{"id":2582751,"date":"2026-03-23T07:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/threat-and-counterthreat-war-in-iran-spirals-into-a-dangerous-new-escalatory-phase\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T07:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:39:13","slug":"threat-and-counterthreat-war-in-iran-spirals-into-a-dangerous-new-escalatory-phase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/threat-and-counterthreat-war-in-iran-spirals-into-a-dangerous-new-escalatory-phase\/","title":{"rendered":"Threat and counterthreat: War in Iran spirals into a dangerous new escalatory phase"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthreat-and-counterthreat-war-in-iran-spirals-into-a-dangerous-new-escalatory-phase%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582751&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece is a Defense Daily digest that outlines a rapidly intensifying Iran crisis amid wider regional tensions, describing Israel\u2019s strikes on Iranian infrastructure, President Trump\u2019s threats to open the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. forces moving toward potential action. It notes Iran\u2019s defiant responses, including warnings to mine the persian Gulf and retaliate against U.S. or allied targets, while U.S. Central Command maintains that American forces have degraded Iran\u2019s military capability even as Tehran remains capable of striking distant locations. The report also covers domestic and international reactions, from Trump\u2019s statements and Pentagon preparations for possible ground involvement to a significant First Amendment issue: a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-dissidents-slam-nominee-for-top-defense-post\/\" title=\"...ian Dissidents Slam Nominee for Top ... ...\">federal judge ruled<\/a> against Pentagon press restrictions, ordering the reinstatement of New York Times reporters\u2019 credentials. A \u201cRundown\u201d section compiles coverage across major outlets on Trump-Iran, NATO, and broader security topics, followed by an extensive calendar of upcoming defense and foreign policy events in Washington and around the world. The piece is compiled by Jamie McIntyre for Washington Examiner\u2019s Daily on Defense and features a \u201cQuote of the Day\u201d defending press freedom in the context of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taiwan-has-five-years-to-prepare-for-invasion\/\" title=\"Taiwan Has Five Years to Prepare for Invasion\">national security reporting<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Threat and counterthreat: War in Iran spirals into a dangerous new escalatory phase<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong>DARK DAYS IN TEHRAN: <\/strong>Power is out in large swaths of the Iranian capital of Tehran today, as Israel announced &ldquo;a wide-scale wave of strikes&rdquo; on Iranian infrastructure, and <strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116269822349947644\">set a deadline of tonight<\/a> for Iran to &ldquo;FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz,&rdquo; or face &ldquo;obliteration&rdquo; of &ldquo;various&rdquo; power plants &ldquo;STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The region is on edge, awaiting Trump&rsquo;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&rsquo;s Kharg Island, a distribution point for 90% of Iran&rsquo;s oil exports.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-defense\/4497050\/trump-furious-over-israeli-provocation-and-iranian-retaliation-against-key-energy-sites-in-gulf-region\/\">Trump furious over Israeli provocation and Iranian retaliation against key energy sites in Gulf region<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4495321\/trump-lays-the-groundwork-to-finally-divorce-nato\/\">Acting the jilted partner, Trump lays the groundwork to finally divorce NATO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-defense\/4493860\/trump-went-to-war-without-a-coalition-now-he-wants-one\/\">Trump went to war without a coalition. Now he wants one<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I may have a plan or I may not, but how would I ever say that to a reporter,&rdquo; Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/program\/white-house-event\/president-trump-makes-remarks-while-leaving-white-house\/676022\">said<\/a> before departing the White House Friday to spend the weekend at Mar-a-Lago. CBS News <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-administration-iran-ground-troop-preparations\/\">reports<\/a> the Pentagon has made &ldquo;detailed preparations&rdquo; for the possible deployment of U.S. ground forces into Iran, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, citing multiple sources.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s Saturday threat to strike civilian energy targets in Iran &mdash; a tactic similar to <strong>Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s <\/strong>strategy in Ukraine, which has been widely decried as a war crime &mdash;&nbsp;mark a sharp change in tone and showed Trump&rsquo;s growing frustration with his inability to restore freedom of navigation in the strait, which on Friday he had insisted at &ldquo;a certain point &hellip; will open itself.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116263563453969628\">Truth Social post<\/a> Friday night, Trump said he was considering &ldquo;winding down&rdquo; the war and leaving the task of &ldquo;guarding and policing&rdquo; the strait to &ldquo;other nations who use it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The United States does not!&rdquo; Trump said, adding, &ldquo;If asked, we will help, but it shouldn&rsquo;t be necessary.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4499844\/trump-iran-war-power-plants-bessent\/\"><strong>TRUMP THREAT TO DESTROY POWER PLANTS &lsquo;ONLY LANGUAGE&rsquo; IRAN UNDERSTANDS, BESSENT SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>IRAN&rsquo;S DEFIANCE: <\/strong>Trump&rsquo;s threat to &ldquo;obliterate&rdquo; Iranian power plants drew a defiant counterthreat from Iran, which continues to move oil through the strait along with other nations it deems &ldquo;friendly,&rdquo; including China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iraq, and Turkey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If the United States carries out its threats against Iran&rsquo;s power plants, the following punitive actions will be taken immediately,&rdquo; Iranian army spokesman <strong>Ebrahim Zolfaghari<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/liveblog\/2026\/3\/22\/iran-war-live-trump-threatens-attacks-on-power-plants-over-hormuz-strait?update=4424917\">said<\/a> on state television.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Zolfaghari concluded his televised statement with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheWarMonitor\/status\/2035829363615084559?s=20\">taunt<\/a> directed at President Trump. &ldquo;Hey, Trump. You are fired. You are familiar with this sentence,&rdquo; he said in English. &ldquo;Thank you for your attention to this matter.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Today, Iran&rsquo;s Defense Council threatened in a statement to mine the &ldquo;entire Persian Gulf&rdquo; if the U.S. launches a land invasion. &ldquo;Any attempt by the enemy to target Iran&rsquo;s coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes &hellip; in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts,&rdquo; the council said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499972\/pahlavi-trump-threat-iran-power-plants\/\"><strong>PAHLAVI PLEADS WITH TRUMP TO BACK OFF THREAT AGAINST IRAN&rsquo;S POWER PLANTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>CENTCOM COMMANDER: &rsquo;OUR ACHIEVEMENT IS OBVIOUS&rsquo;:<\/strong> In a weekend <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/program\/public-affairs-event\/us-central-command-commander-provides-update-on-operation-epic-fury\/676058\">video update<\/a> and an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IranIntl_En\/status\/2035936051622027374?s=20\">interview<\/a> with a London-based TV channel, U.S. Central Commander <strong>Adm. Brad Cooper<\/strong> said the U.S. is on track to achieve its main military objective of degrading Iran&rsquo;s ability to project power beyond its borders.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe our achievement is obvious,&rdquo; Cooper told <em>Iran International.<\/em> &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>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 &lsquo; focus now is destroying all of Iran&rsquo;s remaining stockpiles of drones and missiles as well as its industrial capacity to build more.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Two days ago, the U.S. Army launched the longest field artillery strike in Army combat history using precision strike missiles,&rdquo; Cooper said in his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/program\/public-affairs-event\/us-central-command-commander-provides-update-on-operation-epic-fury\/676058\">fourth video update<\/a> of the war. &ldquo;The strike took out Iranian military infrastructure, demonstrating the U.S. military&rsquo;s unmatched reach and lethality.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>On X, the U.S. Central Command has been posting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2035810137428930960?s=20\">videos<\/a> and before-and-after images showing the results of U.S. strikes against targets, including a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2035895963118711270?s=20\">turbine engine production plant<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2035666866467729715?s=20\">ballistic missile assembly facility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re also going after the manufacturing,&rdquo; Cooper said in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iranintl.com\/en\/202603232131\">TV interview<\/a>. &ldquo;So it&rsquo;s not just about the threat today. We&rsquo;re eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4497127\/when-trump-declare-victory-iran-war\/\"><strong>WHEN WILL TRUMP BE ABLE TO DECLARE VICTORY OVER IRAN?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Good Monday morning and welcome to <em>Jamie McIntyre&rsquo;s Daily on Defense<\/em>, written and compiled by <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> National Security Senior Writer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/jamie-mcintyre\"><strong>Jamie McIntyre<\/strong><\/a>  (<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamiejmcintyre\">@jamiejmcintyre<\/a>) and edited by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/christopher-tremoglie\/\"><strong>Christopher Tremoglie<\/strong><\/a>. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#9df7f0fef4f3e9e4eff8ddeafceef5f4f3fae9f2f3f8e5fcf0f4f3f8efb3fef2f0\">Email here<\/a> with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/daily-on-defense\"><em>DailyonDefense.com<\/em><\/a>. If signing up doesn&rsquo;t work, shoot us an email and we&rsquo;ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and\/or on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jamiejmcintyre\">@jamiejmcintyre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/daily-on-defense\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>HAPPENING TODAY: President Trump <\/strong>is scheduled to deliver remarks during a Safe Task Force Roundtable in Memphis, Tennessee at 12 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>In a Sunday morning <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TrumpDailyPosts\/status\/2035721360157360356?s=20\">post on his Truth Social platform<\/a>, Trump announced that he would be dispatching agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the nation&rsquo;s airports in an attempt to shorten the lines at TSA security checkpoints.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-ice-will-assist-tsa-agents-at-airports-starting-monday\/\" title=\"Trump says ICE will assist ... agents at ...ports starting Monday\">protecting hard line criminals<\/a> 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,&rdquo; Trumped ranted.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to help the American people transit through the airport quicker and not be held hostage by this foolish shutdown,&rdquo; White House Border Czar <strong>Tom Homan<\/strong>, said on <em>Fox News Sunday<\/em>. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of things that TSA does [that] doesn&rsquo;t require specialized training, right?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You have exit lanes where people leave the airport. Now people try to enter those exit lanes. That&rsquo;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,&rdquo; Homan said. &ldquo;ICE can check identification before people enter the screening area, right? We&rsquo;re trying to release TSA resources to get to positions that they really need expertise in, like the x-ray screening.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4499827\/tom-homan-ice-airport-security-tsa\/\"><strong>HOMAN INSISTS ICE &lsquo;HIGHLY TRAINED&rsquo; FOR AIRPORT SECURITY IN TSA SUPPORT ROLE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>PENTAGON PRESS RESTRICTIONS &lsquo;UNCONSTITUTIONAL&rsquo;: <\/strong>A federal judge Friday struck down the Pentagon&rsquo;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.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling by U.S. District Judge <strong>Paul Friedman<\/strong> found in favor of the <em>New York Times<\/em> and one of its reporters, <strong>Julian Barnes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The policy is &ldquo;unreasonable and therefore violates the First Amendment,&rdquo; Friedman wrote. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Court recognizes that national security must be protected, the security of our troops must be protected, and war plans must be protected,&rdquo; Friedman wrote. &ldquo;But especially in light of the country&rsquo;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 &mdash; 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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The judge ordered the immediate reinstatement of press passes for seven <em>Times<\/em> journalists who had previously held them but surrendered them in protest of the policy instituted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We disagree with the decision and are pursuing an immediate appeal,&rdquo; Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SeanParnellASW\/status\/2035134876639265081?s=20\">post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE RUNDOWN:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4497127\/when-trump-declare-victory-iran-war\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: When will Trump be able to declare victory over Iran?<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4499844\/trump-iran-war-power-plants-bessent\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Trump threat to destroy power plants &lsquo;only language&rsquo; Iran understands, Bessent says<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499996\/iran-strike-range-european-cities-nato-chief\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Iran &lsquo;very close&rsquo; to being able to strike major European cities, NATO chief warns<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499578\/iaea-no-radiation-leak-natanz-iran-strike\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Iran attack on Diego Garcia is a &lsquo;threat to British interests,&rsquo; UK says<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499972\/pahlavi-trump-threat-iran-power-plants\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Pahlavi pleads with Trump to back off threat against Iran&rsquo;s power plants<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499897\/nuclear-war-iran-ambitions-iaea-grossi\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Only nuclear war can destroy Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions: IAEA chief<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4499578\/iaea-no-radiation-leak-natanz-iran-strike\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: IAEA says no radiation leaked from Natanz after Iran claims facility was struck<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4499562\/centcom-destroyed-iranian-intel-radars-strait-hormuz\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: CENTCOM says it destroyed Iranian intel support and radars used to track ships in Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4498796\/us-troops-fighting-iran-backed-militias-iraq\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: US troops are fighting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in addition to Iran<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4498655\/united-nations-secretary-general-guterres-israel-iran-war-crimes-energy\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: UN chief: &lsquo;Reasonable grounds&rsquo; that Israel and Iran may have committed war crimes during war<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4498960\/federal-agencies-boost-drone-violation-penalties-fort-mcnair\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Federal agencies boost drone violation penalties after detection over Fort McNair<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4498825\/takaichi-wants-military-official-warns-against-revising-constitution\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Takaichi wants a military, but senior Japanese official warns revising constitution could open &lsquo;Pandora&rsquo;s box&rsquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4497851\/europe-furious-orban-flipping-ukraine-loan-betrayed\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Europe furious over Viktor Orban flipping on Ukraine loan to score points at home: &lsquo;He betrayed us&rsquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4497177\/iran-attacks-gulf-states-have-america-orbit-hegseth\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Iran&rsquo;s attacks on Gulf States have put them in US &lsquo;orbit,&rsquo; Hegseth says<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4496292\/missile-threat-grow-exponentially-inteligence-community-report\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Missile threat to grow exponentially over the next decade: Intelligence community<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4499813\/trump-ice-tsa-airports-dhs-shutdown\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Trump says ICE will assist TSA officers at airports starting Monday amid shutdown<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4499827\/tom-homan-ice-airport-security-tsa\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Homan insists ICE &lsquo;highly trained&rsquo; for airport security in TSA support role<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/courage-strength-optimism\/4499647\/act-now-strait-hormuz-or-pay-price-later\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Opinion: Act now on the Strait of Hormuz &mdash; or pay a far greater price later<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4498095\/rick-crawford-drags-intelligence-community-toward-havana-syndrome-truth\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner:<\/strong><\/a>  Opinion: Rick Crawford drags intelligence community toward Havana Syndrome truth<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4494506\/the-war-in-iran-will-last-at-least-a-few-more-weeks\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Opinion: The war in Iran will last at least a few more weeks<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4496750\/why-us-israel-have-started-dividing-iran-strategy\/\"><strong>Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/a>: Why the US and Israel have started dividing on Iran strategy<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/trump-administration-iran-ground-troop-preparations\/\"><strong>CBS News<\/strong><\/a>: Trump Administration Making Heavy Preparations for Potential Use of Ground Troops in Iran<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/iran-war-israel-trump-03-23-2026\"><strong>AP<\/strong><\/a>: Iran&rsquo;s Defense Council threatens to mine entire Persian Gulf if land invasion happens<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/middle-east\/iran-brings-europe-into-range-with-missiles-fired-at-diego-garcia-bdc71ab2?st=ez599t&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\"><strong>Wall Street Journal<\/strong><\/a>: Iran Brings Europe Into Range With Missiles Fired at Diego Garcia<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/22\/us\/politics\/iran-israel-trump-netanyahu-mossad.html\"><strong>New York Times<\/strong><\/a>: Israel Thought It Could Spur Rebellion Inside Iran. That Hasn&rsquo;t Happened.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/defense\/5794604-centcom-brad-cooper-us-military-operation-iran-8k-targets\/\"><strong>The Hill<\/strong><\/a>: CENTCOM Commander Says 8K Targets Hit in Iran: &lsquo;Their Navy Is Not Sailing&rsquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/live\/2026\/03\/20\/world\/iran-war-oil-trump\"><strong>New York Times<\/strong><\/a>: Iran War Live Updates: Trump Uninterested in Cease-Fire Because U.S. Is &lsquo;Obliterating the Other Side&rsquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ships-iran-oil-china-us-trump-hormuz-82a9acb473837f1bf7a821d0c3f95205\"><strong>AP<\/strong><\/a>: About 90 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz as Iran exports millions of barrels of oil despite the war<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/iran-war-us-marines-strait-of-hormuz-b1d7c249?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_4\"><strong>Wall Street Journal<\/strong><\/a>: What U.S. Marines Can Do to Help Reopen the Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foreignaffairs.com\/iran\/stunning-failure-iranian-deterrence?utm_medium=newsletters&amp;utm_source=fatoday&amp;utm_campaign=The%20Stunning%20Failure%20of%20Iranian%20Deterrence&amp;utm_content=20260319&amp;utm_term=N\"><strong>Foreign Affairs<\/strong><\/a>: The Stunning Failure of Iranian Deterrence<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/middle-east-and-africa\/2026\/03\/02\/the-iran-war-is-rapidly-engulfing-the-region\"><strong>The Economist<\/strong><\/a>: The Iran war is rapidly engulfing the region&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/wapo.st\/4bGsNU2\"><strong>Washington Post<\/strong><\/a>: US Military Strike on Boat in Pacific Leaves Two Dead and a Rare Survivor<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/20\/us\/politics\/hegseth-christianity-military.html\"><strong>New York Times<\/strong><\/a>: Hegseth Invokes Divine Purpose to Justify Military Might<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pentagon-policy-news-reporters-hegseth-dc7a69b7e7c3f618b3879d9cafec9b25\"><strong>AP<\/strong><\/a>: Judge Sides with New York Times in Challenge to Policy Limiting Reporters&rsquo; Access to Pentagon<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/03\/21\/business\/media\/pentagon-press-access.html\"><strong>New York Times<\/strong><\/a>: News Outlets Pressure Pentagon to Restore Access After Court Ruling<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/the-military-is-preparing-to-accept-deliveries-of-f-35s-without-a-new-advanced-radar-installed\/\"><strong>Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine<\/strong><\/a>: Military Prepares to Accept F-35s Without Radars<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/usaf-pilot-shrapnel-wounds-f-35-hit-iran\/\"><strong>Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine<\/strong><\/a>: USAF Pilot Suffered Shrapnel Wounds after F-35 Hit Over Iran<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/news\/army-pilot-optional-black-hawk\/\"><strong>Task &amp; Purpose<\/strong><\/a>: Army Receives a New Black Hawk Helicopter, Pilot Optional<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/defensescoop.com\/2026\/03\/20\/federal-government-warning-drone-operators-restricted-airspace\/\"><strong>Defense Scoop<\/strong><\/a>: DOD Threatens &lsquo;Severe Consequences&rsquo; for Drone Operators Flying in Restricted Airspace<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingdefense.com\/2026\/03\/israels-elbit-reveals-military-contract-to-put-high-powered-laser-weapon-on-aircraft\/\"><strong>Breaking Defense<\/strong><\/a>: Israel&rsquo;s Elbit Reveals Military Contract to Put High-Powered Laser Weapon on Aircraft<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/space-force-switches-ula-spacex-rocket-gps-launch\/\"><strong>Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine<\/strong><\/a>: Space Force Switches From ULA to SpaceX Rocket for Upcoming GPS Launch<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/new-liquid-rocket-engine-flight-test-affordable-hypersonic-missiles\/\"><strong>Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine<\/strong><\/a>: New Liquid Rocket Engine Flight Test Shows Promise for Affordable Hypersonic Missiles<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingdefense.com\/2026\/03\/what-is-the-pentagons-space-data-network-and-why-does-it-matter-for-golden-dome\/\"><strong>Breaking Defense<\/strong><\/a>: What Is the Pentagon&rsquo;s &lsquo;Space Data Network,&rsquo; and Why Does It Matter for Golden Dome?<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/key-space-force-c2-upgrade-issues-pentagon-report\/\"><strong>Air &amp; Space Forces Magazine<\/strong><\/a>: Key Space Force C2 Upgrade Still Faces Issues: Pentagon Report<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE CALENDAR:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>MONDAY | MARCH 23<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8 a.m. 1700 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Virginia &mdash; Pentagon Office of Information Operations Policy and Federal Business Council Phoenix Challenge conference: &ldquo;Information Operations: Evolving for Strategic Dominance,&rdquo; with<strong>Richard Tilley<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-pauses-plan-to-offer-vaccines-to-guantanamo-bay-detainees\/\" title=\"... Pauses Plan To Offer Vaccines To Guantanamo Bay Detainees\">principal deputy assistant secretary<\/a> of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fbcinc.com\/e\/phxchall26\/attendeereg.aspx\">https:\/\/www.fbcinc.com\/e\/phxchall26\/attendeereg.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>10 a.m. 1400 L St. NW &mdash; Atlantic Council discussion: &ldquo;What to Expect From Trump&rsquo;s Beijing Visit,&rdquo; with former Deputy Secretary of State <strong>Kurt Campbell<\/strong>, co-founder and chairman of the Asia Group <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/kurt-campbell-on-what-to-expect-from-trumps-beijing-visit\">https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/kurt-campbell<\/a><\/p>\n<p>10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, &mdash;&nbsp;Brookings Institution and the RAND China Research Center discussion: &ldquo;Cross-strait crossroads: Pathways for America&rsquo;s Taiwan policy,&rdquo; with <strong>Jennifer Kavanagh<\/strong>, senior fellow and director, military analysis at Defense Priorities; <strong>Bonnie Glaser<\/strong>, managing director, German Marshall Fund of the United States Indo-Pacific Program; <strong>David Sacks<\/strong>, fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; <strong>Matthew Turpin<\/strong>, visiting fellow at Stanford University&rsquo;s Hoover Institution and senior adviser at Palantir Technologies; <strong>Ryan Hass<\/strong>, director, Brookings China Center and senior fellow of the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and Brookings Center for Asia Policy Studies; and <strong>Jude Blanchette<\/strong>, chair in China research at Rand and director, RAND China Research Center <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/events\/cross-strait-crossroads-pathways-for-americas-taiwan-policy\/\">https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/events\/cross-strait-crossroads<\/a><\/p>\n<p>10:30 a.m. &mdash; Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: &ldquo;Taiwan&rsquo;s Space Ambitions and the Future of U.S.-Taiwan Cooperation,&rdquo; with <strong>Jong-Shinn Wu,<\/strong> director general, Taiwan Space Agency; <strong>Chirag Parikh<\/strong>, president of Indutara Space LLC; and <strong>Kari Bingen<\/strong>, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/taiwans-space-ambitions-and-future-us-taiwan-cooperation\">https:\/\/www.csis.<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >org\/events\/taiwans-space-ambitions-<\/a>and-future-us-taiwan-cooperation<\/a><\/p>\n<p>11 a.m. &mdash; Atlantic Council virtual discussion: &ldquo;Transatlantic Relations in an Upheaval,&rdquo; with <strong>Tyson Barker,<\/strong> nonresident senior fellow, Atlantic Council&rsquo;s Europe Center; <strong>Frances Burwell<\/strong>, fellow, Atlantic Council&rsquo;s Europe Center; and <strong>Daniel Fried<\/strong>, Atlantic Council fellow <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/transatlantic-relations-in-an-era-of-upheaval\/\">https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/transatlantic-relations-in-an-era-of-upheaval\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>5:30 p.m. 1957 E St. NW, &mdash; George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: &ldquo;Cuba in the 21st Century: Stuck in the Past? Two Decades of Political and Economic Change,&rdquo; with <strong>Aimel Rios Wong,<\/strong> deputy director, National Endowment for Democracy; <strong>Ricardo Torres<\/strong>, economics research fellow at American University; and <strong>Manuel Reyes<\/strong>, expert in international law and non-technical risk management <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.gwu.edu\/event\/cuba-in-the-21st-century-stuck-in-the-past-two-decades-of-political-and-economic-change?utm_campaign=widget&amp;utm_medium=widget&amp;utm_source=GW+Calendar\">https:\/\/calendar.gwu.edu\/event\/cuba-in-the-21st-century<\/a><\/p>\n<p>5:45 p.m. &mdash; Axios virtual discussion: &ldquo;The New Defense Landscape,&rdquo; with former Defense Secretary <strong>Mark Esper;<\/strong> former Deputy Defense Secretary <strong>Kathleen Hicks<\/strong>; and <strong>Adam Bry<\/strong>, co-founder and CEO of Skydio <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/03\/17\/watch-livestream-axios-ai-dc-takeover-week-events-2026\">https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/03\/17\/watch-livestream-axios<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>TUESDAY | MARCH 24<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8 a.m. 1700 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Virginia &mdash; Pentagon Office of Information Operations Policy and the Federal Business Council Phoenix Challenge conference: &ldquo;Information Operations: Evolving for Strategic Dominance,&rdquo; with <strong>Benjamin Jensen<\/strong>, professor, strategic studies at the School of Advanced Warfighting and scholar-in-residence at American University School of International Service <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fbcinc.com\/e\/phxchall26\/attendeereg.aspx\">https:\/\/www.fbcinc.com\/e\/phxchall26\/attendeereg.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>10 a.m. &mdash; Atlantic Council virtual discussion: &ldquo;The Future of Iran&rsquo;s Axis of Resistance,&rdquo; with <strong>Renad Mansour<\/strong>, senior research fellow, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Program; <strong>Allison Minor<\/strong>, director, Middle East programs at the Atlantic Council; and <strong>Nick Blanford<\/strong>, nonresident senior fellow, Atlantic Council&rsquo;s Middle East Security Initiative <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/the-future-of-irans-axis-of-resistance\/\">https:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/event\/the-future-of-irans-axis-of-resistance\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;11 a.m. &mdash; Middle East Institute virtual discussion: &ldquo;Testing the Shield: Air and Missile Defense Capabilities in the Iran War,&rdquo; with <strong>Shira Efron<\/strong>, RAND Corporation chair for Israel policy; <strong>Kelly Grieco<\/strong>, senior fellow, Stimson Center&rsquo;s Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy Program; <strong>Michael O&rsquo;Hanlon,<\/strong> director, Brookings Institution&rsquo;s Foreign Policy Program; and <strong>Jason Campbell,<\/strong> MEI senior fellow <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_9yV5AOeaT2ioKx8t2x4aJQ#\/registration\">https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register<\/a><\/p>\n<p>11 a.m. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: &ldquo;Did Biden Get China Right? Lessons Learned and What Comes Next,&rdquo; with <strong>Julian Gerwitz<\/strong>, senior research scholar at Columbia University&rsquo;s School of International and Public Affairs; <strong>Rush Doshi,<\/strong> director, Council on Foreign Relations&rsquo; China Strategy Initiative; <strong>Laura Rosenberger<\/strong>,<strong> f<\/strong>ormer National Security Council senior director for China and Taiwan; and <strong>Christopher Chivvis<\/strong>, director, CEIP American Statecraft Program <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/events\/2026\/03\/did-biden-get-china-right\">https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/events\/2026\/03\/did-biden-get-china-right<\/a><\/p>\n<p>1 p.m. &mdash; Arms Control Association virtual briefing: &ldquo;Multilateral Arms Control after New START: Involving China and Other Nuclear-Armed States,&rdquo; with <strong>Mallory Stewart<\/strong>, CEO of the Council on Strategic Risks; <strong>Tong Zhao<\/strong>, senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Thomas Countryman, chair, board of directors of the Arms Control Association; and <strong>Daryl Kimball<\/strong>, executive director, Arms Control Association <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_U2tvcnIKTFeR_PFY40B2aw#\/registration\">https:\/\/us02web.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_U2tvcnIKTFeR_PFY40B2aw#\/registration<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2 p.m. &mdash; Defense One virtual discussion: &ldquo;State of the Navy and Marine Corps&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026\/?p=govexeceventspage&amp;__hstc=121679188.f48434a7246186b6f3778e8fa47f9c1b.1734615169383.1773408014172.1773934861584.212&amp;__hssc=121679188.1.1773934861584&amp;__hsfp=f57c4ad048f37415aab4e7f8d39ad816\">https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW &mdash; Brookings Institution discussion: &ldquo;U.S. strategy in a turbulent world,&rdquo; with <strong>Mara Karlin<\/strong>, 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; <strong>Lawrence Freedman<\/strong>, emeritus professor, war studies at King&rsquo;s College London; Mara Karlin; <strong>Joshua Rovner,<\/strong> visiting fellow of the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and the Brookings Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology; and <strong>Michael O&rsquo;Hanlon<\/strong>, director, research for the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and director, Brookings Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/events\/us-strategy-in-a-turbulent-world\/\">https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/events\/us-strategy-in-a-turbulent-world\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>3:15 p.m. 805 21st St. NW &mdash; George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion with first lady of Ukraine <strong>Olena Zelenska<\/strong> with <strong>Alyssa Ayres<\/strong>, dean, GWU Elliott School of International Affairs <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.gwu.edu\/event\/a-conversation-with-olena-zelenska-first-lady-of-ukraine\">https:\/\/calendar.gwu.edu\/event\/a-conversation-with-olena-zelenska<\/a><\/p>\n<p>4 p.m. &mdash; Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: &ldquo;International Cooperation for Resilient Subsea Cable Infrastructure,&rdquo; with Rep. Earl &ldquo;Buddy&rdquo; Carter (R-GA); <strong>Adam Chan<\/strong>, director, FCC Council on National Security; <strong>Yasuyuki Okazaki<\/strong>, minister at the Embassy of Japan&rsquo;s Economic Section; and <strong>Tatsuya Kurosaka,<\/strong> professor at Keio University <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/international-cooperation-resilient-subsea-cable-infrastructure\">https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/international-cooperation-resilient-subsea-cable-infrastructure<\/a><\/p>\n<p>6 p.m. Cambridge, Massachusetts &mdash; Harvard University Kennedy Institute of Politics discussion: &ldquo;The state of international affairs, and the many challenges facing the nation and the world,&rdquo; with former Secretary of State <strong>Antony Blinken<\/strong>; and <strong>David Sanger<\/strong>, correspondent covering national security and the White House at the <em>New York Times <\/em>t <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@HarvardIOP\/streams\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@HarvardIOP\/streams<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>WEDNESDAY | MARCH 25<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8 a.m. &mdash; George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group Zoom discussion with <strong>Sen. Jack Reed<\/strong> (D-RI), ranking member, Senate Armed Services Committee <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection\" class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"b6c2c5ded7d8ddd3c4f6d3dbd7dfda98d1c1c398d3d2c3\">[email&nbsp;protected]<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW &mdash; Henry L. Stimson Center discussion: &ldquo;Next Steps for U.S.-Japan Military Shipbuilding, Repair, and Maintenance,&rdquo; with <strong>Yuki Sekiguchi<\/strong>, vice president of Cognitive Research Labs Inc.; <strong>Brent Sadler,<\/strong> Heritage Foundation senior research fellow; <strong>Monica Dus<\/strong>, associate professor, University of Michigan; <strong>Kelly Greico<\/strong>, Stimson senior fellow; and Andrew Oros, director, Stimson Japan Program <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stimson.org\/event\/next-steps-for-u-s-japan-military-shipbuilding-repair-and-maintenance\/\">https:\/\/www.stimson.org\/event\/next-steps-for-u-s-japan-military-shipbuilding-repair-and-maintenance<\/a><\/p>\n<p>8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. NW &mdash;&nbsp;Defense Strategies Institute FutureG For Defense and Warfare Summit: &ldquo;Empowering the Warfighter with Next Generation Network Capabilities,&rdquo; with <strong>Thomas Rondeau<\/strong>, principal director for FutureG at the Office of the Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/futureg.dsigroup.org\/\">https:\/\/futureg.dsigroup.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>1 p.m. &mdash; Center for a New American Security virtual book discussion: <em>Project Maven: A Marine Colonel, His Team, and the Dawn of AI Warfare<\/em>, with author <strong>Katrina Manson<\/strong>, Bloomberg reporter; and <strong>Paul Scharre,<\/strong> CNAS executive vice president <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnas.org\/events\/project-mave\">https:\/\/www.cnas.org\/events\/project-mave<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2 p.m. &mdash; Defense One virtual discussion: &ldquo;State of the Air Force and Space Force,&rdquo; with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), and <strong>Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon<\/strong>, commander, U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026\/?p=govexeceventspage&amp;__hstc=121679188.f48434a7246186b6f3778e8fa47f9c1b.1734615169383.1773408014172.1773934861584.212&amp;__hssc=121679188.1.1773934861584&amp;__hsfp=f57c4ad048f37415aab4e7f8d39ad816\">https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2 p.m. 2255 Rayburn &mdash; Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing: &ldquo;Ukraine: Abducted Children and Mechanisms for Accountability,&rdquo; with <strong>Rep. Jim McGovern<\/strong> (D-MA), co-chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; <strong>Rep. Chris Smith<\/strong> (R-NJ) co-chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; <strong>Katya Pavlevych<\/strong>, policy advisor for Razom for Ukraine, American Coalition for Ukraine; <strong>David Crane<\/strong>, founding chief prosecutor for the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone and founder, Global Accountability Network; <strong>David Scheffer<\/strong>, former U.S. war crimes ambassador in the State Department; and <strong>Inna Liniova,<\/strong> director, Ukraine Bar Association Human Rights Center <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/humanrightscommission.house.gov\/\">https:\/\/humanrightscommission.house.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>THURSDAY | MARCH 26<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8:45 a.m. 1735 New York Ave. NW &mdash; Defense Strategies Institute FutureG For Defense and Warfare Summit: &ldquo;Empowering the Warfighter with Next Generation Network Capabilities,&rdquo; with <strong>Joshua Weave<\/strong>r, director, spectrum initiatives and analysis in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/futureg.dsigroup.org\/\">https:\/\/futureg.dsigroup.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>2 p.m. &mdash; Defense One virtual discussion: &ldquo;State of the Army,&rdquo; with <strong>Maj. Gen. John Cogbill<\/strong>, commanding general, 11th Airborne <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026\/?p=govexeceventspage&amp;__hstc=121679188.f48434a7246186b6f3778e8fa47f9c1b.1734615169383.1773408014172.1773934861584.212&amp;__hssc=121679188.1.1773934861584&amp;__hsfp=f57c4ad048f37415aab4e7f8d39ad816\">https:\/\/events.defenseone.com\/state-of-defense-2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>3 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW &mdash; Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: &ldquo;The Future of U.S.-Europe Relations,&rdquo; with <strong>Lawrence Freedman<\/strong>, professor, war studies at King&rsquo;s College London; <strong>Eliot Cohen,<\/strong> CSIS chair in strategy; and <strong>Heather Williams<\/strong>, director, CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/future-us-europe-relations-discussion-dr-lawrence-freedman\">https:\/\/www.csis.org\/events\/future-us-europe-relations<\/a><\/p>\n<p>3:30 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW &mdash;&nbsp;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: &ldquo;NATO&rsquo;s Northern Flank and Baltic Security,&rdquo; with Swedish Armed Forces Supreme Commander <strong>Gen. Michael Claesson <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/events.georgetown.edu\/event\/39038-natos-northern-flank-and-baltic-security-reflections-f\">https:\/\/events.georgetown.edu\/event\/39038-natos-northern-flank<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>FRIDAY | MARCH 27<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>8:30 a.m. 11493 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, Virginia &mdash;&nbsp;Government Executive Media Group forum: &ldquo;Securing the Supply Chain and Managing Modern Cyber Threats,&rdquo; with Defense CIO <strong>Kirsten Davies<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/events.washingtontechnology.com\/cmmc-supply-chain\/register\/\">https:\/\/events.washingtontechnology.com\/cmmc-supply-chain\/register<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-sacff-txt\">QUOTE OF THE DAY: &ldquo;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. Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation&rsquo;s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech. That principle has preserved the nation&rsquo;s security for almost 250 years. It must not be abandoned now.&rdquo;  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-cf-add-txt\">&#8211;<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-sacff-txt\">U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman, in ruling against the Pentagon&rsquo;s prohibition against asking about things it doesn&rsquo;t want to be made public<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran war escalates; Tehran powers down amid strikes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2639,"featured_media":2582752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-7.32.03-AM.png?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[53988,32404,75072,73799,76359],"class_list":["post-2582751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-escalation-2","tag-geopolitics","tag-iran-war","tag-middle-east-2","tag-threat-counterthreat"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-7.32.03-AM.png?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2639"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582751"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582755,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582751\/revisions\/2582755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}