Two weeks after the United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, the conflict shows no sign of abating.
The joint strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as several other senior Iranian officials, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in tensions between the countries in recent years.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. military bases, and U.S.-allied positions across the region.
"It is not retaliation; it is self-defense, stricto sensu. We are under attack. We are under blatant acts of military aggression on a daily basis, on an hourly basis. Our cities are being bombed by the United States and the Israeli regime. So what we are doing is in exercise of our inherent right of self-defense, which is recognized under Article 51 of the UN Charter," said Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Following the killing of Iran's top leader, Iranian authorities moved quickly to maintain political continuity.
On March 8, Iran's Assembly of Experts announced that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late leader, would succeed his father as the country's new supreme leader.
The transition demonstrates the resilience of Iran's political system despite the ongoing conflict, Baghaei said.
"I think it is very clear to everyone -- to our nation more than anyone else -- that the system works on the basis of a firm constitution. We are a system that has originated from a popular revolution in 1979. So the government, the political system, is based on our identity, our history, and the will of the people," said the spokesman.
The conflict is also taking a toll on civilian infrastructure across the country.
Several civilian locations have been damaged in recent strikes, including a school in southern Iran and a hospital in Tehran.
"This puts a lot of pressure on our dear people. Many civilian locations have been hit, and this is a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which they themselves have formed. The U.S. and Israel have proven that they do not abide by international law and are willing to commit any crime," said Pir Hossein Kolivand, president of Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Humanitarian groups have begun providing aid, including the Red Cross Society of China, which has provided 200,000 U.S. dollars to support families affected by the attacks.
Daily life remains challenging for many Iranians, as continued strikes on key sites, such as Kharg Island, add to economic and security pressures.
Two weeks on, Iran conflict shows no sign of easing
