Tehran has endured near‑daily air attacks since the United States and Israel began joint strikes across Iran on 28 February, in a campaign that Iranian state media and Western outlets agree killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening hours. The strikes have focused on military and political targets, with blasts reported in Tehran, Isfahan and other cities. (time.com)
Civilian harm has mounted. Iranian officials say an airstrike destroyed a girls’ primary school in Minab on 28 February, with casualty estimates ranging from more than 100 to around 165. UNESCO called the school bombing a “grave violation” of humanitarian law. Washington says it is investigating and stresses that US forces do not target civilians. (ungeneva.org)
Independent verification is constrained, but early tallies from the US‑based HRANA rights group suggest civilian deaths nationwide have surpassed 1,000 since the strikes began; outlets reporting these figures add they cannot be confirmed. UN human rights officials have urged a prompt, impartial inquiry into the Minab incident. (time.com)
Information flows have been severely restricted. NetBlocks and other monitors describe a near‑total nationwide internet blackout since 28 February, with connectivity falling to between 1% and 4% of normal levels, complicating contact with family members and coordination of assistance. (apnews.com)
Daily life in the capital has been disrupted. Reporters and witnesses have described long queues at petrol stations and bakeries, intermittent banking and ATM outages, and many shops closed as residents shelter or leave the city. Some essential services continue with reduced hours. (kuwaittimes.com)
First‑hand accounts collected by Persian‑language media describe constant explosions, homes shaking during nearby strikes, and residents leaving windows ajar to reduce the risk of shattered glass. Others cited police deployments and messaging that warned against protests. (yahoo.com)
Independent reporting is further hampered by detentions and legal threats to journalists. Press‑freedom groups have called for the release of jailed reporters and documented intensified censorship since hostilities resumed. (cpj.org)
Khamenei’s death has triggered an immediate succession process. Under Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, a temporary Leadership Council-comprising the president, the judiciary chief and a senior jurist-assumes the Leader’s duties until the 88‑member Assembly of Experts selects a successor. Mojtaba Khamenei is among those seen as contenders. (apnews.com)
Iran has organised multi‑day farewell ceremonies for the late Leader, though timings have shifted amid security considerations. State‑aligned outlets indicated three days of events in Tehran before burial in Mashhad. (tbsnews.net)
Internationally, the UN Security Council convened an emergency session. The UN Secretary‑General condemned attacks and urged restraint; European leaders called for renewed nuclear talks, while Russia denounced the US–Israeli action as an “unprovoked act of armed aggression.” (apnews.com)
In Washington, the administration’s public rationale for the campaign has evolved as Congress moves to assert its role under the War Powers Resolution. Senior officials have characterised the strikes as pre‑emptive; lawmakers in both chambers are advancing measures to limit further action absent explicit authorisation. (washingtonpost.com)
Regional risks are rising. Iranian retaliatory fire has hit targets across the Gulf and Israel, and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Maritime insurers have curtailed war‑risk cover, while Brent crude has climbed above $80 as governments discuss naval escorts and emergency insurance. (time.com)
Policy implications are immediate. Civilian‑protection obligations under international humanitarian law are in sharp focus after Minab; internet shutdowns impede humanitarian operations and evidence preservation; and leadership succession will shape Iran’s domestic security posture and regional signalling in the coming days. (ungeneva.org)