Trump: The Iranian government will pay a heavy price after 47 years of damage.
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Trump: The Iranian government will pay a heavy price after 47 years of damage.

11 March, 2026.Iran.1 sources

Key Takeaways

  • United States and Israel began war against the Islamic Republic on Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404.
  • Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Republic, was killed.
  • Israel named its operation 'Roar of the Lions'; United States named its operation 'Epic Fury'.

Outbreak and leadership

The war by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran began on Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404, with Israel naming its operation "Roar of the Lions" and the United States calling its operation "Epic Fury."

What we need to know: The war by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran began on Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404

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Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, was killed during these attacks, and announcements by Trump and the Israeli army say dozens of senior Iranian officials have also been killed so far.

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In response to the joint U.S. and Israeli attacks, Iran has targeted Israeli territory as well as several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan.

One week after the official announcement of Khamenei’s death, the Assembly of Experts elected his son Mojtaba as the third leader of the Islamic Republic.

U.S. military warnings

CENTCOM issued a Persian-language warning asking civilian citizens in Iran to immediately stay away from all port facilities where the naval forces of the Islamic Republic operate, saying that "civilian ports that are used for military purposes lose their protected status and, under international law, become legitimate military targets."

CENTCOM added that in the first 24 hours of the United States’ operation "Epic Fury," Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks "have decreased significantly."

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U.S. President Donald Trump said: "We have targeted them harder than almost any country in history, and we are not finished yet," claiming Iran "have lost their air force, they have no air defense systems at all, no radars, their leaders have been eliminated," and that "we can do much more severe things than this."

On Truth Social Trump also wrote: "If Iran has placed any mines in the Strait of Hormuz — which we have no reports of — we want them removed," and warned that "the military consequences of this action for Iran would be on a level never before seen."

Tehran attacks and sport

Iranian state-affiliated Fars news agency reported Israeli drone attacks on Basij checkpoints in Tehran and said "about 10" Basij members were killed, noting that "official figures have not yet been announced" and reporting explosions and clashes in Districts 14, 15, 16 and 1.

What we need to know: The war by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran began on Saturday, 9 Esfand 1404

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Iran’s minister of sports, Ahmad Donyamali, told state television that Iran’s national football team will not participate in the FIFA World Cup, saying: "Under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and there are fundamentally no conditions for participation," and citing the killing of Ali Khamenei during the U.S. and Israeli attacks.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with Donald Trump and wrote that Trump reiterated Iran’s team can of course participate, saying "more than ever we need an event like the FIFA World Cup to bring people together."

FIFA has not confirmed an official withdrawal by Iran and experts told the article that Iraq is the most likely replacement.

International responses and impacts

Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy official, announced new sanctions on 19 Iranian organizations and officials for "serious human rights violations," saying the EU will "protect its interests even during the Iran war and will hold those responsible for repression accountable," while noting she did not specify which individuals would be targeted.

The International Energy Agency said member countries agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from reserves, a move Fatih Birol called "an unprecedented collective emergency action," and the IEA said it is the largest action of its kind; after the announcement U.S. crude traded at about $84 per barrel and market observers noted limited immediate price effect.

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The article cites a U.S. Congress report saying Iran possesses about 5,000 to 6,000 naval mines and notes sources saying Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, though only a few dozen have been laid so far and Iran still retains more than 80 to 90 percent of its mine-laying boats.

The conflict has disrupted travel and energy: two drones fell near Dubai airport injuring four people, most Middle Eastern airspaces remain closed, airlines have canceled or rerouted flights, and the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed to tanker traffic with about 20 million barrels per day normally passing through it.

Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni warned Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons alongside missile capability and said Italy is dispatching air defense equipment and considering coordinated action with EU partners.

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