TEHRAN DAILY - 19 MARCH 2026
Israel Strikes South Pars Natural Gas Field; IRGC Orders Evacuation of Gulf Energy Sites; Intelligence Minister Khatib Death Confirmed; Iran Executes Three Protesters
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IRGC Strikes Qatar Ras Laffan LNG Facility Causing Extensive Damage After Israel Hits South Pars
Iranian missiles struck Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility causing extensive damage according to QatarEnergy, while UAE shut gas facilities after intercepting missiles, following Israeli strikes on Iran's South Pars gas field Wednesday.
Iran Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib Killed in Overnight Israeli Strikes
Iranian President Pezeshkian confirmed Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in overnight Israeli strikes Wednesday, following Tuesday confirmations of security chief Larijani and Basij commander Soleimani deaths.
IRGC Orders Evacuations of Five Gulf Energy Facilities Threatens Retaliation
IRGC ordered evacuations of five named energy facilities in Saudi Arabia UAE and Qatar including Samref refinery Jubail petrochemical complex and al-Hosn gas field, threatening strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure.
Pentagon Seeks Over 200 Billion Dollars for Iran War Budget Request
Pentagon requested White House approve over 200 billion dollar supplemental funding request to Congress for Iran war operations according to Washington Post citing senior administration official.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Israeli warplanes struck facilities at the South Pars natural gas field in Bushehr province 18 March, marking a major escalation to direct attacks on energy infrastructure and prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to issue urgent evacuation orders for five energy installations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—signaling Tehran's intent to expand retaliation beyond military targets to Gulf energy infrastructure previously considered off-limits. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed 18 March that Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike, representing the third senior leadership death in 48 hours following Ali Larijani and Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a rare public statement 18 March vowing that those behind the assassinations will pay, describing the killings as reflecting the hatred of the enemies of Islam. Iranian state media reported 18 March the execution of three individuals arrested during January protests, while Iran's Health Ministry said 206 people under age 18 have been killed and 1,401 injured in US-Israeli attacks since 28 February. The IRGC announced 18 March the 63rd wave of Operation True Promise 4 struck US energy infrastructure, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that attacks on Iran's energy facilities constitute a serious threat to international peace and security. END SUMMARY.
