Trump: Does not accept Hamedani's son as Iran's new leader, "I must be personally involved in the appointment," Iran's Foreign Minister: This is entirely a matter for the Iranian people, and no one has the right to interfere.

According to Xinhua News Agency, citing Axios News on the 5th, U.S. President Trump stated that he “must be personally involved” in selecting Iran’s next leader.

During a phone interview with the news website, Trump said he would not accept the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei as the new leader. He emphasized, “I must be personally involved in the appointment.”

Trump also warned that if Iran produces a new leader who continues Khamenei’s policies, it will force the U.S. to “return to war within 5 years.”

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on the 5th, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ravanji said in an interview with U.S. media that after Khamenei’s assassination, Iran has established a new three-member body responsible for national affairs until a new Supreme Leader is elected. The election will follow Iran’s constitutional procedures.

Additionally, multiple media outlets including IRNA reported on the 4th that Iran has identified several candidates for Supreme Leader, and a decision will soon be made.

On March 5th, U.S. NBC reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated in an interview in Tehran that, as the war launched by the U.S. and Israel rapidly spreads across the region, Iran is prepared to respond to a ground invasion by U.S. forces. He also refused to negotiate with the U.S. and said Iran has not requested a ceasefire.

Araghchi refuted President Trump’s statement that “he needs to participate in selecting Iran’s next Supreme Leader,” emphasizing: “This is entirely Iran’s internal matter; no one has the right to interfere.”

Iranian military vows to retaliate more fiercely

According to CCTV News, on March 5th, Abdolahi, commander of the Central Command of Iran’s armed forces, issued a statement strongly responding to recent military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

Abdolahi accused the U.S. and Israel of launching aggression again to cover up previous failures, condemned their military actions that led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and caused civilian casualties including women and children. He stated that Iran’s armed forces have previously inflicted heavy blows on the U.S. and Israel, and this counterattack will continue and grow stronger.

On the same day, Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, posted on social media that Iran is ready to respond to U.S. ground operations. According to a source from Israel’s Ministry of Finance, the conflict between Iran and Israel could cause Israel’s economy to lose over $2.9 billion weekly.

Another report from Xinhua states that, according to U.S. figures, six U.S. soldiers have died in the operation. The Atlantic Monthly on April 4th cited a U.S. Congress official that preliminary Pentagon estimates indicate the U.S. is spending nearly $1 billion daily on this military operation.

Image source: CCTV News

Latest satellite images show that a U.S.-made THAAD missile defense radar deployed at Muwafaq Salti Air Base in Jordan was attacked early in the conflict with Iran and may have been destroyed.

This radar is a key component of the THAAD missile defense system, used to detect incoming ballistic missiles and drones. Satellite images show debris around the radar and signs of burning. According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s 2025 budget, such radar systems cost nearly $500 million.

There are reports that facilities with similar radar systems in the UAE and Saudi Arabia may have been attacked, but it is unclear whether the equipment was damaged. Additionally, bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait have also been targeted, with multiple satellite communication facilities in Kuwait attacked.

About a week after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, 1,230 people in Iran have died

According to information from the Chinese Central Television, as of the afternoon of March 5th local time, 1,230 people have been killed in Iran due to large-scale airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel.

Other sources report that, as of the afternoon of March 5th, Iran has publicly announced that the attacks included:

• 105 civilian sites and facilities hit by U.S. and Israeli strikes;
• 636 locations across Iran recorded 1,332 attacks;
• 14 medical and pharmaceutical institutions damaged.

From observations in Iran, Tehran remains the city most affected by attacks. Since early March 5th, multiple explosions have occurred in northern, western, and northeastern districts of Tehran. Early on the 6th, explosions were again reported in Tehran.

According to Israeli military statements released on the afternoon of March 5th, Israel has completed its 13th round of airstrikes on Tehran. Targets included the Iranian Special Forces headquarters, Basij militia bases, and other sites. Israel also claimed to have destroyed 300 Iranian ballistic missile launchers during this conflict.

Later on March 5th, IDF Chief of Staff Zamiir announced that after completing the initial strikes and gaining air superiority, the Israeli military is entering the next phase, intensifying efforts to undermine Iran’s regime and military capabilities.

The southern port city of Abadan also experienced several explosions early on March 5th, with smoke lasting for hours. A CCTV reporter in Abadan observed that recent daytime attacks have decreased in frequency, but nighttime attacks seem to be increasing.

Additionally, regarding earlier reports that “thousands of Kurdish fighters are conducting ground operations from the Iraq border into Iran,” local residents in western Iranian Kurdistan confirmed that these reports are false, and social order remains generally normal.

U.S. Navy sinks Iranian warship in Indian Ocean; Iran’s Foreign Minister: U.S. will regret it

On March 4th, U.S. forces sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, and this incident has continued to stir controversy. Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN stated on March 5th that over 100 crew members died in this attack.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed on his social media that the vessel was the Iranian Navy frigate “Dena,” which was heading to India for naval activities, carrying about 130 crew members. He emphasized that the ship was attacked without warning in international waters.

Araghchi accused the U.S. of committing a “barbaric act” in waters 2,000 miles off Iran’s coast and warned: “The U.S. will deeply regret the precedent it has set.”

Iran’s retaliation against ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks has not stopped. As of now, Iran has launched the “True Commitment-4” counterattack, which has reached its 21st round. About four hours ago, the IRGC announced that, to honor the martyrs who died aboard the “Dena,” they launched the 20th round of “True Commitment” retaliation.

According to a source from the Iranian intelligence, obtained by a CCTV reporter on March 5th, since the U.S.-led airstrikes began on February 28th, Iran has launched over 500 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as more than 2,000 drones of various types. About 40% of these strikes targeted Israel, and 60% targeted U.S. interests.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on March 5th that they used weapons including the “Khoramshahr-4” super-heavy missile with a one-ton warhead, successfully breaching Israel’s seven-layer defense system and hitting targets inside Israel.

The IRGC also stated that the main targets of this round of attacks included central Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion Airport, and Israeli Air Force bases stationed there. In the previous 18th round of strikes, 20 U.S. targets in Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait were also effectively hit.

The statement further claimed that Iran’s armed forces are operating on multiple fronts, “far exceeding U.S. and Israeli military assessments, and the war has fundamentally changed.”

Additionally, on March 5th, the IRGC announced that they successfully shot down an American F-15E fighter jet using their air defense systems, causing the aircraft to crash near the Iran–Iraq border.

△ IRGC releases footage of its new space-based defense system intercepting hostile fighter jets late at night on March 5th.

The IRGC also released a video showing their new space-based missile defense system intercepting a hostile fighter jet. The aircraft in the footage closely resembles a U.S. F-15.

U.S. Central Command responded that the reports circulating on social media claiming an American F-15E was shot down in Iran on March 4th are “baseless.”

△ U.S. F-15E fighter jet (photo)

Later on March 5th, a spokesperson from the Hatham Anbia Central Command of Iran’s armed forces stated that the U.S. aircraft carrier “Abraham Lincoln,” approaching 340 km from Iran’s waters in the Oman Sea, was hit by an Iranian IRGC Navy drone. The “Abraham Lincoln” and its escort ships quickly withdrew and are now over 1,000 km away from the area. The U.S. has not responded to this incident.

Earlier, on March 2nd, the Hatham Anbia Central Command announced that they had shot down an American F-15 fighter jet. However, the U.S. later explained that three U.S. F-15E jets, operating over Kuwait, crashed due to a “friendly fire” incident. On January 1st, Iran claimed to have launched four missiles at the “Lincoln” aircraft carrier, which the U.S. subsequently denied.

U.S. extends conflict duration with Iran; allies refuse to be dragged in

Currently, the new round of conflict in the Middle East has lasted about a week, spreading from Iran to multiple Gulf countries. The U.S. has been continuously extending the timeline for its military actions against Iran.

Initially, President Trump announced on the 1st that the operation would last “about 4 weeks or less,” but within a week, Defense Secretary Hagelseth indicated it could extend to “8 weeks or even longer.” On March 5th, reports suggested that the estimated duration has been extended to “at least 100 days or until September.”

△ The Politico reports: U.S. Central Command is requesting support from the Pentagon to extend military operations against Iran for at least 100 days.

A document shows that “U.S. Central Command is urging the Pentagon to send more intelligence personnel to support ongoing military operations against Iran for at least 100 days or until September.”

Analysts believe this is the first time since the February 28th large-scale military strikes by the U.S. and Israel that the Central Command has requested additional intelligence support, indicating that the conflict may last much longer than initially expected and exposing the Trump administration’s underestimation of the chain reactions.

Furthermore, the U.S. has recently asked its allies to allow the use of their military bases for strikes against Iran. However, several European countries, led by Spain, have explicitly refused.

President Trump has threatened Spain with “cutting off trade,” which has sparked support from the EU and many European leaders. European officials, including EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, have criticized U.S. policies, stating that the chaos in the Middle East is a direct result of violations of international law and that U.S. diplomatic shifts threaten transatlantic relations.

In his latest remarks on the 5th, Trump continued criticizing Spain for refusing to cooperate militarily, calling it a “failure” and “very hostile to NATO.” He also expressed disappointment with UK Prime Minister Stamer for not participating in the strikes against Iran.

So far, countries like Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, and Germany have refused to allow U.S. military use of their bases for offensive strikes on Iran, though most support providing defensive military aid to Gulf states.

Conflict continues, affecting multiple Middle Eastern countries

Iraq

The IRGC announced that Iran launched three missiles targeting multiple Kurdish armed forces bases in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Aziz Ahmad, deputy head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister’s Office, denied any crossing of borders by Iraqi Kurds, calling U.S. media reports “obvious lies.” Previously, Fox News reported that Iraqi Kurds had launched ground attacks inside Iran.

Lebanon

According to IDF spokesperson Efi Dvulin, between March 2nd and 5th, Israel attacked over 320 targets inside Lebanon, including 80 in the past day.

On the afternoon of March 5th, Israel issued a evacuation warning for southern Beirut and subsequently launched artillery strikes in the area. Later that evening, Israel carried out another round of airstrikes on southern Beirut.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s emergency operations center, the recent Israeli attacks have caused 123 deaths and 638 injuries in Lebanon.

Qatar

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported that the country was hit multiple times by Iran, including 14 ballistic missiles and 4 drones. The Ministry issued a nationwide security alert.