Tehran, March 6 (NationPress) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted on Friday that "certain nations" have initiated mediation efforts aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. This conflict escalated following the recent assassination of the nation's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Certain nations have started mediation endeavors. To be clear, we are dedicated to achieving sustainable peace in the region, yet we will not hesitate to defend our national dignity and sovereignty. Mediation must involve those who underestimated the Iranian people and sparked this conflict," Pezeshkian declared in a statement on X.

The remarks from the Iranian President emerged as multiple reports indicated that Iran has initiated a fresh wave of assaults on Israel, employing ballistic missiles, including the advanced Khorramshahr-4.

The semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the commencement of the "22nd wave of Operation True Promise 4," utilizing numerous Khorramshahr-4 missiles aimed directly at the occupied territories.

In parallel, an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon on Friday, as reported by Lebanon's official National News Agency. The airstrike hit just below the top floor of the Maqassed building, located near the Al-Siddiq Mosque. Emergency services rushed to the scene, though the extent of casualties and damage was not immediately known.

Earlier on the same day, the United States signaled an expansion of its military operations against Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury', with both American and Israeli forces poised to intensify strikes aimed at dismantling Tehran’s military and missile capabilities.

During a briefing at the US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the operation has already inflicted considerable damage on Iran’s military capabilities. He commended CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper and the over 50,000 American service members engaged in the operation.

“In just a few days of Operation Epic Fury, you and your team have executed devastating strikes, crippling much of Iran's navy, rendering it combat ineffective, neutralizing missile launch sites, and asserting complete aerial dominance," Hegseth commented during a news conference.

Admiral Cooper noted that the campaign has entered its sixth day, steadily degrading Iran’s military strength. “We are now entering our sixth day of a historic mission aimed at eliminating Iran's capability to threaten Americans,” he stated.

According to Cooper, US air power has executed extensive strikes deep within Iranian territory. “In the last 72 hours, American bombers have targeted nearly 200 sites across Iran, including areas around Tehran,” he reported.

He highlighted that US stealth bombers have focused on fortified missile facilities, stating, “In just the last hour, US B-2 bombers have deployed numerous 2,000-pound penetrator bombs targeting deeply buried ballistic missile launchers.”

Additionally, American forces targeted Iranian military infrastructure related to space and missile operations, including Iran's equivalent of Space Command, which diminishes their capability to pose threats to Americans.

According to US officials, the strikes have significantly curtailed Iranian missile and drone activities, with ballistic missile attacks down by 90% and drone attacks by 83% since the operation began.

Naval operations have also escalated during the campaign. “You may have heard the president state… that we have sunk or destroyed 24 ships. That was true at the time — we are now over 30 ships,” Cooper confirmed.

“In just the last few hours, we targeted an Iranian drone carrier ship, comparable in size to a World War II aircraft carrier, which is currently ablaze,” he added.

The operation is transitioning towards dismantling Iran’s missile production capabilities. “The president has tasked us with raising or leveling Iran's ballistic missile industrial base. Thus, we are not only targeting their existing assets but also destroying their capacity to rebuild,” Cooper concluded.