{"id":343185,"date":"2026-03-04T09:16:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T08:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=343185"},"modified":"2026-03-04T22:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:27:13","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-march-4-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-4-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 4, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_343205\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-343205\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-343205 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026.jpg\" alt=\"Smoke rises over eastern Tehran after reported strikes, March 2026\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026-746x420.jpg 746w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/east-tehran-bombed-march-2026-696x392.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-343205\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke rises over eastern Tehran after reported strikes, March 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tehran Hit as U.S. Sinks Iranian Warship; Hormuz Disruption Deepens<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"37\" data-end=\"379\">The U.S.-Israeli campaign and the Iranian regime\u2019s reported retaliation continued into a fifth day, with U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/us-says-iran-firing-fewer-missiles-us-strikes-expand-inland-2026-03-04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">commanders describing<\/a> a sharp reduction in the volume of Iranian missile fire and indicating U.S. strikes would push deeper inland as the operation evolves.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"381\" data-end=\"677\">Israel\u2019s military said it carried out wide-scale strikes on a military compound in eastern Tehran that it said hosted multiple security and command entities, including IRGC- and Basij-linked elements, alongside other internal security and intelligence units.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"883\">Separately, the Israeli military reported that an Israeli F-35 shot down an Iranian Yak-130 over Tehran, a claim that has not been independently verified in the open.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NATO shoots down Iranian missile headed toward Turkey\u2019s airspace<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LtMGwTNsM4\">https:\/\/t.co\/LtMGwTNsM4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Hill (@thehill) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thehill\/status\/2029257062979649803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"898\">Sea lanes<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"1277\">A major escalation outside the Gulf was reported off Sri Lanka, where a U.S. submarine torpedoed and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2026\/03\/04\/us-iran-israel-strikes-trump-live-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sank the Iranian warship<\/a> IRIS <em data-start=\"1030\" data-end=\"1036\">Dena<\/em>, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. Sri Lankan authorities said 87 bodies were recovered and 32 people rescued, while Reuters reported roughly 60 remained unaccounted for from a crew of about 180.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1279\" data-end=\"1541\">Shipping disruption around the Strait of Hormuz persisted into a fifth day, with Reuters reporting more than 200 vessels stranded or delayed as risks to commercial traffic rise and energy logistics tighten across the region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1543\" data-end=\"2052\">Maritime security agencies also reported a fresh incident near Hormuz: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/malta-flagged-container-ship-hit-by-projectile-hormuz-vessel-abandoned-sources-2026-03-04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Malta-flagged container<\/a> ship <em data-start=\"1647\" data-end=\"1664\">Safeen Prestige<\/em> was struck by an unidentified projectile north of Oman, triggering an engine-room fire and forcing the crew to abandon ship; no injuries were reported. Separately, Turkey said NATO air defenses intercepted and destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile after it entered Turkish airspace, with debris falling in Hatay province and no casualties reported.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Hegseth says U.S. \u2018can\u2019t stop everything\u2019 that Iran fires even as he asserts air dominance<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YwZIhu0inB\">https:\/\/t.co\/YwZIhu0inB<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wi0dW7wFlK\">pic.twitter.com\/Wi0dW7wFlK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Washington Times (@WashTimes) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WashTimes\/status\/2029294123493027946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2054\" data-end=\"2068\">Human toll<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2069\" data-end=\"2444\">The Iranian regime\u2019s Foundation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.mehrnews.com\/news\/242342\/Iran-s-Martyrs-Foundation-puts-death-toll-at-1-045\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said<\/a> 1,045 people have been killed since Saturday, a figure presented by state-affiliated reporting as encompassing both civilians and military personnel. Independent tallies vary: Human Rights Activists in Iran, cited by the Wall Street Journal, put civilian deaths above 1,000.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2830\" data-end=\"3121\">On nuclear safety, the International Atomic Energy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zawya.com\/en\/world\/middle-east\/damage-near-irans-isfahan-nuclear-site-but-no-radiological-risk-iaea-tu2uai7r\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Agency said<\/a> it saw no damage to buildings containing nuclear material and therefore no radiological release risk at this time, while noting damage visible at two buildings near the Isfahan nuclear site.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 08:30 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"60\">Protest at Iranian Embassy: \u201cWe Want a Secular Republic\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-319081 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/BRUZZ_LOGO_RED_RGB-300x92.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"92\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"62\" data-end=\"282\">Activists gathered at the Iranian embassy on Tuesday in response to the recent escalation in Iran. Central to their message is a call for a fundamental change to Iran\u2019s regime. \u201cThis is the moment for a real transition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"284\" data-end=\"618\">Mehdi Nobari, supporter of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Belgium, pointed to what he described as a decisive moment. \u201cAfter the elimination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other religious powerholders and members of the Revolutionary Guard, this is an important turning point,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is the moment for a real transition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"964\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The protesters explicitly voiced their support for Maryam Rajavi, who from exile is putting forward an alternative model of governance. \u201cWe support Mrs. Rajavi\u2019s initiative to steer the transition period in the right direction,\u201d Nobari said. \u201cShe has had the courage, from exile, to prepare a government that is ready for the day after change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"620\" data-end=\"964\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bruzz.be\/actua\/samenleving\/protest-aan-iraanse-ambassade-we-willen-een-seculiere-republiek-2026-03-04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 07:30 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Democratic Transition Government for Iran Already Exists. It&#8217;s Time to End 47 Years of Tyranny<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-254718 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scotsman-logo-300x85.png\" alt=\"scotsman-logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scotsman-logo-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scotsman-logo-150x42.png 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/scotsman-logo.png 422w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The killings of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key figures in the Iranian regime\u2019s leadership have sent shockwaves through a system that has, for more than four decades, appeared immovable.\u00a0The deaths of senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and high-ranking officials close to the Supreme Leader have left a visible fracture at the apex of power. The world is now asking if the Islamic Republic can survive such a decapitation strike?<\/p>\n<div class=\"Markup__ParagraphWrapper-sc-13q6ywe-0 cGBKNI markup \" style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-testid=\"article-content article-paragraph\">\n<p>To answer that, we must first understand the regime. Since 1979, power has rested on three pillars: the Supreme Leader, the IRGC, and an intricate web of intelligence services and proxy militias. The theocratic architecture was deliberately designed to prevent internal collapse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotsman.com\/news\/opinion\/columnists\/a-democratic-transition-government-for-iran-already-exists-its-time-to-end-47-years-of-tyranny-5617565\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 03:00 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Free Iran Starts with Women in Charge<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-329313 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/TheBlaze_Logo-300x169.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/TheBlaze_Logo-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/TheBlaze_Logo-150x84.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/TheBlaze_Logo.webp 430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who ruled Iran with brutality for nearly four decades, has thrown the Persian Gulf country into a historic moment of uncertainty \u2014 and possibility. His welcome passing shattered the familiar, oppressive order and forces a question Iran can no longer postpone: What comes next?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That question arises as Iran sits at the center of a deeper shift that may prove historic and generational. Much remains uncertain: how change will unfold, how long it will take, and what form it will assume. One principle, however, should guide every serious observer: Lasting change in Iran must come from within, driven by Iranians themselves and their organized resistance. Anything imposed from abroad or engineered through outside force will fail.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblaze.com\/columns\/opinion\/a-free-iran-starts-with-women-in-charge\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 01:00 PM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overnight Strikes Hit Tehran and Provinces as IRGC Claims New Missile Wave and Qatar Arrests Alleged Guard-Linked Cells<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"125\" data-end=\"468\">On Wednesday, March 4, the U.S.\u2013Israeli air campaign and Iran\u2019s retaliatory fire continued on multiple fronts, with Iranian state outlets reporting repeated explosions in and around Tehran and fresh damage in several provinces as the leadership succession process remains unresolved after Ali Khamenei\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"470\" data-end=\"1001\">Iranian state media close to the authorities reported new impacts in eastern Tehran on Wednesday morning, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tabnak.ir\/fa\/news\/1361016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tabnak saying<\/a> \u201ccolumns of smoke\u201d were visible and describing the area as struck by Israeli missiles. Separate Iranian reports <a href=\"https:\/\/www.entekhab.ir\/fa\/news\/912430\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">carried by Entekhab<\/a> said Mehr published images of strikes near residential areas adjacent to Ba\u2019ath Hospital in the east of the capital, underscoring the heightened risk to civilians as attacks move across dense urban zones.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1003\" data-end=\"2014\">Provincial officials also reported incidents and casualties. In Qazvin province, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.ir\/fa\/news\/1404\/12\/13\/3531103\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tasnim quoted<\/a> the deputy security governor as saying three sites were hit, including two production units in the Caspian industrial town and Alborz industrial city, plus a telecommunications site, while ILNA separately cited provincial officials reporting multiple injuries in industrial strikes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udd34 Tehran has warned that any vessel passing through the waterway, a vital shipping route for the world\u2019s oil and gas trade, would be \u201cset on fire\u201d, bringing traffic to a halt<\/p>\n<p>Read the latest \u2193<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HvZQpoGXKO\">https:\/\/t.co\/HvZQpoGXKO<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eecxHbI71n\">pic.twitter.com\/eecxHbI71n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Telegraph (@Telegraph) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Telegraph\/status\/2029115621980381502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1003\" data-end=\"2014\">In East Azerbaijan, ISNA\u2014quoted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.taadolnewspaper.ir\/fa\/news\/379404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">another Iranian outlet<\/a>\u2014cited the provincial crisis-management chief as saying an explosion was heard around 02:00 in an industrial area west of Tabriz, and a second incident at 10:49 near Tabriz airport struck a warehouse-like structure. In Isfahan province, semi-official and local reporting cited the deputy security governor saying areas including parts of Isfahan city and surrounding counties were hit and that civilian deaths were reported, though figures varied across outlets.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2818\">The IRGC used state-aligned platforms to frame its response as escalating. Tabnak and other Iranian outlets published IRGC statements claiming the Ground Force had entered the fighting with three simultaneous operations and \u201c230\u201d attack drones aimed at U.S.-linked targets in the region, and that the 17th wave of \u201cTrue Promise 4\u201d involved \u201cmore than 40\u201d missiles fired at U.S. and Israeli targets; independent verification of these numbers and effects remains limited amid wartime information controls. Iran\u2019s domestic messaging also hardened politically: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilna.ir\/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-3\/1758412-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%87%DB%8C%DA%86-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ILNA reported<\/a> Mohammad Mokhber saying Iran has \u201cno intention\u201d of negotiating with the United States and portraying the war as sustainable over time.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Breaking: House intel chairman says U.S. inflicting mass damage on Iran, and that the mullahs are \u2018circling the drain\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4Ly2Y1frO6\">https:\/\/t.co\/4Ly2Y1frO6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Just the News (@JustTheNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JustTheNews\/status\/2028989413414302033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2820\" data-end=\"3603\">Across the Gulf, Qatar added a major internal-security development that Iranian state media have not meaningfully addressed: Qatar News Agency reported State Security had apprehended two cells \u201clinked to\u201d Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard, arresting 10 suspects on accusations ranging from espionage against critical and military sites to drone-related sabotage preparation; <a href=\"https:\/\/qna.org.qa\/en\/news-bulletins-details?date=4%2F03%2F2026&amp;id=0092-state-security-announces-apprehension-of-two-cells-linked-to-iranian-revolutionary-guard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">QNA said<\/a> the suspects confessed to the links during questioning. Separately, Qatari local reporting said the country intercepted multiple drones and cruise missiles and reiterated an earlier Ministry of Defense statement that one Iranian ballistic missile was intercepted while another struck Al Udeid Air Base without reported casualties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3605\" data-end=\"4223\">Internationally, U.S. officials continued to emphasize the scale of their campaign. Reuters cited the U.S. Middle East commander saying the assault is ahead of schedule, that Iran\u2019s navy has no operational vessels in key waterways after 17 were sunk, and that more than 2,000 targets have been hit. The U.N. human rights office, meanwhile, renewed calls for a transparent investigation into the deadly strike on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/un-experts-deeply-disturbed-by-child-deaths-escalating-middle-east-conflict-2026-03-04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">girls\u2019 school in Minab<\/a>\u2014an incident that has become a focal point for accusations of unlawful targeting as civilian harm rises.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3605\" data-end=\"4223\">Inside Iran, the regime&#8217;s leadership crisis is now central to the war narrative\u2014and to the state\u2019s effort to project continuity. International outlets reporting from Iranian and regional sources said the Assembly of Experts is moving toward choosing a successor, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/us-assault-iran-ahead-schedule-says-us-middle-east-commander-2026-03-04\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters citing<\/a> Iranian sources who described Khamenei\u2019s son Mojtaba as alive and eyed as the regime&#8217;s next supreme leader. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly warned that any new supreme leader would be a future target\u2014language likely to harden Tehran\u2019s security posture during a transition already dominated by opaque, security-led decision-making.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On energy security, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/us-considering-oil-tanker-insurance-support-ease-middle-east-crude-shipments-2026-03-03\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters reported<\/a> Trump ordered support for war-risk insurance and said the U.S. Navy could escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as disruptions and attacks push up shipping risk and costs. Markets reacted sharply in Asia: Reuters described South Korea\u2019s KOSPI plunging about 12% in its worst day on record, while reports also showed Japan\u2019s Nikkei down roughly 3.9%.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong style=\"text-align: justify;\">UPDATE: 09:00 AM CET<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran\u2019s Political Prisoners Champion the NCRI\u2019s Democratic Transition<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-331466 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Central Prison in Kerman, southeastern Iran\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-747x420.jpg 747w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison-696x391.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/iran-kerman-central-prison.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 28, 2026, as the Middle East plunged into a renewed military confrontation and foreign strikes targeted the Iranian regime\u2019s military infrastructure, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) initiated a major political offensive by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/news\/announcement-of-provisional-government-by-the-national-council-of-resistance-of-iran\/\">announcing a Provisional Government<\/a>. This transitional body is designed to transfer sovereignty back to the Iranian people and establish a democratic republic. The political foundation of this Provisional Government is NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi\u2019s Ten-Point Plan, which mandates the dissolution of the regime\u2019s suppressive apparatus, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the complete rejection of absolute clerical rule (velayat-e faqih), the abolition of the death penalty, and the establishment of a non-nuclear Iran dedicated to gender equality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/news\/irans-political-prisoners-risk-their-lives-to-champion-the-ncris-democratic-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran After Khamenei: Historic Rupture or Democratic Transition<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-343186 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/elindependiente.com-logo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/elindependiente.com-logo.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/elindependiente.com-logo-150x50.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">Iran stands at a historic turning point. The national uprising of January was not a temporary protest but a direct challenge to the system of power based on\u00a0<em>velayat-e faqih<\/em>, the absolute guardianship of the clergy over popular sovereignty. The regime\u2019s response was massive violence: executions in the streets, the deployment of the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij militia, snipers on rooftops and indiscriminate repression.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">The repressive apparatus managed to contain the mobilisation temporarily, but it did not restore legitimacy. Fear does not equal stability.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">On 23 February 2026, a surprise attack by 250 members of the resistance units of the People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) against Khamenei\u2019s compound in Tehran left the regime in shock. More than one hundred members of the resistance are believed to have been killed or detained in clashes with the Revolutionary Guard. Although it is difficult to independently verify every detail, the political fact is undeniable: the heart of power has ceased to be untouchable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elindependiente.com\/opinion\/2026\/03\/03\/iran-tras-jamenei-ruptura-historica-o-transicion-democratica\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iranian Opposition Leader Wants Free Elections in 6 Months<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-257115 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/newsmax-logo-300x93.png\" alt=\"newsmax-logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"93\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As bombs continue to fall on Iran and fallen leaders have been replaced by successors, the leader of the largest opposition group outside the country told Newsmax\u00a0on Tuesday that the Islamic regime is &#8220;obligated to hold elections for [a] Constituent Assembly within no more than six months.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From her headquarters in Paris, Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, told Newsmax via email that a new Iran should move quickly on this process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;The objective is a rapid, transparent process based on the people&#8217;s vote, not a prolonged transitional process,&#8221; Rajavi said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once a Constituent Assembly is elected, she explained, &#8220;the provisional government will resign and all authority will be transferred to the elected representatives of the people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsmax.com\/john-gizzi\/maryam-rajavi-iran-democracy\/2026\/03\/03\/id\/1248194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Crisis Breeds Extremism: Understanding the Rise of Authoritarian Narratives in Iran<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-258142 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"iran-regime-sweden-extremism\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism-696x392.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/iran-regime-sweden-extremism.jpg 955w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Totalitarian systems are built on rigid ideological narratives. They claim absolute truth, demand absolute obedience, and reject pluralism. Over time, these systems do not solve problems\u2014they generate them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For nearly half a century, Iran has lived under a system centered on the doctrine of velayat-e faqih, or absolute clerical rule. This interpretation of religion and politics concentrates power in the hands of one unelected authority. The result has been a chain reaction of crises: political repression, economic collapse, social fragmentation, corruption, environmental destruction, and widespread poverty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These overlapping crises are not accidents. They are the natural outcome of a system that suppresses criticism and blocks reform. When citizens cannot vote freely, speak openly, or hold leaders accountable, problems accumulate instead of being solved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/irannewsupdate.com\/news\/infightings\/when-crisis-breeds-extremism-understanding-the-rise-of-authoritarian-narratives-in-iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Third Path: Uprising, Sovereignty, and the Rejection of Both Shah and Mullah<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-342715 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Feb. 17, 2026 \u2014 Najafabad, Isfahan Province: On the 40th day since the uprising\u2019s dead, mourners gather to honor them and renew demands for accountability\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-746x420.jpg 746w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026-696x392.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/isfahan-ceremony-for-martyrs-17022026.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling system in Iran is not a political structure amenable to reform. It is a coercive apparatus that communicates primarily through repression. Its governing logic is not dialogue but deterrence; not participation but punishment. When every channel of civic breathing is sealed\u2014when parties are banned, dissent criminalized, and protest met with bullets\u2014resistance ceases to be a tactical option. It becomes a moral imperative.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In such a landscape, uprising is first and foremost a revolt against imposed humiliation. It is the assertion that the will of the Iranian people transcends the walls of censorship, surveillance, and fear. The recurring protests since June 20, 1981, and especially in recent years, are not spontaneous outbursts detached from history. They are expressions of accumulated grievance against a system structurally incapable of reform.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/irannewsupdate.com\/news\/insider\/the-third-path-uprising-sovereignty-and-the-rejection-of-both-shah-and-mullah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Human Rights Violations in Iran Under the Leadership of Ali Khamenei (1989\u20132026)<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-342268 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-672x420.jpg 672w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei-696x435.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/iran-Khamenei.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From June 1989 to 2026, Ali Khamenei has occupied a position that, under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, grants him ultimate authority over the armed forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Basij, the judiciary, state broadcasting, and key supervisory institutions. This unparalleled concentration of power places him at the apex of the country\u2019s political, security, and judicial chain of command.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Within such a structure, decisions concerning the use of lethal force, responses to nationwide protests, judicial policies including the implementation of capital punishment, and large-scale security mechanisms cannot reasonably be conceived without the awareness and will of the highest authority of the state.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iran-hrm.com\/2026\/03\/03\/human-rights-violations-in-iran-under-the-leadership-of-ali-khamenei-1989-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Paris Rally Backs NCRI Provisional Government as Iran\u2019s Democratic Alternative After Khamenei\u2019s Death<\/h3>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"Paris Rally Backs NCRI Provisional Gov. as Iran&rsquo;s Democratic Alternative After Khamenei&rsquo;s Death\" style=\"width:853px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe\" id=\"WYL_4l6lNlj4bzo\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><div><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F4l6lNlj4bzo%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"embedURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4l6lNlj4bzo\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT3M15S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-03-03T07:42:26Z\" \/><\/div><div id=\"lyte_4l6lNlj4bzo\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F4l6lNlj4bzo%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\" itemprop=\"name\">Paris Rally Backs NCRI Provisional Gov. as Iran\u2019s Democratic Alternative After Khamenei\u2019s Death<\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4l6lNlj4bzo\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F4l6lNlj4bzo%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"Paris Rally Backs NCRI Provisional Gov. as Iran&rsquo;s Democratic Alternative After Khamenei&rsquo;s Death\" width=\"853\" height=\"460\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Paris, France \u2013 March 1, 2026 \u2014 Supporters of the\u00a0People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran\u00a0(PMOI\/MEK) gathered in Paris to endorse the official announcement of a Provisional Government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of democratic Iranian opposition forces. The rally highlighted support for the NCRI\u2019s initiative as a viable democratic alternative for Iran following the death of Ali Khamenei.\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:853px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"201\" data-end=\"606\"><strong>Paris, France \u2013 March 1, 2026 \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0Supporters of the Iranian Resistance (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/about-ncri\/ncri\/alternative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NCRI<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline font-semibold\" href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/about-iranian-opposition-pmoi-mek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">PMOI<\/span><\/a>) gathered in Paris to endorse the official announcement of a Provisional Government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of democratic Iranian opposition forces. The rally highlighted support for the NCRI\u2019s initiative as a viable democratic alternative for Iran following the death of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/articles\/2020\/10\/who-is-ali-khamenei-iranian-regime-supreme-leader\/19254\/\" rel=\"\">Ali Khamenei<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/iranian-communities\/2026\/03\/paris-rally-backs-ncri-provisional-government-as-irans-democratic-alternative-after-khameneis-death\/84322\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">MEK Supporters in Oslo Rally Behind NCRI Provisional Government Following Khamenei\u2019s Death<\/h3>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"MEK Supporters in Oslo Rally Behind NCRI Provisional Government Following Khamenei&rsquo;s Death - March 1\" style=\"width:853px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe\" id=\"WYL_o7hqKbr0vio\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><div><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fo7hqKbr0vio%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"embedURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o7hqKbr0vio\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT4M15S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2026-03-03T07:08:20Z\" \/><\/div><div id=\"lyte_o7hqKbr0vio\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fo7hqKbr0vio%2Fhqdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\" itemprop=\"name\">MEK Supporters in Oslo Rally Behind NCRI Provisional Government Following Khamenei\u2019s Death - March 1<\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/o7hqKbr0vio\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fo7hqKbr0vio%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"MEK Supporters in Oslo Rally Behind NCRI Provisional Government Following Khamenei&rsquo;s Death - March 1\" width=\"853\" height=\"460\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"Oslo, Norway \u2013 March 1, 2026 \u2014 Supporters of the\u00a0People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran\u00a0(PMOI\/MEK) gathered outside the Iranian regime\u2019s embassy, calling for the overthrow of the clerical establishment and expressing support for the MEK\u2019s Resistance Units inside Iran. They described the moment as a turning point in the country\u2019s political future. Participants endorsed the official announcement of a Provisional Government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a coalition of democratic Iranian opposition forces. The rally highlighted support for the NCRI\u2019s initiative as a viable democratic alternative for Iran following the death of Ali Khamenei.\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:853px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1370\" data-end=\"1773\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><strong data-start=\"276\" data-end=\"313\">Oslo, Norway \u2013 March 1, 2026<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Supporters of the\u00a0<span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">People\u2019s Mojahedin Organization of Iran<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline font-semibold\" href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/about-iranian-opposition-pmoi-mek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">PMOI\/MEK<\/span><\/a>) gathered outside the Iranian regime\u2019s embassy, calling for the overthrow of the clerical establishment and expressing support for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/iranian-resistance-units\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MEK\u2019s Resistance Units<\/a>\u00a0inside Iran. They described the moment as a turning point in the country\u2019s political future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/iranian-communities\/2026\/03\/mek-supporters-in-oslo-rally-behind-ncri-provisional-government-following-khameneis-death\/84307\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-news\/iran-news-in-brief-march-3-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Also, read Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 3, 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET Tehran Hit as U.S. Sinks Iranian Warship; Hormuz Disruption Deepens The U.S.-Israeli campaign and the Iranian regime&rsquo;s [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":343205,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[234],"tags":[277],"class_list":{"0":"post-343185","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-news-in-brief-news","8":"tag-iran-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Iran News in Brief \u2013 March 4, 2026 - NCRI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS UPDATE: 10:00 PM CET Tehran Hit as U.S. Sinks Iranian Warship; 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