Translated with AI
On the ninth day of the war between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, mutual actions have significantly increased tensions. Fighting continues at full force and has reportedly already claimed hundreds of lives.
Iran's National Security Council Secretary-General Ali Larijani stated that American soldiers were captured during the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel launched missile strikes on three Iranian oil storage facilities, considered vital resources for the country. Following the attacks, large fires were reported in Tehran.
The US and Israel entered their ninth day of war with Iran. Amid ongoing hostilities, the Iranian leadership's statement became a major news story.
In an interview with Iranian state television, Ali Larijani called US President Donald Trump's military action against Iran "a major strategic mistake on the international level." He said the Washington administration had hoped for a quick response to the military operation in Iran, but these expectations were not met.
Larijani stated that the US had intended to achieve a quick victory and create chaos within the country through assassination attempts on Iran's religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other high-ranking officials. According to the Iranian official, these plans have failed, and Iran's leadership and people remain united in the face of war.
He also stated that since the clashes began, "some American soldiers have been taken prisoner." However, no details were given about the number of captured soldiers or the circumstances of their capture.
Larijani also claimed that the Donald Trump administration had tried to apply the "Venezuelan model" to Iran, but that this strategy had failed. He expressed the view that the US was now "stuck in a quagmire created by its own miscalculations."
According to The New York Times, one week of the war with Iran cost the United States approximately $6 billion. The Pentagon announced this figure to the US Congress.
Of these funds, about $4 billion was reportedly spent on munitions, mainly for Iranian missile interception systems.
Commenting on the situation, US President Donald Trump stated that the American side is making progress.
"We are winning at an unprecedented level and very quickly," he said.
Trump also said the US actions in Iran were "incredible." He said Iranian missiles had been destroyed, drones had been taken out, and factories were still exploding.
He also claimed that the Iranian fleet had been destroyed. Trump claimed that "forty-two ships were destroyed in six days," and, he asserted, the Iranian navy no longer exists.
The US President also stated that Iran's air force is no longer operational and that all elements of the country's army and leadership have been destroyed.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks on Iranian territory. Israeli strikes targeted three oil storage facilities in the country. Following the attacks, large fires were observed in Tehran.
Images of burning oil storage facilities circulated on social media. The flames were reportedly visible from distant parts of the city.
An Iranian Oil Ministry official, who spoke to Fars news agency on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the attacks targeted three oil storage facilities in Tehran and the city of Karij.
The National Iranian Oil Company and the Iranian Refining and Distribution Company reported that fuel stocks at the oil storage facilities targeted in Tehran and Alborz province had been reduced to minimum levels in advance. They also stated that fuel supplies were continuing from other sources.
US and Israeli military attacks on Iranian territory began on February 28, despite ongoing negotiations between Tehran and the Washington administration.
Iran retaliated by striking targets in several neighboring countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, where US military bases are located.
The US and Israeli attacks reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many of the country's top officials.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said 926 people were killed in the US and Israeli attacks.
In addition, the Israeli portal Ynet reported that the United Arab Emirates launched a strike on Iran for the first time.
According to the portal, the strike targeted an Iranian desalination plant. Israel assesses this attack as a signal to Iran. It is reported that if Iranian attacks intensify, there is a possibility that the United Arab Emirates could join the military campaign, even if its participation is limited.
