Iran retaliates with strikes as United States-Israel conflict escalates
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View on mapRead the full text of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s letter to the American public
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian has released an open letter, addressing the American people, calling on them to question the motives of the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. Below is the full text of his letter. “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful “To the people of the United States of America, and to all those who, amid a flood of distortions and manufactured narratives, continue to seek the truth and aspire to a better life: “Iran — by this very name, character, and identity — is one of the oldest continuous civilisations in human history. Despite its historical and geographical advantages at various times, Iran has never, in its modern history, chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination. Even after enduring occupation, invasion, and sustained pressure from global powers — and despite possessing military superiority over many of its neighbours — Iran has never initiated a war. Yet it has resolutely and bravely repelled those who have attacked it. “The Iranian people harbour no enmity toward other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighbouring countries. Even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures throughout their proud history, Iranians have consistently drawn a clear distinction between governments and the peoples they govern. This is a deeply rooted principle in Iranian culture and collective consciousness — not a temporary political stance. “For this reason, portraying Iran as a threat is neither consistent with historical reality nor with present-day observable facts. Such a perception is the product of political and economic whims of the powerful — the need to manufacture an enemy in order to justify pressure, maintain military dominance, sustain the arms industry, and control strategic markets. In such an environment, if a threat does not exist, it is invented. “Within this same framework, the United States has concentrated the largest number of its forces, bases, and military capabilities around Iran — a country that, at least since the founding of the United States, has never initiated a war. Recent American aggressions launched from these very bases have demonstrated how threatening such a military presence truly is. Naturally, no country confronted with such conditions would forgo strengthening its defensive capabilities. What Iran has done — and continues to do — is a measured response grounded in legitimate self-defence, and by no means an initiation of war or aggression. “Relations between Iran and the United States were not originally hostile, and early interactions between the Iranian and American people were not marred with hostility or tension. The turning point, however, was the 1953 coup d’etat — an illegal American intervention aimed at preventing the nationalisation of Iran’s own resources. That coup disrupted Iran’s democratic process, reinstated dictatorship, and sowed deep distrust among Iranians toward US policies. This distrust deepened further with America’s support for the Shah’s regime, its backing of Saddam Hussein during the imposed war of the 1980s, the imposition of the longest and most comprehensive sanctions in modern history, and ultimately, unprovoked military aggression — twice, in the midst of negotiations —against Iran. “Yet all these pressures have failed to weaken Iran. On the contrary, the country has grown stronger in many areas: literacy rates have tripled —from roughly 30 per cent before the Islamic Revolution to over 90pc today; higher education has expanded dramatically; significant advances have been achieved in modern technology; healthcare services have improved; and infrastructure has developed at a pace and scale incomparable to the past. These are measurable, observable realities that stand independent of fabricated narratives. “At the same time, the destructive and inhumane impact of sanctions, war, and aggression on the lives of the resilient Iranian people must not be underestimated. The continuation of military aggression and recent bombings profoundly affect people’s lives, attitudes, and perspectives. This reflects a fundamental human truth: when war inflicts irreparable harm on lives, homes, cities, and futures, people will not remain indifferent toward those responsible. “This raises a fundamental question: Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behavior? Does the massacre of innocent children, the destruction of cancer-treatment pharmaceutical facilities, or boasting about bombing a country ‘back to the stone ages’ serve any purpose other than further damaging the United States’ global standing? “Iran pursued negotiations, reached an agreement, and fulfilled all its commitments. The decision to withdraw from that agreement, escalate toward confrontation, and launch two acts of aggression in the midst of negotiations were destructive choices made by the US government —choices that served the delusions of a foreign aggressor. “Attacking Iran’s vital infrastructure — including energy and industrial facilities — directly targets the Iranian people. Beyond constituting a war crime, such actions carry consequences that extend far beyond Iran’s borders. They generate instability, increase human and economic costs, and perpetuate cycles of tension, planting seeds of resentment that will endure for years. This is not a demonstration of strength; it is a sign of strategic bewilderment and an inability to achieve a sustainable solution. “Is it not also the case that America has entered this aggression as a proxy for Israel, influenced and manipulated by that regime? Is it not true that Israel, by manufacturing an Iranian threat, seeks to divert global attention away from its crimes toward the Palestinians? Is it not evident that Israel now aims to fight Iran to the last American soldier and the last American taxpayer dollar — shifting the burden of its delusions onto Iran, the region, and the United States itself in pursuit of illegitimate interests? “Is ‘America First’ truly among the priorities of the US government today? “I invite you to look beyond the machinery of misinformation — an integral part of this aggression — and instead speak with those who have visited Iran. Observe the many accomplished Iranian immigrants —educated in Iran — who now teach and conduct research at the world’s most prestigious universities, or contribute to the most advanced technology firms in the West. Do these realities align with the distortions you are being told about Iran and its people? “Today, the world stands at crossroads. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before. The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come. Throughout its millennia of proud history, Iran has outlasted many aggressors. All that remains of them are tarnished names in history, while Iran endures —resilient, dignified, and proud.” Header image: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, September 16, 2024.— Reuters
DawnApril 1, 2026 at 08:39 PM UTCIsrael hits Iran with waves of attacks and says it killed top Hezbollah commander
War shows little sign of easing despite Donald Trump claiming Iranian leadership ‘just asked’ for ceasefire Middle East crisis – live updates Israel unleashed two waves of attacks on Tehran and said it had killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Wednesday with little sign of the war easing up despite Donald Trump repeating a claim that Iran’s leadership was seeking a ceasefire. The US president, writing on social media, said that Iran’s president had “just asked” for a ceasefire and that American troops would be “out of Iran pretty quickly” as he sought to extricate the US from the war. He indicated that he was not concerned about leaving Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) – often cited as a justification for the war - in its presumed underground hiding place, arguing it could be monitored by satellite. Continue reading...
The Guardian WorldApril 1, 2026 at 07:01 PM UTCIran says it has ‘will’ to end war, as Trump zigzags on escalation
Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war with the US and Israel, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday, stressing that Tehran was seeking guarantees the conflict would not flare up again. The comment by the head of state – which boosted markets in the US – came after a day of heavy strikes on Iran and followed a tough warning from the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Guards threatened to retaliate against leading US tech firms such as Google, Meta and Apple from...
SCMP WorldMarch 31, 2026 at 07:10 PM UTCWatch: Why a prolonged war with Iran will constrain the U.S. | Data
When the conflict in West Asia, which began with the U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran on February 28, escalated into a regional war, analysts said that the war would last as long as Iran had missiles or until the Gulf nations ran out of interceptors. However, with “emergency” military sales, piling monetary costs and a strained supply chain, is the U.S. becoming constrained to keep the war going?
The Hindu InternationalMarch 31, 2026 at 01:25 PM UTCPost-Strikes… Iran Adapts its Fighting Strategy
By: Nicholas Kulish, Helene Cooper, Isabel Kershner, Erika Solomon A wave of strikes across the Middle East in recent days shows that Iran has not lost the capacity to retaliate. US President Donald Trump has said that the United States has all but obliterated Iranian military abilities, portraying Iran as a defanged adversary.
GDELTMarch 30, 2026 at 06:01 AM UTCTehran under intensifying strikes as conflict deepens
Tehran has come under increasingly frequent and intense airstrikes in recent days, as Iran steps up retaliatory attacks on Israeli targets and US military bases, deepening a conflict that remains fierce and deadlocked. Despite mediation efforts led by Pakistan, both sides continue to press demands deemed unacceptable by the other, leaving little chance of a near-term ceasefire.
CGTN WorldMarch 30, 2026 at 04:50 AM UTC(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on March 30)
As the Iran war shows signs of becoming prolonged, disruptions to global supply ...
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The United States is plotting a ground attack on Iran even as it claims to be engaging in diplomatic efforts, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday, as more American marines arrive in the region. The Israeli army earlier announced the death in combat of a fifth soldier in south Lebanon. Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Lunds Univeristy in Stockholm, Rouzbeh Parsi, shares further insights on US-Iran negotiations.
France 24 WorldMarch 29, 2026 at 12:32 PM UTCHouthi forces enter Iran conflict with missile attacks on Israeli military sites
Escalation represents dangerous spread of war and brings threat of even more damage to the global economy Middle East crisis – live updates Parents of Iran school bombing victims describe their worst day The US-Israeli war with Iran has expanded with the entry of Houthi forces in Yemen, representing a dangerous spread of the conflict and bringing with it the threat of more damage to the global economy. Pakistan has said it would host a meeting of Middle Eastern powers on Monday in an effort to find a regional approach to ending the conflict. But the talks, which bring together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, did not appear to include any of the warring parties, casting further doubt on persistent US claims of diplomatic progress. Continue reading...
The Guardian WorldMarch 28, 2026 at 04:19 PM UTCIs Middle East conflict headed for checkmate or stalemate?
One month after the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran, a central question is emerging: Will the fighting end with a decisive "final blow," or sink into a costly and prolonged military "quagmire" with growing regional and global risks?
CGTN WorldMarch 28, 2026 at 06:01 AM UTC