Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s Supreme Leader.

“I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution. I am confident that the strong ties between Armenia and Iran will continue to develop and achieve new successes. Taking this opportunity, I wish the friendly people of Iran well-being and lasting peace,” Pashinyan said in the letter published by his office.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the Kremlin reported.

“Please accept my sincere congratulations on your election as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Putin said in a letter addressed to Mojtaba Khamenei.

“At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue your father’s work and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials. For my part, I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. I wish you success in solving the difficult tasks facing you, as well as good health and strength of spirit,” the Russian president said in the letter published by the Kremlin.

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was assassinated on February 28 in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

Mojtaba Khamenei was elected by a vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic clerics tasked with choosing the new supreme leader.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that a diplomatic solution is “more necessary than ever” to put an end to the Middle East escalation and preserve peace.

Macron said he spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“I stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region. Iran must also guarantee freedom of navigation by ending the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” the French President said. 

“I reiterated our deep concern regarding the development of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and all of its destabilizing activities in the region, which are at the root of the current crisis. A diplomatic solution is more necessary than ever to address these crucial challenges, end the escalation and preserve peace. We agreed to stay in touch,” Macron added in a post on X.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has again denied any Iranian involvement in the drone strikes targeting Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave last week.

Pezeshkian spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on March 8, according to the Azerbaijani Presidential Office.

Aliyev’s office said in a readout that the Iranian president stated the strike in Nakhchivan “has nothing to do with Iran” and said the incident should be investigated.

Aliyev also called for an investigation.

The March 5 drone strikes hit near Nakhchivan Airport and a local school, wounding four people. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of carrying out the strike, but Tehran denied involvement and suggested it could have been a false-flag operation involving Israel.

Iran denied on Monday that its military launched drones or missiles toward Azerbaijan, Türkiye or Cyprus last week.

Al Jazeera quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying that “no offensives were initiated from Iranian territory” against these countries.

He also suggested some of the reported attacks may have been “staged”, saying “we have warned repeatedly that the enemy may stage certain attacks to drive a wedge between us and other countries.”

A British military base in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike on March 2, prompting several European nations to dispatch warships to protect the island. Days later, NATO air defenses intercepted what the alliance described as an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Türkiye. On March 5, drone strikes hit near the airport and a local school in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave. Iran denied launching the drones, indicating that it could have been an Israeli false-flag operation.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

At least three civilians were killed and another 15 wounded in renewed Israeli strikes targeting Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

The casualties were reported in Tayr Debba, a municipality in the Tyre District in the South Governorate.

Rescuers are still searching the rubble for potential survivors.

According to the news agency, the Israeli military also targeted several southern parts of Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

Hezbollah, in turn, said it had hit Israeli forces stationed in Al-Aadaissah and those advancing towards Aitaroun. 

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a preemptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. Israeli strikes in Lebanon began amid the operations.

According to Lebanese authorities, 394 people have been killed and 1,130 wounded in the Israeli strikes.

The Iranian regular armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have pledged allegiance to the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s state media reported.

In a statement issued immediately after the election of the new leader, the IRGC said it is “fully ready to obey orders from Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei and protect the values of the Islamic Revolution,” according to Tasnim News Agency.

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second son of Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic for 36 years and was killed on February 28 in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.

The election was made by a vote of the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Islamic clerics tasked with choosing the new supreme leader.

Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back slightly on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummeling financial markets, The Associated Press reports.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged to $119.50 per barrel but later was trading at $112.98.

West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, spiked at $119.48 per barrel but fell back to $110.17.

Aluminum soared to its highest in four years as ⁠supply concerns due to the Middle East war intensified. Benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange hit its highest since March 2022 at $3,544 per ton, according to Reuters.

Bahrain’s Bapco Energies declared force majeure ‌on its group operations on Monday following a recent ⁠attack on its refinery complex, Reuters reported citing a statement from the company.

Bapco said that all domestic market needs ‌remain ⁠fully secured and supplies will continue without disruption, ⁠supported by proactive plans in ⁠place.

The decision was declared after Iranian strikes on March 9, according to Bahrain’s state media.

Another attack targeted Sitra island, wounding at least 32 people, including children. Four of the victims are in critical condition.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East. 

 The US State Department said it ordered “non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members” to leave Saudi Arabia.

“On March 8, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks,” the U.S. government said in its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. State Department has advised U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to safety risks amid Iranian strikes.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posing a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.