An Israeli air strike on Tuesday killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani, one of the most important figures inside Iran’s regime, who had survived the initial decapitation strikes of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Israel says it also targeted leaders of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force in overnight strikes at a time in which the regime has been working to consolidate its power over the Iranian population. Meanwhile, Europe has largely rebuffed President Trump’s demand that it join the war, and Iran has struck yet another commercial ship near the Strait of Hormuz and drone attacks forced the UAE to close its airspace overnight Monday. It’s day 18 of the Iran war and there’s a lot going on: Below are the latest updates, reporting, commentary, and analysis.

Graham on Trump: ‘I have never heard him so angry in my life.’

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a full-throated supporter of the war in Iran criticized Europe for not wanting to provide support in the Strait of Hormuz. Graham said he spoke to Trump today about the news, claiming, “I have never heard him so angry in my life.”

“The arrogance of our allies to suggest that Iran with a nuclear weapon is of little concern and that military action to stop the ayatollah from acquiring a nuclear bomb is our problem not theirs is beyond offensive. The European approach to containing the ayatollah’s nuclear ambitions have proven to be a miserable failure,” Graham wrote on social media.

He continued, “The repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America. I consider myself very forward-leaning on supporting alliances, however at a time of real testing like this, it makes me second guess the value of these alliances. I am certain I am not the only senator who feels this way.”

Leavitt responds to Joe Kent’s Iran war claims

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took to social media to address Joe Kent’s resignation letter, saying his missive contained “many false claims.”

“As President Trump has clearly and explicitly stated, he had strong and compelling evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States first. This evidence was compiled from many sources and factors. President Trump would never make the decision to deploy military assets against a foreign adversary in a vacuum,” she wrote.

Leavitt said that Kent’s assertion that Trump decided on military action in the region at Israel’s behest is “ both insulting and laughable.”

“President Trump has been remarkably consistent and has said for DECADES that Iran can NEVER possess a nuclear weapon,” she said. “As someone who actually witnesses President Trump’s decision-making process on a daily basis, I can attest to the fact that he is always looking to do what’s in the best interest of the United States of America — period.”

Israeli assessment finds that Iranians will “get slaughtered” in potential uprising

An internal Israeli government assessment found that Iranians will likely face mass casualties if the nation’s citizens take to the streets in an attempt to overthrow the government. The Washington Post has more:

The cable, circulated by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday, relayed an Israeli assessment that Iran’s regime is “not cracking” and is willing to “fight to the end” despite the Feb. 28 killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the ongoing U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign.The regime killed thousands during wide-scale anti-government demonstrations earlier this year. If large numbers of Iranians return to the streets, Israeli officials say “the people will get slaughtered” because the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s principal military force, “has the upper hand,” according to the cable. The document’s authenticity was verified by two State Department officials.Despite the grim forecast, Israeli officials said they hoped for a popular revolt and urged the United States to prepare to support protesters if that happens, according to the cable.

The cable, circulated by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on Friday, relayed an Israeli assessment that Iran’s regime is “not cracking” and is willing to “fight to the end” despite the Feb. 28 killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the ongoing U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign.

The regime killed thousands during wide-scale anti-government demonstrations earlier this year. If large numbers of Iranians return to the streets, Israeli officials say “the people will get slaughtered” because the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s principal military force, “has the upper hand,” according to the cable. The document’s authenticity was verified by two State Department officials.

Despite the grim forecast, Israeli officials said they hoped for a popular revolt and urged the United States to prepare to support protesters if that happens, according to the cable.

As one expert recently told our Benjamin Hart, there is a very good chance that civilian lives aren’t a primary concern in Israel’s destabilization strategy.

What it’s like to be next to an air strike

The Pentagon and IDF show off their precision air strikes all the time, but this horrifying video really illustrates how dangerous any air strike can be for anyone who just happens to be nearby:

A newly released Iran dashcam video captures the moment a huge strike targets a complex housing the provincial and cyber police force in Hamedan as a large plume of smoke engulfs the car.Date: 7 MarchLocation: 34.825355, 48.530862Strike: 34.824677, 48.529354@GeoConfirmed pic.twitter.com/ApWmh2lzws— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) March 16, 2026

A newly released Iran dashcam video captures the moment a huge strike targets a complex housing the provincial and cyber police force in Hamedan as a large plume of smoke engulfs the car.Date: 7 MarchLocation: 34.825355, 48.530862Strike: 34.824677, 48.529354@GeoConfirmed pic.twitter.com/ApWmh2lzws

Why did they target Larijani?

CNN’s Christiane Amanpour reports:

A source familiar with private plans & discussions tells me Ali Larijani was, for the US & Israel, the most favored transitional candidate as of Sept 2025, but became a target early Feb 2026. The source said Larijani became a target when he:• Pushed for crackdown on protesters; • Took front seat in lashing out at US/Israel; • Assumed key role in strategizing the IRGC kinetic actions, in particular against GCC states.

A source familiar with private plans & discussions tells me Ali Larijani was, for the US & Israel, the most favored transitional candidate as of Sept 2025, but became a target early Feb 2026.

The source said Larijani became a target when he:

• Pushed for crackdown on protesters;

• Took front seat in lashing out at US/Israel;

• Assumed key role in strategizing the IRGC kinetic actions, in particular against GCC states.

Tonight’s celebrations and potential protests in Iran

The New York Times’s Farnaz Fassihi points out tonight’s possible flashpoint, as it’s the night Iranians celebrate the ancient festival of Chaharshanbe Suri:

The news of Ali Larijani’s killing comes with Iran already on edge and anti-government protests are expected on Tuesday night. That is also the beginning of the Nowruz holiday celebrations, which normally involve people gathering in the streets and jumping over bonfires. Iran’s government has issued warnings to people, in text messages and on state television, to remain inside and not take to the streets, saying Israel’s agents were planning to turn the celebration into chaos and unrest.

The news of Ali Larijani’s killing comes with Iran already on edge and anti-government protests are expected on Tuesday night. That is also the beginning of the Nowruz holiday celebrations, which normally involve people gathering in the streets and jumping over bonfires. Iran’s government has issued warnings to people, in text messages and on state television, to remain inside and not take to the streets, saying Israel’s agents were planning to turn the celebration into chaos and unrest.

And Israel’s IDF is promoting how it has been striking the paramilitary Basij forces who typically crack down on protests.

'حمله به ایست بازرسی در خیابان پیروزی #تهران ساعت ۱۱:۳۰'فرستنده‌ای که ویدیوها رو با شرح بالا فرستاده نوشته: سه بسیجی [کشته] شدند.سه‌شنبه ۲۶ اسفند #Iran #Tehran pic.twitter.com/wSZo89qtAv— Vahid Online (@Vahid) March 17, 2026

'حمله به ایست بازرسی در خیابان پیروزی #تهران ساعت ۱۱:۳۰'فرستنده‌ای که ویدیوها رو با شرح بالا فرستاده نوشته: سه بسیجی [کشته] شدند.سه‌شنبه ۲۶ اسفند #Iran #Tehran pic.twitter.com/wSZo89qtAv

Rejected Trump says thanks, but no thanks

After days of seeking military support from other nations in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump is saying the United States actually doesn’t need their help defending the waterway, thank you very much. Here’s what he said on TruthSocial:

The United States has been informed by most of our NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape,........

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