Report: Russia Gave Iran Intelligence On US Military Targets
The Washington Post reports that Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence on the locations of US military assets in the Middle East, citing three officials familiar with the matter.
The assistance could mark the first sign that another US adversary is indirectly involved in the conflict.
According to the report, Moscow has shared information on US warships and aircraft since the fighting began, potentially helping Iran target US forces.
Analysts say the precision of recent Iranian strikes suggests outside assistance.
Iran May Hope For 'Saddam Scenario' If US Invades, Says Analyst
- By Current Time
Iranian studies expert Mikhail Borodkin says the Tehran regime hopes that a potential US ground invasion would mirror the 1980 invasion of Iran by then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, which sparked an eight-year conflict.
He explained that back then Iranians rallied against the external enemy, allowing the regime, despite its lack of legitimacy, to not only to survive but also to strengthen its position.
"They hope that if a ground invasion begins, then the people will once again rally around this leadership, despite the fact that this leadership has exhausted all credit and lost all legitimacy in the eyes of the population," Borodkin told Current Time on March 6.
When asked how long the military operation against Iran could last, Borodkin said, it "could be halted the moment a government comes to power in Tehran that says it is prepared to meet the demands made by the Americans."
"But at the moment no such government exists there," he added.
IDF Releases Footage Of Israeli Strikes On Khamenei Compound
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have released footage of strikes that it says took out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's compound.
"The underground bunker of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was destroyed by the Israeli Air Force this morning, the Israeli military said on March 6.
Some 50 IAF fighter jets dropped around 100 bombs on the site, which the IDF says was located under Iran’s “leadership complex” in Tehran, spreading across multiple streets and including “many entry points and rooms for gatherings of senior members of the Iranian terror regime.”
“The underground bunker was built beneath the compound and was a secure emergency asset for managing the war by the leader, who was eliminated before he managed to use it,” the military sad.
NOTE: This blog entry has been amended to correct the date on which the strikes occurred.
Pezeshkian: Several Countries Seeking To Mediate Iran Conflict
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian said that several countries have begun efforts to mediate the conflict.
"Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity & sovereignty," he wrote in a post on X on March 6. "Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict."
Azerbaijan Evacuates Diplomats From Iran After Drone Incident
Azerbaijan is evacuating its diplomats from Iran for their own safety, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov announced on March 6.
The move comes a day after Baku reported that four Iranian drones had crossed into its territory, injuring four people in the Nakhchivan exclave.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popsoi in the Azerbaijani capiral, Bayramov said the evacuation affects staff at Azerbaijan's embassy in Tehran and its consulate general in Tabriz, a city in northwestern Iran that is home to a large ethnic Azeri population.
"Following orders from President Ilham Aliyev, instructions have been issued to evacuate our embassy in Tehran and the consulate general in Tabriz, and these measures are already underway," he said. "We cannot risk the lives of our personnel," he said.
A day earlier, Baku accused Iran of firing drones that struck an airport and school in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan autonomous region, calling it an "act of terror" and vowing to respond. Tehran denied it fired the drones, which injured four people.
President Aliyev said that "Iran committed an act of terror against the territory of Azerbaijan, against the state of Azerbaijan."
With reporting from APA and Reuters
UK Arrests 4 People On Suspicion Of Spying For Iran
British police have announced the arrest of four people suspected of spying for Iran and monitoring locations and individuals connected to the Jewish community in London.
London’s Metropolitan Police said on March 6 that the arrests were made as part of an investigation into suspected surveillance of certain locations and individuals within London’s Jewish community.
According to the report, one of those arrested is an Iranian citizen, while the other three hold dual British–Iranian nationality. The suspects were detained following police operations in Barnet, in north London, and in Watford, north of the capital.
Police said the individuals are between 22 and 55 years old.
Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the arrests are part of a long-running investigation.
Police also announced that six other men were arrested during the operation on suspicion of assisting an offender.
In recent years, British lawmakers and intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned about threats posed by Iran to the United Kingdom.
Tehran Under Heavy Bombardment As Attacks Intensify
Residents of Iran’s capital witnessed one of the heaviest bombardments of the past week in the early hours of March 6, according to news and reports published on social media.
Images shared on social media indicate that the attacks were particularly intense in central parts of Tehran and around major government buildings.
In addition to the city center, reports also point to attacks on other parts of Tehran in both the eastern and western areas of the city. Many witnesses in these reports mentioned hearing fighter jets and, in some cases, being able to see them in the skies over Tehran.
Some users also reported houses shaking and some localized power outages in areas near the bombed locations.
Earlier, Israel’s Chief of Staff said the military campaign against Iran was entering a new phase, while several U.S. officials -- including defense chief Pete Hegseth -- warned that the intensity of the strikes could increase in the coming days.
After Week Of Closures, Government Offices And Banks In Tehran Restricted Until Further Notice
After a week of closures, activity at government offices and banks in Tehran has been restricted until further notice.
As a week-long shutdown declared after the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes to an end, Iranian media reported that operations at government offices and banks in the capital, Tehran, will remain restricted until further notice.
Tehran’s governor announced on March 5 that, beginning on March 7, all ministries, organizations, and executive bodies located in Tehran Province will operate with 20 percent of staff present in person until further notice. All female employees will also work remotely until further notice.
According to the announcement, managerial positions in Tehran Province are exempt from remote-work arrangements and are required to be present at their workplaces. The operational units of municipalities, medical centers, military, police, and security forces are also exempt from the restrictions.
The governor also said that administrative and technical units of banks will operate with 20 percent of staff, while selected bank branches will remain open on a rotating basis.
At the same time, an official from Iran’s Central Bank said the bank has proposed postponing the due dates for checks and loan repayments and submitted the proposal to the government. Its implementation is pending government approval.
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Ready To Help US And Gulf Countries Counter Iranian Drones
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States has requested Kyiv’s assistance in countering Iranian Shahed suicide drones.
“We have received a request from the United States for special assistance in countering Shahed drones in the Middle East,” Zelenskyyt wrote on X, adding that he has “issued "instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security.”
According to the Ukrainian president, the country is helping its partners who "help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people."
In recent days, Zelenskyy had offered assistance and the deployment of Ukrainian specialists to leaders of Gulf countries that have been affected by Iranian drone attacks.
The relatively inexpensive Shahed drones were initially developed and produced only in Iran, but Russia now produces similar versions under the name “Geran” and uses them against Ukraine.
The US military has also recently announced the development of drones based on the same model.
Return To Sender? America's 'Shahed Clone' Included In Military Buildup Around Iran
Quieter Night In Israel As Military Chief Says War Enters 'New Phase'
- By Ray Furlong
TEL AVIV -- Israel had a quieter night after its top military commander said the war against Iran was now entering a "new phase."
Israeli Defense Force (IDF) chief Eyal Zamir said on the evening of March 5 that the next stage of the conflict would "further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities."
He also said waves of strikes had destroyed 80 percent of Iran's air defenses and 60 percent of its missile launchers, though he cautioned that "the threat has not yet been removed."
Later, at around 11 p.m. local time, sirens sounded and people took cover as a fresh ballistic missile strike was detected. The strike included a cluster warhead that caused a fire but no injuries, authorities said.
Zamir did not go into much detail about the nature of the next stage of the war, which Israel launched with air strikes on Iran nearly a week ago. Media reports here suggest it will focus on deep underground ballistic missiles bunkers.
The IDF released a video on March 6 of what it said was the destruction of Iranian ballistic missile launchers that were about to fire on Israel.
Other strikes on Israel included hits areas in the north of the country, near the border with Lebanon, and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
In Lebanon, fighting continued with Tehran-backed Hezbollah. The IDF said it made fresh air strikes on March 6, hitting a drone store and command base.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said 123 people had been killed in Israeli air strikes. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in southern Lebanon and Beirut after warnings from Israel of forthcoming operations.