The statement marks a further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, where both sides have intensified military operations targeting senior leadership figures.

Conflicting accounts emergeWhile Israeli officials declared Larijani dead, earlier reports citing Israeli sources indicated that his fate remained unclear following strikes that targeted him, leaving uncertainty over whether he had been killed or wounded.

Iran has not issued any official response confirming his death.Key figure in Iran’s power structureLarijani, a senior political and security figure, has played a central role in Iran’s leadership apparatus, particularly after the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes that reshaped the country’s command structure.

His removal, if confirmed, would represent one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership since the start of the current conflict.

The reported strike comes amid a wider Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s military and security elite. Israeli operations have also reportedly killed other senior figures, including commanders linked to the Basij militia, a key internal security force.

The targeting of high-ranking officials signals a strategy aimed at weakening Iran’s command-and-control capabilities as hostilities continue to expand across the region.

The developments underscore the widening scope of the conflict, which has already drawn in multiple regional actors and disrupted energy markets and security dynamics across the Middle East.

With no confirmation from Tehran and conflicting accounts still emerging, the situation remains fluid.

The conflict, now entering its third week, has shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes, sending oil prices higher and raising fears of renewed global inflation.

Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said the military had detailed operational plans covering at least the next three weeks, with additional scenarios prepared for a longer campaign.

“We want to make sure that they are as weak as possible, this regime, and that we degrade all their capabilities, all parts and all wings of their security establishment,” Shoshani told reporters.

The Israeli military has framed the campaign as focused on degrading Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure, nuclear facilities and broader security apparatus. Officials say thousands of potential targets remain inside Iran.

Iran launched drone attacks targeting regional sites, temporarily shutting down Dubai airport and striking a key oil facility in the United Arab Emirates, according to reports cited by regional authorities.

The incidents underscored the widening regional impact of the conflict, which has drawn concern from energy markets and governments reliant on Gulf shipping lanes.

Air traffic at Dubai airport was briefly halted following the drone threat before operations resumed.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has become one of the most significant economic consequences of the war.

The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman handles roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it one of the most strategically important energy chokepoints in the world.

The disruption has already pushed oil prices upward and intensified concerns among policymakers about inflationary pressure on global economies.

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Sunday for an international coalition to help reopen the shipping route, warning that the NATO alliance could face a “very bad” future if members fail to support Washington’s efforts.

Allies responded cautiously, expressing support for diplomatic initiatives to restore navigation through the Strait while signaling reluctance to commit to military action.Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had not requested a ceasefire and had exchanged no messages with Washington, according to Iran’s semi-official Student News Network.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that overnight Israeli strikes killed five people and wounded seven others in Markazi province in central Iran. The report said attacks struck a residential area on the outskirts of Arak city and a residential building in Mahallat county.

Israel has said its campaign remains focused on military and strategic infrastructure linked to Iran’s security apparatus.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that 20 people were detained in northwestern Iran after the provincial prosecutor’s office accused them of transmitting location details of military and security facilities to Israel.

Tasnim also reported the arrest of 10 individuals in northeastern Iran, a region that has so far remained largely untouched by the ongoing air strikes. According to the report, some of those detained were suspected of gathering information about sensitive sites and economic infrastructure.

Iran’s security agencies have intensified internal surveillance and arrests since Israeli and U.S. forces launched a series of strikes against targets in the country. Authorities have repeatedly warned of espionage networks operating inside Iran and accused Israel of attempting to exploit domestic unrest.

A provincial branch of the intelligence organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Israel and the United States were attempting to activate “mercenaries and spies” to trigger unrest alongside military operations, according to Tasnim.

Separately, the Student News Network reported that three people were detained in the western province of Lorestan on accusations of attempting to “disturb public opinion” and burn mourning symbols.

A source briefed on Israel’s military strategy told Reuters earlier this week that Israeli forces had begun targeting security checkpoints based on tip-offs from informants inside Iran, marking what the source described as a new phase in the military campaign.

In January, weeks before the United States and Israel launched the current war against Iran, the country experienced widespread anti-government protests. Iranian authorities responded with a crackdown that officials described as necessary to restore order, while blaming Israel and the United States for encouraging what they called violent riots aimed at overthrowing the clerical establishment.

The latest arrests underscore Iran’s growing focus on internal security as the conflict widens and authorities seek to curb suspected intelligence leaks and dissent during the ongoing military confrontation.

The Guards said in a statement published on their official Sepah News website that Netanyahu would remain a target of Iran’s forces, accusing him of responsibility for the deaths of civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” the IRGC said, referring to the Israeli premier.

The statement reflects a sharp escalation in language from Iran’s elite military force as the confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States widens. Iranian officials have repeatedly accused Israel of attacks against Iranian interests and leadership figures, while Israel says it is acting to neutralize threats posed by Tehran and its regional allies.

.The IRGC, which answers directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader and wields significant influence over the country’s military operations abroad, has often issued warnings against Israeli leadership during periods of heightened tensions.

The threat comes as the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed forces has expanded beyond their borders, drawing in the United States and affecting multiple countries across the Middle East.

Regional tensions have surged following a series of strikes and counter-strikes involving Israeli forces, Iranian military assets and allied groups.

Governments and international organizations have warned that the conflict risks further destabilizing an already volatile region.

Netanyahu has been a central figure in Israel’s security policy toward Iran, repeatedly warning about Tehran’s military capabilities and its support for armed groups across the Middle East.

Iranian leaders, in turn, have blamed Israel for attacks on Iranian personnel and infrastructure, including alleged covert operations targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

The attacks followed nearly two weeks of conflict triggered by joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran, a war that has killed around 2,000 people and sent shockwaves through global energy and shipping markets. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said more than 1,100 children were among those killed or injured in the fighting.

Maritime security sources and port officials said explosive-laden Iranian boats appeared to have struck two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, igniting fires and killing one crew member. Projectiles also hit three merchant vessels in Gulf waters, according to maritime risk monitoring firms tracking the incidents.

Oil prices rose nearly 5% on Wednesday and extended gains in Asian trading on Thursday as traders assessed the risk of prolonged supply disruptions in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Crude had surged to nearly $120 a barrel earlier in the week before easing to around $90, but renewed attacks on shipping raised fears of further volatility. Global equities also reacted to the tension, with Wall Street’s main indexes falling and Asian stocks following the downward trend.

Tony Sycamore, an analyst at IG, said the tanker attacks appeared to coincide with efforts by energy authorities to stabilize markets.“This appears to mark a direct and forceful Iranian response to the IEA’s overnight announcement of a massive strategic reserve release aimed at cooling runaway prices,” Sycamore said.

Iran signaled it intends to inflict sustained economic pressure as the conflict spreads across the Middle East. A spokesperson for Iran’s military command warned the United States that oil prices could soar dramatically.

“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised,” the spokesperson said in remarks reported on Wednesday.

The war has already prompted governments to prepare what could become the largest coordinated release of strategic oil reserves since the 1970s in an attempt to cushion the global economy from an escalating fuel shock.

Speaking at a campaign-style rally in Kentucky ahead of November midterm elections, where his Republican Party is trailing in several races, Trump said the United States had prevailed militarily but suggested operations might continue.

“We don’t want to leave early do we?” Trump said on Wednesday. “We got to finish the job.

”The conflict has widened beyond Iran’s territory to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure across the region, heightening concerns among governments and markets about the stability of global oil supply and maritime trade routes.

The conversation came as fighting involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to expand across the region, raising concerns among international leaders about broader instability and disruptions to global energy markets.

Carney and the Qatari emir emphasized the importance of strengthening diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict and prevent further escalation, according to the statement from the Canadian leader’s office.

The two leaders also condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Qatar. Carney expressed Canada’s solidarity with Qatar following the strikes.

“In accordance with international law, the leaders called for an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure that only serve to destabilise the region and worsen the global economic and energy situation,” the statement said.

Hostilities escalated after the United States and Israel began military strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and several Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases.

U.S. President Donald Trump has offered varying objectives and timelines for the military campaign. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties inside Iran, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to the information provided.

At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the conflict, according to the humanitarian organisation Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Among them were 175 schoolgirls and staff killed in a missile strike on a primary school in southern Iran, the group said.

Iran’s military has also reported that more than 100 people were killed when a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka last week.

Israeli authorities say 11 civilians have been killed in Israel since the conflict began, while the U.S. military has reported that seven American service members have died.

President Donald Trump issued the warning after global financial markets swung sharply on Monday amid signs that Iran’s security establishment was consolidating behind newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, signalling Tehran may be preparing for a prolonged confrontation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would prevent “one litre of oil” from leaving the Middle East if strikes by the United States and Israel persist, according to Iranian state media.

Trump said Washington had already inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military infrastructure and warned that any attempt by Tehran to halt tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would trigger far stronger U.S. retaliation.

“We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world,” Trump said during a news conference on Monday.

In a later post on his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated that warning, saying the United States would strike Iran “twenty times harder” if the country attempted to block oil shipments through the narrow waterway, which handles roughly one-fifth of global crude supply.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by saying the end of the conflict would be determined by Tehran, not Washington. A spokesperson quoted by state media said Iran would ensure that no oil exports leave the region if the attacks by the United States and Israel continue.

The comments came as large crowds gathered in Iran in support of Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iranian media, suggesting the country’s leadership is seeking to demonstrate domestic backing following the escalation of hostilities.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands wounded since the United States and Israel launched air and missile strikes across Iran at the end of February.

Washington and its allies say the strikes are aimed at crippling Iran’s missile capabilities and nuclear programme. Israel has said its objective is to topple Iran’s clerical leadership, while Trump has said the conflict could end only if Tehran accepts a government compliant with U.S. demands.

Financial markets reacted sharply to the escalating rhetoric. Crude oil prices and global stock markets swung between gains and losses as investors weighed the risk that the conflict could disrupt energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Trump’s comments on social media on Friday came hours after Iran’s president said unnamed countries had begun mediation efforts, briefly raising the possibility of a diplomatic resolution nearly a week after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The fighting has since widened, with Iran responding by targeting Israel as well as Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities.Escalating regional strikes Explosions were heard across Israel on Friday as Israeli air defenses activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia reported additional drone and missile attacks, underscoring the widening regional impact of the conflict.Israel also intensified operations in Lebanon, carrying out heavy air strikes on the capital Beirut after ordering residents to evacuate the city’s southern suburbs, an area considered a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

“We’re sleeping here in the streets some in cars, some on the street, some on the beach,” Jamal Seifeddin, 43, said after fleeing Beirut’s southern districts and spending the night in the city’s downtown area.Attacks inside IranIsrael launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian targets, saying about 50 of its warplanes attacked a bunker it said was still being used by Iran’s leadership beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Early on Saturday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Mehrabad Airport in Tehran had been struck. There was no immediate response from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard or Hezbollah.Iran’s envoy to the United Nations said the war had killed 1,332 Iranian civilians, providing one of the first official casualty figures since hostilities intensified.Lebanon front expandsIsrael’s military campaign has increasingly focused on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, as the country seeks to weaken the Shi’ite militia that has been closely aligned with Tehran and a major force in Lebanese politics since the 1980s.

Hezbollah fired on Israel earlier this week, saying the strikes were in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei, drawing Lebanon more directly into the conflict and raising fears that the war could widen further across the region.Uncertainty remains over whether mediation efforts could gain traction, even as fighting continues across multiple fronts and governments across the Middle East report fresh attacks.