Iran Confirms Key Leader Dead; US Official Resigns Over War

Iran Leader Confirmed Dead Amid Escalating Conflict

Iran has confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, a top security official and one of the regime’s most powerful figures. The confirmation came from Iran’s Security Council via a statement shared on Telegram. Larijani’s son and several guards were also reported killed. The Revolutionary Guard also confirmed the death of the head of its volunteer force, a key militia used to suppress protests. Israel had previously announced that both leaders were killed in airstrikes on Monday night.

Iran Strikes Israel, US Official Quits

Following the confirmation of its leaders’ deaths, Iran announced it is retaliating with strikes against Israel. Israel, in turn, claims it killed Iran’s intelligence minister last night, a claim Iran has not yet commented on. The conflict continues to escalate. Back in the United States, Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and a longtime supporter of the President, has resigned. Kent cited the war with Iran as his reason, stating in his resignation letter that he could not support the war in good conscience, as he believed Iran posed no imminent threat to the U.S. The White House rejected Kent’s claims, with President Trump calling him weak on security.

Leadership Vacuum and Negotiation Uncertainty in Iran

Raf Sanchez, NBC News International Correspondent, reporting from Beirut, explained the significant leadership vacuum created within Iran. “Almost all of the Iranian regime’s previous senior leadership have now been killed,” Sanchez stated, noting that this includes the Supreme Leader and many top security officials. Ali Larijani, though not a moderate, was seen as a pragmatist. His death leaves uncertainty about who the U.S. could negotiate with if it wanted to make a deal with Iran. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, considered a hardliner but potentially capable of making a deal, remains alive.

Iranian Retaliation and Weaponry

Iran has retaliated against Israel with intensive strikes aimed at Tel Aviv. These strikes resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple in a suburb, who were reportedly killed trying to reach a bomb shelter as Iranian cluster munitions detonated overhead. Sanchez described these weapons as deadly, exploding at high altitude and scattering smaller bomblets. Human rights groups have warned that their use in populated areas may be a war crime. Israel’s air defenses are largely holding, but the bomblets are difficult to intercept due to their size, comparable to soccer balls.

Strait of Hormuz and Oil Market Impact

Regarding the critical Strait of Hormuz, White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett reported that oil tankers are beginning to move through. U.S. Central Command stated that the military bombed Iranian missile launchers near the passage. While a trickle of oil tankers, mainly from countries with good relations with Iran like Pakistan and China, are making it through, it’s only a fraction of normal traffic. This is not significantly impacting oil prices, which remain around $100 a barrel. Oil-producing countries are seeking alternative routes, such as Iraq’s deal with Turkey for pipeline transport, but these are no substitute for the Strait of Hormuz.

Lebanon as a Battleground

Lebanon has become a critical battleground in the war, with Israel targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Over 2,200 people have been killed across the Middle East since the war began, including about 900 in Lebanon from Israeli strikes, with at least 111 children among the victims, according to UN reports. Israel carried out strikes in central Beirut overnight, targeting a financial institution with commercial links to Hezbollah. Human rights groups are warning these strikes might be a war crime, as they targeted a commercial entity. More than a million Lebanese have been displaced, roughly one in five people in the country.

Joe Kent’s Resignation and White House Response

Megan Lebowitz, NBC News Political Reporter, detailed Joe Kent’s public resignation. Kent directly attributed his decision to the war, stating Iran posed no imminent threat and criticizing the U.S. involvement, which he argued was due to pressure from Israel. His resignation letter also referenced his experience as a combat veteran and the death of his wife in a 2019 terrorist bombing in Syria. Kent wrote, “I can not support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people, nor justifies the cost of American lives.” President Trump responded by calling Kent “weak on security.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated President Trump had strong evidence Iran was planning to attack the U.S. first.

Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard’s Testimony

Kent served under National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who is expected to testify before a Senate committee. Gabbard previously stated that as Commander-in-Chief, President Trump determines what constitutes an imminent threat, and that he took action based on his conclusion that Iran posed such a threat. Her testimony is anticipated to focus heavily on worldwide threats, and her past quiet stance on the war is notable.

President Trump’s Stance on Allied Help

Amid the conflict, President Trump has seemingly walked back requests for help with the Strait of Hormuz. He stated that allies were reluctant to get involved and that the U.S. did not need or desire their assistance, writing on Truth Social, “Because of the fact that we have had such military success, we no longer need or desire the NATO countries assistance. We never did.” This statement came shortly after he had expressed that countries responded positively to his request for help.

Expert Analysis on Kent’s Resignation and War Support

Jameel Jaffer, founder and executive director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University, offered his perspective. He found Kent’s claim that the war was “manufactured” by Israel’s “powerful lobby in America” inaccurate, noting that the U.S. was in Syria due to ISIS and is in conflict with Iran over its nuclear program and past actions. Jaffer suggested Kent’s resignation created a divide between him and the President, and possibly the Director of National Intelligence. He also noted that while the war might fracture parts of the MAGA base, it still polls strongly among Republicans generally.

Domestic Security Concerns and Rising Threats

Jaffer addressed public concerns about potential terrorism, citing incidents like an explosive device thrown at a New York City mayor’s home, a shooting at a Virginia campus, and an attack on a synagogue in Michigan. He acknowledged increased security at places of worship due to the threat of increased terrorism from Iran and its proxies, like Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas. Jaffer also pointed to a rising trend of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism within the U.S. as potential catalysts for irrational violence and terrorist attacks.

Extreme Weather Coast to Coast

The report also touched upon extreme weather events across the U.S. A heat wave brought triple-digit temperatures to the West, with the National Weather Service issuing an extreme heat warning for parts of Southern California and Northern Arizona. Conversely, the Midwest was recovering from a historic blizzard that dropped record amounts of snow. This severe weather, combined with spring break travel and TSA callouts due to the government shutdown, caused major airport delays nationwide. More than a thousand flights were canceled. In Nebraska, dry conditions fueled historic wildfires, burning over 700,000 acres and causing one death.

Meteor Sighting Over Ohio

In a different natural phenomenon, a seven-ton meteor crashed toward Earth over Ohio, waking the city of Cleveland with a loud boom. The fireball was visible from several states away. NASA identified it as a meteor fracturing upon entering the atmosphere. Experts noted that while such events are common, this one was notable for occurring during daylight hours over a major metropolitan area.

Source: This Morning’s Top Headlines – March 18 | Morning News NOW (YouTube)