More about the The Muqāwama Doctrine (Arabic: عقيدة المقاومة, ʿaqīdat al-muqāwama) below the fold.
The US military says it will begin blockading Iranian ports on Monday at 14:00 GMT, allowing ships not coming or going to Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says the Strait of Hormuz is open for civilian vessels, but says that military ships “will be dealt with severely”.
Gulf states look for alternatives as Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed
The Iranians have denied that any US military vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, and are threatening consequences if any military vessel attempts to do so.
‘Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas,’ Iran’s Ghalibaf tells US
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament who led the country’s delegation in the Islamabad talks, has again addressed Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
“Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote on X, alongside a map showing prices at gas stations near the White House.
“With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”
President Donald Trump announced Sunday the U.S. Navy will begin blockading ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the news coming after he said Iran promised to open the strait but ultimately did not.
The Islamic Republic of Iran now claims that the ceasefire agreement with the U.S. was meant to cover Israel as well, so that the Jewish state should also stop its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Israel and the United States flatly reject that claim, and a day into the ceasefire, Israel made that point forcefully by carrying out “its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the latest conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month.”
The contemporary political landscape has devolved into a theater of the absurd where Democrat-voting Jews and self-described “Progressive Liberals” have effectively morphed into a PR wing for the Mullahs of Iran. This phenomenon demonstrates a level of historical amnesia that borders on the suicidal, as this faction has traded the ancestral survival instincts forged at Masada for a terminal case of Severe TDS. Continue reading Trump Wins Again
What Vance is saying is Pakistan passed different versions of the same proposal to Washington and Tehran, giving each side a text that did not match what the other had sent.
Result: the biggest day of Israeli bombing in Lebanon, 250+ killed.
Iran’s Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei has ordered courts to expedite trials and executions for Iranians accused of helping foreign enemies, particularly the United States and Israel.
His directive demands that final verdicts, including capital punishment and the confiscation of assets, be carried out without delay or leniency to maintain a deterrent effect against Iranians who are opposed to the Islamic regime.
These expedited measures specifically target those labeled as “enemy agents,” with seized funds reportedly being diverted to state-controlled compensation funds.
“The Islamic Iran is exercising its undeniable right to legitimate self-defense, and we will continue this defense in the most powerful manner possible until our national security is guaranteed,” says Mohseni-Ejei.– visegrad.24
Israeli air raids have torn through densely populated commercial and residential districts in central Beirut without warning, striking the heart of the capital just hours after a ceasefire was announced in the United States-Israeli war with Iran.
The Israeli military claimed it attacked more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters and military targets, though many strikes were in densely populated residential areas. No warnings were given.
Very telling how much trust the Lebanese have in Israeli strike precision. This Christian family was driving when Israel hit a Hezbollah target. Mother lost it, started invoking Jesus, Mary and the saints for safety, daughter driver started calming her that it’s nothing and soon… pic.twitter.com/fJIJYtNecz
Several people reported killed in fresh Israeli attacks on Lebanon
At least 254 people were killed and more than 1,160 were injured in dozens of attackson Beirut, its suburbs, the south of the country and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon raise questions about the future of a fragile Iran-United States ceasefire as the US and Israel insist Lebanon is not included in the agreement.
Lebanon has declared a day of mourning after a wave of Israeli attacks killed at least 200 people and injured more than 1,000 in a single day on Wednesday.
CNN Arabic on Monday published an interview with Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi saying that the Houthis will stay out of the war unless things escalate.
The interesting part is that Yemen’s Saba news agency published its own version of the interview, and while some parts line up, every crazy thing he said about Jews was ignored by CNN:CNN Correspondent: Will the…
Trump threatens action if Tehran fails to comply with deal
US President Donald Trump, writing on social media, says that “all US ships, aircraft, and military personnel” will remain in place around Iran until the “real agreement” on a ceasefire “is fully complied with”, warning of more conflict otherwise.
Lebanon has declared a day of mourning after a wave of Israeli attacks killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,165 in a single day on Wednesday.
“White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said reports the strait is closed are “a case of what they’re saying publicly is different privately—we have seen an uptick in traffic in the strait today,” she said, adding, “it has been relayed to [Trump] privately” that the strait remains open “and these reports publicly are false.””
Ceasefire ‘a mistake’, says Israeli minister from ruling Likud party
Israel’s diaspora affairs minister and member of the ruling Likud party Amichai Chikli says a ceasefire with Iran was “a mistake”, according to local media reports.
“I think it was a mistake to go to a ceasefire at this time. Countries like these, the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany, you need to bring them to their knees,” he told Israel’s 103FM radio.
Vice President JD Vance gave an impromptu press conference as he departed Hungary. At the beginning of his remarks, Vance wanted to clarify several false media reports surrounding the Iran ceasefire deal. WATCH:
In typical U.K political fashion, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer flew to Saudi Arabia to present the optics of participation, when he found out about the Iran ceasefire deal.
Immediately, Starmer, with an apparent mouse in his pocket, heads for the cameras to announce, “well, we’vejust reached this ceasefire.” WATCH (prompted):
Walking away completely is not the answer. Forcing a renegotiation is. It’s time NATO needs to pay the U.S. for it’s involvement with NATO.
For decades, the United States has carried this alliance on its back. We fund it. We defend it. We lead it. Meanwhile, too many member nations freeload, underinvest in their own defense, and still expect American protection. That era should be over. If NATO wants the United States, NATO needs to pay for the United States. Period.
And then there’s Spain.
If Spain is blocking U.S. access to bases and airspace during critical operations tied to Iran, that’s not just unhelpful. That’s betrayal. You don’t get to sit under the NATO umbrella while undermining the very country that makes that umbrella possible.
So here’s the line. Spain should be kicked out of NATO.
Not warned. Not negotiated with. Removed.
An alliance requires loyalty. If Spain won’t stand with America when it matters, they don’t belong. Let them see what defense looks like without the United States backing them.
The US and Israel step up attacks, targeting a century-old medical research centre in Tehran, a bridge near the capital and steel plants after United States President Donald Trump threatens to bomb Iran back to “the Stone Ages”.
During his address to the nation on Wednesday, Trump said that the US was close to completing its core objectives in Iran – but didn’t offer a firm timeline for when the conflict might end. Iran says Tehran will continue to ‘fight back’.
Two of Iran’s biggest steel plants – Khuzestan Steel Company in the city of Ahvaz and Mobarakeh Steel Company in the central Isfahan province – say they have been pushed out of service following a series of US-Israeli attacks.
How far the Houthis are willing to go in this war?
Houthis in Yemen joined the regional conflict between their ally Iran and its enemies, the United States and Israel, by firing ballistic missiles into Israel last week.
UAE tells Iranian expats it will ‘protect rights of all residents’
The UAE says Iranians living there are a “respected and valued” part of society and the state is committed to protecting their safety and rights.
An estimated half a million Iranians live in Dubai alone.
Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure in Iran’s capital yesterday, the military says.
Iran fires more missiles at Israel after United States President Donald Trump threatens to bomb Iran back to “the Stone Ages”. During his address to the nation on Wednesday, Trump said that Washington is close to achieving its war objectives.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says Tehran will continue to fight back for as long as US-Israeli strikes continue. Esmaeil Baghaei adds Tehran “will not tolerate this vicious cycle of war, negotiations, ceasefire”.
TEHRAN — Iran fired missiles across the Middle East on Tuesday as its capital was hit by fresh explosions, after US President Donald Trump threatened the country’s key oil export hub, power stations and desalination plants.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview that US President Donald Trump prefers diplomacy as a way to end the conflict with Iran, and direct talks with Tehran are ongoing through intermediaries.
Trump earlier threatened to target Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure, including power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island, if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement comes after Madrid refused to let Washington use jointly operated military bases for the US-Israel war on Iran.
US President Donald Trump threatened to cut trade with Madrid after the Spanish government denied the US use of the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain, forcing 15 US aircraft to relocate.
Spain has also been a vocal critic of Israel’s war on Gaza. In October, its parliament approved the enshrinement in law of a total arms embargo on Israel, permanently banning the sale of weapons, dual-use technology and military equipment.
Some action in Judea & Samaria:
This is from Al Jazeera, so the language is about “settlers” & “occupied”.
Israeli forces stormed schools run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in the Shuafat refugee camp, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces arrested a 24-year-old student during a raid on his home in Kafr al-Dik, west of Salfit.
Dozens of Israeli settlers set up mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in the village of Birin, southeast of Hebron, to expand the illegal outpost of Mitzpe Ziv.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains closed after it was shut to Muslim worshippers in late February. Israeli authorities extended the state of emergency until mid-April.
The Israeli parliament approved the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners accused of killing Israelis.
For more on what has happened in Palestinian territory this week, here is a recap.
President Donald Trump said he wants to take control of oil in Iran and suggested the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, amid the ongoing US military buildup in the Middle East.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump said he preferred to take control of Iranian oil, comparing the strategy to the US plan in Venezuela, where it aims to control the oil industry indefinitely following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry says it has shot down five drones in the past few hours.
Kuwait says 5 drones shot down
The Kuwait National Guard says it has downed five drones, Kuwait News Agency has reported.
Israeli military intercepts 5 rockets targeting Haifa
United States President Donald Trump says in an interview he wants to “take the oil in Iran” as Tehran accusesWashington plotting a ground attack despite publicly pushing for a negotiated deal.
Kuwait says an Indian worker has been killed in an Iranian attack on a power and desalination plant, as Gulf states report intercepting drones and missiles.
Saudi Prince MbS reveals that President Obama gave Iran $150 billion, and the IRGC didn’t even build a single street with that money.
Instead, they made missiles and drones. And they used the funds Obama provided them to finance and arm terrorists like Hamas, Ansar Allah, and… pic.twitter.com/GiJZvj89dA
Saudi Prince MbS reveals that President Obama gave Iran $150 billion, and the IRGC didn’t even build a single street with that money. Instead, they made missiles and drones. And they used the funds Obama provided them to finance and arm terrorists like Hamas, Ansar Allah, and Hezbollah.
With these funds, Iran offers safe harbor to the leaders of Al Qaeda, including one of Osama Bin Laden’s sons who was indoctrinated into jihadism. Obama is by far the worst man to ever set foot in the Oval Office. The neoliberals like Hillary Clinton, Victoria Nuland, Samantha Power, etc. who ran his administration did so deliberately in order to keep the region destabilized and to use Iran as a buffer to prevent the Gulf states and Israel from amassing too much prosperity.
The Arab Spring in turn was their way of creating a refugee crisis that would plunge Europe into financial and social turmoil, the effects of which are plain to see today as they struggle with irreversible demographic change. Chaos is a ladder, and peace is bad for the Democrats. It was the their way of keeping the Middle East down so they could retain the unipolar world order under the neoliberal agenda. The neoliberals did the same with Ukraine, and they tried to do it with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Georgia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. And they did so through USAID. Evil, evil stuff. Continue reading ‘My favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran’: Trump indicates possibility of seizing Kharg Island
