Reuters World News Cluster munitions, Larijani, Joe Kent and Trump-Takaichi
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Mar 18, 2026 Iran launches strikes with cluster warheads near Tel Aviv in retaliation for a high-level killing. Political fallout deepens as a key Tehran powerbroker’s death complicates diplomacy. U.S. counterterrorism leadership resigns amid tensions over the conflict. Japan’s leader prepares for a delicate meeting with the U.S. president amid regional security concerns.
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Larijani's Death Shrinks Iran's Negotiation Options
- Ali Larijani's death removes a key intermediary in Iran's power structure and complicates negotiation channels.
- Larijani bridged factions and had trust of the clerical establishment, so his loss reduces available interlocutors for outreach.
Joe Kent Resigns Citing Israel's Influence
- Joe Kent, head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, resigned publicly over the Iran war saying Tehran posed no imminent threat.
- Kent blamed Israeli pressure and its American lobby and has ties to Tulsi Gabbard and controversial figures reported in media.
Conflicting Casualty Counts In The Iran War
- Casualty figures from the Iran conflict vary widely and are contested by different sources.
- HRANA reports over 3,000 killed in Iran including 1,300 civilians, while Iranian official figures are much lower and Reuters has not independently verified either.