March 6, 2026 (V7N) – As the US-Israel war with Iran entered its sixth day, President Donald Trump has said he wants to be involved in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader, a statement that is likely to fuel speculation about Washington’s long-term intentions in Tehran.  

In an interview with Axios, Trump dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as “a lightweight.” Mojtaba, 56, has been widely seen as a leading contender to succeed his father, who was killed during the opening wave of US-Israeli strikes. Trump said Washington wants “someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” adding he hoped to be involved in the appointment process “like with Delcy in Venezuela.”  

The conflict has now spread across at least 14 countries. Iran continues to launch missiles and drones against Israel, US bases, and Gulf states, while American and Israeli forces intensify airstrikes on Iranian military facilities and nuclear sites.  

Casualties are mounting: officials report at least 1,230 killed in Iran, more than 100 in Lebanon, around a dozen in Israel, and six US service members. Iran’s retaliation has disrupted oil supplies and international air travel, with neighbouring Arab states reporting repeated interceptions of missiles and drones.  

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US Navy of committing an “atrocity at sea” after the IRIS Dena warship was sunk in the Indian Ocean, killing 87 crew members. Sri Lanka confirmed rescuing 32 sailors. Araghchi warned Washington would “bitterly regret” the incident.  

Meanwhile, senior cleric Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli appeared on state television urging violence against Israel and Trump, a rare direct call from a Shiite religious leader.  

Israel reported fresh missile attacks on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while striking Iranian launch sites. In the UAE, a drone was intercepted near Al Dhafra Air Base, injuring six people from falling debris. Qatar evacuated residents near the US Embassy in Doha after a missile strike, while Saudi Arabia destroyed a drone near its Jordan border.  

Bahrain said an Iranian missile hit a state-run oil refinery, sparking a fire. Azerbaijan accused Iran of drone attacks after one crashed near Nakhchivan airport, injuring four workers, though Tehran denied involvement.  

Shipping routes in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz have been disrupted, pushing oil prices higher. Israel has also issued mass evacuation warnings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, signalling possible large-scale strikes against Hezbollah. UN peacekeepers reported ground clashes near Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon.