Iran’s ‘potential new leadership’ open to US talks, Trump is ‘eventually’ willing, AP source says

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Edited By BRIDGET BROWN, LORIAN BELANGER, RICARDO BENASSI, and HRVOJE HRANJSKI
Updated 10:26 AM PST, March 1, 2026

A senior White House official says that “new potential leadership” in Iran has suggested they are open to talks with the United States after U.S. and Israeli forces launched a major attack on Iran, killing its supreme leader and other high-ranking officials.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said President Donald Trump says he is “eventually” willing to talk, but for now, the military operation “continues unabated.”

The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known.

What to know: 

• 2,000-pound bombs dropped on Iran missile sites: The U.S. military says B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs. Ballistic missiles have been one of the concerns Trump had raised in the lead up to the attacks on Iran. Trump has claimed that Iran has been building ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S. homeland.
• CIA tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders for months: That’s according to a person familiar with the operation who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity. The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of this weekend’s strikes was adjusted in part because of that information, the person said.
• 3 US service members killed, 5 seriously wounded in Iran operation: The U.S. military said three service members were killed and five others were seriously wounded, without providing further details. It said several others suffered minor injuries and concussions. These are the first known American casualties from the conflict.

UAE closing its embassy in Iran after strikes hit the country

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB

Photo: Credit Business Standard 

The United Arab Emirates has closed its embassy in Iran and announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic mission after strikes from the Islamic Republic hit the country.

The announcement from the Gulf country’s Foreign Ministry comes as Iranian retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. bases in the Mideast have hit the Dubai airport and other civilian buildings, forced the closure of its airspace, and disrupted daily life. Iran maintains that it intends to only strike U.S. military facilities in retaliation for attacks over the country alongside Israel.

“The Foreign Ministry as confirmed that this decision reflects its firm and unwavering position against any aggression that threatens its security and sovereignty,” the statement said, calling the attacks an “aggressive and provocative approach” that threatens regional security.

The Mideast has largely called for a diplomatic settlement between Washington and Tehran before nuclear talks failed to reach a deal. Despite Iran’s attempts of reassurance, they have condemned Tehran for the strikes that have hit all Persian Gulf countries, including Oman which has mediated the failed talks.

Iraqi security forces fire teargas at dozens of protesters supporting Iran 

By KAREEM CHEHAYEB

Photo: Credit The Guardian 

Iraqi security forces have fired teargas at dozens of protesters supporting Iran who are trying to enter the heavily-fortified Green Zone in Baghdad where the U.S. Embassy is located.

Protesters in Iraq earlier marched to mourn the death of Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed Saturday in a series of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes over the Islamic Republic. The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is one of the largest globally.

Iran-backed Iraqi militias have claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. bases in the country in solidarity with Tehran. 

Iran-backed militias in Iraq strike an American base near the Irbil airport

By STELLA MARTANY

Photo: Credit npasyria.com 

Iran-backed militias in Iraq struck an American base near the Irbil airport as retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. bases in the Mideast rattled the region.

The umbrella group, dubbed the Islamic Resistance, said they launched exploding drone attacks in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It soon issued another statement saying it attacked another base with a rocket.

There was no immediate report of casualties.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have vowed to take action in solidarity with Iran in the ongoing conflict.

Iran has retaliated with attacks it says targeted U.S. bases across the region but projectiles and debris have hit civilian buildings, including airports, and largely disrupted daily life.

An Associated Press journalist in the area saw a large plume of smoke and ongoing subsequent explosions after the attack

The Iraqi government for years has tried to maintain a delicate balance having close ties to both Washington and neighboring Tehran.