PANews reported on March 8th that, according to Jinshi, the Israel Defense Forces stated today that Iran is attempting to reorganize its ranks and elect a new leader. A meeting of Iranian experts, not held for forty years, is expected to take place soon in Qom. Israel will continue to hold Khamenei's successor and anyone attempting to appoint him accountable; and warned all those planning to participate in the election that Israel will not hesitate to target them as well.

Iranian President Pezechzian stated that Iran has never succumbed to "bullying, oppression, and aggression" and will never succumb to them, and will "never allow the enemy to occupy even an inch of its land." Speaking during a visit to a medical facility, Pezechzian said that the United States and Israel are attempting to create conflict between Iran and its neighbors. He emphasized that Iran has repeatedly stressed that "Iran and its neighbors are brotherly nations, and relations must be friendly." He stressed that Iran and its neighbors should cooperate and "must not be deceived by the US and Israel into confrontation." Pezechzian stated that the Iranian armed forces and militias are deployed throughout the country, and if any country attempts to attack or invade Iran, Iran will be forced to respond, but this does not mean that there are disputes between Iran and its neighbors.