Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
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Both leaders spoke on the phone and discussed the latest situation in the Middle East and the military cooperation between the UK and US through the use of RAF bases in support of the collective self-defence of partners in the region.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer his heartfelt condolences with President Trump and the American people following the deaths of six US soldiers.
It comes after stinging public criticism from President Trump (see 04.31).
Emmanuel Macron called the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, today (8 March).
The French president expressed his country’s solidarity and support for Azerbaijan after Iranian strikes hit the country earlier in the week.
Macron also expressed his gratitude to Aliyev for the safe evacuation of French citizens in Iran through Azerbaijan.
The IRCS says 1,332 Iranians have been killed in US-Israeli attacks so far. The conflict started on Saturday 28th February.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Interior said that Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Imad Al-Sharrah and Captain Fahd Abdulaziz Al-Majmoud were killed "while performing duties".
In a statement, the IDF says it will continue to 'pursue every successor' of Khamenei and those who choose him. The next leader is expected to be announced today, however an in-person meeting can't be held to ratify the decision (see 06.43).
(Translation below)
پس از خنثیسازی خامنهای ستمگر، رژیم تروریستی ایران تلاش میکند خود را بازسازی کرده و رهبر جدیدی انتخاب کند.
مجلس خبرگان ایران که دهها سال است تشکیل جلسه نداده، بهزودی در شهر قم گرد هم خواهد آمد. میخواهیم به شما بگوئیم که دست کشور اسرائیل همچنان هر جانشین و هر کسی را که در پی… — ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) March 8, 2026
Translated into English according to Grok AI: After neutralizing the tyrant Khamenei, the terrorist regime of Iran is attempting to rebuild itself and select a new leader. Iran's Assembly of Experts, which has not convened for decades, will soon gather in the city of Qom. We want to tell you that the hand of the State of Israel will continue to pursue every successor and every person who seeks to appoint a successor. We warn all those who intend to participate in the successor selection meeting that we will not hesitate to target you either. This is a warning!
Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammad-Mahdi Mirbagheri said a majority consensus had been reached, according to Mehr news agency.
UPDATE:
Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, another member of the Assembly of Experts, says a candidate had been picked and that the U.S (whom Mohsen calls the 'Great Satan') has mentioned his name. Heidari Alekasir says the decision is based on the late supreme leader's advice that Iran's top leader should "be hated by the enemy" instead of praised by it.
He continues by saying that an in-person meeting by the assembly for a final vote was not possible under current conditions.
These comments came in video released by Nournews on Sunday.
Israel's military say it is responsible for the “significant strike” of an oil storage facility in Iran's capital Tehran (see video below). Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it retaliated by launching missiles at an oil refinery in Haifa, Israel.
The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait's military say their air defence systems are intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday, AFP is reporting.
The commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, Esmail Qaani, has safely returned to Israel. Reports say he was instrumental in the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last weekend and has previously helped been behind the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.
Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department, Thomas Pigott released the following statement:
"The United States strongly condemns the unprovoked drone attack on March 5 by the Iranian regime against the Republic of Azerbaijan, targeting Nakhchivan International Airport and a children’s school, which injured innocent civilians and caused damage to critical civilian infrastructure.
These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and a needless escalation of Iran’s aggression. The United States stands in full solidarity with Azerbaijan against these threats. Attacks on the territory of our partners in the region are unacceptable and will be met with resolute U.S. support for those partners."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan responded through the Azerbaijan agency Report:
"We highly appreciate the statement of the United States Department of State condemning the drone attacks carried out by Iran against the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expressing solidarity with our country,
Through this statement, the US side has demonstrated to the whole world its support for its partners. The position expressed by the United States fully corresponds to the letter and spirit of the Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America, signed on February 10 this year.
On such a tense period, many countries have demonstrated their support and solidarity with Azerbaijan. We are grateful to each and every one of them. Obviously, the support shown by the United States, the most powerful country in the world, carries particular significance.
We express our gratitude to the United States for the demonstrated principled position."
Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of day eight of the conflict that started with the United States and Israel bombing Iran and killing its Supreme Leader, plunging the country into a leadership crisis.
The U.S. President says the UK was once America's greatest ally but is no longer under the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The public health challenge linked to the emergence of a rare strain of hantavirus is complex, according to pharmacist and health commentator ...
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” a...
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Sp...
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the G...
Iran warned of an “immediate, intense, and powerful” response to any renewed Israeli or U.S. attack, a...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain far from a genuine ceasefire, as military posturing, sanctions and uncertainty over diplomacy continue to fuel fears of a broader regional confrontation.
As diplomatic talks over a possible U.S.–Iran framework agreement continue, analysts are assessing how any deal could alter security dynamics across the Middle East.
U.S.-Iran diplomacy is gaining momentum after weeks of military escalation, but tensions remain high from the Strait of Hormuz to Lebanon. Analysts say simultaneous negotiations and military pressure reflect a broader regional struggle that is far from over.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.
Iran warned of an “immediate, intense, and powerful” response to any renewed Israeli or U.S. attack, as efforts to secure an interim peace deal appeared to stall despite fresh diplomatic contacts.
Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on trade, infrastructure and preparations for Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan later this month.
Afghanistan has signed a five-year gold mining contract with Afghan and Azerbaijani companies in a deal worth more than $20m, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has said.
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative movement emerged around the Strait of Hormuz despite renewed security incidents across the Gulf.
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