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CNN Saturday Morning The Situation Room. U.S. and Israeli Militaries Strike Targets in Iran; Iranian Foreign Minister Says Most of Iranian Leadership Survived Targeted Attacks from Israel; President Trump Calls on Iranian People to Overthrow Regime after U.S. and Israeli Air Strikes End; Iran Launches Drones Attacks at Israel and at American Bases across Middle East; Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) Interviewed on Need for Congress to Vote on Constitutionality of U.S. War with Iran. Aired 10-11a ET.

Aired February 28, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[10:00:38]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: Happening now, breaking news, lay down your arms or face certain death -- words from President Trump issuing a very deadly new warning for Iran's military after launching a massive new military campaign in the country. The United States and Israel both slamming Iran with airstrikes overnight, aimed at destroying it's nuclear program, among other targets.

And Tehran isn't wasting time in its response, striking back at Israel as well as several U.S. targets and other countries in the Middle East. CNN has full coverage from across the region as these attacks are continuing.

We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: And we start the hour with the breaking news. We're following this massive and ongoing military campaign happening right now in Iran. The U.S. and Israel launching coordinated strikes across the country. President Trump telling the Iranian people they may never get a better chance to overthrow their own government.

And Iran retaliating with strikes of its own all across the region. Dramatic video just into CNN out of Bahrain, for example, a Shahed drone making impact near where an earlier strike had hit a U.S. Navy base. Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navy's fifth fleet. This allows a wave of Israeli and U.S. attacks -- this follows a wave of U.S. and Israeli attacks on hundreds of targets across Iran.

The Israeli military releasing this video of what it says is a drone strike on missile launches in western Iran. In Iran's capital of Tehran, scenes of destruction and chaos. Take a look at this. We're told this is the square where the former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is known to live. One local governor reporting at least 63 students were killed in the strike that hit a girls' school in southern Iran. CNN has not independently verified that story. Sources saying this is just the beginning, though, with several days of attacks planned.

And a look at a satellite image right now. Smoke billowing from the compound of Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Sources saying the Israeli strikes targeted several senior Iranian officials. But Iran's foreign minister, foreign affairs minister says almost all are alive and safe.

Explosions have also been heard in several other Iranian cities. The full scale of the damage unknown at this hour.

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(SIRENS)

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BLITZER: Those are the sirens going off in Israel. Iran retaliating with a large-scale drone attack against Israel and launching missiles at U.S. targets in other Middle Eastern countries as well. Images from Qatar's capital Doha showing a missile fragment falling to the ground and exploding. U.S. embassies across the Middle East now calling on Americans to shelter in place.

President Trump announcing the strikes in an eight-minute video overnight, claiming that Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program, warning that Americans could be killed amid this operation, and openly calling for regime change. Watch part of his speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENT: A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted "Death to America" and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops, and the innocent people in many, many countries.

[10:05:00]

Among the regime's very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran's proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel. In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime's proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes. It's been mass terror, and we're not going to put up with it any longer.

My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we're doing this not for now. We're doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission.

We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm's way, and we trust that with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death. So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly, with total immunity, or you will face certain death.

Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years you have asked for America's help, but you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: And joining us now, CNN's senior military analyst, a retired U.S. admiral, James Stavridis. He served as the NATO supreme allied commander, is now a partner at the Carlyle Group, an international investment firm. Admiral, thanks so much for joining us. Just hours before the U.S. and Israel launched these coordinated strikes on Iran, Oman's foreign minister said a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran talks had brought a peace deal, and I'm quoting him now, "within our reach." What do you think convinced the U.S. and Israel to strike a deal now?

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: I'll answer that question in one moment. But first, wherever you are waking up in the United States of America, please say a prayer for our troops going into combat. All of them are taking great risks. And in particular think of USS Ford, the aircraft carrier now in its eighth month of deployment. They won't get home before a year. Think of what you were doing back in June of last year. They missed it all. They're in the middle of a war. Think of our troops as they go into combat.

Well, I think the answer to the question why now, is the administration made what it felt was a good faith effort to negotiate. Perhaps there was indications that Iran might slowly, gradually move. But I think at the end of the day, the president evidently made the assessment that Iran was simply going to try and prolong these negotiations. I'm sure he consulted with Israel, looked at the weakness of Iran in this particular moment. And above all, you can really hear it, the emotion in his voice talking about the protesters. I think the president felt, and he clearly indicated in his speech, if we're going to come in and do something, now is the time.

[10:10:07]

BLITZER: Iran immediately, very quickly retaliated, as you know, admiral, with strikes on various U.S. military bases and U.S. troops across the Middle East and several Arab countries. I'm talking about the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and even now outside of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Are you concerned that what's happening right now could escalate into a much wider war?

STAVRIDIS: Of course. And I think Iran really has two options at this point. They had three. They could have come back to the administration with a serious offer indicating they would completely give up their nuclear program. Now they're down to two. One is they can launch about the level of strikes you're seeing now, which are significant, but I wouldn't call them the full extent of what they could do. And then they could try and hunker down.

Option two, if they truly believe they're at the end of the string, they could go big, and that would mean closing the Strait of Hormuz, conducting terrorist attacks maybe against American diplomats, businessmen, citizens in the region and elsewhere. They could unleash what's left of their proxies, notably the Houthis, who could try to shut down shipping again through the Suez Canal. So they have a lot of cards still to play.

A final thought here. You know, the ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu always, Wolf, as you know, talked about manipulating your enemy and trying to find a way out of the conflict without actually fighting. Sun Tzu also said, when on death ground, fight. I think the Iranian leadership may feel they are on death ground. I look for them to go big.

BLITZER: Admiral James Stavridis, as usual, thank you very much for joining us.

STAVRIDIS: You bet.

BLITZER: And our live coverage will continue straight ahead with Israel's role in this major new military campaign that threatens to engulf the Middle East in war, much of the Middle East. But does Israel have the same goals as the U.S.? We're live in Tel Aviv, just ahead.

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[10:15:56]

BLITZER: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage here in THE SITUATION ROOM. The U.S. and Israel striking Iran, Iran retaliating on U.S. targets in countries across the Middle East. President Trump says the military campaign is, quote, "massive and ongoing." And just minutes ago we heard from Iran's foreign minister, who said the country's leaders, who were reportedly targeted by the U.S. and Israel, are safe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Almost all officials are safe and sound and alive. We may have lost one or two commanders, but that is not a big problem. And, you know, we are actually managing it. My colleagues in the Persian Gulf, and I explained for them that, you know, we have no intention to attack them, but we are actually attacking the American bases in the in the act of self-defense.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: CNN's chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto is joining us on the phone right now. Jim, I understand you have some new reporting about Israel's early assessment of the strikes. What can you tell us?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right Wolf, and it is quite different from what you just heard there from the Iranian side. This is new reporting along with my colleagues Tal Shalev and Jeremy Diamond, and that is that there is optimism growing in Israel about the opening salvo of strikes targeting Iranian leaders.

To be clear, there is no confirmation yet as to whether those strikes killed leaders, including the country's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. However, one of the sources we spoke to said the strikes were carried out during daylight hours because Israel believed that the ayatollah would feel less vulnerable during those hours.

Now, CNN previously reported that among the targets were not just Khamenei, but also the military chief of staff and Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian. This shows, Wolf, just the true ambitions, the scale and the ambitions of this strike with both Israeli forces and U.S. forces taking part. Again, no confirmation that those senior leaders were killed, but an early assessment is at least giving Israeli officials optimism that they have eliminated some of those senior leaders. And it's something that we'll continue to monitor very closely.

But it also then gets, Wolf, to answer some of the broader questions as to what the strategic goals of this strike were. And it's perhaps possible that there's some daylight between Israel's strategic goals and the U.S. strategic goals, because President Trump has not said explicitly that regime change was the target, or that eliminating senior leaders were the target. But you did hear him encourage the Iranian people to rise up against their government.

[10:14:54]

I reported earlier that as far as the military scale of the strikes from the U.S. side, that the U.S. has forces in place and has plans in place for a multi wave operation, a series of waves of strikes, each wave lasting perhaps a day or two, 36 to 48 hours, with pauses in between to assess the targets that have been hit, battle damage assessment, as they call it, and also provide at least the potential for offramps. But again, that speaks to just how big this is, because you and I and others have talked about going into this the possibility that President Trump preferred a one-off operation, small series of strikes. But as you look at what Israeli goals were here and the scale of the U.S., the U.S. war planning that this is -- we should prepare ourselves for a multi-day operation.

BLITZER: Jim Sciutto, excellent reporting, as usual. Thank you very, very much.

Israel is on high alert right now, bracing for more retaliation from Iran and as this joint U.S.-Israeli military operation was being carried out against Iran.

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(SIRENS)

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BLITZER: Some of the sirens and explosions that have been heard across Israel as Iran launches several waves of retaliatory missiles toward the country. The Iranian military also says it has now launched its first large scale drone attack on Israel.

I want to go live to CNN's Jeremy Diamond who is on the scene for us in Tel Aviv. Jeremy, what's the situation in Israel? You're in Tel Aviv. I assume you heard those sirens going off.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we certainly did, Wolf. And we actually saw one of those interceptions that took place in the skies above Tel Aviv. At least one interception took place right behind me in the sky above here. And over the course of the last couple of hours, it's really been every, you know, 15 minutes to a half hour there has been, you know, one siren after the next. We just learned that a 17-year-old young man was injured somewhere in Israel. They didn't specify where, but they said that he had moderate injuries with injuries to his lower legs.

In addition to that, Wolf, I'm now getting new information about the extent of these Israeli strikes inside of Iran. One of the key elements that we've been focusing on, in addition to the fact that Israel and the United States targeted Iranian military sites, their ballistic missile program, their nuclear sites, we know that Israel specifically also carried out strikes on senior Iranian officials including the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And I'm now told by an Israeli military official that the Israeli military targeted three sites where gatherings of the Iranian regime were taking place, and those three sites, I'm told, by this Israeli military official, were struck simultaneously. They say that several figures, quote, essential to the management of the campaign and the regime's governance were eliminated. They are not yet naming who those figures are, but that builds upon

the reporting that you just heard from Jim, that's coming from me and my colleague Tal Shalev as well, that Israeli officials have been feeling very optimistic about the success, the likelihood of success of these strikes that were targeting senior Iranian regime officials.

And now we have the Israeli -- an Israeli military official saying that this was a result of strikes on three simultaneous gatherings of Iranian regime officials, and they are saying now that some of those senior figures were indeed eliminated. We are still waiting for confirmation of the exact nature of which officials they are. I've been hearing names, of course, from sources that I've been talking to today, Wolf, but we want to be extraordinarily cautious, given the magnitude, the repercussions of a strike that could potentially have eliminated the supreme leader, the defense minister, the head of the Iranian revolutionary guard corps, as well as Iran's president. These have all been names that have been floating as targets of this Israeli operation. That will have massive ramifications.

But of course, as you know, Wolf, Iran has many layers of successors for the supreme leader, for example. And we know that the supreme leader in recent weeks and months has been planning multiple layers of succession should he be killed in a strike such as this.

BLITZER: Jeremy Diamond on the scene for us in Tel Aviv, as I tell you all the time, Jeremy, just stay safe over there. We'll be in touch. Thank you very, very much.

Up next, what will this ongoing operation and Iran's response mean for U.S. forces in the Middle East? We're going to get reaction from a key congressman, Seth Moulton, the Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, when our live special coverage continues right after this.

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[10:29:31]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: We're following the major breaking news out of the Middle East. The United States and Israel launching a coordinated, very massive attack against Iran. Now Tehran is retaliating. And a word of caution, the images we're about to show you are disturbing.

Iranian state media is reporting that this is a girls' school hit by a strike in southern Iran. According to a regional governor, at least 63 students were killed, 92 injured, with more trapped under the rubble. CNN has not independently verified that report.

[10:30:05]

In the capital, Tehran, a satellite image shows black smoke billowing from the compound of Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But Iran's foreign minister is telling NBC News that Khamenei is alive as far as he knows. President Trump announced the mission overnight in a video that he

posted on social media. He's urging the Iranian people, once the dust settles, to take over their government. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENT: To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished. Take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Iran is responding with drone and missile attacks on Israel, as well as several Arab countries throughout the Middle East where the U.S. has bases. The president warning that American lives could be lost in this operation.

Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts is joining us right now. He's a key member of the House Armed Services Committee, previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including multiple tours in Iraq. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

What's your reaction, first of all, to the news from President Trump overnight that the U.S. and Israel have bombed Iran in a joint operation? What do you think of his also, his statement that American lives potentially could be lost?

REP. SETH MOULTON, (D-MA): This sounds an awful lot like it could be Iraq War 2.0. I mean the Iraq War was based foundationally on two problems -- one, a lie about nuclear weapons, and two, no plan whatsoever for what comes next. It's very hard to look at what's going on in Iran right now where Trump clearly lied about obliterating their nuclear weapons program just months ago, and clearly has no plan for what comes next and not see Iraq War written all over this.

BLITZER: Do you have confidence in President Trumps assessment that Iran has been building missiles that potentially could soon reach the American homeland?

MOULTON: No, we have not been briefed on that in Congress. Does Iran have a lot of missiles that can reach the Middle East, including our troops there and our allies? Yes, it does. It's had tens of thousands of missiles for a long time. But it seems like what the president is talking about most is getting a diplomatic deal that prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Well, he had that deal. He had that deal from the Obama administration that prevented Iran from ever developing a nuclear weapon, and he tore it up.

And not only did he tear up that diplomatic deal, he stopped all the inspections, the cameras, the inspectors who were keeping an eye on what Iran was doing, so that if they ever tried to break that promise, we would know. Well, none of that is there today because of Donald Trump's first term. And now he's putting American lives at risk to undo his diplomatic mistake.

BLITZER: I know, Congressman, you believe that President Trump shouldn't have attacked Iran without formal official approval from Congress under the War Powers Act. Is there any talk right now from House leaders and others about Congress returning to take a vote on a war powers resolution?

MOULTON: Not under the completely feckless Mike Johnson. I think he will go down as the weakest speaker in American history. And he's not talking about calling us back at all. There are members of Congress, including a few Republicans, who are pushing to have a vote on a war powers resolution later next week. But of course, that's a week late. We should be authorizing this. The president didn't even try to explain that this was just a limited strike. He said outright, this is war, this is major -- these are major combat operations. And under the Constitution, that means Congress must vote on whether or not we send American troops to war.

It seems that the only person that Trump cares about getting permission from is Benjamin Netanyahu. He hasn't asked the American people. He hasn't asked the U.S. Congress. He just got the go ahead from Benjamin Netanyahu, and now we're at war.

BLITZER: Joint military operation, the U.S. and Israel.

CNN is reporting, Congressman, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was able to brief seven members of what's called the Gang of Eight, the top leadership of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, top leadership of Congress just ahead of the attack. Is there any discussion of a briefing from Rubio or any other Trump administration official on the attacks against Iran, for a broader group of lawmakers, including you, for example, at this point?

MOULTON: Not that I have heard yet. And just to be clear, Gang of Eight briefings are required before any military action. They refused to do that before the more limited military action in Venezuela, for example.

[10:35:05]

But if we go to war, there not only need to be briefings, there needs to be a vote. And I haven't heard talk about that happening. There's no pressure from Republican leadership for that to happen. And there needs to be. I mean, you know, for all the tragedies of the Iraq War, at least George W. Bush did come to Congress and ask for a vote. Unfortunately, too many people in Congress at the time believed the administration's lies about weapons of mass destruction, and they voted to authorize that war. And hundreds of thousands are dead as a result.

But at least they had a vote. We haven't even had a vote or a debate about this Iran war whatsoever.

BLITZER: Before your time in Congress, as I pointed out, you served in the U.S. military in the Marine Corps. Do you have any concerns that President Trump could be repeating some of those very same mistakes that you saw that the U.S. made during the war in Iraq and later in Afghanistan?

MOULTON: I mean, so many mistakes. There's no plan for the day after. There's no strategy underlying what we're doing. He can't even clearly articulate to the American people, and therefore to our troops, exactly what objective they're trying to achieve.

But the most fundamental mistake is that you have to believe the truth. If you're being asked to risk your life for your country, the one thing you absolutely need is to believe that your commanders are telling the truth. It's very hard to imagine being a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine in the Middle East today and to actually believe that Trump is telling the truth. There have been so many lies leading up to this, most of all, the idea that he obliterated the nuclear program just months ago was clearly a lie. And so the troops have to be asking today, can we trust our leaders? Can we trust our commander in chief? Do I really know what I might die for in the days ahead?

BLITZER: Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, thanks very much for joining us.

MOULTON: Good to see you, Wolf

BLITZER: Just ahead, months of moving assets, high stakes talks, and threats from President Trump all coming to a head right now. The massive effort behind these ongoing attacks on Iran, we have new information. We'll be right back.

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[10:41:54]

BLITZER: The major breaking news we're following this morning. The United States and Israel launching a massive military campaign against Iran. Waves of attacks all across the country, and Iran is right now retaliating with strikes of its own. The Israeli military says this is the result of months of, quote, "close and joint planning" by the U.S. and Israel. And we're getting new details about how this operation came together.

CNN's senior national security reporter Zach Cohen is here with me in THE SITUATION ROOM. He's got the details. What are you learning, Zach?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Wolf, this operation was initiated when it was daylight outside in Iran, which is really notable for a few reasons, one being we're told by sources that that choice is made in part because of high level of confidence in being able to target Iranian leadership. We know that was what the Israeli part of this operation was really focused on, conducting strikes against key figures within the Iranian government, potentially even the supreme leader himself. And for the U.S. side. I'm told that the targets that really focused on what they're calling high level targets. And those are things like IRGC facilities and capabilities, naval facilities, and underground facilities that are likely linked to Iran's nuclear program. That was really what the first wave of what were told is going to be likely an extended campaign, coordinated campaign launched by the U.S. and Israel against a wide array of targets.

BLITZER: So this operation could go on for, what, days maybe even weeks?

COHEN: That's the expectation at this stage, Wolf. We're told that the military has been planning and the Israeli forces have also been planning to really carry out strikes over the course of several days, potentially. And our colleague Jim Sciutto reporting that those waves will happen in one to two day increments. There will be a pause to sort of assess the damage, maybe offer an offramp of some kind, and then those attacks will resume. So it does seem like there is going to be a steady tempo to these strikes. And they do seem to be lasting more than one day.

BLITZER: They seem to be getting along pretty strongly, the U.S. and Israel, for these coordinated attacks. I guess there's a lot of planning that goes on, joint planning between these two countries?

COHEN: This was clearly closely coordinated between the U.S. and Israelis. Israel saying that this was the result of months of planning with the two sides. Obviously, the decision was made to launch this operation early Saturday morning. And I'm told, too, that the scope and scale of this operation really is something that has surprised a lot of people, including some lawmakers in Congress. The goals outlined by the president in that eight-minute video really going well beyond even what the biggest expectation was for an operation like this.

BLITZER: You know, I know there was a lot of concern that some of the Iranian proxy groups, like Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas for that matter, or the Houthis in Yemen, could join the Iranians and retaliate. I haven't seen much of that yet. Have you?

COHEN: No I haven't, but that was a big concern leading up to this operation. That's something that I know the president has been briefed on regularly by his top military advisers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Kaine, who we're told is monitoring the situation with the president at Mar-a-Lago.

BLITZER: At Mar-a-Lago, that's where the president is spending the weekend. All right, thanks very much. Zach Cohen reporting for us.

[10:45:00]

Coming up, the potential impact of this military operation on the regime in Tehran and on the Iranian people. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has done extensive reporting from inside Iran. He was just there. We're going to get his perspective. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now responding to the U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran and Iran's retaliation. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) [10:50:05]

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: As part of our commitment to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region which we've recently strengthened. Our forces are active, and British planes are in the sky today as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests, and our allies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Also new this morning, reaction coming in from the Kremlin. Russia's foreign ministry calling the joint strikes on Iran a reckless step and a, quote, "deliberate, premeditated, and unprovoked act of armed aggression," end quote.

Let's go live right now to our international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen. Fred, you spent a lot of time recently in Iran reporting live from Tehran. Despite that condemnation from Russia, Iran right now at least appears to be largely on its own. What do we know about Iran's strategy or plan forward right now?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly the Iranians seem to be in a better place than they were at the last conflict in June when that one kicked off. You remember large parts of Iran's military leadership was wiped out in the early hours of that conflict. Also, a lot of their nuclear scientists as well, and some political figures.

And right now, of course, we're not certain about the status of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whether or not he's alive. We heard the foreign minister of Iran a couple of minutes ago saying that he believes that he is still alive.

But of course, as we know, the Iranians have had a plan of succession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for a very long time, and also as far as their military is concerned they also have a very deep bench as far as their top military commanders are concerned, and certainly are able to conduct military operations even if the top echelon of their military were to be killed or wounded.

And one of the things that we've seen this time around, Wolf, is that the Iranians were very quick to retaliate against these strikes by the United States and Israel earlier today, obviously launching missiles at Israel, but then also launching a lot of ballistic missiles as well as drones at U.S. bases in the broader Middle Eastern region, specifically, of course, the Gulf regions, where we saw those strikes in Bahrain. We've seen some of the videos that we've seen from Dubai, from Qatar, and from Abu Dhabi where the Iranian missile strikes have been going on and continue to go on. So the Iranians clearly more prepared this time than they were last time.

One other thing that's really important to point out, Wolf, I think, is that the Iranians also are trying to project that they are in control of the situation. I've been looking at some of the statements coming out from the interior ministry and some of the local politicians there as well, saying that banks still have money, you can still get money, that there's still gasoline for people who want to leave larger centers like Tehran. There will be mobile gas stations to help keep them supplied with fuel, and also that markets are going to have food available as well for people and will be working.

So everything that the Iranian leadership is trying to project right now is that despite all of this, despite the fact that, of course, there were apparently some in the leadership that have been eliminated, possibly in U.S. or Israeli strikes, that everything is still functioning as normal, and that they are still very much in control of the situation, and of course, also Wolf, that they are in the middle of striking back and can escalate that as well, Wolf.

BLITZER: Fred, do you have any sense at all of how Iranians themselves are viewing all of this, following the rather violent crackdown on protesters in Iran, that we all saw thousands of them were killed by the regime? Do they want regime change even at this cost?

PLEITGEN: Well, there might be some that do. And there certainly were a lot of people who were very angry the last time that we were on the ground in Iran, which I would say is about two-and-a-half, maybe three weeks ago. And a lot of people who were angry at their own leadership for the way that the crackdown on the protests happened.

At the same time, of course, there are a lot of people who are concerned about military action because they understand what that could mean for cities like Tehran, generally for the country, for a lot of the infrastructure in the country, and also for, potentially for civilians in the country as well.

If we look back, for instance, at last June when that 12-day war happened, mostly with Israel, but then also, of course, the U.S. chiming in as well, at that point in time, there were a lot of people who were very afraid of those Israeli strikes. There were a lot of people who were angry at those Israeli strikes, especially due to some of the collateral damage, some of the civilian casualties that happened in all of those.

So while there was a good degree of anger at the leadership after the crackdown on the protests, there still are a lot of people who understand that a large military campaign, and especially a bombing campaign from the air, can have severe consequences for civilians on the ground.

[10:55:05]

And, of course, we have to keep in mind that a lot of the folks in Iran right now, they still remember the days of the 1980s in that war between Iran and Iraq, where a lot of Iranian cities were also pummeled by fighter jets. And they understand that that can have severe consequences for people who are on the ground, Wolf.

BLITZER: Fred Pleitgen helping us appreciate what's going on. Fred, thank you very, very much. And our special breaking news coverage will continue straight ahead as

we take you live to the Middle East, where Iran's response to these attacks is already spilling over into other parts of the region.

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