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IRAN VOWS ‘TERRIFYING BLOW’ AFTER TOP LEADERSHIP KILLED IN NEW ISRAELI STRIKES Monday, 2 March, 2026 | 12 Ramazan, 1447
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PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMS ‘48 IRANIAN LEADERS GONE’ AND DESCRIBES OFFENSIVE AS ‘AHEAD OF SCHEDULE’
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IRAN FORMS TEMPORARY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL TO MANAGE STATE AFTER KHAMENEI’S ASSASSINATION TEHRAN / TEL AVIV
agencies / staff report
SRAEL claimed it intercepted an Iranian missile over Syria on Sunday, following a new wave of strikes on Tehran, as it sought to assert aerial dominance after the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks have left the Islamic Republic grappling to rebuild its leadership amid its biggest test in five decades. US President Donald Trump said Iran’s new leadership had expressed a desire to negotiate, and he had agreed to talks, according to an interview with The Atlantic. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They waited too long,” Trump said from his Florida residence, without specifying whom he would speak with or the timing of the conversation. Following Khamenei’s death, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a leadership council, comprising himself, the judiciary head, and a member of the Guardians Council, had temporarily assumed the duties of Supreme Leader. Trump noted that some of those involved in previous US-Iran talks are now deceased. “Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big — that was a big hit,” he said. “They should have done it sooner. They could have made a deal. They played too cute.” Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that the bombings have “no impact on our ability to conduct war”. Speaking to ABC News, he rejected US warnings against retaliation, saying the country sees “no limit” in defending its people. “Nobody can tell us that you don’t have any right to defend yourselves. We are defending
ourselves, whatever it takes, and we see no limit for ourselves to defend our people, to protect our people,” Araghchi said. “What the United States is doing is an act of aggression. What we are doing is an act of self-defence. There are huge differences between these two.” In a post on X, the Iranian FM added: “We’ve had two decades to study defeats of the US military to our immediate east and west. We’ve incorporated lessons accordingly. Bombings in our capital have no impact on our ability to conduct war. Decentralised Mosaic Defence enables us to decide when — and how — war will end.” US-IRAN-ISRAEL CONFLICT ESCALATES President Trump also claimed that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in the US-Israeli bombardments, describing the offensive as “very positive”. “Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly,” he told Fox News. Trump said the strikes aimed to remove Iran’s leadership and degrade its military capabilities. He confirmed that the US military was sinking Iran’s Navy, destroying nine Iranian warships so far, with more targeted. Bombings included hardened, underground missile facilities using B2 stealth bombers with 2,000-lb bombs, and Iran’s naval headquarters was largely destroyed. “We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC. “Things are evolving in a very positive way right now, a very positive way.” The US announced its first casualties in the conflict: three unidentified service members killed, five seriously wounded, and several others lightly injured.
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SAYS IRAN’S NEW LEADERSHIP HAD EXPRESSED DESIRE TO NEGOTIATE AND HE HAD AGREED
Iran's supreme leader Khamenei killed TEHRAN
agencies
Iranian state television on Saturday confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, triggering 40 days of national mourning across the country. The announcement was made in an emotional broadcast, with a presenter struggling to deliver the news as a formal statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council was read out on air. The statement confirmed the death of the 86-year-old leader but did not specify how he died or who would succeed
KARACHI/LAHORE/GILGIT/ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday directed all relevant federal and provincial institutions to implement prompt and comprehensive security measures in view of the current situation, state media reported. Premier Shehbaz Sharif issued the directives while chairing a highlevel meeting to review the overall security situation in the country. He instructed all institutions to carry out their responsibilities with full coordination and coherence, said a statement issued from the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO). The meeting reviewed the regional situation in detail and discussed the role of Pakistan and various measures to establish peace in the region. The meeting’s participants also reviewed the situation in Afghanistan and were briefed on the country’s internal situation and security arrangements, the PMO said. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazir Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and high-ranking civil and military officials attended the meeting, it added. In light of developments in Iran, the Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safe return of Pakistanis in Iran via Azerbaijan, and to immediately engage with the Azeri government in this regard. A detailed briefing was given by the Foreign Office on the safe return of citizens and informed the prime minister that steps were also reviewed to evacuate Pakistani citizens from Iran. The Prime Minister emphasised that the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan are always ready to protect the country’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He praised the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, noting that the armed forces are performing their duties with utmost dedication and na-
– puts off official visit to Russia over ‘regional, internal situation’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday postponed his scheduled official visit to the Russian Federation, due to the evolving security situation in the “regional and internal situation,” state media reported. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the development, saying a new date would be decided after “mutual consultations.” It added that the premier’s visit to Russia was of “great significance” for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries, but given the current situation, it was being postponed. According to Russian media, PM Shehbaz was due to visit to Russia from March 3 to 5. The development comes as Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban earlier this week after the neighbouring country launched unprovoked fire across the border at multiple sectors in
tional spirit. “The entire nation salutes our security forces for their sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” he added. During the meeting, officials informed the Prime Minister that all security institutions remain on high alert and that necessary measures are being taken to safeguard the country. PM VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS FOLLOWING KHAMENEI’S ASSASSINATION
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern over the violation of international law and norms in the targeting of heads of state and government, following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on X, the premier said, “The government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.”
staff report
At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured as protests and subsequent clashes erupted across the country following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks, according to health, rescue and police officials. Officials said 10 people were killed in Karachi, seven in Gilgit, and two in Islamabad during protests that turned violent in multiple cities. The deteriorating situation prompted Syed Mohsin Naqvi to appeal for calm, urging the public to remain peaceful. “Today is a sorrowful day for the entire Muslim ummah, Pakistan’s public and Iran’s public,” the interior minister said in a video statement. Stressing that Pakistanis shared the grief of the Iranian people, he said: “My only request is that we all stand with you, but please do not
PREMIER DIRECTS FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT PROMPT, COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES saleem Jadoon
him. Hours before the confirmation from Tehran, US President Donald Trump had stated that Khamenei was killed during a joint US-Israeli operation targeting multiple locations across Iran. Iranian authorities, however, did not refer to the reported strikes in their initial statement. Earlier reports from Iranian state media said that members of Khamenei’s family were also killed. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild were among the dead.
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Govt urges calm as nationwide protests leave 19 dead after Khamenei assassination
PM orders nationwide security measures amid regional tensions g
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border +Pakistani positions along the border. Separately, the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases. The assassination resulted in protests across major cities in Pakistan on Sunday, and nine people died in Karachi after protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urging citizens to remain peaceful. “Today is a sorrowful day for the entire Muslim ummah, Pakistan’s public and Iran’s public,” he said in a video statement. Stating that every Pakistani citizen was as aggrieved as Iranians, Naqvi said, “My only request is that we all stand with you, but please do not take the law into your hands. You may protest but peacefully.”
He further said, “Pakistan also expresses concern over the violation of the norms of international law. It is an age-old convention that the heads of state/government should not be targeted.” The Prime Minister prayed for the Iranian leader and for strength for the people of the country to bear “this irreparable loss.” Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of the Iranian Supreme Leader and other senior officials of Iran. In a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, he said: “The president said that Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss. He observed that the passing of a leader of such stature, along with other senior figures, would be deeply felt across the Muslim world.” He also offered prayers for the deceased and the Iranian people.
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take the law into your hands. You may protest, but peacefully.” KARACHI PROTESTS AND CLASHES In Karachi, protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the United States Consulate Karachi on Mai Kolachi Road, where police resorted to teargas shelling and baton charge to disperse the crowd. Following the unrest, Section 144 was extended across Sindh. According to the Sindh Home Department, all forms of wall chalking, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and display of arms were banned throughout the province for one month, effective March 1. However, guards of registered private security companies were permitted to carry weapons at their places of duty during working hours, while remaining prohibited from displaying or brandishing weapons while travelling in vehicles.
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Pakistan warns UNSC ‘unjust’ US-Israeli attacks risk destabilising entire region
UNITED NATIONS (STAFF REPORT): Pakistan on Saturday warned the United Nations Security Council that recent US-Israeli attacks could undermine the security of the entire region “with farreaching consequences,” regretting that the joint strikes—in violation of international law—had occurred at a time when renewed diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful, negotiated solution. “We are deeply alarmed at the risk of regional conflagration,” Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, told the 15-member Council, which met in emergency session on Saturday evening at the request of France, China, Russia, Bahrain, and Colombia.
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