had sunk 42 Iranian navy ships in the last three days. “What we have is the complete of the Navy,” Trump said, adding that the United States had too “neutralized” the Iranian air force and disrupted their communications. Trump justified the joint U.S.-Israel operation against Iran, reiterating that Tehran was close to obtaining nuclear weapons: “Seem at October 7th and all the blood that has been spilled in the last 47 years. It had to be done.” Trump described the ongoing military operation as “a favor we are doing not only to the Middle East, but to the entire world.”
Regarding reports from the Washington Post, based on intelligence information, that Moscow was passing information to Tehran useful for targeting American assets in the region, Trump commented that “the United States has no indication that Russia is helping Iran.” He then responded to a journalist on Air Force One who asked if he would consider sending ground troops to Iran to protect its nuclear facilities, saying: “At some point, maybe we will. That would be a great thing, but right now we are just decimating them. We haven’t committed yet, but it’s something we could do later.”
He also addressed the March 1st raid on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, in which 168 students and 14 teachers were killed, stating: “Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by Iran.” This statement appears to contradict recent information suggesting the United States was responsible for the attack.
New explosions in Tehran, Jerusalem and Gulf countries
The day was marked by a new series of strong explosions in Tehran, Jerusalem, and Gulf countries. U.S. And Israeli raids targeted an oil depot south of Tehran, the first strikes against Iranian oil infrastructure since the start of the war. “An oil depot south of Tehran was targeted by the United States and the Zionist regime,” the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported. The depot is located near Tehran’s main refinery, but IRNA reported that the refinery facilities “were not damaged during the attacks.” Masoud Pezeshkian’s leadership is being tested as the conflict escalates. Three more oil depots in western Tehran were reportedly hit in the evening by Israeli fighter jets, confirmed by a source at the Iranian Oil Ministry, cited by the Fars news agency, stating that the depots in the Kuhak and Shahran areas of Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj were struck.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for an attack on the U.S. Base in Juffair, Bahrain, stating it was in response to a raid on their desalination plant originating from there. “In response to the aggression of American terrorists from the Juffeir base against the Qeshm desalination plant, this American base was immediately hit by precision missiles from the Guardians of the Revolution,” they stated on their website.
“The armed forces intercepted a missile attack directed against the State of Qatar,” the emirate’s Defense Ministry announced. In Dubai, one person died after debris from the interception of a projectile launched from Iran landed on their car.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, stated for the first time since the start of the Israeli-American military operation against Iran, that the country is in “a time of war.” This was reported by Haaretz. “We will fulfill our duty towards our country, our people, and the residents, who are part of our family – bin Zayed said – We are not an straightforward prey. We have thick skin and tough meat.”
News also emerged that “the designated heir in Iran, the son of Khamenei, was wounded but apparently is still alive.” This was reported on X by Amit Segal, a journalist for the Israeli Channel 12 and Ynet. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is considered the favorite to be chosen as the new leader by the Assembly of Experts, which will meet “in the next 24 hours” to select the new Supreme Guide of Iran, according to Ayatollah Mozafari, a member of the Assembly, as reported by the Fars news agency. Khamenei had never publicly indicated a successor.
Larijani: “U.S. And Israel want to disintegrate us”
“Their goal is the fundamental disintegration of Iran,” accused Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an interview with state television. Larijani also accused the United States of attempting to replicate a scenario similar to that of Venezuela, where interim President Delcy Rodriguez began cooperating with the Americans after the capture of Nicolas Maduro and the threat of the same fate. “I think the biggest problem of the Americans is that they do not understand the context of Western Asia, especially Iran – said the head of the Supreme National Security Council – Their perception was that it would be like in Venezuela, they would strike, take control and it would be over, but now they are trapped.” He then posted on X: “I have been informed that several American soldiers have been taken prisoner. But the Americans claim they were killed in action. Despite their futile efforts, the truth is something they cannot hide for long.” The U.S. Central Command quickly denied the claim. “The Iranian regime’s claims of capturing American soldiers are yet another example of its lies and deception,” said a Centcom spokesperson cited by Al Jazeera.
Accusations against the U.S. Also came from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “President Pezeshkian’s opening to de-escalation in our region, on the condition that the airspace, territory and waters of our neighbors are not used to attack the Iranian people, was almost immediately killed by President Trump’s misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intentions.” If Trump seeks escalation, “that is precisely what our powerful armed forces have been preparing for for a long time, and that is precisely what they will get,” the minister threatened, citing the American intelligence report, according to which “the war with Iran is destined to fail.”
Netanyahu: “We have almost total control of Iranian airspace”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a televised address at the end of the eighth day of attacks against Iran conducted jointly with the United States: “We have almost total control of Iranian airspace.” Israel “has an organized plan with many surprises” for the next phase of the war in Iran, “to destabilize the regime and make a change possible,” Netanyahu said in a video, addressing the IRGC: “Anyone who lays down their arms will not be harmed. Those who do not, will have blood on their hands.” “We are not seeking to divide Iran, we are seeking to liberate it,” the Israeli Prime Minister further stated, addressing the Iranian people: “The moment of truth is approaching.”
Netanyahu also accused Western leaders of being “weak and flabby,” arguing that “many countries are asking us to cooperate, since they see the hypocrisy of the UN that has done nothing in the face of the massacre in Iran and see the weakness and softness of Western leaders.” According to the Israeli Prime Minister, “our success in the war will bring not only the removal of the nuclear threat and peace between Israel and Iran, but also peace throughout the world.”
Raids in Lebanon
Eight people were killed in Israeli raids in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The Lebanese national news agency reported that a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted more than 20 towns and villages in southern Lebanon. “Six people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the town of Kherbet Selm,” the Ministry of Health reported. A second attack killed at least two people in Kfar Rumman, near the city of Nabatiyeh.
In the evening, an Israeli raid hit a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern outskirts of Beirut. The Lebanese news agency ANI reported that “an Israeli warplane carried out an attack on Haret Hreik.” The Israeli army confirmed on Telegram that it “hit Hezbollah infrastructure in the Dahiyeh sector (the southern outskirts), in Beirut.”
