The briefing for Thursday, March 19.

Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field Wednesday, the world's largest natural gas reserve and a critical source of domestic energy for Iran. The attack set facilities near Asaluyeh ablaze and directly threatens Iran's electricity supply, with 80% of the country's power generation relying on natural gas from this field. Iran's oil ministry reported the fire was under control but the extent of damage remains unclear.

Iran responded with a sweeping assault on Gulf energy infrastructure. Iranian missiles struck Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility causing extensive damage, hit Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery sparking fires, and forced the shutdown of gas facilities in the UAE. Ships were hit off Qatar and the UAE as Iranian attacks intensified, with missile alert sirens sounding across multiple Gulf nations. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all condemned the strikes, with Saudi Arabia's top diplomat saying trust has been "completely shattered."

Oil prices surged above $110 per barrel in morning trading, up more than 50% since the war began February 28. UK natural gas prices jumped 6% before falling back slightly. President Trump warned Iran that continued attacks on Qatar's infrastructure would prompt the US to "massively blow up the entirety" of South Pars, though he said he preferred to avoid that level of destruction. The White House suspended the Jones Act for 60 days to allow non-US ships to transport fuel between American ports, attempting to ease domestic shipping costs as energy prices climb.

Israel killed Iran's intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in an air strike on Tehran, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Wednesday. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed the death, calling it a "cowardly assassination" that left Iran "in deep mourning." Khatib's death continues a systematic campaign to eliminate Iranian leadership since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war February 28.

The IDF said Khatib played a "significant role" in the arrest and killing of protesters during Iran's crackdown on recent demonstrations. Khatib, 66, was appointed intelligence minister in 2021 and held various senior posts in the ministry and Office of the Supreme Leader. The US Treasury had sanctioned him in 2022 for "engaging in cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies." Israeli officials said Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz have authorized the IDF to eliminate any senior Iranian official without additional approval.

The targeting of Iran's intelligence chief comes days after Israel killed Ali Larijani, Iran's security chief and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. More than 1,300 people have been killed in Israeli and US strikes on Iran since the war began, according to Iranian government figures. The systematic removal of senior Iranian officials has deepened a leadership crisis in Tehran, with some figures kept largely out of sight for security reasons.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that air traffic controllers must now use radar to maintain safe distances between helicopters and airplanes at more than 150 of the nation's busiest airports. The new requirement ends the practice of relying on pilots to visually spot other aircraft and maintain separation, a procedure that contributed to last year's fatal midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people.

The policy change follows recent near-misses that demonstrated the failure of visual separation guidelines. On February 27, a police helicopter had to turn sharply to avoid an American Airlines flight landing in San Antonio. Days later on March 2, a helicopter turned away from a small aircraft at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency identified "an overreliance on pilot 'see and avoid' operations that contribute to safety events."

The January 2025 collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington killed many young figure skaters returning from a development camp. Investigators found that controllers in the Reagan tower overly relied on asking pilots to spot aircraft, and the helicopter pilots likely never saw the American Airlines plane as it circled to land. The new radar separation requirements apply lateral or vertical distance standards that controllers must enforce.

The Treasury Department eased sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company Wednesday, allowing US companies to do business with Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) as the Trump administration seeks to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war. The broad authorization permits PDVSA to directly sell Venezuelan oil to US companies and on global markets, a massive shift after years of blocking dealings with Venezuela's government and oil sector.

The license provides targeted relief but maintains some restrictions. Payments cannot go directly to PDVSA but must be sent to a special US-controlled account, meaning Washington will control the cash flow while allowing the oil trade. Deals involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and some Chinese entities remain banned, as do transactions involving Venezuelan debt or bonds. The move is designed to incentivize new investment in Venezuela's energy sector while increasing global oil supply.

Separately, the White House announced Trump would waive Jones Act requirements for 60 days, allowing non-US-flagged vessels to transport goods between US ports. The 1920s law, designed to protect American shipbuilding, is often blamed for higher fuel costs. However, maritime groups said the effect would be minimal, noting oil prices rather than shipping costs drive pump prices. Venezuela sits atop the world's largest oil reserves, though production declined from 3.5 million barrels per day in 1999 to less than 400,000 in 2020.

The US national debt hit a record $39 trillion Wednesday, reaching the milestone just weeks into the Iran war. The unprecedented figure came five months after the debt crossed $38 trillion and highlights competing Trump administration priorities including a massive tax law, boosted defense spending, and immigration enforcement efforts. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett estimated Sunday that the Iran war has cost more than $12 billion so far, with no clear end in sight.

Michael Peterson of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation warned that at the current growth rate, the debt will hit $40 trillion before fall elections. "Borrowing trillion after trillion at this rapid pace with no plan in place is the definition of unsustainable," Peterson said. The Government Accountability Office outlines impacts on Americans including higher borrowing costs for mortgages and cars, lower wages from reduced business investment, and more expensive goods and services.

The federal debt has surged under both parties, fueled by wars, pandemic spending and tax cuts. A White House spokesman pointed to a $41 billion decrease in the federal deficit during Trump's first year back in office, attributing it to higher tax revenue and reduced federal employment. The deficit for fiscal year 2025 was $1.78 trillion on spending of $7.01 trillion and revenue of $5.23 trillion, according to Treasury data.

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration must restore Voice of America's operations within one week, finding that the effective shutdown of the government-run broadcaster was illegal. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the US Agency for Global Media to put together a plan for putting VOA back on air after it had been operating with a skeleton staff since Trump issued an executive order to close it.

Judge Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, Trump's choice to lead the agency, lacked legal authority because she was not confirmed by the Senate. The judge described the decision to suspend more than 1,000 VOA employees as "arbitrary and capricious," saying the government failed to consider legislation determining what languages and regions VOA must serve. Lake had sacked more than 85% of the agency's workforce, leaving most employees on paid administrative leave.

Voice of America was established during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda and had broadcast in 49 languages to 362 million people before the shutdown. Three VOA journalists sued the administration, with White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara saying she hopes Americans will continue supporting the mission to "produce journalism, not propaganda." Trump has since nominated Sarah Rogers as Lake's successor, though that appointment requires Senate confirmation. It remains unclear whether the administration will appeal.