Trump tells CNN he’s not worried whether Iran becomes a democratic state. 1/3

By Dana Bash

(Trump seems to be giving CNN and Dana Bash, “the expert Trump haters and liars”the biggest opportunity of CNN and Bash’s lifetime to report the truth accurately. And interesting this article has very little acid or lies in it. Trump is giving all media a second chances)

President Donald Trump told CNN Friday that Iran’s leadership has been “neutered” and thathe’s looking for new leadershipthatwill treat the United States and Israel well, __even if that’s a religious leader and it’s not a democratic state_.

“Iran is not the same country it was a week ago. A week ago they were powerful, and now they’ve been indeed neutered,” he told CNN in a brief but wide-ranging phone interview.

In that call,he also said Cuba would fall “pretty soon” and emphasized the importance ofvoter ID legislation, which he suggested could be determinativein his Texas Senate endorsement.

Trump expressed confidence in the ease of picking a new leader in Iran— which he’s said he must be involved in — and again compared the mission to Venezuela, where the US captured Nicolás Maduro earlier this year and put his deputy in power.

“It’s gonna work very easily. It’s going to work like did in Venezuela. We have a wonderful leader there. She’s doing a fantastic job. And it’s going to work Iike in Venezuela,” he said, referring to acting president Delcy Rodriguez.

Trump also said he was open to having a religious leader in Iran. “Well I may be yeah, I mean,it dependson who the person is.I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic,” he said.

And pressed onif he is insisting there needs to be a democratic state, Trump told CNN,“No, I’m saying there has to be a leader that’s going be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East —they’re all our partners.”

He went on to tout his relationship with those countries in the Middle East, claiming they’re “fighting for us.”

“And I became very friendly with all those countries. That’s why they’re all fighting for us. Before I got involved,we didn’t even speak to UAE and Saudi Arabia. You know, (President Joe) Biden shut out.Bidenand (President Barack)Obama shut Saudi Arabia, UAE Qatar, he shut them all out. They were all going to goto China, and I got involved in very short period of time that became my friends,” Trump said.

And while the president praised the US operation against Iran — saying it’s a “12, maybe 15 on the scale of 10” —he suggested he wasn’t worried about rising gas prices.

“That’s all right. It’ll be short term time. It’ll go way down very quickly,” he said, while dismissing that prices are up significantly and saying he’s “already figured out” the Strait of Hormuz.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/trump-interview-iran-cuba-dana-bash

>>24349486

2/3

“We’ve knocked their Navy because, you know,when you knock out the Navy, they can’t do what they wanted to be able to do.The Navy is almost, we just hit about the 25 mark. Can you imagine that? Big ones — 25 ships are down,” he said.

Trump separately told CNN that Cuba “is going to fall pretty soon:“Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon, by the way, unrelated, but Cuba is gonna fall too.They want to make a deal so badly,” he told Bash when touting US military success in his second term.

“They want to make a deal, andso I’m going to put Marco (Rubio) over there and we’ll see how that works out. We’re really focused on this one right now. We’ve got plenty of time, but Cuba’s ready — after 50 years,” he added, explainingthat Iran is the current priority.

He continued on Cuba: “I’ve been watching it for 50 years, and it’s fallen right into my lap because of me,it’s fallen, but it’s nevertheless fallen right into the lap. And we’re doing very well.”

A day earlier,Trump said at the White House that it’s only a “question of time” before American Cubans can return to their home country, appearing to say that’s next on the administration’s agenda after the ongoing war with Iran.

“He’s (Rubio) doing some job, and your next one is going to be,we want to do that special Cuba,” Trump said Thursday referring to his Secretary of State.“He’s waiting. But he says, ‘Let’s get this one finished first.’ We could do them all at the same time, but bad things happen.If you watch countries over the years, you do them all too fast, bad things happen. We’re not going to let anything bad happen to this country.”

Trump emphasizes voter ID law

After the war with Iran, Trump saidthe next most important issue for his administration is passing voter ID legislation— and that it could be key to his endorsement in the contentious Texas Senate runoff.

Trump has said he’ll soon make a choicebetween Sen. John Cornyn, the incumbent, and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who’s been pushing the SAVE America Act.

“I’m making a decision fairly shortly, but I want and then I feel very strongly that we have to have the full and complete SAVE America Act, OK?I want the SAVE America Act. It is more important than everything else we’re working on other than the war,” he told Bash.

Trump suggested he needs assurances that both candidates would support the legislation.(Guaranteed Cornyn wouldn’t vote for that. That could be why Thune and other leaders are backing Cornyn. He’s their secret bomb to shut down everything Trump needs and wants. I believe this is true, the Republicans keep the ones that are guaranteed a NO vote against anything Trump and America needs. The Reps are begging, literally begging Trump to back Cornyn. They are freaked if he’s not,there has to be a much darker and deeper why Cornyn is so valuable to them. And they know Paxton is not corrupt, he’s just too honest and a Constitutional Patriot and lawyer; and once he gets in Senate the whole anti Trump Cabal of Senate Republicans will or may be disabled.)

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/trump-interview-iran-cuba-dana-bash

>>24349495

3/3

“I’ve got to have the assurance of — you have a big story here come to think of it, but I’m just telling you— uh,I like John Cornyn, get along with him well. Get along with both of them very well.But we have go in with the SAVE America Act,” he said. (Trump and Cornyn mutually hate each other, KEK. But now Trump has the power.)

“We have to have voter ID. We have to have proof of citizenship. We have to have no mail-in ballotsexcept the military, illness, disability and travel.We have to have no men in women’s sports— Iadded two things, andwe have to have no transgender operations for youth,” he added, reiterating two additional two demands that he postedon Truth Social Thursday.

In addition to requiring voter ID to vote in federal elections,the bill would mandate documentary proof of US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Trump alsorepeated his demands that the Senate eliminate the filibuster to get the legislation passed.

“The Senate has to act on it. The House on it.And I don’t want the watered down one — that doesn’t mean anything. I want the one that just told you, five things,” he said.

Cornyn supports the bill but has refused to say whether he personally would vote to change Senate rules in order to pass it.

“There’s not the votes in the Republican conference to change those rules,” he told CNN ahead of the primary.

Paxton said this week he would consider dropping out of the contentious runoffif Senate leaders agreed to gut the filibuster and pass the legislation.

“The Save America Act is the most important bill the U.S. Senate could ever pass, and I’m committed to helping President Trump get it done,” he wrote on X.

Cornyn (lies, lied, and sabotages everything Trump) shot back on X: “I repeat what I have consistently said==: I support the bill and have encouraged Senate Republicans to get it done.”

(God must hate this liar like every Red Blooded Patriot in America. PS: there is no f’king way he got over 800,000+ votes in TX, the majority hate him, so theirs bribing and cheating going on.Whatever Cornyn knows what senate leaders (and himself) want’s to do or did against Trump has got to horrendous crimes, and/or he is blackmailing senate leaders, for their crimes going back to McConnel, to oppose Trump and America.Whatever it is; it’s certainly is freaking out leadership. It really has to be hideously bad for Senate leadership to beg Trump to back Cornyn.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/trump-interview-iran-cuba-dana-bash

Ryan Saavedra

@RyanSaavedra

Gen. David Petraeus on just how successful the U.S. has been in Iran: "We have actually achieved air supremacy, not just air superiority"

10:42 PM · Mar 5, 2026

·44.3K Views

(Do you think Petreaus is getting up the courage to get a pardon from Trump for war crimes he did under Bush/cheney? He sure is giving a lot of compliments to Trump and Team lately.

https://x.com/RyanSaavedra/status/2029764643959271747?s=20

Eric Daugherty

@EricLDaugh

🚨 BREAKING: The US military is prepared to use Optical Dazzling Interdictor Navy LASERS against Iran, equipped on at least 2 destroyers

The US is ACTIVELY using precision laser-guided rockets to SHOOT DOWN Iranian drones from air, ground or sea 🔥

Freaking bad*ss.

"ODIN blinds drone sensors causing them to crash. It's a last-ditch weapon used to defend ships from drone attacks. We're told it has not been used yet in Epic Fury."

"Now, the U.S. has deployed the EA-18G Growler to jam electronic signals causing DOZENS of Iranian drones to fall out of the sky and is using advanced precision laser-guided rockets to shoot down drones from the air, ground, or sea."

Iran is NO MATCH for the world's SUPERPOWER. 🇺🇸

10:36 AM · Mar 6, 2026

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257.8K

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https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2029944125642899457?s=20

>>24348644, >>24349126, >>24349136 @realDonaldTrump Trump calls Bill Maher a 'jerk,' adding that dinner with him was 'a total waste of time'PN

Maher got his pardon when he came out and defended Trump to the leftists after their dinner.

What happened is he faught back against the left with all the lies and hatred they had for Trump. Maher being the egomania Cabal friendly leftists he is, missed all the love he got from the haters like he was, and he released his normal hateful self to be accepted by the haters. His ego just destroyed any opportunity for forgiveness of crimes related to Epstein and the whole Cabal.

Now Trump gave him more new, stupid and hateful shows, but Maher doesn’t know what Trump will do in the future. He’s really not very smart.

Let’s see if Maher shows up in the next release of Epstein files?

House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority

@HouseForeignGOP

.@RepBrianMast: How do you make a map more gay?

@UnderSecPD brings reciepts exposing just what the Biden State Department wasted tax dollars on for four years.

7:21 PM · Mar 5, 2026

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148.2K

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https://x.com/HouseForeignGOP/status/2029713864212762872?s=20

53 Dems vote against declaring Iran a state sponsor of terror. 1/2

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley among 53 Democrats opposing nonbinding House measure

March 6, 2026 9:56am

Dozens of Democrats havevoted against a nonbinding resolutionin the House that reaffirms Iran as the "largest state sponsor of terrorism."

The resolution, put forward by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., passed by a 372-53 vote on Thursday, with all those voting no being Democrats. Two Democrats also voted present.

Among those who voted against the measure were all the members of the "Squad," such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

The resolution said the Islamic Republic of Iran "remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and provides substantial financial and military support to groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."

It added that Iran "poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens," citing the Pentagon as saying that "Iranian-backed proxy militias are responsible for the deaths of at least 603 U.S. service members in Iraq – roughly one in every six American combat fatalities."

It also said, "according to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafeal Grossi,Iran has amassed a large stockpile of enriched uranium and continues to block access to undeclared sites in Iran affiliated with their ‘big, ambitious nuclear weapons program.’"

The resolution concludes by saying, "That the House of Representatives declares it is the policy of the United States… that Iran continues to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism."

California Democratic Rep. Lateefah Simon,who voted no, claimed the resolution "contains inaccuracies and is designed to justify the President's actions in Iran."

"Republicans in Congress are not only surrendering their constitutional duties – they are also playing politics with a resolution reaffirming Iran as a leading state sponsor of terrorism," Simon wrote on Facebook. "That is already U.S. policy."

"I have been clear about my opposition to the brutal and devastating actions of the Iranian regime against those protesting for freedom," Simon continued. "This resolution does nothing to advance their freedom and instead, puts Congress on record as giving the Administration further pretext for a war that should not have been started in the first place."

Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., who voted in favor of the resolution, said in a statementthat, "This week’s bipartisan classified briefing with Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe, and General Dan Caine underscored the significance of the threat we face from an Iran intent on developing nuclear weapons behind a curtain of impenetrable ballistic weapons."

"Standing with our allies and confronting state-sponsored terrorism is essential to protecting Americans and advancing stability around the world," she added."This resolution sends a strong message that we will not ignore or excuse the regime’s extremist actions."

Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington state who also voted in favor of the resolution, said, "I agree with the principal assertion of this resolution that Iran is a bad actor.

"Iran's malign and destabilizing actions in the region and treatment of its own citizens should be denounced. I have never contested this. What I do contest is that going to war is the reasonable response to this assertion," he continued. "I support this resolution. I do not support the president’s war of choice with Iran."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/53-dems-vote-against-declaring-iran-state-sponsor-terror

>>24349577

2/2Do they understand our intelligence agencies have put all of them on “terrorists lovers against America list?”

Full list of 53 House Democrats who voted no:

Here are the full names of the Democratic House lawmakers listed alphabetically by last name:

Donald S. Beyer Jr.

Suzanne Bonamici

André Carson

Greg Casar

Joaquin Castro

Yvette D. Clarke

Steve Cohen

Danny K. Davis

Maxine Dexter

Lloyd Doggett

Dwight Evans

Lizzie Fletcher

Valerie Foushee

Maxwell Alejandro Frost

Robert Garcia

Jesús "Chuy" García

Al Green

Raúl M. Grijalva

Val Hoyle

Jared Huffman

Sara Jacobs

Pramila Jayapal

Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.

Robin Kelly

Ro Khanna

Raja Krishnamoorthi

Summer Lee

Sarah McBride

Morgan McGarvey

James P. McGovern

LaMonica McIver

Christian D. Menefee

Robert Jacobsen "Rob" Menendez Jr.

Gwen Moore

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ilhan Omar

Chellie Pingree

Mark Pocan

Ayanna Pressley

Delia Ramirez

Emily Randall

Luz Rivas

Linda T. Sánchez

Janice D. "Jan" Schakowsky

Lateefah Simon

Mark Takano

Rashida Tlaib

Lori Trahan

Lauren Underwood

Nydia M. Velázquez

Maxine Waters

Bonnie Watson Coleman

Nikema Williams.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/53-dems-vote-against-declaring-iran-state-sponsor-terror

VOICES FROM IRAN

Conscripts say commanders abandoned them in bases after Khamenei’s killing

3 hours ago

Following the killing of Ali Khamenei anddozens of military commanders, some officers have abandoned their barracks, leaving soldiers in dangerous conditions andforcing them to remain on guard duty under ongoing bombardment, multiple conscripts have told Iran International.

After Khamenei was killed in Tehran on February 28,confusion and divisions have emerged within the command structure of Iran’s military forces, the conscripts said.

In a military base in Lorestan province,several soldiers reported uncertainty over the chain of commandand growing security concerns after the recent developments.

In a message, one soldier saidmany commanders left their posts to avoid potential US and Israeli strikes, leaving ordinary conscripts behind in the barracks without support.

According to the soldier,fear of bombardment has led some troops to spend nights outside the base, resting in nearby open areas despite the cold weather.

The soldier also criticized what he described as a lack of attention to the situation of ordinary troops and called for authorities to address their conditions.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603063591

Iranian Kurdish militia buys 50 Land Cruisers in Erbil amid rising tensions

IRAQ IraqiNews March 6, 2026

Erbil (IraqiNews.com) — A car dealer in Erbil, northern Iraq, reported an Iranian Kurdish group recently acquired a big number of automobiles,raising concerns about probable preparations for border activities between Iran and Iraq.

According to Clarissa Ward, a CNN journalist who is now reporting from Erbil, the dealer said that militiamen purchased around 50 Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs two days ago.

The alleged purchase has sparkedconcern that Iranian Kurdish armed organizations are preparing for actions as the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran escalates.

Some observers believe Washington is looking at methods to put pressure on Tehran via Kurdish opposition groups headquartered near the Iran-Iraq border, whereKurdish insurgents have traditionally worked against Iranian soldiers.

However, officials from the Kurdistan Regional Governmenthave lately maintained that Iraqi Kurdistan is not involved in any plan to widen the conflictor raise regional tensions.

Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, Iraq’s first lady, also released a forceful statement earlier this week, warning against using Kurdish populations as proxy in the fight.

In the statement, she asked world powers to avoid pulling Iraqi Kurds into the conflict with Iran, stating that Kurdish populations should not be used as tools in larger geopolitical confrontations.

The developments coincide with escalating regional tensions and worries that the violence would expand farther across the Middle East,especially places along the Iran-Iraq border where Kurdish terrorist organizations are active.

https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iranian-kurdish-militia-buys-50-land-cruisers-in-erbil-amid-rising-tensions/#google_vignette

Rapid Response 47

@RapidResponse47

.

@PressSec: "What I will tell you is what @POTUS has already laid out, which is that the achievable objectives of Operation Epic Fury we expect to last about 4-6 weeks, and we are well on our way to achieving those objectives."

1:44 PM · Mar 6, 2026

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https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2029991644171214878?s=20

IDF surprised by Houthis not joining Iran war, believes they still could, sources say

It was expected by many in the IDF that the Houthis would join in the attack once Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated.

IDF sources on Thursday expressed surprise that Yemen's Houthis have not yet attacked Israel as part of the wider regional conflict.

It was expected by many in the IDF that the Houthis would join in the attack once Iran's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated, or if not then, then once Hezbollah joined on Monday.

There has been speculation in the defense establishment that the Houthis are staying out of the conflict since this time the US is involved.

They might still join conflict

Further, it is possible that they have concluded Iran is too defeated to provide assistance to.

The Houthis remained in the 2023-2025 war the longest of all of Iran's proxies, continuing to fire on Israel essentially until the October 2025 permanent Hamas ceasefire.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889000

Israel is stupid, they are no longer get paid by Iran.

U.S. Central Command

@CENTCOM

U.S. forces aren't holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire.

(You can tell this is Trump’s war, when Central Command is doing media. Excellent idea, no need to wait for Fox and others for news. We are getting more news and info then in any war ever.)

8:06 PM · Mar 5, 2026

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https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2029725370371424476?s=20

Arab states running dangerously low on interceptors to take down Iranian-fired missiles, officials say

By Margaret Brennan

Updated on: March 5, 2026 CBS

Arab states in the Persian Gulf are running dangerously low on interceptors to take down Iranian-fired missiles,two regional officials told CBS News.

Governments in the region have asked the U.S. to expedite new supplies, and they've been told that officials in Washington are creating a task force to do so —but it isn't happening as fast as needed.

The hundreds of drones launched by Iran are an added complication.The officials speculated that Iran is intentionally hitting the Arab states to get them to pressure the U.S. to end the war.

On Wednesday,Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,pushed back on supply concerns and told reporters at the Pentagon that there were sufficient "precision munitions for the task at hand, both on the offense and defense."

In a statement provided to CBS News on Thursday night, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said that"Iran's retaliatory ballistic missile attacks" had decreased by 90%because the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes were "crushing" Iran's "ability to shoot these weapons or produce more."

"President Trump is in close contact with all of our regional partners, and the terrorist Iranian regime's attacks on its neighbors prove how imperative it was that President Trump eliminate this threat to our country and our allies," Kelly said.

Three regional officialsalso acknowledged that communication is challenging as, despite being more than a year into his term,President Trump has not sent ambassadors to many of the countries, including Lebanon, Jordan and Qatar.

Due to the lack of nominations or slow-moving confirmations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are among the locations without a presidential representative in-country and are relying on charge d'affaires. (Senate refuses to confirm anyone for Trump. Their goal is harm Trump. Republicans are almost more hateful then Democrats.)

Amer Ghalib, the former mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, was nominated to be ambassador to Kuwait but faltered during confirmation hearings due to questioning about his past antisemitic and incendiary social media posts.

The National Security Council and the State Department are also thinly staffed compared to prior administrations, which leaves fewer points of contact. Mr. Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, do not handle country management issues.

In addition to the Iranian-fired missiles, Kuwait has also had incoming fire from nearby Iraq, where militias have fired missiles and drones into civilian areas.

Meanwhile, 10 people believed to be Iranian agents were arrested Wednesday in Qatar on suspicion of planning attacks. There is concern about sleeper cells and radicalization among Shiite Muslim populations in certain countries such as Bahrain.

Also,many officials expressed broad concern about the Kurdish fighters expected to enter Iran, saying that injecting sectarian conflict into the already combustible situation will be detrimental and also cause friction with Turkey, which fears Kurdish separatists.

(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arab-states-running-low-interceptors-iranian-fired-missiles/

Thank you CBS communists for your hateful propaganda, only because it’s President Trump.

Rapid Response 47

@RapidResponse47

CNN: "Republicans love Donald Trump more than any president's own party's supporters loved them at this particular point."

9:53 AM · Mar 5, 2026

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909.9K

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https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2029570941513072694?s=20

>>24349699. KEK I bet Obama and Bush are pissed

>>24348578 Pahlovi on extremist IslamPN

The Iranians supporters of him are forgetting the hideous way he ruled Iran. It was so bad they kicked him out, he was a royalist and ruled the way England treats their people. He is no fucking different than his father. And he has enjoyed the billions he got from his family from the poor people. He did nothing to fight for Iran in the last 50+ years. Nothing for the country just jetsetting around from London. London took in the Royal. That is proof enough he is the worst royal to rule Iran and the people. He’s always been a NWO baby billionaire.

Trump is being nice when he says he’s not the right person to pick!

>>24349727. His father ruled

JUST IN: Israeli strikes hit Beirut

Senior foreign correspondent Trey Yingst and chief international correspondent Steve Harrigan report the latest on the conflict in the Middle East. Former National Security Director Gen. Keith Kellogg (ret.) joins 'The Faulkner Focus' to weigh in.

(==Bibi wants WWIII, he’s sparking it around the Middle East and further. Fox backs him fo that mission. the Catholic exorcist on Shawn Ryan told him the Jews were no longer his chosen people because they refused to do what God said. That makes sense knowing what they are doing now.)

14:45

https://youtu.be/6eP7mb89-7E

Seyed Abbas Araghchi

@araghchi

The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores.

Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.

Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set.(sorry dude your Allah doesn’t work in America or around the world. Our God will take care of all his children!)

https://x.com/araghchi/status/2029435610922996100?s=20

Image

12:55 AM · Mar 5, 2026

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'Sorry we have to attack your countries,' Iran tells Arab neighbors

4 hours ago

"We are sorry that we have to target our neighbors because of the existence of US bases in their territories.

It is clear to all of them (that Iran has no hostility toward them)," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state TV on Friday.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603060585

I’m sure all the Arab countries are satisfied with that complete lie!

Japan says second national detained in Iran, seeks early release

7 hours ago

Japan said a second Japanese national is being detained in Iran and demanded the early release of both individuals.

The Foreign Ministry said the second person was detained before the Feb. 28 military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel and is safe and in good health. It gave no further details.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said officials were able to contact both detainees after the strikes and confirm their safety. “The government is doing everything to support them, their families and others involved,” he told a parliamentary panel, adding that he had pressed for their protection and early release in a meeting with Iran’s ambassador this week.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has identified the first detainee as Shinnosuke Kawashima, the Tehran bureau chief of Japanese public broadcaster NHK, and called for his immediate release.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202603069764

Saudi Arabia intercepts drones and missiles in Al-Kharj, Eastern Province and Riyadh

Defense Ministry says latest cruise missile attack intercepted on Friday evening

Attempted strikes started shortly after midnight on Friday when three ballistic missiles were launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base

Updated 3 sec ago

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s air defensesintercepted and destroyed five missiles and five drones aimed at different targets in the Kingdomon Friday, the Ministry of Defense announced in separate posts on X.

The Kingdom intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the central Al-Kharj area on Friday evening, the ministry said.

The attack followed a number of attempted strikes earlier in the day.

In its first post shortly after midnight, the ministry said three ballistic missiles were launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj governorate. In subsequent posts, the ministry said one drone was shot down in the Eastern Province and another in Al-Kharj.Early in the morning, the ministry announced that a cruise missile was also intercepted in Al-Kharj followed by four drones in the eastern Riyadh region.

Friday's barrage followed the interception of three cruise missiles targeting Al-Kharj, just hours after a drone attack was stopped over the Ras Tanura refinery in the Eastern Province. Al-Kharj is an important industrial zone located approximately 80 kilometers southeast of the national capital, Riyadh city.

On March 3, Saudi defenses successfully intercepted eight drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj. The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by drones on the same day, causing a limited fire and minor structural damage. Despite the site being hit, Iran’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, categorically denied his country’s involvement during a statement on Thursday.

This latest escalation follows a massive air campaign launched by Israel and the United States against Iran last Saturday, which has triggered a wave of retaliatory strikes by Tehran against regional assets.

The conflict, which escalated dramatically on February 28, 2026, has expanded far beyond the Kingdom’s borders. All GCC member states have reported aggression, with Iranian strikes in the Gulf region claimed to have killed at least nine people.

The maritime sector has been severely crippled; a missile strike on a commercial vessel off Oman has contributed to a backlog of 150 tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, where oil traffic has plummeted by 86%.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia issued a sharp condemnation on Thursday following Iranian drone and missile attacks on Azerbaijan and NATO-protected Turkish airspace, calling the acts "blatant and cowardly."

In an extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Riyadh on March 1,the GCC affirmed the collective right of member states to defend their territories against "treacherous Iranian aggression."

Following a Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 3, Saudi Arabia declared it reserves the "full right" to respond. The Cabinet underscored that the Kingdom will take all necessary measures to safeguard its territory, citizens, and residents from these persistent strikes.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2635432/saudi-arabia

Girl Scouts contribute to serving pilgrims

RIYADH: The Saudi Girl Scouts are currently participating in the Ramadan public service camp organized by the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The volunteer program runs until the end of the month and aims to serve Umrah performers and worshippers while supporting the concerned authorities in providing the best services to them.

The Girl Scouts’ participation in the camp represents an extension of the association’s approach to empowering Saudi women and providing opportunities for them to engage in various scouting and volunteer programs and activities.

This aligns with the objectives of Vision 2030, which aims to boost women’s empowerment and enhance their presence in community and development work.

The Girl Scouts have demonstrated their ability to excel and contribute effectively by providing field and humanitarian services to Umrah performers alongside male scouts and scout leaders.

Their efforts include supporting the security authorities and assisting the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques,helping to organize and facilitate the movement of visitors, and providing guidance and on-site services.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2635485/saudi-arabia