Iran-linked operative convicted in foiled US assassination plot

President Donald Trump privately expressed serious interest in deploying US troops on the ground inside Iran, focusing on a small contingent for specific strategic purposes rather than a large-scale invasion, according to NBC News sources familiar with his discussions amid the escalating US-Israel war with Iran.

“This story is based on assumptions from anonymous sources who are not part of the President’s national security team and are clearly not read into these discussions,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “President Trump always, wisely keeps all options open, but anyone trying to insinuate he is in favor of one option or another proves they have no real seat at the table.”

President Donald Trump said on Friday at the White House that the United States is performing “very well” in operations against Iran, adding the Iranian military has been largely destroyed and praising the US armed forces’ performance.

“There’s a lot we’re doing — by the way, in Iran, we’re doing very well. Somebody asked how I would score it from zero to 10. I said, I’d give it a 12 to a 15,” Trump said.

“Their army is gone. Their navy is gone. Their communications are gone. Their leaders are gone. Two sets of their leaders are gone — they’re down to their third set. Their Air Force is wiped out entirely. Think of it. They have 32 ships. All 32 are at the bottom of the ocean. Other than that, they’re doing very well. Coach, very well,” he added.

Trump said the operations targeted a “very bad and very sick group of leaders who were killing a lot of people” and recounted the dangers faced by American personnel, including injuries from roadside bombs.

“We had a choice: we could accept that and go on like that for years, or we could do something about it — and we did. People are very impressed with our military,” Trump said, referencing past operations in Venezuela and the recent use of B‑2 bombers to strike Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“I think we’re a country that’s more respected than we’ve ever been respected before,” he said.

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.