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Israel’s ambassador to the United States said Sunday that growing unrest inside Iran could ultimately lead to the collapse of the Islamic Republic, arguing that the Iranian people themselves may rise up against the regime.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Ambassador Michael Leiter suggested that any meaningful change on the ground would need to come from within Iran. “I think that we need boots on the ground, but they have got to be Iranian boots, and I think they’re coming,” Leiter said.

He pointed to recent unrest as a sign of deeper dissatisfaction among the population, saying, “probably it’s going to take place, because the Iranian people have had enough. They tried to raise up last month. They were brutally put down.”

Leiter compared the current situation to past historical upheavals, noting that major regime changes often come unexpectedly. “There’s a point of combustion. Look, nobody knew when the Soviet Union would collapse. Nobody knew when the Romanians would turn their guns against their Ceausescu government. But it happened at some point. And if we degrade them enough, the people of Iran are going to say we have had enough and we want a different regime.”

He emphasized that the current focus should remain on weakening Iran’s leadership to the point where it can no longer maintain control. “what we have to focus on now is degrading [Iran] to the point where they have no power left in this regime. Hopefully, that will trigger this combustion point where the people are able to take charge of their own lives. Our focus has to be on degrading this regime to the point where they no longer pose a threat to us, to the region and to the world.”

Leiter also warned about the dangers posed by Iran’s military capabilities and regional influence, stressing the urgency of preventing further escalation. “we cannot allow this regime to move forward with nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and terrorists spreading throughout the region,” he said.

He concluded by underscoring the broader threat posed by Iran’s leadership, adding that “we cannot live anymore with a country that is malign, that has intent on destroying us, that declares it’s going to destroy us all the time and is now firing ballistic missiles into all of its neighbors. This has to stop.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that Tehran will not yield to pressure, pushing back against an ultimatum from President Donald Trump demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or facing potential U.S. strikes on Iranian power facilities.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded in a social media post, insisting that the waterway remains open and placing blame for disruptions on the current conflict. “Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated – not Iran,” Araghchi wrote.

He continued with a pointed message toward Washington, stating, “No insurer – and no Iranian – will be swayed by more threats. Try respect. Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both – or expect neither.”

The remarks followed a statement from President Trump a day earlier, in which he gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to fully reopen the strategic passage or face military consequences targeting its energy infrastructure.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” the President wrote in a post on Truth Social.

In response, Iranian officials issued their own warning, saying that any attack on the country’s energy systems would trigger a broad strike against American and Israeli assets throughout the region.

“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region will be targeted,” a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in remarks carried by Iran’s Fars news agency.

Meanwhile, President Trump indicated Friday that U.S. forces are nearing their objectives in the ongoing campaign against what he called the “terrorist regime of Iran,” suggesting that operations could soon begin to wind down.

His comments came shortly after he told reporters he is not seeking a ceasefire at this stage of the conflict.

“I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” he said.

Several ambulances belonging to Hatzolah Northwest were set ablaze outside a shul in London’s Golders Green neighborhood early Monday morning, in what is being treated as a likely antisemitic attack.

Security camera footage shared with CNN shows three masked individuals approaching a Hatzolah Northwest ambulance and deliberately setting it on fire. The timestamp on the footage reads 1:36 a.m. Monday, and the location is identified as Machzikei Hadath, the name of the adjacent shul.

BREAKING: Video shows 3 hooded men poor gas, ignite the blaze and flee the scene of a massive Hatzolah ambulance arson attack in Golders Green, London. pic.twitter.com/STpJojH7tz

— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) March 23, 2026

A local resident, Charlie Richards, told CNN that she heard “multiple explosions since 2:00 a.m.” Footage she recorded captured a large burst of orange flames followed by thick smoke rising into the sky.

Golders Green, known for its large and established Jewish community, is home to numerous shuls, mosdos, and kosher establishments, making the incident particularly disturbing for local residents.

London’s fire services confirmed to CNN that crews responded to an incident in the Golders Green area. A spokesperson said that at this stage they could not verify the cause of the fire or confirm whether an explosion had taken place.

The attack comes amid a noticeable increase in antisemitic incidents across London in recent years. Just last month, a Jewish-owned bakery was vandalized following a pro-Palestinian Arab protest in which the business was accused of “funding Israel.”

In December, anti-Israel demonstrators targeted another bakery in London owned by Israelis.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2035904750181314663

In November, police were forced to relocate an anti-Israel protest away from St. John’s Wood shul after dozens of protesters gathered outside.

A month earlier, an Israeli academic delivering a lecture at City St. George’s, University of London, had his class disrupted when anti-Israel activists stormed the room, shouting accusations and issuing threats.

{Matzav.com}

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Air raid sirens sounded across central and southern Israel shortly after midnight early Monday, after Iran launched a missile equipped with a splitting warhead. The projectile was successfully intercepted, and no injuries were reported, though debris fell in several locations.

Falling fragments were documented in a number of areas in central Israel. Reports indicated impacts in Bnei Brak and Moshav Gat Rimon, while additional damage from debris was reported in Petach Tikva.

תיעוד התפזרות רסיסי טיל מצרר מעל שמי הארץ

(אורלי אלקלעי) pic.twitter.com/QVp9W9HDbj

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 22, 2026

Earlier Sunday evening, warning sirens were activated twice in northern Israel following additional launches from Iran. Those incidents did not result in any injuries or direct hits. According to initial assessments, one of the missiles fired during that barrage landed in Lebanese territory.

IDF Spokesperson Effie Defrin addressed the developments Sunday night, speaking about the increased pace of Iranian attacks over the past day.

“We have just gone through a complex day on the home front. The fire from Iran and Lebanon continues. We are deepening and expanding our strikes in Iran and Lebanon. We must not forget – we are fighting against a terrorist regime and its proxies. This is an essential campaign. We have achieved significant successes, but it is also exacting a heavy price from us,” Defrin began.

He also stated that “interceptors were fired in Dimona and Arad, but unfortunately we were unable to intercept the missiles launched. Our investigation has shown that the failures in these incidents are unrelated to one another.”

“The threats we faced tonight are not new. These are missiles that have been fired throughout the operation and which we have successfully intercepted in the past. We investigate every such incident. Over 95% of launches are intercepted,” he added.

An Air Canada flight carrying more than 100 passengers was involved in a serious ground collision at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, striking a fire truck while taxiing after landing, according to initial reports.

The aircraft, identified as Air Canada Flight 8646 arriving from Montreal–Trudeau International Airport, reportedly collided with an airport fire vehicle on a taxiway near Runway 4. Early images from the scene show heavy damage to the nose and front section of the regional jet, a Bombardier CRJ-900.

Emergency crews rushed to the site within minutes, and a large-scale response was immediately underway. Initial reports indicated multiple injuries among those involved, though authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties or the severity of injuries.

Unconfirmed reports circulating shortly after the incident suggested the possibility of at least two fatalities and numerous critically injured victims. Officials have not verified those claims as of this time.

In the aftermath of the collision, operations at LaGuardia Airport were suspended as emergency personnel worked to treat the injured and secure the area. Passengers on board the aircraft were being evacuated as responders assessed the situation.

The U.S. administration has recently conveyed a message to Israel’s political leadership indicating that ongoing military plans could take significantly longer than expected, suggesting the war with Iran is likely to continue for several more weeks.

The message comes amid Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and reflects U.S. assessments that efforts to restore security in the vital waterway will not be resolved quickly.

According to a report aired Sunday on Channel 12 News, American officials told Israeli counterparts that operational plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes—may require an extended period to complete.

The U.S. estimate, as cited in the report, is that the operation could take weeks, meaning the broader conflict with Iran will also be prolonged beyond initial expectations.

Officials in Washington emphasized that their objective goes beyond simply reopening the strait. Instead, they are seeking a broader strategic shift that would prevent Iran from exerting influence over global oil and gas markets. “We want a strategic change, even if it takes time,” American officials said.

This message aligns with the ultimatum issued by President Donald Trump to Iran, warning that if the strait is not reopened within 48 hours, the United States will move to destroy Iranian power stations.

Israel has reportedly been briefed on aspects of the U.S. plans and is involved in certain elements, including intelligence-sharing and advisory support related to operations in the region.

The overall takeaway from the American message is clear: if the U.S. proceeds with its planned actions, the war against Iran is not expected to end soon, but rather continue for an extended period, potentially far longer than originally anticipated.

At the same time, senior Israeli officials say that behind the scenes, a broader diplomatic effort is underway involving Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, aimed at brokering an agreement between President Donald Trump and Iran.

According to a separate report, Trump is concerned that the conflict could conclude in a way that appears to show him conceding over the Strait of Hormuz, and is seeking a different outcome in which Iran is seen as backing down. Israeli officials indicated they will align with the U.S. approach. “We would prefer that the strikes continue, but we will do what he decides. We will know by tomorrow, because Trump’s ultimatum expires tomorrow evening,” the officials said.