Image: from New Straits Times X @NST_Online
OPEN CHRONICLE | “The Truth in Every Detail”
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
TEHRAN — In a significant escalation on the fourth day of active hostilities, joint military operations by the United States and Israel targeted the heart of Iran’s political and religious infrastructure today. Local reports confirm that airstrikes have struck the building housing the Assembly of Experts, the elite body tasked with appointing the next Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim characterized the assault as a strike by “American-Zionist criminals” on the Assembly’s facility in Qom, south of the capital, as well as targets in central Tehran. The Assembly of Experts holds the critical constitutional power to monitor, dismiss, and, most crucially at this juncture, elect the successor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Strikes in the Heart of Power
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement shortly after the explosions were reported, confirming a “large-scale” operation.
“The Air Force has launched a series of high-impact strikes against infrastructure belonging to the Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran,” the military statement read.
Visual evidence circulating on social media and verified by local outlets shows thick plumes of smoke rising near Enghelab Square, a central landmark surrounded by government institutions. While the primary targets were described as state infrastructure, Tasnim reported “significant damage” to residential buildings in the vicinity, sparking concerns over civilian casualties.
🚨JUST IN: Iran is getting absolutely hammered. Israel just bombed Iran's Assembly of Experts building in Tehran mid-session as they tried to pick a new Supreme Leader. Strikes now hitting Beirut too.pic.twitter.com/pilvw878Uv
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 3, 2026
A Nation in Transition
The timing of the strike is particularly sensitive. Iran is currently observing a 40-day mourning period following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the nation since 1989. The targeting of the Assembly of Experts appears to be a strategic move to disrupt the transition of power during a period of unprecedented internal and external pressure.
The current conflict ignited on Saturday when U.S. and Israeli forces launched a preemptive military campaign to “eliminate imminent threats.” Tehran responded swiftly, deploying a barrage of drones and missiles against Israeli targets and American bases across the region.
Strategic Implications
Military analysts suggest that by targeting the Assembly of Experts, the coalition is moving beyond purely military assets to pressure the very core of the Islamic Republic’s ideological and political continuity. As the war enters its fourth day, the international community remains on high alert for further retaliation from Tehran.