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[Video below.] Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran will not accept President Donald Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender,” declaring that the country intends to keep fighting as the conflict continues.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Araghchi said Iran will not back down and will continue defending itself. “We never give up, we never surrender, and we continue to resist as long as it takes,” Araghchi said. “We continue to defend ourselves, and we are defending our territory, our people, and our dignity. And our dignity is not for sale.”

Araghchi also discussed the current structure of Iran’s leadership, explaining that the country is presently being governed by a temporary council while the Assembly of Experts prepares to select a new supreme leader.

“The council of the interim leadership council is now in charge, and they are doing their act in the absence of the leader, while a new supreme leader is going to be elected soon by the assembly of experts,” Araghchi said. “And the president and the cabinet are also in there, are doing their duties. Parliament, everything is in its place.”

When asked about speculation that the Assembly of Experts may have already chosen the next supreme leader — possibly Mojtaba Khamenei — Araghchi said the matter remains undecided and that the official process has not yet taken place.

“Nobody knows. Actually, there are lots of rumors around, but we have to wait for the assembly of experts to convene and vote for the new supreme leader and the one who is elected by them,” he said.

Araghchi also pushed back against the idea that any outside party could play a role in determining Iran’s next leader, after President Trump suggested he should select the country’s future leadership.

“We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs,” Araghchi said. “This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader. They have already elected the assembly of experts, and the assembly of experts would do the job. It is only the business of the Iranian people and nobody else’s business.”

According to Araghchi, Iran believes the war should conclude with a lasting resolution rather than a temporary ceasefire.

“There should be a permanent end of the war,” he said. “Unless we get to that, I think we need to continue fighting for the sake of our people and our security.”

When asked whether Iran would agree to a ceasefire in order to resume negotiations, Araghchi argued that the United States and Israel must first explain what he described as the origin of the conflict.

“Nobody wants to continue this war,” he said. “This is not our war. This is not the war of our choice.”

The foreign minister also addressed Iran’s missile strikes in the region, saying the intended targets were American military sites rather than neighboring countries.

“We are not attacking our neighbors,” Araghchi said. “We are attacking American bases, American installations, American assets, which are unfortunately located in the soils of our neighbors.”

He added that Iran’s president had issued an apology to people in nearby countries for the disruption caused by the conflict.

“Apology in our culture is a sign of dignity and strength,” Araghchi said, adding that the apology was directed to people in the region for “the inconveniences they have faced because of this aggression by the United States and retaliation by us.”

Araghchi was also questioned about reports suggesting Russia has assisted Iran in locating American forces.

“We have a strategic partnership with Russia,” he said. “Military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not something new. It’s not a secret. It has been in the past and is still there and will continue in the future.”

When pressed on whether Moscow has been sharing intelligence with Tehran, Araghchi declined to give specifics.

“They are helping us in many different directions. I don’t have any detailed information.”

Araghchi also rejected claims that Iran was responsible for a strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that reportedly killed more than 170 people.

“It is our school. These are our students, our girls, and they are attacked by an American fighter, a jet fighter, and they have been killed,” he said. “Why Iran is responsible? Have we started this war? Have we attacked our own people?”

Responding to questions about the possibility of U.S. ground forces entering Iran, Araghchi said Iranian troops are prepared to defend the country.

“For the time being, we are capable enough,” he said. “We have very brave soldiers who are waiting for any enemy who enter into our soil to fight with them.”

Araghchi also dismissed claims that Iran is developing missiles capable of striking the United States, saying the country has intentionally limited the range of its missile program.

“We have intentionally limited ourselves to below 2,000 kilometers of range because we don’t want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Lynette Pino watched in February as news about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie seemed endless. But she decided she didn’t want to get consumed by it. Pino has something in common with NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie’s family: Her son, Darian Nevayaktewa, remains missing, too, nearly 18 years after leaving home before a new school year to see his […]

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently attended Friday prayers at a Queens mosque affiliated with the Al-Khoei Foundation, an institution whose website prominently features a message mourning the death of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Mamdani described the visit in a Facebook post reflecting on Ramadan gatherings he attended across the city. “As […]

According to reports, a bomb threat prompted the evacuation of parts of Kansas City International Airport, with an ongoing ground stop in place as police and bomb-sniffing dogs search the concourses and terminals. Airport officials say police are working with the FBI to assess and substantiate any potential threat.

The IDF announced Sunday that the Israeli Air Force carried out a strike in Tehran a day earlier that killed Abu al-Qassem Baba’iyan, a senior Iranian military figure closely tied to the country’s leadership. The operation was conducted based on precise intelligence gathered by the IDF Intelligence Directorate.

According to the IDF, Baba’iyan served as the Head of the Military Office of the Supreme Leader and as Chief of Staff of the emergency command at Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters.

Israeli officials said Baba’iyan played a key role in coordinating the activities of various military bodies within the Iranian regime responsible for planning and carrying out operations against the State of Israel, as well as overseeing emergency military responses.

The IDF said Baba’iyan had recently been appointed as the designated chief of staff for the Supreme Leader’s military office following the launch of Operation “Roaring Lion.” During the opening phase of that operation, Mohammad Shirazi, who had served as military chief of staff to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed.

Baba’iyan had also been named Chief of Staff of the emergency Headquarters after his predecessor, Ali Shadmani, was killed during Operation Rising Lion. In that role, he maintained close working relationships with senior Iranian military commanders and political leaders.

His death, the IDF said, is part of a broader series of targeted eliminations of senior figures within the Iranian regime since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, a campaign Israeli officials say has significantly weakened Iran’s leadership responsible for directing military operations.

{Matzav.com}

Footage released by the Saudi Ministry of Defense shows Saudi forces intercepting Iranian drones launched toward Saudi Arabia.

President of Argentina, Javier Milei, is seen visiting the Ohel today.

Authorities in Azerbaijan said Friday they had thwarted a series of Iranian-backed terror plots targeting Jewish and Israeli sites in the capital, including the Embassy of Israel in Baku, a shul, and prominent Jewish community figures. In a video statement, Azerbaijan’s State Security Service of Azerbaijan said it had “prevented terrorist acts and intelligence operations” […]

A man in his 40s was seriously wounded in Tel Aviv after debris from an interceptor missile fell near a gas station during the latest round of attacks. Security camera footage documented the moment the debris struck the area.

Magen David Adom medics arrived quickly and administered emergency treatment at the scene before transporting the injured man to the emergency department at Ichilov Hospital. He sustained a neck injury and was admitted to the trauma room for continued treatment.

תיעוד הנפילה בתל אביב pic.twitter.com/AzMhMWH3Kb

— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) March 8, 2026

At the same time, MDA crews were responding to several other incidents across central Israel. In total, six additional people were treated for injuries in different locations. In Petah Tikva, two individuals were among the wounded: a man in his mid-20s who was moderately injured and a 56-year-old man who suffered light injuries.

Officials said the attack involved a fragmentation missile. Fire and Rescue Services reported that in one location in central Israel, a building apparently collapsed after being struck by shrapnel from the blast.

During the same round of sirens, a separate traffic accident occurred on Route 5 near the Barkan Interchange when a truck collided with a private vehicle. MDA paramedics treated the injured at the scene before transporting two victims to Beilinson Hospital. The driver of the car, a man about 40 years old, was reported in serious condition with multiple-system injuries but remained conscious. Another person sustained light injuries.

Senior MDA medic Yehezkel Goldreich, one of the first responders to arrive at the impact site in central Israel, described what he encountered when he reached the scene:

“I was in a park near the impact when the sirens sounded. Shortly afterward there was a loud explosion. I saw thick smoke rising from the area and rushed to scan the scene. I found frightened people lying on the grass, including a man in his 40s who had suffered a severe shrapnel injury. I provided him with initial medical care on site, and together with additional MDA teams we evacuated him to the hospital, where his condition was classified as serious.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Israel have discussed the possibility of sending special forces into Iran to secure the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium at a later phase of the war, according to four sources familiar with the deliberations.

Stopping Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon has been identified by President Donald Trump as a central objective of the conflict. A major factor in that effort is Iran’s estimated 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity — material that experts say could be further refined to weapons-grade levels within a matter of weeks.

Any attempt to take control of that material would likely involve American or Israeli personnel operating inside Iran, potentially in heavily fortified underground facilities, and doing so while the conflict is ongoing.

It has not yet been determined whether such an operation would be carried out by U.S. forces, Israeli units, or a combined mission involving both countries.

Officials familiar with the discussions say any such move would likely only be considered once both governments determine that Iran’s military is no longer capable of posing a serious threat to the forces involved in the operation.

During a congressional briefing on Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium and whether it would be secured. “People are going to have to go and get it,” he said, without specifying who.

One Israeli defense official said President Trump and his advisers are seriously weighing the possibility of deploying special operations forces inside Iran for targeted missions.

According to a U.S. official, the administration has examined two primary approaches: removing the uranium stockpile from Iran altogether, or sending nuclear experts to the site to dilute the material where it is stored.

Such an operation would likely involve a combination of special operations personnel and scientific experts, possibly including specialists from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Two individuals familiar with the matter said plans for such missions were among several military options presented to Trump before the war began.

NBC News reported Friday that Trump has discussed the possibility of sending a limited number of U.S. troops into Iran for narrowly defined strategic purposes.

Semafor similarly reported that the president’s list of potential responses includes Special Operations raids targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

One U.S. official described the complexity of the challenge involved in securing Iran’s uranium stockpile. “The first question is, where is it? The second question is, how do we get to it and how do we get physical control?”

“And then, it would be a decision of the president and the Department of War, CIA, as to whether we wanted to physically transport it or dilute it on premises.”

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, President Trump acknowledged that the use of ground troops remained a possibility — but only under specific circumstances.

“If we ever did that, [the Iranians] would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight on the ground level,” he said.

When asked directly whether troops could eventually be deployed to secure nuclear material, Trump did not dismiss the possibility. “At some point maybe we will. We haven’t gone after it. We wouldn’t do it now. Maybe we will do it later.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that Trump “wisely keeps all options available to him open, and does not rule things out.”

In addition to the uranium stockpile, administration officials have also discussed the possibility of taking control of Kharg Island, a key oil terminal responsible for roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports.

The current location of Iran’s uranium stockpile has also been affected by earlier military action. U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June buried much of the material under debris, according to American and Israeli officials, leaving the Iranians themselves unable to reach it.

Those same strikes also destroyed nearly all of Iran’s centrifuges, and officials say there is no evidence that uranium enrichment has resumed since then.

U.S. and Israeli officials believe that most of the remaining uranium stockpile is located in underground tunnel systems at the nuclear facility in Isfahan, with smaller portions stored at Fordow and Natanz.

In the opening days of the war, American and Israeli forces launched strikes on the Natanz and Isfahan facilities that appeared designed to seal the entrances, likely in an effort to prevent the material from being moved.

Officials from both countries view Iran’s 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent as a major threat, given that only a short amount of time would be required to increase the enrichment level to weapons-grade.

If the entire supply were enriched to 90 percent purity, experts say it could produce enough fissile material for approximately eleven nuclear weapons.

One senior U.S. official emphasized that talk of deploying troops does not necessarily mean a large-scale ground invasion.

“Boots on the ground for Trump is not the same as what it means for the media,” a senior U.S. official said.

“Small special ops raids — not a big force going in,” another source added.

“What has been discussed hasn’t been thought of in terms of boots on the ground,” a third source said. “People think Fallujah. That’s not what has been discussed.”

{Matzav.com}

Cuban officials said they expect to restart a large thermoelectric plant on Saturday after it shut down earlier in the week, sparking a massive blackout. Felix Estrada Rodríguez, a top engineer at Cuba’s Electric Union, told state-owned Canal Caribe that the Antonio Guiteras plant should be operating by Saturday afternoon. Crews have repaired a broken […]

Footage from Khorramabad, Iran, shows the aftermath of reported U.S.–Israeli airstrikes, which according to local reports targeted a Basij base in the area.

Footage from ongoing interceptions over central Israel as air defense systems intercept ballistic missiles launched from Iran.

The IDF says it eliminated a Hezbollah terrorist cell in southern Lebanon, adding that weapons, communication equipment, and ammunition were discovered in the compound where the terrorists were based.

Footage shows the aftermath of an Iranian missile interception over southern Israel a few minutes ago by Israeli air defense systems.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Munish Weintraub zt”l, one of the ziknei Chasidei Gur in the United States, a respected talmid chochom whose life was devoted to Torah, chesed, and service to Klal Yisroel.

Rav Weintraub was born in Lisabek, Poland, to his father, Rav Aharon Yehuda zt”l, who served as the Rav of the city, and to his mother, Rebbetzin Leah Tesha a”h, who came from a distinguished rabbinic family in Poland. His father was a musmach of the Warsaw Mesivta and was known for his close relationship with the Gerrer Rebbes.

While still a young child, the family relocated to Eretz Yisroel, where Harav Aharon Yehuda assumed the position of Rav of Kiryas Yosef, today part of the greater Bnei Brak area. During those years, he developed a close and lasting relationship with the Chazon Ish zt”l and the Ponevezher Rov zt”l.

In the late 1940s, Rav Aharon Yehuda moved with his family to Boro Park. There he partnered with Rav Akiva Zilberberg zt”l in founding the renowned Gur yeshiva, Yeshiva Yagdil Torah, which grew into a prominent makom Torah. Rav Aharon Yehuda served as the Nasi of the institution for many years.

As a young bochur, Rav Munish studied at the well-known Yeshiva Ohr Yisroel in Petach Tikvah. After arriving in the United States, he continued his learning at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. In later years he became actively involved with the Ezras Torah organization under the leadership of Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin zt”l.

Through that connection, he merited to assist Rav Henkin in numerous complicated halachic matters, particularly in areas of Even Ha’ezer. Following Rav Henkin’s guidance, he also assisted the Agudas Harabonim in addressing these delicate inyonim under the direction of Gedolei Yisroel, including Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and Rav Chaim Tzvi Krieger zt”l.

Rav Munish married his Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Rochel, daughter of the distinguished Yerushalmi tzaddik, Rav Yisroel Shimon Kastelanitz zt”l of Slonim. Together they built a home in Boro Park that was known as a center of Torah, chesed, and hachnasas orchim.

Rav Weintraub also played an important role in supporting and guiding the Diskin Orphanage, working to strengthen and assist yesomim and almanos in the spirit of Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin zt”l.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Rebbetzin Rochel Weintraub; his son, R’ Yaakov Weintraub of Lakewood; his daughters, Mrs. Batsheva Garber of Boro Park, Mrs. Chavi Goldberg of Boro Park, and Mrs. Sima Zaks of Monsey; his sisters, Mrs. Chava Pechter, Mrs. Hadassa Hoffman, and Mrs. Tzipa Billig; along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren who continue in his path of Torah and chesed.

The levaya will take place Sunday at 1:30 PM at the Lakewood Chapel, followed by kevurah at the Lakewood Bais Hachaim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Israel is boosting security for its citizens and diplomatic missions around the world amid growing concerns about Iranian-backed attacks amid the U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran. The Shin Bet and Israeli Foreign Ministry say they have increased the operational readiness of security teams protecting Israeli targets abroad in response to what officials described as “concrete […]

Lindsey Graham on Iran: So how does this end? It ends with victory. Donald J. Trump is going to bring this regime down.

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog seen outside the home of Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira shlit”a, following a private meeting. Details from the encounter have not yet been revealed.

Footage from Iran shows the aftermath of a reported strike on a fuel storage depot near Qeshm Airport a short time ago, according to local reports.