The Iranian government has demanded compensation for destruction caused by attacks from the United States and Israeli regimes, as Tehran remains defiant amid ongoing regional mediation efforts. Iran's envoy to the UN alleged on Tuesday that five regional countries must pay compensation, claiming their territories were used to launch attacks on Iran.

Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told Russia's RIA Novosti that Iran has suffered an estimated $270 billion in direct and indirect damages since the US-Israeli war began on February 28. She stated the compensation issue was discussed in last week's negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Pakistan and will be raised in any future talks with the US and mediators. Mohajerani added that assessment of extensive damage to critical infrastructure—including oil and gas facilities, petrochemical plants, steel mills, aluminum factories, and military complexes—is ongoing, with full reconstruction expected to take years.

The secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, Maghsoud Asadi Samani, reported that 60 civilian aircraft have been disabled, with 20 completely destroyed. He noted Iran has only about 160 operational passenger planes, mostly decades-old and maintained with difficulty due to parts shortages under stringent US sanctions. Samani said airlines lost expected revenue during the Nowruz holidays, with accumulated losses exceeding $190 million in 40 days of war.

Authorities continue a near-total internet shutdown affecting over 90 million Iranians for a seventh week, compounding economic woes. Afshin Kolahi, head of an Iran Chamber of Commerce commission, stated the shutdown causes up to $80 million daily in direct and indirect economic damages. The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is advancing plans for a tiered internet system, offering select businesses "Internet Pro" access while most citizens remain on a limited intranet.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for parliament's hardline-dominated National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, argued in a social media post that the two-week ceasefire announced last week must not be extended, as it would allow the US and Israeli regimes to replenish arms stocks and improve attack positions. He wrote, "They must either recognize Iran's rights, including our control over the Strait of Hormuz, or return to war." Despite the damage and a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, Iranian authorities signaled no major concessions in negotiations with Washington, including on nuclear enrichment.

The internet shutdown has sparked public frustration, with hashtags demanding "internet freedom" trending on state-linked sites. A profitable black market for VPNs persists, while security authorities ordered a tech media outlet to remove a countdown clock documenting the digital blackout duration. The government has disclaimed responsibility, blaming the Supreme National Security Council for the shutdown.

Source: www.aljazeera.com