Israel Kills Iran Security Chief Ali Larijani in 2026 Tehran Strike

[00:00] Noah Feldman: This is Neural Newscast for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026. [00:07] Isabel Moreno: Here is what matters this morning. [00:09] Noah Feldman: From Neural Newscast, I'm Noah Feldman. [00:13] Isabel Moreno: And I'm Isabel Moreno. [00:15] Noah Feldman: Israel says it has killed Ali Larajani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. [00:23] Noah Feldman: The targeted overnight airstrike took place in Tehran. [00:28] Noah Feldman: Larijani was a veteran advisor to the late Supreme Leader. [00:33] Noah Feldman: He was widely considered a key figure for potential international negotiations. [00:39] Isabel Moreno: The strike also killed Ghulam Reza Soleimani. [00:43] Isabel Moreno: He was the commander of Iran's paramilitary Bazeesh forces. [00:48] Isabel Moreno: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the military operation. [00:53] Isabel Moreno: He described it as a continued effort to eliminate the core leadership of the Iranian regime during this 18-day war. [01:01] Noah Feldman: In Washington, the conflict has led to the first high-profile resignation within the Trump administration. [01:09] Noah Feldman: National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent quit his post yesterday. [01:15] Noah Feldman: He stated he cannot support a war he believes was started without an imminent threat to the United States. [01:23] Isabel Moreno: The geopolitical strain is also visible in NATO. [01:28] Isabel Moreno: European allies have rebuffed President Trump's request for help securing the Strait of Hormuz. [01:34] Isabel Moreno: Leaders from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have signaled they will not be drawn into the wider regional conflict. [01:41] Noah Feldman: Turning now to Los Angeles, the 98th Academy Awards concluded with Paul Thomas Anderson's one battle after another, taking home six Oscars. [01:51] Noah Feldman: Anderson secured the Best Director Trophy. [01:54] Noah Feldman: Jesse Buckley and Michael B. Jordan won the top acting honors for the evening. [01:59] Isabel Moreno: The film Sinners also made history. [02:02] Isabel Moreno: It entered the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations. [02:06] Isabel Moreno: Although it only won four awards, the Rhine-Kugler feature was celebrated as a major tribute to black artistry and blues culture. [02:15] Noah Feldman: The Academy highlighted international perspectives through the nomination of the voice of Hind Rajab. [02:22] Noah Feldman: This docudrama follows the final hours of a five-year-old girl in Gaza. [02:26] Noah Feldman: It marks a significant moment for Arab cinema on the global stage. [02:31] Isabel Moreno: The ceremony also served as a milestone for the broadcast itself, [02:35] Isabel Moreno: The Academy has announced that starting in 2029, [02:39] Isabel Moreno: the Oscars will end its 50-year relationship with ABC. [02:43] Isabel Moreno: The show will move exclusively to YouTube for streaming. [02:47] Noah Feldman: In other news, the film world is mourning the loss of actor Robert Duvall. [02:53] Noah Feldman: He has died at the age of 95. [02:56] Noah Feldman: Duvall was an Oscar winner known for his iconic performances [02:59] Noah Feldman: in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. [03:03] Isabel Moreno: Next, here's what else we are watching. [03:05] Isabel Moreno: We are tracking global energy markets as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt shipping and fuel prices worldwide. [03:14] Noah Feldman: We are also monitoring the humanitarian situation in Lebanon. [03:18] Noah Feldman: Israeli forces have issued fresh evacuation orders for residents in the village of Arab al-Jal, [03:25] Noah Feldman: ahead of imminent strikes on infrastructure targets. [03:28] Isabel Moreno: Finally, we are looking for a response from the Kremlin regarding the escalation of strikes in Tehran. [03:35] Isabel Moreno: International observers are waiting to see if Russia will intervene diplomatically [03:40] Isabel Moreno: as the death toll in the region rises. [03:43] Noah Feldman: Tomorrow, we will look at how the shift to digital streaming [03:47] Noah Feldman: is changing the financial landscape of major Hollywood awards shows. [03:51] Noah Feldman: I'm Noah Feldman. [03:52] Isabel Moreno: And I'm Isabel Moreno. [03:54] Isabel Moreno: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, Human Reviewed. [03:59] Isabel Moreno: View our AI Transparency Policy at NeuralNewscast.com. [04:04] Isabel Moreno: Thanks for listening.