One of the things that's pretty incredible about the media's take on Operation Epic Fury is how they seem to want to spin every news item as somehow evidence that the U.S. is up a creek without a paddle, even as the U.S. is clobbering Iran and their leaders are all being taken out.
As we reported, some of them bemoaned the killing of Ali Larijani, as they tried to paint him as a moderate. Pro tip? If you're such a critical part of the regime that just killed thousands of your own people, you're not a moderate. Larijani's last big move was to try to spread conspiracy theories against the U.S. to sow fear and division. He found out that reality was harsh when he was taken out.
READ MORE: The Media Mourn the Death of Their Favorite Iranian, a ‘Moderate’ Murderer Who Hated the U.S.
Ali Larijani's Last Gasp Lays Bare Iran's Desperation
But whether the left and the media like it or not, and whether they keep thinking we're losing, Iran keeps getting pounded, and Iranian leaders keep getting removed from the playing field.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini was just taken out in strikes launched by the US and Israel, Iranian state TV admitted on Friday.
🔴ELIMINATED: Ali Mohammad Naini, the Spokesperson and Head of the Public Relations Array of the IRGC.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 20, 2026
Naini served in several propaganda and public relations roles. In his role as the IRGC's main propagandist for the past 2 years, he disseminated the regime's terrorist… pic.twitter.com/e29Elb16FS
According to the IDF, he was also the "main propagandist for the past 2 years, he disseminated the regime's terrorist propaganda to its proxies across the Middle East in order to influence and advance terror attacks against Israel." They also said he played a significant role in the suppression of the recent protests. So yeah, media, not a moderate and not a nice guy.
Naini kept insisting that the Iranian navy was in charge ot the Strait of Hormuz, that it hadn't been largely taken out.
“The Strait of Hormuz is completely under the management of the IRGC Navy and Iran has complete sovereignty,” he said, according to the Tasnim News Agency.
“Doesn’t Trump say that he destroyed the Iranian Navy? So if he dares, he can send his ships into the Persian Gulf region.”
Trump may send ships into the area. But Naini isn't going to be around to receive them or make any more remarks.
Meanwhile, US CENTCOM posted receipts on how they were destroying Iranian naval assets and freely pounding missile defenses on the coast of the Strait.
U.S. forces are destroying Iranian naval targets that threaten international shipping in and near the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/qR6FJyI5ZS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2026
Prior to Operation Epic Fury, the Iranian regime used the Karaj Surface-to-Surface Missile Plant to assemble ballistic missiles that threatened Americans, neighboring countries, and commercial shipping. The photo dated March 1, 2026, shows the plant prior to U.S. strikes. The… pic.twitter.com/QEs5toZQpX
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2026
So again, the reality is different than the propaganda.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
Help us report the truth about the Trump administration’s decisive actions to keep Americans safe and bring peace to the world. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member