03 World

Iran’s regime is being accused of sending a chilling message to its own people after reports that a 19-year-old wrestling champion was executed for protesting.

Saleh Mohammadi, a rising star in Iranian wrestling, was put to death Thursday in what activists say was a public hanging, despite warnings from the United States and pleas from members of the Iranian-American wrestling community.

Human rights advocates blasted the move as another brutal crackdown by the government tied to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As Iran’s military lobs missiles at former friends and longtime enemies, there is a vacuum at the top of its government, according to a new report.

Mojtaba Khamenei was selected to replace his father, Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s supreme leader after the elder Khamenei was killed in a Feb. 28 attack by Israel.

Mojtaba Khamenei has been reported as being wounded in the attack, with the degree to which he was injured varying greatly depending on the source of the report.

🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent just revealed MAJOR DEFECTIONS are happening to the Iranian regime, and he’s watching their bank accounts

“We’re starting to see defections at Treasury. We now know where the Iranian leadership bank accounts are, and those are being… pic.twitter.com/uwHPTK4oxZ

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 19, 2026

Report: Iranian President Pezeshkian Wants to Resign

But there’s no one to whom he can submit that resignation. Perhaps he doesn’t want to go “meet” all his erstwhile terrorist colleagues. Israel Channel 14 is reporting that Iran’s President Pezeshkian wants to resign: @DBalazada reports that President Pezeshkian intended to submit his resignation to the Supreme Leader today following the elimination of Ali Larijani. However, he was informed by the IRGC that a meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei is currently not possible (David).

Pezeshkian was elected president in 2024.

The obvious question: Is there really a new Ayatollah with all his faculties to whom he could resign? More from Channel 14: Pezeshkian is reportedly “exceptionally angry” at the Revolutionary Guards, accusing them of “reckless” conduct. He claims the failure to protect Ali Larijani was not negligence, but a deliberate move to ensure his elimination. The IRGC is reportedly “very pleased” with Larijani’s death, having already prepared an “elimination dossier” on him and his brother. The bottom line – Iran is transitioning into an extremist military regime where Mojtaba Khamenei acts as a mere “puppet” of the Revolutionary Guards, who completely control the country (Channel 14).

Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the… pic.twitter.com/hgCSFH0cqO

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 17, 2026

Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait.

To fully understand what this means, let’s take a look at the battlespace.

Clearing Hormuz: the battlefield pic.twitter.com/TFFsHx2OBy

— streiff (@streiffredstate) March 18, 2026

Iran’s state television published a threat on Wednesday saying the Islamic Republic would be attacking oil and gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates amid a new wave of strikes on its Persian Gulf neighbours and Israel.

Iran used some of its latest missiles to evade air defences and kill two people near Tel Aviv, as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing.

The threat to oil and gas infrastructure resembled other attack warnings put out by Iran during the war, copying the style used by the Israeli military. Iran specifically threatened Saudi Arabia’s Samref Refinery and its Jubail Petrochemical Complex. It also threatened the U.A.E.’s Al Hasan Gas Field and the petrochemical plants and a refinery in Qatar.

President Donald Trump is temporarily suspending a key U.S. shipping rule as the Iran conflict tightens its grip on global energy markets.

The White House confirmed Wednesday that Trump issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, the century-old law requiring goods shipped between U.S. ports to travel on American-built, American-owned vessels crewed mostly by U.S. citizens.

The move is aimed at easing pressure as oil prices surge and supply routes get squeezed.

“President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is just another step to mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on X. “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports for sixty days, and the Administration remains committed to continuing to strengthen our critical supply chains.”