Katz said the strikes also eliminated Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia the paramilitary arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard marking what Israeli officials described as a significant blow to Tehran’s security leadership.

Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed Larijani’s death, and some reports say his fate remains uncertain.

Background: A Broader War That Has Raged for Weeks

The conflict began on February 28, when a powerful U.S.–Israeli air campaign struck key locations in Iran’s capital, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, according to Iranian government acknowledgments and independent reporting.

Since then, Iran has responded with waves of long‑range missile and drone strikes against Israeli territory and U.S. bases in the region, while Israel has maintained its campaign of targeted strikes against key elements of Iran’s military and security apparatus.

The violence has repeatedly spilled across borders, heightening fears of a regional conflagration.

Iranian Retaliation Strikes Gulf States

In a marked expansion of the conflict, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes on neighbouring Gulf Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait according to regional reports.

These attacks have led to interceptions by Gulf air defences, civilian casualties and property damage, especially in the UAE. In one incident reported in Abu Dhabi, a missile strike on a civilian vehicle killed at least one person, prompting heightened security alerts.

Across the Gulf, authorities have scrambled to respond to Iranian launches, with air defences engaging missiles and drones approaching from the north.

Humanitarian and Economic Fallout

The intensification of the war is straining regional stability:

• Neighbouring states are preparing for a potential refugee crisis as instability persists.
• Global oil markets continue to be unsettled as disruptions to shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz worry traders and governments alike.
• Civilian populations in multiple countries are living under the threat of incoming missiles, with air‑raid sirens sounding and emergency services on high alert.

Diplomatic Pressures and International Response

World leaders are calling for restraint but so far, diplomatic efforts to de‑escalate have not halted hostilities. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged allies to assist in securing maritime channels and deterring further Iranian attacks, though several states have declined deeper involvement.

Iran has simultaneously expressed a desire to reassess ties with its Gulf neighbours, arguing that the crisis underscores the need for a “serious review” of regional relations after repeated missile attacks.

Outlook: Conflict Hard to Contain

The lack of independent confirmation about key leadership deaths including Larijani’s adds fog to an already volatile situation. Both sides appear entrenched, and military operations show no sign of abating. As the war enters its fourth week, the risk of further escalation and broader regional destabilisation remains high.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would not allow “one litre of oil” to leave the Middle East while U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran continue, raising fears of a major disruption to global energy supplies. The warning comes as the conflict, which began in late February, intensifies across the region.

The threat centers on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply normally passes. The ongoing conflict has already effectively halted tanker traffic through the waterway for more than a week, forcing producers to slow or stop pumping as storage facilities reach capacity.

President Trump responded with a stark warning that any attempt by Iran to block the flow of oil would trigger a far more intense U.S. military response.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump also suggested the conflict could end sooner than expected, saying U.S. strikes have already inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military infrastructure. However, he has not clearly defined what would constitute victory in the war.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on Iran, where officials say more than 1,300 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded in air and missile strikes carried out by the United States and Israel since late February. Key infrastructure, including oil facilities and military sites, has also been damaged.

Iran has shown little sign of backing down. The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader has been interpreted by analysts as a signal that Tehran intends to maintain a hard-line stance despite mounting military pressure.

The escalating confrontation has rattled global financial markets and sent oil prices swinging sharply as traders assess the risk of a prolonged disruption to Middle East energy supplies.

Diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional war are ongoing, but with both sides issuing increasingly severe warnings, the situation remains highly volatile.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The conflict in the Middle East intensified on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States should play a role in selecting Iran’s next leader, while Israel ordered residents of southern Beirut to evacuate ahead of potential military strikes.

The developments come as the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States expands across multiple fronts, raising fears of a broader regional conflict affecting the Middle East and beyond.

Trump calls for U.S. influence in Iran’s leadership transition

In comments reported Thursday, Trump said Washington should be involved in choosing the successor to Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a recent airstrike in Tehran amid escalating hostilities.

Trump argued that the United States must ensure Iran’s future leadership does not continue the policies of the previous government.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said, while also dismissing the possibility of Khamenei’s son becoming the next supreme leader.

Under Iran’s constitution, the country’s Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, is responsible for selecting the next supreme leader. Officials have indicated the process may already be close to completion as the country grapples with war and political instability.

The comments have sparked debate internationally, with critics warning that direct foreign influence in Iran’s leadership transition could further inflame tensions.

Israel orders evacuation in southern Beirut

Meanwhile, Israel issued evacuation orders for residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a densely populated area believed to be a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military instructed civilians to move north and east of the area, warning that remaining in the zone could put their lives at risk.

The evacuation order triggered panic and heavy traffic as thousands of residents attempted to flee the area. Local reports described crowded roads, gunfire in parts of the suburb of Dahiyeh, and disruptions near Beirut’s international airport.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes earlier this week have already killed more than 100 people in Lebanon, including several children.

War spreads across the region

The fighting is part of a wider conflict that erupted after a series of Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure and leadership positions across Iran.

The killing of Khamenei dramatically escalated tensions and prompted retaliatory actions from Iranian-aligned groups throughout the region. Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel shortly afterward, leading to Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.

The war has also disrupted regional stability, with missile attacks, drone strikes and military operations reported across several countries.

Officials say the conflict has already resulted in more than 1,000 deaths in Iran, over 100 in Lebanon, and casualties in Israel and among U.S. forces.

Growing fears of wider regional escalation

International observers warn that the conflict could widen further if diplomatic efforts fail.

Iran has accused the United States of entering the war on Israel’s behalf and vowed retaliation, while Western governments have urged restraint and called for urgent diplomatic talks to prevent further escalation.

Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies report mass displacement as civilians flee major cities amid ongoing airstrikes and military operations.

With tensions continuing to rise and no immediate ceasefire in sight, analysts warn that the Middle East may be entering one of its most dangerous periods in years.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________