Iran’s army, navy and air force largely destroyed by US, Trump says

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on Friday that the United States is launching what he described as its largest bombing campaign yet targeting missile launchers and production facilities in Iran.

“Tonight would be our biggest bombing campaign and we will do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles. We are substantially degrading them and our campaign has been overwhelming,” Bessent said.

On the eve of International Women's Day, exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi on Friday paid tribute to women worldwide - especially those in Iran - praising their courage and perseverance while saluting their ongoing fight for freedom, justice and dignity.

"Today the women of Iran continue to demonstrate remarkable courage, awareness and perseverance in their pursuit of freedom, justice and human dignity. Their voices and their steadfast determination inspire not only their fellow compatriots but also awaken the conscience of people across the world," she posted on X.

"I firmly believe that the women and daughters of Iran, as they have throughout history, will play a vital role in shaping a brighter future for our beloved homeland. I hope that the day will soon come when all women in Iran can live in an atmosphere of freedom, equality, security and opportunity, where they may fully realize their talents and contribute to the prosperity and renewal of Iran," Farah Pahlavi added.

According to the report, published Friday, March 5, the targets included the strategic Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, Israel’s embassy in Azerbaijan, a leader of the Jewish religious community and the Ashkenazi synagogue in Baku.

Azerbaijani outlets said the operatives’ ultimate aim was to spread fear and damage the country’s international reputation.

Reports said the group had smuggled three explosive devices into Azerbaijan, which security forces later neutralized.

The report was published one day after an Iranian drone strike on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region left four people wounded. According to official statements from Baku, one drone struck the terminal building of Nakhchivan Airport, while another crashed near a school building in the village of Shakarabad.

Iranian officials denied responsibility for the attack and instead blamed Israel.

Since the current war began, Iran has targeted at least 12 countries in the region, according to the report.

Azerbaijani media further reported that two Iranian citizens, Behnam Sahebali Rostamzadeh and Yaser Rahim Zandekian, established criminal contacts with Azerbaijani citizen Tarkhan Tarlanoglu Guliyev to smuggle an explosive device into the country.

Investigators later discovered a container abandoned on Zandekian’s instructions in Baku’s Sabail district. A search found 7.73 kilograms of C-4 explosive, intended for destroying infrastructure and concrete structures.

Guliyev and another man, Nijat Zamanoglu Aghayev, later retrieved the container and concealed the explosives in a military district of Baku.

Authorities said additional Iranian and Azerbaijani nationals were also identified as participants in the alleged plots.

Following the recent drone strike on Nakhchivan, relations between Baku and Tehran have again grown tense. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry described Iran’s denial of responsibility as “unacceptable” and demanded accountability and an official apology.

President Ilham Aliyev also warned that “the dishonorable individuals who carried out this terrorist act will regret it.”

Security investigators said Iranian nationals linked to Azerbaijani citizens in the case had direct ties to the IRGC, in addition to involvement in drug trafficking networks.

According to Azerbaijani media, an Iranian citizen identified as Sajjad Moghadam Sheikhzadeh had received assignments from the IRGC to prepare assassination plots targeting Jewish residents of Azerbaijan.

Investigators named Ali-Asghar Bardbar Sharamini, a senior IRGC intelligence officer, as the planner and coordinator of the operations. Another Iranian national, Hafez Tavassoli, was said to have coordinated activities on the ground.

Azerbaijani media reported that several Iranian nationals, including Zandekian, Rostamzadeh and Sheikhzadeh, have been placed on international wanted lists for their alleged roles in gathering intelligence and organizing sabotage aimed at destabilizing society and spreading fear.

Several Azerbaijani citizens have also been sentenced to prison in connection with the case.

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran target US warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no indication Moscow was directing how Iran should use the information as US and Israeli strikes continue and Tehran retaliates across the Gulf.

The White House played down the reports, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying it was “clearly not making any difference” because US forces were “completely decimating” Iranian capabilities.

President Donald Trump said in a phone interview with Axios that his demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” might not require a formal declaration from Tehran.

“Unconditional surrender could be that [the Iranians] announce it. But it could also be when they can't fight any longer because they don't have anyone or anything to fight with,” he said.

Trump’s comments offered a clearer definition of US war aims as fighting entered its second week, with Washington maintaining that hostilities will continue until Iran is no longer capable of sustained resistance.