Esmail Qaani

The funeral procession for Iran's assassinated supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began in Tehran, with crowds expected to rival those at his predecessor's funeral in 1989. His son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared publicly since assuming leadership, while officials highlighted security measures to prevent chaos during the procession. The leader's death, attributed to Israeli airstrikes using US intelligence, occurred on February 28, the first day of the Middle East war.

Iran's top officials and family members of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attended funeral prayers in Tehran, signaling a shift in public confidence amid ongoing tensions. The event included calls for the killing of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders, while Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remained in hiding after being wounded in an airstrike.

IRGC commander Esmail Qaani warned Israel could face 'humiliation and defeat' in southern Lebanon if it does not withdraw, referencing Israel's 2000 withdrawal from the region. He stated the choice to avoid a repeat of the 2000 withdrawal lies with Israel.

The US-Iran memorandum of understanding ends the war with Iran gaining released assets and relaxed oil restrictions in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The deal faces opposition from Iranian hard-liners but has support from military and political leaders including Qalibaf, Araghchi, and President Pezeshkian.

IRGC Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani stated the war against Iran discredited the US and accelerated the collapse of the 'criminal Israeli regime'. He highlighted the resilience of regional allies, praised Hezbollah's indomitability, and credited Iran's diplomatic team for steadfastness in the Lebanon issue.

The Houthis in Yemen announced they have fired missiles at Israel and declared a ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea, re-entering the conflict against Israel to support the Axis of Resistance. Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani highlighted growing regional coordination among resistance groups, while Yemenis express divided reactions between pride in solidarity and fear of renewed conflict.

Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani announced a new 'security belt' of the Axis of Resistance stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to Bab el-Mandeb and the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea. He highlighted growing coordination among Iran-aligned groups and warned of collective responses to Israeli and US actions in the region.

Hezbollah has rejected a ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel, calling it 'absurd, humiliating, and insulting.' The agreement required Hezbollah to cease attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah claims would equate to surrender. Continued fighting followed the rejection, resulting in UNIFIL peacekeeper casualties and deepening regional tensions.