The conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate as Israel launched new strikes on western Iran while Iran denied requesting a ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has not sought negotiations and will continue defending itself.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to pursue and kill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was unsure whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was still alive after reports he was wounded, NPR has reported.

Meanwhile, security forces in Iran have increased checkpoints and arrests while warning civilians not to share information with foreign media.