New Delhi, March 7 — Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, sharply condemned recent military actions by the United States and Israel, describing them as more than territorial or political strikes and characterising the escalation as a clash of values.
Speaking in New Delhi after reports of attacks on Iranian interests, Fathali said the confrontation reflects competing worldviews: one he associated with human dignity, justice and national independence, and the other with oppression and domination. He called the recent operations “brutal military aggression,” and argued they undermine international law, human dignity and the rights of nations to determine their own future. He also stressed Iranian resolve, saying Iranians view the course ahead as a struggle that will end in either victory or martyrdom, both of which he described as honourable.
The remarks came as the U.S. Central Command said the campaign against Iranian targets had intensified sharply. In a post on X, the command reported that U.S. forces struck more than 3,000 targets in the first week of what it called Operation Epic Fury and indicated the tempo would continue.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, reiterated hardline demands toward Tehran, stating there would be “no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender.” In posts and interviews he urged the replacement of Iran’s current leadership with figures he deemed acceptable and promoted a campaign slogan about rebuilding Iran after such a change.
The surge in public rhetoric followed a period of extreme volatility after a joint U.S.-Israel strike on February 28 that, according to some reports, killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. Those reports prompted strong Iranian retaliation: waves of drone and missile strikes across several Arab countries, attacks on American bases and Israeli assets, and an expansion of Israeli operations into Lebanon against Hezbollah.
Violence has continued on the ground. Early Saturday airstrikes hit Tehran; geolocated footage reviewed by international media showed fires at Mehrabad Airport and large plumes of smoke. Iran’s state outlets reported explosions in eastern and western Tehran shortly after Israel announced further strikes on regime infrastructure. Iran then launched strikes toward Tel Aviv, with Israeli air defences observed intercepting incoming projectiles.
Separately, media speculation about potential successors to Iran’s leadership—naming figures such as Mojtaba Khamenei—drew public comment from U.S. politicians and denials from Iranian officials abroad. Iran’s Consulate General in Mumbai said reports about succession candidates had no official source.
Analysts warn the ongoing cycle of strikes and retaliation is increasing risks to civilians and critical infrastructure across the Middle East. The situation remains fluid, with competing claims and widespread uncertainty about next steps and diplomatic prospects.
