DARK DAYS IN TEHRAN: Power is out in large swaths of the Iranian capital of Tehran today, as Israel announced “a wide-scale wave of strikes” on Iranian infrastructure, and President Donald Trump set a deadline of tonight for Iran to “FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz,” or face “obliteration” of “various” power plants “STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.”
The region is on edge, awaiting Trump’s next move. Two U.S. Marine expeditionary Units, carrying 4,500 troops, are making their way to the region, and Trump remains cagey about the possible use of ground forces to open the strait or occupy Iran’s Kharg Island, a distribution point for 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
“I may have a plan or I may not, but how would I ever say that to a reporter,” Trump said before departing the White House Friday to spend the weekend at Mar-a-Lago. CBS News reports the Pentagon has made “detailed preparations” for the possible deployment of U.S. ground forces into Iran, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, citing multiple sources.
Trump’s Saturday threat to strike civilian energy targets in Iran — a tactic similar to Vladimir Putin’s strategy in Ukraine, which has been widely decried as a war crime — mark a sharp change in tone and showed Trump’s growing frustration with his inability to restore freedom of navigation in the strait, which on Friday he had insisted at “a certain point … will open itself.”
In a Truth Social post Friday night, Trump said he was considering “winding down” the war and leaving the task of “guarding and policing” the strait to “other nations who use it.”
“The United States does not!” Trump said, adding, “If asked, we will help, but it shouldn’t be necessary.”
TRUMP THREAT TO DESTROY POWER PLANTS ‘ONLY LANGUAGE’ IRAN UNDERSTANDS, BESSENT SAYS
IRAN’S DEFIANCE: Trump’s threat to “obliterate” Iranian power plants drew a defiant counterthreat from Iran, which continues to move oil through the strait along with other nations it deems “friendly,” including China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iraq, and Turkey.
“If the United States carries out its threats against Iran’s power plants, the following punitive actions will be taken immediately,” Iranian army spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said on state television.
“The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not reopen until our damaged power plants are rebuilt. All power plants and the energy and information technology infrastructure of Israel will be widely targeted. All similar companies in the region that have American shareholders will be completely destroyed. Power plants in regional countries hosting U.S. bases will be considered legitimate targets.”
Zolfaghari concluded his televised statement with a taunt directed at President Trump. “Hey, Trump. You are fired. You are familiar with this sentence,” he said in English. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Today, Iran’s Defense Council threatened in a statement to mine the “entire Persian Gulf” if the U.S. launches a land invasion. “Any attempt by the enemy to target Iran’s coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes … in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts,” the council said.
PAHLAVI PLEADS WITH TRUMP TO BACK OFF THREAT AGAINST IRAN’S POWER PLANTS
CENTCOM COMMANDER: ’OUR ACHIEVEMENT IS OBVIOUS’: In a weekend video update and an interview with a London-based TV channel, U.S. Central Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. is on track to achieve its main military objective of degrading Iran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.
“I believe our achievement is obvious,” Cooper told Iran International. “If you zoom out and look at the situation, the Iranian navy is no longer at sea. The Iranian air force is no longer flying. The air defense is no longer shooting, and the large salvos of drones and missiles you saw at the beginning of the war is now largely degraded into onesies and twosies.”
But with Iran still able to hit targets across the Gulf region, and even target the British base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, some 2,500 miles from Terran, Coopers ‘ focus now is destroying all of Iran’s remaining stockpiles of drones and missiles as well as its industrial capacity to build more.
“Two days ago, the U.S. Army launched the longest field artillery strike in Army combat history using precision strike missiles,” Cooper said in his fourth video update of the war. “The strike took out Iranian military infrastructure, demonstrating the U.S. military’s unmatched reach and lethality.”
On X, the U.S. Central Command has been posting videos and before-and-after images showing the results of U.S. strikes against targets, including a turbine engine production plant and ballistic missile assembly facility.
“We’re also going after the manufacturing,” Cooper said in the TV interview. “So it’s not just about the threat today. We’re eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy.”
WHEN WILL TRUMP BE ABLE TO DECLARE VICTORY OVER IRAN?
Good Monday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE
HAPPENING TODAY: President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks during a Safe Task Force Roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee at 12 p.m.
In a Sunday morning post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that he would be dispatching agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the nation’s airports in an attempt to shorten the lines at TSA security checkpoints.
“ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all,” Trumped ranted.
“We’re going to help the American people transit through the airport quicker and not be held hostage by this foolish shutdown,” White House Border Czar Tom Homan, said on Fox News Sunday. “There’s a lot of things that TSA does [that] doesn’t require specialized training, right?”
“You have exit lanes where people leave the airport. Now people try to enter those exit lanes. That’s a security breach. Well, an ICE agent can maintain those exits, and that allows a TSA officer to go back to screening to move people through quicker,” Homan said. “ICE can check identification before people enter the screening area, right? We’re trying to release TSA resources to get to positions that they really need expertise in, like the x-ray screening.”
HOMAN INSISTS ICE ‘HIGHLY TRAINED’ FOR AIRPORT SECURITY IN TSA SUPPORT ROLE
PENTAGON PRESS RESTRICTIONS ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’: A federal judge Friday struck down the Pentagon’s restrictions on credentialed reporters, which barred them from questioning military or civilian Defense Department personnel for any information not officially approved for release by the government.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman found in favor of the New York Times and one of its reporters, Julian Barnes.
The policy is “unreasonable and therefore violates the First Amendment,” Friedman wrote. “A primary purpose of the First Amendment is to enable the press to publish what it will and the public to read what it chooses, free of any official proscription.”
“The Court recognizes that national security must be protected, the security of our troops must be protected, and war plans must be protected,” Friedman wrote. “But especially in light of the country’s recent incursion into Venezuela and its ongoing war with Iran, it is more important than ever that the public have access to information from a variety of perspectives about what its government is doing — so that the public can support government policies, if it wants to support them; protest, if it wants to protest; and decide based on full, complete, and open information who they are going to vote for in the next election.”
The judge ordered the immediate reinstatement of press passes for seven Times journalists who had previously held them but surrendered them in protest of the policy instituted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year.
The Pentagon Press Association, which represents many of the reporters who gave up their passes, is also seeking immediate restoration of the credentials, known as PFACs, that allow access to the Pentagon.
“We disagree with the decision and are pursuing an immediate appeal,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a post on X.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: When will Trump be able to declare victory over Iran?
Washington Examiner: Trump threat to destroy power plants ‘only language’ Iran understands, Bessent says
Washington Examiner: Iran ‘very close’ to being able to strike major European cities, NATO chief warns
Washington Examiner: Iran attack on Diego Garcia is a ‘threat to British interests,’ UK says
Washington Examiner: Pahlavi pleads with Trump to back off threat against Iran’s power plants
Washington Examiner: Only nuclear war can destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions: IAEA chief
Washington Examiner: IAEA says no radiation leaked from Natanz after Iran claims facility was struck
Washington Examiner: CENTCOM says it destroyed Iranian intel support and radars used to track ships in Strait of Hormuz
Washington Examiner: US troops are fighting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in addition to Iran
Washington Examiner: UN chief: ‘Reasonable grounds’ that Israel and Iran may have committed war crimes during war
Washington Examiner: Federal agencies boost drone violation penalties after detection over Fort McNair
Washington Examiner: Takaichi wants a military, but senior Japanese official warns revising constitution could open ‘Pandora’s box’
Washington Examiner: Europe furious over Viktor Orban flipping on Ukraine loan to score points at home: ‘He betrayed us’
Washington Examiner: Iran’s attacks on Gulf States have put them in US ‘orbit,’ Hegseth says
Washington Examiner: Missile threat to grow exponentially over the next decade: Intelligence community
Washington Examiner: Trump says ICE will assist TSA officers at airports starting Monday amid shutdown
Washington Examiner: Homan insists ICE ‘highly trained’ for airport security in TSA support role
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Act now on the Strait of Hormuz — or pay a far greater price later
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Rick Crawford drags intelligence community toward Havana Syndrome truth
Washington Examiner: Opinion: The war in Iran will last at least a few more weeks
Washington Examiner: Why the US and Israel have started dividing on Iran strategy
CBS News: Trump Administration Making Heavy Preparations for Potential Use of Ground Troops in Iran
AP: Iran’s Defense Council threatens to mine entire Persian Gulf if land invasion happens
Wall Street Journal: Iran Brings Europe Into Range With Missiles Fired at Diego Garcia
New York Times: Israel Thought It Could Spur Rebellion Inside Iran. That Hasn’t Happened.
The Hill: CENTCOM Commander Says 8K Targets Hit in Iran: ‘Their Navy Is Not Sailing’
New York Times: Iran War Live Updates: Trump Uninterested in Cease-Fire Because U.S. Is ‘Obliterating the Other Side’
AP: About 90 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz as Iran exports millions of barrels of oil despite the war
Wall Street Journal: What U.S. Marines Can Do to Help Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Foreign Affairs: The Stunning Failure of Iranian Deterrence
The Economist: The Iran war is rapidly engulfing the region
Washington Post: US Military Strike on Boat in Pacific Leaves Two Dead and a Rare Survivor
New York Times: Hegseth Invokes Divine Purpose to Justify Military Might
AP: Judge Sides with New York Times in Challenge to Policy Limiting Reporters’ Access to Pentagon
New York Times: News Outlets Pressure Pentagon to Restore Access After Court Ruling
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Military Prepares to Accept F-35s Without Radars
Air & Space Forces Magazine: USAF Pilot Suffered Shrapnel Wounds after F-35 Hit Over Iran
Task & Purpose: Army Receives a New Black Hawk Helicopter, Pilot Optional
Defense Scoop: DOD Threatens ‘Severe Consequences’ for Drone Operators Flying in Restricted Airspace
Breaking Defense: Israel’s Elbit Reveals Military Contract to Put High-Powered Laser Weapon on Aircraft
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Switches From ULA to SpaceX Rocket for Upcoming GPS Launch
Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Liquid Rocket Engine Flight Test Shows Promise for Affordable Hypersonic Missiles
Breaking Defense: What Is the Pentagon’s ‘Space Data Network,’ and Why Does It Matter for Golden Dome?
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Key Space Force C2 Upgrade Still Faces Issues: Pentagon Report
THE CALENDAR:
MONDAY | MARCH 23
8 a.m. 1700 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Virginia — Pentagon Office of Information Operations Policy and Federal Business Council Phoenix Challenge conference: “Information Operations: Evolving for Strategic Dominance,” withRichard Tilley, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict https://www.fbcinc.com/e/phxchall26/attendeereg.aspx
10 a.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “What to Expect From Trump’s Beijing Visit,” with former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, co-founder and chairman of the Asia Group https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/kurt-campbell
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, — Brookings Institution and the RAND China Research Center discussion: “Cross-strait crossroads: Pathways for America’s Taiwan policy,” with Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow and director, military analysis at Defense Priorities; Bonnie Glaser, managing director, German Marshall Fund of the United States Indo-Pacific Program; David Sacks, fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Matthew Turpin, visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and senior adviser at Palantir Technologies; Ryan Hass, director, Brookings China Center and senior fellow of the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and Brookings Center for Asia Policy Studies; and Jude Blanchette, chair in China research at Rand and director, RAND China Research Center https://www.brookings.edu/events/cross-strait-crossroads
10:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Taiwan’s Space Ambitions and the Future of U.S.-Taiwan Cooperation,” with Jong-Shinn Wu, director general, Taiwan Space Agency; Chirag Parikh, president of Indutara Space LLC; and Kari Bingen, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project https://www.csis.org/events/taiwans-space-ambitions-and-future-us-taiwan-cooperation
11 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Transatlantic Relations in an Upheaval,” with Tyson Barker, nonresident senior fellow, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center; Frances Burwell, fellow, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center; and Daniel Fried, Atlantic Council fellow https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/transatlantic-relations-in-an-era-of-upheaval/
5:30 p.m. 1957 E St. NW, — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “Cuba in the 21st Century: Stuck in the Past? Two Decades of Political and Economic Change,” with Aimel Rios Wong, deputy director, National Endowment for Democracy; Ricardo Torres, economics research fellow at American University; and Manuel Reyes, expert in international law and non-technical risk management https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/cuba-in-the-21st-century
5:45 p.m. — Axios virtual discussion: “The New Defense Landscape,” with former Defense Secretary Mark Esper; former Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks; and Adam Bry, co-founder and CEO of Skydio https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/watch-livestream-axios
TUESDAY | MARCH 24
8 a.m. 1700 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Virginia — Pentagon Office of Information Operations Policy and the Federal Business Council Phoenix Challenge conference: “Information Operations: Evolving for Strategic Dominance,” with Benjamin Jensen, professor, strategic studies at the School of Advanced Warfighting and scholar-in-residence at American University School of International Service https://www.fbcinc.com/e/phxchall26/attendeereg.aspx
10 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “The Future of Iran’s Axis of Resistance,” with Renad Mansour, senior research fellow, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Program; Allison Minor, director, Middle East programs at the Atlantic Council; and Nick Blanford, nonresident senior fellow, Atlantic Council’s Middle East Security Initiative https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/the-future-of-irans-axis-of-resistance/
11 a.m. — Middle East Institute virtual discussion: “Testing the Shield: Air and Missile Defense Capabilities in the Iran War,” with Shira Efron, RAND Corporation chair for Israel policy; Kelly Grieco, senior fellow, Stimson Center’s Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy Program; Michael O’Hanlon, director, Brookings Institution’s Foreign Policy Program; and Jason Campbell, MEI senior fellow https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
11 a.m. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “Did Biden Get China Right? Lessons Learned and What Comes Next,” with Julian Gerwitz, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs; Rush Doshi, director, Council on Foreign Relations’ China Strategy Initiative; Laura Rosenberger, former National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan; and Christopher Chivvis, director, CEIP American Statecraft Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/03/did-biden-get-china-right
1 p.m. — Arms Control Association virtual briefing: “Multilateral Arms Control after New START: Involving China and Other Nuclear-Armed States,” with Mallory Stewart, CEO of the Council on Strategic Risks; Tong Zhao, senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Thomas Countryman, chair, board of directors of the Arms Control Association; and Daryl Kimball, executive director, Arms Control Association https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U2tvcnIKTFeR_PFY40B2aw#/registration
2 p.m. — Defense One virtual discussion: “State of the Navy and Marine Corps” https://events.defenseone.com/state-of-defense-2026
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution discussion: “U.S. strategy in a turbulent world,” with Mara Karlin, former assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities, and visiting fellow of the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and Brookings Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology; Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor, war studies at King’s College London; Mara Karlin; Joshua Rovner, visiting fellow of the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and the Brookings Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology; and Michael O’Hanlon, director, research for the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and director, Brookings Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology https://www.brookings.edu/events/us-strategy-in-a-turbulent-world/
3:15 p.m. 805 21st St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion with first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska with Alyssa Ayres, dean, GWU Elliott School of International Affairs https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/a-conversation-with-olena-zelenska
4 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “International Cooperation for Resilient Subsea Cable Infrastructure,” with Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA); Adam Chan, director, FCC Council on National Security; Yasuyuki Okazaki, minister at the Embassy of Japan’s Economic Section; and Tatsuya Kurosaka, professor at Keio University https://www.csis.org/events/international-cooperation-resilient-subsea-cable-infrastructure
6 p.m. Cambridge, Massachusetts — Harvard University Kennedy Institute of Politics discussion: “The state of international affairs, and the many challenges facing the nation and the world,” with former Secretary of State Antony Blinken; and David Sanger, correspondent covering national security and the White House at the New York Times t https://www.youtube.com/@HarvardIOP/streams
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 25
8 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group Zoom discussion with Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member, Senate Armed Services Committee [email protected]
8:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center discussion: “Next Steps for U.S.-Japan Military Shipbuilding, Repair, and Maintenance,” with Yuki Sekiguchi, vice president of Cognitive Research Labs Inc.; Brent Sadler, Heritage Foundation senior research fellow; Monica Dus, associate professor, University of Michigan; Kelly Greico, Stimson senior fellow; and Andrew Oros, director, Stimson Japan Program https://www.stimson.org/event/next-steps-for-u-s-japan-military-shipbuilding-repair-and-maintenance
8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. NW — Defense Strategies Institute FutureG For Defense and Warfare Summit: “Empowering the Warfighter with Next Generation Network Capabilities,” with Thomas Rondeau, principal director for FutureG at the Office of the Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering https://futureg.dsigroup.org/
1 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual book discussion: Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare, with author Katrina Manson, Bloomberg reporter; and Paul Scharre, CNAS executive vice president https://www.cnas.org/events/project-mave
2 p.m. — Defense One virtual discussion: “State of the Air Force and Space Force,” with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, commander, U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command https://events.defenseone.com/state-of-defense-2026
2 p.m. 2255 Rayburn — Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing: “Ukraine: Abducted Children and Mechanisms for Accountability,” with Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), co-chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) co-chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Katya Pavlevych, policy advisor for Razom for Ukraine, American Coalition for Ukraine; David Crane, founding chief prosecutor for the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone and founder, Global Accountability Network; David Scheffer, former U.S. war crimes ambassador in the State Department; and Inna Liniova, director, Ukraine Bar Association Human Rights Center https://humanrightscommission.house.gov/
THURSDAY | MARCH 26
8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. NW — Defense Strategies Institute FutureG For Defense and Warfare Summit: “Empowering the Warfighter with Next Generation Network Capabilities,” with Joshua Weaver, director, spectrum initiatives and analysis in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering https://futureg.dsigroup.org/
2 p.m. — Defense One virtual discussion: “State of the Army,” with Maj. Gen. John Cogbill, commanding general, 11th Airborne https://events.defenseone.com/state-of-defense-2026
3 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “The Future of U.S.-Europe Relations,” with Lawrence Freedman, professor, war studies at King’s College London; Eliot Cohen, CSIS chair in strategy; and Heather Williams, director, CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues https://www.csis.org/events/future-us-europe-relations
3:30 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — Georgetown University Center for Security Studies, GU Center for German and European Studies, and the GU Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies discussion: “NATO’s Northern Flank and Baltic Security,” with Swedish Armed Forces Supreme Commander Gen. Michael Claesson https://events.georgetown.edu/event/39038-natos-northern-flank
FRIDAY | MARCH 27
8:30 a.m. 11493 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, Virginia — Government Executive Media Group forum: “Securing the Supply Chain and Managing Modern Cyber Threats,” with Defense CIO Kirsten Davies https://events.washingtontechnology.com/cmmc-supply-chain/register
