Iran's official state television confirmed the killing of Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesman and head of public relations for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in Israeli-American strikes. The announcement came only minutes after Naeini had himself appeared on air, asserting that Iran continued to produce missiles despite the escalating conflict — a direct rebuttal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Iran had lost the capacity to manufacture them. The Israeli military stated that the operation was part of "a series of eliminations of dozens of senior officials of the Iranian regime," and vowed to continue acting "forcefully and decisively" against IRGC leadership.
Earlier in the week, the Israeli military also announced the killing of Esmail Ahmadi, identified as the head of intelligence for the Basij unit, describing him as having played a "central role" in planning operations and suppressing anti-government protests inside Iran. The announcement said Ahmadi was killed in the same strike that targeted the Basij command centre in central Tehran, which also killed unit commander Gholamreza Soleimani.
The Iranian Red Crescent says at least 204 children have been killed as the overall death toll in Iran exceeds 1,444 people. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Meanwhile, an attack killed three people and injured three others in the north-western city of Osku in East Azerbaijan province.
Trump Considers Kharg Island Seizure
In one of the most significant strategic developments of the day, the Trump administration is reportedly studying military plans to seize or impose a naval blockade on Iran's Kharg Island, in an escalation aimed at pressuring Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to Axios, a source familiar with White House discussions said "the plan requires approximately one month of intensive airstrikes to weaken Iranian capabilities around the strait, before attempting to seize the island and use it as a primary pressure tool in negotiations." On Friday, US forces struck military facilities on Kharg Island in what officials described as a "warning message" and preparatory step for potential future operations. Trump himself remained publicly ambiguous, telling reporters, "We are not putting forces anywhere right now" — but adding, "If I did do that, I certainly wouldn't tell you."
Switzerland Blocks Arms to Washington
In a move with significant diplomatic implications, Switzerland announced it will not issue licences for companies to export weapons to the United States for the duration of the conflict with Iran, citing its neutrality. The Swiss government stated that "the export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorised."
Energy Crisis Deepens
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, warned that it could take six months to restore oil and gas flows from the Gulf, cautioning that politicians and markets are underestimating the scale of the disruption to energy infrastructure across the region. The economic ripple effects are already being felt globally. A World Trade Organization report projected that global merchandise trade growth will slow sharply to 1.9% this year, compared with 4.6% in 2025, with the risk of a further decline if the Middle East war continues to push energy prices higher and disrupt global supply chains.
Air traffic over key Gulf hubs in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi has been severely disrupted, exposing Europe's reliance on Gulf carriers for long-haul routes to Asia. Air France-KLM's CEO described the situation as a "wake-up call," with 600 planes grounded. European airlines are now moving to expand direct Europe-Asia routes.
Broader Fallout
Iran's top military spokesman threatened that "parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations" worldwide will no longer be safe for enemies of the Islamic Republic, in a statement broadcast by Iranian state television.
NATO confirmed it is "adjusting" its mission in Iraq following a temporary withdrawal of personnel amid ongoing attacks near the Baghdad Green Zone, where the mission is headquartered close to the US embassy.
Ukraine announced the deployment of interceptor units to five Middle Eastern countries to protect critical and civilian infrastructure, with President Zelensky confirming that 228 Ukrainian experts are now in the region assisting with drone countermeasures.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaking in Tel Aviv after meetings with his Israeli counterpart, said he saw "no obvious short-term way out of the ongoing regional escalation," but stressed that inaction was not an option. President Macron separately affirmed that France's support for Ukraine would not waver despite the Middle East crisis, while the French navy intercepted a Russian shadow-fleet tanker in the western Mediterranean.
In the Czech Republic, a facility linked to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems was set ablaze in an early morning attack, with an underground group calling itself "The Earthquake Faction" claiming responsibility. Czech authorities have opened a terrorism investigation.
As the conflict grinds into its fourth week with no ceasefire in sight, the war on Iran is increasingly reshaping global energy markets, security alliances, and diplomatic alignments far beyond the immediate theatre of operations.