ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 7. President of Kazakhstan Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev has welcomed a statement by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which he announced that the interim leadership council has decided to refrain from carrying out attacks on neighboring countries, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.
Tokayev said he views this decision as an important measure aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East and promoting regional stability.
This escalation followed the 3rd round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, held in Geneva on February 26, 2026. Conducted under the administration of President Donald Trump, the negotiations were perceived as a final opportunity for a diplomatic resolution; however, no agreements were reached.
Two days later, on February 28, the U.S. and Israel initiated a coordinated military campaign targeting Iran's strategic military assets and government leadership. Israel referred to the operation as "Operation Lion's Roar," while the U.S. labeled it "Operation Epic Fury." The attacks affected vast regions of Iran, including major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom.
In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drone strikes on February 28 and the following days, targeting Israeli and U.S. military bases across the region, including facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iraq.
In a significant escalation, military airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States the previous day have reportedly resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several members of his family.
Additionally, several of Iran’s most senior military and security officials were killed in the airstrikes, including Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, Supreme Leader adviser and Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
On March 1-5, the conflict escalated to encompass various countries in the Middle East; Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones, and the U.S. and Israel struck new military targets in Iranian territory.
On March 4, a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine torpedoed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, signaling that the conflict had entered a naval phase.