Israeli security officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of a surprise Iranian missile and drone strike amid continuing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has dismissed speculation around Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition, saying he survived the February strike and continues to oversee key decisions, including negotiations and field operations.
Iran’s leadership has pushed back sharply against US President Donald Trump’s claim of internal infighting, with multiple senior figures issuing coordinated statements asserting unity behind the Supreme Leader.
US President Donald Trump has said Washington will keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut as leverage against Iran, signalling that the vital oil route will reopen only when a deal is reached.
JD Vance’s Pakistan trip has been paused as Washington struggles to revive talks with Iran, even as Trump keeps the ceasefire in place amid rising uncertainty.
Iran argues that the sanctions that were reimposed by the US after it pulled out of the deal have cancelled out the economic benefits that were guaranteed under the deal, primarily its inability to export oil, one of the pillars of its economy.
Reports till Monday afternoon suggest that the hardliners in a profoundly theocratic nation have swept the polls by winning all 30 seats in Tehran.
A total of 57,918,000 people were eligible to cast their ballots.
President Trump said, “We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani”.
Rouhani was speaking at a rally in Tehran's Azadi Square marking the anniversary, at a time of heightened tensions with the United States.
