The death toll in Iran from an ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign has risen to over 1,200, according to reports, as the conflict triggers regional instability and growing diplomatic friction In Tehran, thousands of Iranians held defiant rallies after Friday prayers to protest the strikes and mourn their assassinated supreme leader
The widening regional impact includes reports of drone attacks and missile strikes affecting Gulf states and Azerbaijan In a notable development, Iran reportedly thanked Saudi Arabia for not allowing its airspace to be used for offensive actions against the country
On the diplomatic front, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that some nations have initiated mediation efforts, and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has also reached out to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi These efforts contrast sharply with Washington's stance. US President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of sending ground troops as a 'waste of time' and demanded Iran's 'unconditional surrender' A White House spokesperson indicated that the military operations could last 'four to six weeks' and that intelligence agencies are 'looking at potential leaders' within Iran
The escalating rhetoric and military action have caused global financial markets to tumble Meanwhile, some US media reports claim that Russia is supplying intelligence to Iranian forces, adding another layer of geopolitical complexity to the rapidly developing situation
Yasir Rai
