Quds Day rallies swept across Iran with officials portraying them as a display of national strength and rejection of American pressure. Parliament Speaker Qalibaf warned that any aggression against Iran would "explode the entire region," dismissing Trump's letter as "bullying." Foreign Minister Araghchi confirmed Iran's "restrained" response to Trump's letter had been sent via Omani channels.
By afternoon, Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs for the first time since the Hezbollah ceasefire, drawing immediate condemnation from Tehran. Trump escalated tensions, threatening "very very bad" consequences if Iran refuses nuclear negotiations.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remained active as Iran began talks with European countries in Geneva. The day's coverage also included significant attention to two powerful earthquakes in Myanmar and initial reports of catastrophic damage across Southeast Asia.