Eighth day of airstrikes continue across Iran, Tehran apologizes to neighbors amid escalating regional crisis

2026-03-07 - 19:53

The military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran’s regime has entered its eighth day on March 7, 2026. This follows a dramatic seventh day where 50 Israeli fighter jets dismantled a massive underground bunker in Tehran originally built for the now-dead Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the regime threatened dissenting citizens with “shoot to kill” orders. Today, the crisis deepened as Israel launched a new wave of attacks using 80 fighter jets against targets in the Iranian capital. Amid the escalating bombardment and a severe leadership crisis, the regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighboring countries, though he outright rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for unconditional surrender. Meanwhile, the regime continues its aggression against opposition groups and faces accusations of terror plots abroad. Roundup of today’s key events 80 Israeli jets strike Tehran: The Israeli military launched a massive overnight bombardment targeting military sites, missile launchers, and areas near Mehrabad Airport. Regime apologizes to neighboring nations: Following a decision by the temporary leadership council, Masoud Pezeshkian announced the regime will no longer attack neighboring countries unless an attack originates from their soil. Trump warns of “complete destruction”: The U.S. President promised that Iran’s regime will be “hit very hard” today, as Pezeshkian rejected demands for an unconditional surrender. Assembly of Experts to meet: A meeting to select the regime’s next supreme leader is scheduled within 24 hours as the internal power vacuum persists. Azerbaijan foils IRGC terror plots: Baku announced it prevented attacks targeting a major oil pipeline and Israeli and Jewish sites, orchestrated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Continued attacks on opposition: The IRGC launched further missile strikes against Kurdish opposition groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, which the PMOI strongly condemned. Heavy bombardment on Tehran and mounting casualties Early Saturday morning, March 7, the Israeli military announced it had continued its wave of bombardments on Tehran and central Iran using 80 fighter jets. The Israeli military stated the targets included “military sites, missile launchers, and other targets.” Reports from inside Iran indicated heavy airstrikes around the Ekbatan neighborhood and Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, as well as the District 16 municipality in Naziabad. This follows the release of Israeli military footage showing a strike on an underground bunker built for Ali Khamenei, which senior regime officials were still utilizing. The death toll continues to rise. Iranian state media reported that at least 940 people have been killed in Iran by U.S. and Israeli strikes, while 11 have died in Israel and 217 in Lebanon. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are investigating a strike on a school in Iran that killed over 160 people, including children, with preliminary findings suggesting a U.S. munition was likely responsible. Regime backtracks regionally but maintains defiant rhetoric Facing intense international pressure, the regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian released a video message apologizing to neighboring countries that had been targeted. He stated that the regime’s temporary leadership council had decided that the armed forces would “no longer attack neighboring countries or launch missiles unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries.” Pezeshkian also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking him to use “international capacities” to support the regime. Despite the apology, regional tensions remain high. Qatar’s Interior Ministry urged residents to stay indoors due to a high security threat level, and its Defense Ministry reported intercepting incoming missiles. Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, condemned the regime’s ballistic missile attacks as a “blatant violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty.” Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman warned the Iranian regime to avoid “miscalculation” after discussing the regime’s attacks with Pakistan’s army chief. pic.twitter.com/rt47fDemnF — وزارة الدفاع – دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) March 7, 2026 Inside the regime, hardline officials maintained a hostile posture. IRGC advisor Hamidreza Moghadam Far stated the regime will not back down against the U.S. or Israel, claiming “all bases that were used as launch points for attacks against Iran were hit.” Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated that the regime’s defensive policies are unchanged, adding, “As long as American bases exist in the region, countries will not see peace.” Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi also stressed that the regime will absolutely not compromise. Trump vows more strikes as U.S. honors fallen soldiers U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday morning, warning that “today Iran will be hit very hard.” Citing the regime’s “bad behavior,” he added that “areas and groups of people” in Iran are “under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death.” "Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore. This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack... Iran is no longer the 'Bully of the Middle East,'... pic.twitter.com/Gqi3Fb70j3 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 7, 2026 Pezeshkian responded by rejecting Trump’s previous call for the regime’s unconditional surrender, stating, “They will take this dream to the grave.” Leadership vacuum, internal paranoia, and terror plots The regime is struggling to manage its internal crisis following the death of Ali Khamenei. According to Reza Mozaffari-Nia, a member of the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body will hold a meeting within 24 hours to select the next leader. Highlighting the regime’s internal anxiety and fragmentation, Parliament member Gholamreza Tajgardoun pleaded, “Today is not a day for purging. Let’s not let Seyyed Ali’s blood go to waste.” Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei compared the current crisis to the year 1981, referencing the Iran-Iraq war and the major uprisings by the PMOI, stating the regime is facing similar threats from “the Mojahedin with 17,000 members and 70,000 sympathizers.” Amid the chaos, the regime has heavily tightened internal control. The French news agency AFP reported that Iranian authorities have implemented heavy security measures as the war continues. The regime has also continued its hostage-taking diplomacy; the Japanese foreign ministry announced that a second Japanese national was detained in Iran before the strikes began, following the earlier arrest of NHK Tehran bureau chief Shinnosuke Kawashima, who was transferred to the notorious Evin Prison. Outside its borders, the IRGC’s destabilizing activities persist. Azerbaijan announced it foiled several terrorist sabotage plots directed by the IRGC, including plans to attack the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy, an Ashkenazi synagogue, and a Jewish community leader. Baku authorities noted that explosives had been brought into the country on IRGC instructions. Furthermore, the IRGC’s missile units targeted the headquarters of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups (PDKI, Khabat, Komala, and PAK) in three locations in Iraqi Kurdistan. The PMOI strongly condemned these attacks.