President Trump threatened Sunday to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges by Tuesday, posting an expletive-laden Truth Social message as Tehran rejected his ultimatum and Oman held last-ditch talks

Ghebreyesus said that a strike could trigger a nuclear accident, with health impacts that would devastate generations.

The regime shows no sign of unraveling, and the people who have replaced senior leaders are known as equally hard-line or arguably even more militant than their predecessors, according to Western officials and experts on Iran.

The Islamic Republic is at the centre of a war sending shock waves around the world, and despite being pummelled by the US and Israel, it remains defiant. The explanation lies in the country’s ancient history and myths, which still permeate modern Iranian politics today.

Iran's shadowy Ahmad Vahidi, a former Quds Force commander linked to deadly bombings abroad, is now more dominant than Iran's president or Khamenei's son, experts warn.

In the immediate lead-up to the first bombs being dropped on Iran last month, President Donald Trump met with a small group of advisers to discuss options. He made it clear that he wanted to launch a military campaign alongside Israel,

The comments came hours after Trump shared footage of an airstrike on a newly constructed bridge outside Tehran.