Hegseth Says U.S. Will Have COMPLETE CONTROL Of Iran Airspace

March 18, 2026·1 hr 14 min·5 clips

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth vows complete control of Iranian skies, flying over Tehran day and night until America decides it's over.

Hosts Michael Walker and Aaron Bastani discuss day five of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran following the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces that U.S. and Israeli forces will achieve complete control of Iranian airspace within days, enabling continuous bombing campaigns over Tehran and other Iranian cities. The bombing campaign has reportedly killed over 1,000 people according to Iranian media, with the U.S. claiming to have destroyed or sunk more than 20 Iranian vessels including one carrying approximately 180 people. Reports indicate Iran's missile launches have dropped 86% from the conflict's first day, though Iranian government advisor Mohammad Marandi claims the country retains vast majority of its missile stocks. The Washington Post reports U.S. inventories of precision missiles and air defense interceptors are stretched thin, potentially requiring drawdowns from Indo-Pacific stockpiles and leaving insufficient munitions for other threats like China. The discussion emphasizes the cost asymmetry between Iranian kamikaze drones, which use cheap technology like Raspberry Pi components, and expensive interceptor missiles required to stop them. CNN reports the CIA has been working to arm Kurdish forces in Iran to launch a ground operation in western Iran, with the stated strategy of distracting Iranian security forces to allow unarmed protesters in major cities to demonstrate without facing lethal force. This plan contradicts Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi's stated commitment to territorial integrity and has drawn criticism from his supporters. Bastani argues that ideology functions as a weapon for Iran's Islamic Republic, citing the Iran-Iraq War where the regime demonstrated willingness to sustain massive casualties, and that martyrdom remains central to the political theology. He warns that bombing Tehran, a city with 16 million residents in the greater metro area, could constitute one of the great war crimes of the 21st century with no recent precedent for sustained bombing of such a densely populated urban area. Kurdish-Iranian scholar Sara Komanian cautions against viewing Kurds as U.S. proxies, describing them as trapped in a security dilemma where they may need arms for self-defense but face threats from multiple actors including Turkey and potential Iranian successor regimes. Trump admits in a meeting with German Chancellor Merz that the U.S. has killed all the Iranian leaders it had identified as potential replacements for Khamenei, then killed a second wave of potential successors, with a third wave also possibly dead. Despite Trump's stated preference for maintaining regime structures as in Venezuela rather than creating a failed state like Iraq, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declares that whoever replaces Khamenei will be targeted for elimination. The discussion highlights contradictory U.S. goals between avoiding state collapse and CIA-backed separatist operations that could fragment Iran. The tone is analytical and urgent, with hosts examining military, ideological, and geopolitical dimensions of the conflict while expressing moral concern about civilian casualties. Bastani provides historical context on Iranian military resilience and regional politics, while Walker tracks military developments and policy contradictions. The discussion is suited for audiences seeking critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy, Middle East geopolitics, and military strategy beyond mainstream narratives. It appeals to listeners interested in understanding potential humanitarian consequences and the internal contradictions in American war planning.

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