Iran Confirms Larijani's Death, Iranian Nuclear Power Plant Area Attacked! Israel: Will "Hunt Down" Mujtaba! Trump: Considering U.S. Withdrawal from NATO!

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Source: Futures Daily

Good morning! Here are the important updates.

Iran Confirms Assassination of Top National Security Council Secretary Larijani

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran issued a statement early on the 18th, confirming that Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an airstrike.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency quoted the statement, reporting that Larijani died in the early hours of the 17th. His son Murtaza Larijani, the Deputy Security Affairs Chief of the NSC Secretariat, and several accompanying personnel also lost their lives.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi issued an official statement early on the 18th, mourning the death of the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and former Speaker Ali Larijani in recent terrorist attacks.

Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Efi Doflin said on the 17th that the IDF will “pursue” Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mullah Mohammad Javad Khamenei.

On the evening of the 17th, sources revealed that Iran had pre-designated 3 to 7 alternative officials and military commanders to ensure the continuity of core government functions in case of emergencies.

Iran Nuclear Organization: Bushar Nuclear Power Plant Area Attacked

According to CCTV, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization issued a statement on the 17th, stating that around 7 p.m., the Bushar nuclear power plant area was attacked. The attack caused no casualties, financial, or technical facility damage, and no departments of the nuclear plant were affected.

The organization strongly condemned this act, which severely violates international law regarding the “strict prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities.”

The statement pointed out that such actions against nuclear facilities could have irreversible consequences for Gulf countries and the entire Middle East region.

Trump Says US Should Consider Leaving NATO

According to CCTV, on March 17, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with NATO at the White House. Trump said that whether the U.S. should withdraw from NATO “is indeed something we should consider.”

When asked if he is re-evaluating the US-NATO relationship or even considering withdrawal, Trump responded, “It’s something we should consider, and I can make that decision without Congress.”

However, he added that there are “no specific plans” at the moment but is “not satisfied” with the current situation.

Rising Global Oil Prices, US Plans to Ease Venezuela Sanctions

According to CCTV, on March 17, the US government announced plans to further relax sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry to increase crude oil production amid rising oil prices due to the Iran conflict. The measures could be announced as early as this week, including issuing individual licenses to more foreign companies to allow participation in Venezuela’s oil sector without violating US sanctions.

Sources said the move aims to boost Venezuela’s crude oil output to ease global energy supply tensions.

Analysts: Focus on “Platinum-Palladium Ratio” Mid-term

Yesterday, the domestic platinum-palladium futures market saw a strong rally. By the close, the main platinum contract rose over 4%, and the main palladium contract increased over 2%. During trading, palladium hit a high of 414.70 yuan/gram, with a surge of over 4%, indicating significantly increased market activity.

Qisheng Futures Chief Precious Metals Analyst Liu Xufeng told Futures Daily that current platinum and palladium prices are converging, with no clear short-term direction. He advised investors to stay on the sidelines until a clear breakout signal appears and to focus on the “Platinum-Palladium Ratio” mid-term. Fundamentally, platinum and palladium are diverging significantly. From a price difference perspective, the current platinum-palladium spread is at a historically low level, with potential for widening in the mid-term.

Shi Jingyu, a researcher at Xinhu Futures Precious Metals Research Institute, agreed. She added that increased hydrogen energy policies provide long-term support for platinum. Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other agencies issued a notice on hydrogen energy pilot projects, aiming to reduce the terminal hydrogen price to below 25 yuan/kg by 2030, doubling the number of fuel cell vehicles from 2025 to 100,000. Shi believes that if these targets are met, hydrogen fuel vehicles will have a certain economic advantage over diesel vehicles, creating substantial demand for platinum and driving prices higher. Palladium lacks similar long-term narratives, with weaker fundamental support, making the “Platinum-Palladium Ratio” strengthening more justified.

Shi also noted that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision early Thursday will be highly watched. While a hold is almost certain, market focus will be on the expected number of rate cuts and Powell’s assessment of inflation.

Liu Xufeng pointed out that Middle East conflicts remain the biggest short-term uncertainty. If energy prices stay high, inflation expectations will rise, which could suppress platinum and palladium prices through the Fed’s rate decisions, the strength of the dollar index, and capital outflows.

He warned that platinum and palladium are less liquid commodities, prone to rapid price drops when macro sentiment turns bearish. Triggering stop-loss orders and market panics could lead to sharp volatility.