Iran mission to Vienna rebukes IAEA chief over nuclear disclosure remarks

Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff said General Ebrahim Jabbari “has no responsibility in the IRGC,” contradicting an earlier report by IRGC-affiliated Fars News that described him as an adviser to the force’s chief commander.

In a statement, the military rejected comments attributed to Jabbari especially in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, saying, “The statements made by Ebrahim Jabbari lack credibility due to insufficient access to information and are denied."

"He currently holds no position in the IRGC and has been retired for some time.”

"The United States cannot gain control over the Strait of Hormuz," Jabbari told Al Jazeera, adding that "the warehouses are full of missiles, drones, and military equipment."

Jabbari has been appearing on Iran's state TV over the past few weeks, threatening the United States and Israel as well as Iran's Arab neighbors.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday described remarks by Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister at an Arab-Islamic meeting as “unfair, one-sided and contrary to a responsible approach” to regional developments.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan warned Thursday that Riyadh's restraint in the face of escalating Iranian attacks “is not unlimited,” adding that military action remains on the table.

He said the “little trust” rebuilt with Iran after the 2023 restoration of diplomatic ties “has been completely shattered,” warning that further attacks could leave “almost nothing” to salvage in the relationship.

Esmail Baghaei said in response that countries hosting US military infrastructure could bear responsibility for the ongoing attacks on Iran, warning that states that assist or facilitate such operations would be regarded as “accomplices” in actions against Iran.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found strong backing for US President Donald Trump’s military campaign on Iran among Republicans, with 77% approving of the strikes, compared with 28% of independents and 6% of Democrats.

At the same time, 37% of Americans overall support the war while 59% oppose it, the survey showed.

The poll also found 65% believe Trump will order a large-scale ground war in Iran, but just 7% support that move, and 55% oppose deploying any ground troops.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there are “many signs” of the Iranian regime’s potential collapse, but stopped short of guaranteeing it.

Netanyahu said Israel is working to create conditions that could lead to such an outcome while acknowledging the regime may still survive.

“There are many indications of the collapse of the Iranian regime. Many,” Netanyahu said at a Thursday press conference. “I wish I could reveal all of them, but I can see they exist.”

“Can I promise right now that the regime will collapse? I cannot,” he added. “I can say that we are trying to create conditions for that to happen, but it may survive and it may not.”

“If it survives, it will be much weaker; there is no comparison,” he said, adding the regime would lose “the death industries it has built over decades” and many of its other capabilities.

He also warned that Iran would face harsher consequences if it attempted to rebuild.

A US F-35 fighter jet flying a combat mission over Iran made an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East, the Pentagon said, with sources telling CNN they suspect the aircraft may have been hit by Iranian fire.

A US Central Command spokesperson confirmed the jet landed safely and the pilot was in “stable condition,” adding the incident remains under investigation.

CNN, citing two sources, reported the aircraft was potentially struck by Iranian fire, which could mark the first such incident since the war began on Feb. 28.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later claimed responsibility for downing an F-35, according to Reuters, but said “the fate of this fighter jet is unknown and is under investigation, and there is a high probability that it crashed.”

Iranian state media released a video that purportedly shows the targeting of the US aircraft.