U.S.-led strikes and Iranian counterattacks have expanded across the Middle East, raising sharp questions about human costs, military objectives and diplomatic consequences. President Trump told Axios he must be “involved” in determining Iran’s next supreme leader, calling Mojtaba Khamenei — son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a top succession contender — “unacceptable” and saying he prefers a figure who would bring “harmony and peace” to Iran.
Major battlefield and diplomatic developments
– Sri Lanka seized the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr after more than 200 sailors aboard asked for help when an engine failed. The move followed a U.S. submarine torpedo strike that sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka; U.S. officials say the Dena was hit with MK 48 torpedoes fired by the USS Charlotte. Sri Lanka rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies from the earlier attack.
– Israeli forces reported a “broad wave” of strikes on Tehran, with heavy explosions reported in the capital and near other sites. Israeli officials said the operations targeted regime infrastructure.
– U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said U.S. and Israeli actions have sharply reduced Iran’s ability to strike U.S. forces and partners. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the campaign will next focus on Iran’s missile production to prevent rebuilding, and that B-2 bombers have delivered multiple 2,000-pound penetrator bombs against deeply buried missile launchers.
– Iran and allied proxies continued to fire missiles and launch drones across the region. The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) estimated more than 1,600 drones have been launched at Israel, Gulf states, Jordan and Cyprus. Various trackers and officials reported broad tallies of weapons used and casualties in several countries.
– Gulf states reported numerous intercepts: the UAE said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 131 drones in one day; Saudi Arabia reported shooting down three Iranian drones near Riyadh; Qatar intercepted a drone heading for Al Udeid airbase; Azerbaijan reported Iranian drones struck an airport and a school, wounding two people; Lebanon reported dozens killed and hundreds wounded in Israeli strikes. NATO strengthened ballistic missile defenses after a missile was intercepted on a trajectory toward Turkey.
U.S. posture, policy and political moves
– Defense officials briefed that the U.S. aims to “destroy” Iran’s missile industry and sustain operations as needed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the campaign’s timeline is “ours and ours alone to control.”
– Congressional efforts to limit the president’s authority to continue military operations failed in both the Senate and the House, as lawmakers rejected war powers resolutions that would have constrained escalation.
– The Pentagon confirmed three MQ-9 Reaper drones were downed; at least one crashed near Iran and another was likely shot down accidentally by Qatari forces.
– The administration temporarily eased some sanctions to allow India to buy Russian oil amid surging global prices tied to the conflict.
– Separately, the Pentagon formally designated AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk amid a broader dispute over guardrails for military uses of artificial intelligence.
Regional impacts and civilian toll
– Iranian official agencies reported mounting casualties. Iran’s Martyrs’ and Veterans’ Affairs Organization stated that at least 1,230 people had died from U.S. and Israeli strikes. Independent trackers such as the INSS reported extensive strikes inside Iran and heavy use of munitions by U.S. and Israeli forces.
– Satellite imagery and reporting showed damage to several buildings near a school in Minab that Iran says was hit, with questions raised about whether military facilities in the compound were targeted.
– The U.N. maritime agency warned that roughly 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise passengers were stranded in Gulf waters. Widespread airspace closures left thousands of air travelers stranded; some airlines and airports have begun limited resumptions, including Etihad, Emirates, Abu Dhabi and Israel allowing restricted incoming flights.
– Humanitarian and evacuation efforts have been extensive: the State Department said it provided travel guidance to more than 10,000 Americans and that nearly 20,000 have returned to the United States since the conflict escalated. Charter evacuations and relief flights are ongoing, with some carriers offering limited corridors for civilians and aid.
Security and allied responses
– NATO increased its allied ballistic missile defense posture and several European countries dispatched naval assets to Cyprus in response to strikes near the British base at Akrotiri.
– Regional partners reported shortages of interceptors to counter Iranian missiles and drones and requested expedited resupply from the United States. Ukraine said it would send drone experts to help Gulf states counter Shahed-type drones, drawing on its experience defending against similar systems.
– Gulf countries reported arrests of alleged Iranian agents accused of plotting sabotage or intelligence operations.
Iranian rhetoric and leadership dynamics
– Iranian commanders pledged continued and intensified attacks. State media and senior clerics issued bellicose statements calling for retribution. Iran’s leadership council met to discuss convening the Assembly of Experts to select a new supreme leader amid reports of attacks on buildings associated with that body.
– Iranian officials have blamed Israel for multiple regional incidents. Iran’s foreign minister asserted Tehran could withstand a ground invasion and denied seeking a ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel.
Other notable incidents
– The U.S. evacuated or suspended operations at some diplomatic posts; the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait suspended normal operations and staff were ordered to evacuate, with reports that the embassy destroyed sensitive materials during the withdrawal.
– The U.S. military said it had destroyed dozens of Iranian naval vessels, including a large drone carrier. Reports also indicated smaller Iranian quadcopter drones conducted surveillance of areas where U.S. troops were moving before Iranian strikes that killed six U.S. service members in Kuwait.
– Political reactions abroad varied: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized continued intelligence cooperation with the U.S.; Israel’s president defended the strikes as necessary; Azerbaijan warned of potential retaliation after strikes on its territory.
Succession in Iran
– Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body constitutionally charged with choosing a supreme leader, has been discussed as preparing to convene. Mojtaba Khamenei is frequently reported as a leading contender; he has wielded influence behind the scenes, particularly with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. and Israeli operations that have targeted Iranian leadership have pushed the succession question to the center of diplomatic calculations. President Trump warned against replacing one hardline leader with another and said U.S. involvement will influence the outcome.
Outlook
– U.S. and Israeli officials say operations have degraded Iran’s military capacity and will next focus on production facilities to prevent reconstitution. Iranian leaders and allied commanders vow continued resistance and retaliation. The fighting has widened geographically, strained regional defenses and supply stocks, complicated global energy markets, and created urgent diplomatic, military and humanitarian challenges. How Iran’s leadership transition unfolds and how regional and international partners respond will shape the next phase of this confrontation.