Another warning? Trump posts map covered by US flag and arrows pointing at Iran

Trump posts a map showing the Middle East covered by a US flag with arrows targeting Iran, in what appears to be another warning to the Islamic Republic.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday posted what looked like another warning to Iran to his Truth Social platform. Trump’s post featured a map of the Middle East and Central Asia, with the entire region overlaid with the pattern of the United States flag. The country of Iran is highlighted at the center of the map with a dozen red arrows pointing directly at the Islamic Republic. The post came just hours after Trump warned Iran in an earlier post that “the clock is ticking".

"For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! President DJT," he wrote in the earlier post. On Saturday, Trump posted a cryptic message about Iran to his Truth Social account. The post featured an AI-generated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters with several ships, including one flying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, amid reports the war could potentially resume soon.

The text above the graphic read, “It was calm before the storm." These posts come amid speculations that Trump is preparing to order a resumption of strikes on Iran. Trump indicated on Friday that he would be willing to accept a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s nuclear program, but stressed that he would require “a real guarantee" from the Islamic Republic in order to reach a deal to end the war. (Ed note: It seems that President Trump has discovered the world of AI-art and AI-generated images.)  (Read More)

Netanyahu speaks with Trump amid reports Israel, US preparing Iran strikes

PM to convene limited security cabinet; drone strikes UAE nuclear station; Iran media says US offered no concrete concessions, demands shutdown of all but one nuclear facility.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Donald Trump Sunday evening about the war with Iran, Netanyahu’s office confirmed to The Times of Israel. The leaders discussed the possibility of renewing the war with Iran as well as Trump’s recent trip to China, according to Hebrew media reports. Netanyahu was then set to convene top aides and ministers for a security discussion in his office in Jerusalem. Such discussions in the Prime Minister’s Office, often termed the “small security cabinet,” usually include Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. 

Last week, it was reported that Israel and the United States were carrying out intense preparations to renew attacks on Iran, possibly as soon as this week. Sunday’s discussions come after a drone struck a nuclear power plant in the UAE, which, along with Israel, sustained the most blows from Iran during the war. Trump is expected to hold his own Situation Room meeting on Tuesday with his top national security advisers to discuss the options for military action regarding Iran, Axios reported, citing two US officials.

While negotiations have stalled between the US and the Islamic Republic since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, Trump is said to believe that Iran still wants to make a deal. But he threatened consequences for Iran if its leaders do not act quickly. “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” he wrote in a social media post.

In his weekly cabinet meeting prior to his conversation with Trump, Netanyahu said, “Our eyes are open regarding Iran.” Referring to the US president, he added, “I will certainly hear impressions from his trip to China, perhaps other things as well. Certainly, there are many possibilities, and we are prepared for every scenario.”  (Read More)

Drone attack that damaged UAE's Barakah plant designed to 'send message' to UAE, sources tell Post

The drone attack on the civilian Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, which supplies electricity to the United Arab Emirates, was intended to “send a message” to the Emiratis, two sources familiar with the details of the strike told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. According to one of the sources, the drone deliberately targeted one of the facility’s energy suppliers in order to convey the message: “We can also strike the nuclear reactor itself and trigger a nuclear incident.”

The UAE, at this point, is not directly blaming Iran for the attack and is investigating whether Tehran or the Houthis in Yemen are behind the incident. “In any case, it’s Iran who ordered the attack,” the two sources told the Post. Anwar Gargash, senior adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wrote on X/Twitter that the attack on the nuclear facility – “whether carried out directly by those responsible or through one of their proxies – represents a dangerous escalation and a dark development that violates all international laws and norms.”

Gargash said that the attack demonstrated disregard for the lives of civilians in the UAE and across the wider region. “This prohibited escalation once again highlights the nature of the challenges facing the region in confronting the forces of evil, chaos, and destruction. No one will bend the will of the United Arab Emirates.” (Read More)

Hezbollah may return to political assassinations as control over Lebanon weakens, expert says

Hezbollah may resort to assassinating political rivals in Lebanon as its grip on the country weakens, according to a Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC)-affiliated expert who spoke with The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. In recent months, Hezbollah has faced growing restrictions on its power, including new legislation limiting its ability to legally possess weapons and conduct military activity, as well as Beirut’s participation in talks with Jerusalem in Washington.

The measures were introduced after Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into another war by launching attacks following the February 28 assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to a recent ITIC assessment, Hezbollah is acutely aware of Beirut’s fears of a potential civil war and has repeatedly hinted at or directly threatened such a scenario.

The report noted that Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem warned in August that civil war “could happen,” while recent weeks have seen the group intensify its rhetoric against Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In April, Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, declared that once the group concluded its campaign against Israel, a “popular tsunami will sweep away this government, its political sins, and its policies.”

Hezbollah supporters have also circulated online imagery portraying Aoun and Salam as Zionist collaborators. On May 3, the Hezbollah-affiliated “Hezbollah Field” Telegram channel published images depicting Aoun dressed in religious Jewish garb alongside the caption: “A prime minister who is a loyal servant of Zionism and a hostage to Zionist agendas.” (Read More)

IDF issues evacuation warnings for three villages in south Lebanon

The IDF issues evacuation warnings for three villages in southern Lebanon ahead of airstrikes targeting the Hezbollah terror group.

Residents of Harouf, Burj al-Shamali and Debaal are instructed to evacuate at least a kilometer away.

“In light of the Hezbollah terror organization’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you,” warns army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee. (Ed note: the village of Burj al-Shamali is a direct suburb and the site of a major Palestine refugee camp very close to the city of Tyre. The other two villages are about 13 to 18 miles away from Tyre.)  (JPost)

Motor Oil Could Be the Next Thing Drivers Start Panic-Buying — Toyota and Nissan Are Already Warning Dealers

Remember when everyone was rushing to buy 24-packs of two-ply toilet paper? Well, get ready, because I think we’re all going to be stocking up on motor oils very soon .Apparently, Mobil and Shell informed Costco and Walmart earlier this month that they have no packaged product left to send them. “Expect bare shelves in the motor oil section in a few weeks,” they warned. Then, Toyota recently sent a bulletin to its service departments warning of an oil shortage (for certain oil weights). The announcement, shared on X, said that ExxonMobil is anticipating a shortage of 0W-8 and 0W-16. The memo has been confirmed to be genuine by multiple sources, although not by Toyota itself. 

The announcement read:  

Toyota and our supplier ExxonMobil may experience challenges in fulfilling demand for Genuine Toyota Motor Oil (GTMO) 0W-8 and 0W-16 oils due to production and logistics constraints within the global petrochemical supply chain. While Toyota and ExxonMobil continue to work diligently to maintain supply, the following substitution guidelines are recommended for dealers to help manage the demand for the affected products. These measures may allow ExxonMobil to maintain a consistent service-level fill for dealers and help provide continued support for our guests. 

TMNA recommends dealers follow these substitution guidelines one day per week for 0W-8 and one day every other week for 0W-16 or use the substitution percentages set forth below until further written notice. This approach is intended to temporarily reduce demand for both oil weights and support continued national supply. Nissan followed. Earlier today, insiders received a similar bulletin from Nissan that claimed it was already experiencing a motor oil shortage — and was going to start charging more for oil changes. 

The document read:

Due to ongoing global supply constraints impacting key raw materials and refining inputs due to the Middle East Conflict, we have been advised of reduced production capacity for most lubricant products. As a result, Nissan will be implementing the following adjustments, effective May 1, 2026.”

So...What should you do if the motor oil you need runs out? The above bulletin states that vehicles with impacted motor oil should substitute with heavier oil. Is this actually safe? Yeah, for a little while. Using a heavier weight oil will increase drag between engine components, reducing efficiency and dropping your vehicle’s mileage. However, going lighter won’t lubricate your engine enough, which can lead to harsh metal-to-metal contact, increasing friction and accelerating wear. Various engine parts could fail. The heavier weight oil is the lesser evil. (Read More)

'Some people are literally living in their trucks': Trucker drivers feel the squeeze of high diesel prices

WISCONSIN — The sharp increase of diesel prices is straining America’s transportation backbone and driving up costs for both businesses and consumers. Trucks, trains, planes, barges and farming equipment all rely on diesel fuel. The higher transportation costs trickle down, leading to increased prices for nearly everything. The higher the price of diesel goes, the more truck companies have to adjust their margins or cut back. For truck driver Andrew Sawyer of Swift Transportation, that means the raise he was hoping for isn’t coming anytime soon.   

“Most of us are paid by piecemeal. We’re paid by the mile if you work for a major company,” said Sawyer. “So, some of these drivers are out here making $0.40 a mile.” Sawyer acknowledged that doesn’t go far for truckers who are also facing higher prices for everything while out on the road. He is currently on a four-week job, making multiple stops throughout the Midwest. 

“Most people are putting all their money into food and their cell phone bill, and they’re broke in there. Some people are literally living in their trucks,” he added. Randall Olsen, a driver from West Allis who recently returned from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, echoed those concerns. “So, it’s basically us paying for it in the long run,” he said, noting that professional drivers are bearing the brunt of higher fuel surcharges both at work and in their personal lives.  (Ed note: At the pump above, diesel costing $957.76 divided by 145.34 gallons will be $6.59 per gallon. Diesel in California is about $7.40 per gallon.)   (Source)

'Calm before the storm': Trump shares cryptic post on Iran

US President Donald Trump posted a cryptic message about Iran to his Truth Social account on Saturday. The post featured an AI-generated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters with several ships, including one flying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, amid reports the war could potentially resume soon. The text above the graphic read, “It was calm before the storm." The post came amid speculations that Trump may order the resumption of strikes on Iran. The New York Times reported on Saturday that the United States and Israel are making intensive preparations for the possibility of renewed strikes against Iran as early as next week. According to the report, this is the largest military buildup since the ceasefire went into effect. Trump indicated on Friday that he would be willing to accept a 20-year moratorium on Iran’s nuclear program, but stressed that he would require “a real guarantee" from the Islamic Republic in order to reach a deal to end the war.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he was returning from his trip to China, Trump was asked if he had rejected the latest proposal from Iran. “Well, I looked at it, and if I don't like the first sentence, I just throw it away," the President replied, explaining that the first sentence of the Iranian proposal was “an unacceptable sentence because they fully agree, no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don't read the rest of their letter.

Trump was then asked if 20 years is not enough for him for a moratorium, to which he replied, “No, 20 years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them is not enough. In other words, it's got to be a real 20 years, not a fake 20."On Thursday, Trump warned in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News that he is not going to be patient with Iran much longer. “I’m not going to be much more patient. No, I'm not. They should make a deal. Any sane person would make a deal, but they might be crazy," Trump clarified. The interview aired hours after Trump hinted that the war against Iran is not yet over and the military decimation of the Islamic Republic could continue. The comment was made as part of a longer post on Truth Social following Trump’s visit to China. (Source)

Trump: Iran can’t have nuclear weapons because ‘they’re crazy’

Tehran’s erratic conduct in negotiations with Washington demonstrates why the Islamic Republic cannot possess nuclear weapons, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News aired on Friday. “We really had the confines of a deal; no nuclear, they were going to give us the nuclear dust ..., everything we wanted—and every time they’d make a deal, the next day it’s like we didn’t have that conversation. ... And that’s taken place about five times. There’s something wrong with them. Actually, they’re crazy, and you know what? Because of that, they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

Asked by Fox News’ Bret Baier whether Washington had underestimated Iran’s “pain tolerance,” Trump replied, “I didn’t underestimate anything. We hit them unbelievably hard. Look. We left their bridges. We left their electric capacity. We can knock that all out in two days. Two days, everything. We left Kharg Island [the site of the Islamic Republic’s main oil export facilities] other than …, we hit it except for the valves, where the oil comes out. Because when you hit that means you’re gonna lose a little oil.”

\The Iranian regime is “afraid to make a deal” since it has never been in such a position before, Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right. I have to do what’s right,” he said. “The Strait [of Hormuz] will be opened, they will not have a nuclear weapon, and the world will go on, ” Trump continued, adding that energy prices will drop when the conflict comes to a conclusion, “and I think it’s going to end fast.”Aboard Air Force One on his return from a trip to China, Trump told reporters that he would agree to a 20-year freeze of Iran’s nuclear program. “Twenty years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them—it’s gotta be a real 20 years,” he said.

The president further said that he was told directly that the Iranians lack the technological means to remove the enriched uranium material, reportedly buried deep in the ground after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, and that only the U.S. or China could do it. “With that said, I want to get it. And they agreed to it but then they took it back, but they’ll agree to it eventually,” he added. Speaking about Tehran’s counter-proposal to end the conflict, Trump disclosed that he rejected it after reading the first sentence. It was “an unacceptable sentence,” he said. (Source)

'Future belongs to Global South': Iran appoints Ghalibaf to oversee ties with China - What it could mean for the US

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has been appointed to oversee relations with China, Iranian media reported on Sunday (May 17). Ghalibaf was the chief negotiator in talks with the United States that resulted in a ceasefire after Israel and the US launched airstrikes on Iran in Feb. It was not immediately clear who appointed Ghalibaf to the role, but Tasnim said he would “coordinate various sectors of relations between Iran and China.” After his appointment, Ghalibaf backed Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of historic global transformations, stating that "the future belongs to the Global South." Incidentally, the development comes right after US President Donald Trump wrapped up his China visit. There are also reports that suggested that China might have played a back channel role in convincing Iran to come to the negotiation table with the US amid raging war.

"Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has recently been appointed as a special representative of the Islamic republic of Iran for China affairs," Tasnim news agency reported, citing "informed sources". Ghalibaf said that the world was witnessing an accelerated global transformation, declaring that the international arena is “at the cusp of a new order.” He said that Iran's ongoing resistance has accelerated this geopolitical shift, In a post on X, he emphasised that Iran's recent "70-day resistance" against US and Israeli military and economic pressures has acted as a primary catalyst, shortening the timeline for this global paradigm shift. "The world stands at the cusp of a new order. As President Xi said 'The transformation unseen in a century is accelerating across the globe,' and I emphasise that the Iranian nation's 70-day resistance has accelerated this transformation. The future belongs to the Global South," Ghalibaf wrote on X.

Iran depends heavily on China as its biggest trading partner and primary buyer of Iranian oil, with Beijing purchasing the vast majority of Tehran’s crude exports despite Western sanctions. China has also provided Iran with a crucial economic lifeline through financial networks, intermediary companies, and shipping arrangements that help Tehran bypass sanctions. In 2021, the two countries signed a 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement promising major Chinese investments in Iran’s energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors, though much of the anticipated funding has yet to materialise. While both countries share opposition to US influence and cooperate through joint naval drills and technology ties, Beijing continues to balance its regional interests by maintaining strong relations with Gulf Arab states and avoiding deeper entanglement that could trigger Western sanctions. (Read More)

Drone strike hits UAE nuclear power plant

( May 17, 2026 / JNS )  A drone strike sparked a fire outside the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, according to UAE authorities. It was the first time the nation’s only nuclear plant was targeted. No one as yet has taken responsibility for the strike.

There were no reports of injuries and or impact on radiological safety levels, the Associated Press reported. (Source)

IDF infantry platoon commander killed by Hezbollah drone in southern Lebanon

An IDF officer was killed in a Hezbollah explosive drone attack in southern Lebanon on Friday, the military announced Saturday evening, as limited fighting continued with the Iran-backed terror group despite a newly extended ceasefire. The slain officer was named as Cpt. Maoz Israel Recanati, 24, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, from Itamar. Recanati was set to marry his fiancée, Rani, in a month, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We all embrace her and his loved ones during this difficult time,” the statement read.

He was the seventh IDF soldier to be killed in southern Lebanon since the start of the ceasefire, and the 20th since hostilities escalated amid the Iran war. A civilian contractor has also been killed in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, the IDF said Saturday that it shot down several Hezbollah drones that were flying in areas of southern Lebanon where Israeli troops are operating. The drones triggered sirens in several border communities in the Western Galilee.

...For its part, the IDF said Saturday evening that it had struck some 100 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the weekend. According to the military, the targets included surveillance posts, weapon depots, and other infrastructure used by the terror group to advance attacks.

...The strikes were carried out across southern Lebanon, including in the Tyre area. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported strikes on more than two dozen villages on Saturday, including one more than 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the border. It also reported a new exodus of residents toward the southern city of Sidon and the capital Beirut. Hezbollah has, meanwhile, also targeted Israeli forces who have created a deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which Jerusalem says is designed to prevent Hezbollah attacks on communities across the border. Hezbollah has also continued to fire drones and rockets at northern Israel. (Ed note: Along with the bad news, isn't it interesting how the biblical cities keep coming into focus, Tyre and Sidon?)   (Read More)

IDF holds General Staff-level drill along Jordan border

The Israel Defense Forces held a General Staff exercise on Friday to assess readiness for a surprise attack along the eastern border with Jordan in the areas of the 96th “Gilead” and 80th “Edom” Reserve Divisions, the army said. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir drilled the troops who had been called up and examined their preparedness for a variety of scenarios, such as enemy infiltration into communities, responses to drone threats, and complex incidents near the Dead Sea, the IDF said. The exercise included fighter jets and combat helicopters carrying out dozens of aerial strikes within short time frames, as well as the aerial deployment of special forces for immediate intervention in complex incidents within civilian areas. Israeli Air Force special forces simulated a terrorist infiltration incident at a hotel in the area, the military added. 

At a situational assessment following the drill, Zamir was cited as saying, “One of the main lessons taken from the Oct. 7, [2023], massacre is the need for a high and constant level of readiness for a surprise attack on our borders, from the platoon level to the General Staff. This is what we are practicing here today, a General Staff exercise simulating defense against a wide-scale terrorist attack with complex scenarios in a challenging sector, with the mission of defending our borders and the residents of the area as our top priority.”

He continued, “This exercise includes forces from across the IDF’s units and branches, including many reservists who were called up in the middle of the night for a surprise exercise. I deeply appreciate your tremendous contribution and your repeated mobilization, time and again, in every sector.” Speaking of the ongoing security challenges across the nation’s borders, Zamir said they “require that we continue strengthening our readiness, proficiency and ability to contend with complex scenarios. The IDF chief was joined by OC Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen; OC Ground Forces Maj. Gen. Nadav Lotan; OC Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth; OC 80th Division Brig. Gen. Israel Friedler; and OC 96th Division Brig. Gen Oren Simcha. (Ed note: Is General Zamir seeing something develop on the eastern border with Jordan that we don't know about?) (Read More)

Trump Administration Urges UAE to Seize Iranian Island Lavan

Senior Trump administration officials are urging the UAE to seize Iran’s strategic Lavan Island oil terminal, one of Tehran’s largest export hubs, following secret Emirati strikes on the facility in April, according to The Telegraph. Senior officials in the Trump administration are encouraging the United Arab Emirates to deepen its involvement in the ongoing confrontation with Iran, including by seizing control of Lavan Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf.

According to a report published Saturday by The Telegraph, figures close to President Trump have suggested that the UAE should take Lavan Island, which was reportedly targeted in secret Emirati strikes in early April. A former senior Trump security official told the British newspaper: “Go take ’em!” The official added that such a move “would be UAE boots on the ground instead of US.” Lavan Island is one of Iran’s major oil terminals, handling significant volumes of crude oil and refined products. It is considered one of the country’s four largest oil export facilities, alongside Kharg Island.

The push comes after reports that the UAE secretly carried out military strikes on Iranian targets in early April, including a major attack on a refinery at Lavan Island. The strike, which occurred around the time President Trump was announcing a ceasefire following a five-week air campaign, sparked a large fire and took much of the facility offline for months. The Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE used Western-made fighter jets and drones in the operation. 

Iran described the incident as an “enemy attack,” responded with missile and drone barrages against the UAE and Kuwait, and has since linked subsequent incidents to the Lavan strike. The UAE has not publicly confirmed its role in the strikes. However, Emirati officials told The Telegraph that they received stronger backing from Israel and the United States than from other Gulf neighbors, who showed limited solidarity. (Source)

As Hormuz crisis rattles the world, eyes are on another key waterway

HONG KONG — As the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz drags on, guardians of another critical waterway are worried about the precedent it sets for any future clash between the United States and China. “If they go to war in the Pacific, what you are witnessing now in the Strait of Hormuz is just a dry run,” Singaporean Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said last month. Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia all flank the Strait of Malacca — a waterway roughly five times longer and 10 times narrower than the Strait of Hormuz at its tightest point. It carries more than a quarter of global trade, including most of the oil that flows from the Persian Gulf to key Asian markets.

Goods from China are heavily reliant on the strait, which links the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean via the South China Sea, but it also serves as the primary energy lifeline for U.S. allies such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, making control of the waterway crucial in any future U.S.-China conflict. For decades, the U.S. has maintained a strong naval presence across the region, with the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet having played an active role during several wars in Asia, including in Korea and Vietnam. Its constant presence has long irked leaders in China, whose own navy has undergone rapid modernization and is now the largest in the world.

With the two global superpowers in proximity to the strait, the question is whether a Hormuz-style showdown could one day happen here too. “If I was the admiral, I would shut down Malacca,” said Sean Andrews, a retired Australian naval captain, referring to a hypothetical future U.S. conflict with China. “In any potential crisis, Malacca will be a gatekeeping operation of sorts.”

...However, potential disruption may not be as critical as the Hormuz crisis, which has left many Gulf states with effectively no route to the wider ocean. There are alternative routes for vessels if Malacca is blocked, meaning a closure could prove more of an inconvenience than an absolute barrier to trade. Wary of any geostrategic vulnerability, China has spent decades seeking a solution to what former Chinese President Hu Jintao dubbed the “Malacca dilemma,” seeking to reduce its dependence on crude oil imports coming through the strait.  (Read More)

As Iran talks stall, Israel and US prepping to renew war as soon as next week – report

Commandos could be put on the ground to extract nuclear material, US officials tell New York Times; senior Israeli official reportedly says fighting would last ‘days to weeks.’

Israel and the United States are carrying out their most intense preparations yet to renew attacks on Iran, possibly as soon as next week, two Middle Eastern officials told The New York Times on Friday. According to US officials cited by the newspaper, options for renewed operations in Iran include launching a more intense bombing campaign against military and infrastructure sites; conquering Iran’s key oil export hub of Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf; and putting commandos on the mainland to extract nuclear material buried under the rubble.

Extracting the highly enriched uranium would risk several casualties and require thousands of supporting forces to create a perimeter around an area of operation and likely engage with Iranian ground troops, the Times cited military officials as saying. A senior Israeli official was also quoted by Channel 12 as saying Israel was preparing for imminent war and waiting for US President Donald Trump to decide how to proceed in negotiations with Iran to end the conflict.

“The Americans understand that negotiations with Iran are going nowhere,” the unnamed official claimed. “We’re preparing for days to weeks of fighting and waiting for Trump’s final decision. We’ll know more in 24 hours,” the official said. It was unclear why the official cited a 24 hour window. Pakistani-mediated negotiations, supported by China, have failed to secure a settlement between the US and Iran, with the talks faltering over Iran’s nuclear program and the post-war control of the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday, departing after a two-day visit to China, Trump said he would accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment program if Tehran gave a “real” guarantee, in an apparent shift from his earlier demand that Iran pledge to permanently halt enrichment. While Iran, whose leaders are sworn to Israel’s destruction, denies seeking nuclear arms, it has amassed uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels with no peaceful application. Iran’s stockpile of about 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of highly enriched uranium — enough for about ten nuclear warheads — is thought to have been buried following US strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June last year. (Read More)

Atomic Stalemate: Iran Rejects U.S. Demands to Ship Out Nuclear Materials

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has officially admitted that negotiations over the country's enriched uranium stockpile have reached a total impasse.

The prospects for a comprehensive peace deal have dimmed as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced a significant deadlock in the negotiations regarding the regime's enriched uranium. In a statement issued on Friday, Araghchi described the issue of the nuclear material currently in Iran's possession as "extremely complex." He revealed that both the Iranian and American teams have reached the conclusion that a breakthrough is currently impossible, leading to a decision to postpone the topic to a later stage of the talks.

This admission confirms the growing skepticism among international observers who believed that the core issue of the wa r would be the most difficult to resolve. Araghchi clarified that, at this moment, the fate of the uranium is "not on the table" and is not being actively negotiated. This stance stands in direct opposition to President Trump’s recent public declarations, where he claimed with "100% certainty" that the Iranians had already agreed to hand over their material to the United States.

The disagreement centers on the 11 tons of uranium currently held by Tehran, including significant amounts enriched to 20% and 60% purity. While the U.S. and Israel demand the physical removal of these stores as a condition for a permanent ceasefire, Iran is pushing for an end to the war and the removal of the naval blockade before any nuclear concessions are formalized. Araghchi’s comments suggest that Tehran is unwilling to give up its primary source of strategic leverage while the country is still under a maritime siege.

The diplomatic "stall" is being viewed by many as a calculated move by the Iranian leadership to test the resolve of the Trump administration. By removing the nuclear file from the current discussion, Iran hopes to focus the 30-day window on economic relief and a permanent cessation of the air war. However, this strategy carries immense risk, as the White House has repeatedly warned that the military option remains the central pillar of its policy if the nuclear threat is not addressed. (Read More)

Israel set for first-ever F-35 external fuel tank upgrade in force buildup push

New capability would reduce reliance on aerial refueling and improve operational flexibility in long-range missions. But it remains unclear if it would affect aircraft's stealth capabilities.

Systems subsidiary Cyclone to develop an extended-range capability for the F-35 "Adir" fighter jet, in what Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post understands is the first time F-35s will be equipped with external fuel tanks. The deal, valued at over $34 million, or more than NIS 100 million, was signed through the Defense Procurement Directorate and will cover the development and integration of external fuel tanks for the Lockheed Martin-manufactured aircraft. The ministry said the contract is part of its broader force buildup strategy, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Baram.

The tanks will be based on an existing Cyclone design originally developed for the F-16 fighter jet, read a statement issued by the ministry. The new capability is expected to extend the F-35’s operational range, reduce its reliance on aerial refueling, and enhance operational flexibility during long-range missions. Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Postunderstands that it would be the first time F-35s are equipped with external fuel tanks on the stealth aircraft flown by over a dozen nations worldwide.

D&T understands that the aircraft with external fuel tanks will undergo rigorous testing to determine whether the additional fuel tanks affect the aircraft's stealth capabilities, an important component of fifth-generation aircraft. Earlier this month, Israel announced a blockbuster decision to double the size of its F-35 fleet from 50 to 100 and its new F-15IA fleet from 25 to 50. (Read More)

US announces 45-day extension of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

State Department announces a 45-day extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire to allow for further talks. Hezbollah continues to violate the ceasefire by firing on northern Israel.

The US State Department announced on Friday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by 45 days to allow for further talks between the sides. The announcement followed a third round of talks mediated by the Trump administration that was held in Washington, DC. “On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

“The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3. In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries," he added. “We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border," said Pigott.

"Concluding 2 days of negotiations with Lebanese and American officials, I’m looking forward to the next steps. The peace talks were frank and constructive, and are set to move forward on two tracks: security and political," he wrote on social media. "There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers," added Leiter.

On Thursday, following the first day of this round of talks, US officials said the conversations were "productive and positive," adding that they are aimed at securing a permanent peace agreement and ensuring the total disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror organization. The eight-hour session on Thursday focused on a framework for a security agreement. Discussions are scheduled to resume on Friday morning, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to violate the ceasefireon Friday by launching mortar shells and explosive drones towards Israeli territory. (Ed note: What? A 45-day ceasefire with the government of Lebanon? Israel is not at war with that state. It is fighting against Hezbollah, who continues to fire rockets into northern Israel. The state of Lebanon is not able or willing to stop Hezbollah, the IDF can, and will.) (Source)

U.S. Shuts Down Lebanon’s Withdrawal Demand as Israel Carves a Permanent 10km ‘Kill Zone’

Lebanon's request for a full ceasefire and Israeli pullout has been flatly rejected by the White House and sources say the rebuke was sharp.

Lebanon went to Washington asking for help getting Israel out of its south. Washington sent back a message that amounted to a reprimand. According to sources close to the Lebanese government, Beirut recently approached the United States and asked it to apply increased pressure on Israel, specifically, to enforce a comprehensive ceasefire and compel an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon ahead of the next round of negotiations. The White House didn't just decline. Senior American officials made clear that the request itself had caused irritation, with the administration viewing the neutralization of Hezbollah as a non-negotiable precondition for any agreement, not a matter to be bargained away under diplomatic pressure.

The message delivered to Lebanese representatives was unambiguous: the US has already been working to limit Israeli strikes on Beirut, and it will continue doing so. But any Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory is fully conditional on Hezbollah's disarmament. An agreement that sidesteps that issue, American officials said, would only "create the conditions for the next war." Israel and the US did agree to extend the current ceasefire in its existing form to allow negotiations to continue, but on their terms, not Beirut's.

The diplomatic exchange reflects a military reality that is already being physically constructed in southern Lebanon. Israel has established what it calls a "Yellow Line" security zone extending up to 10 kilometers north of the border, giving it control over a line of anti-tank fire and the ability to deploy heavy armor and artillery inside Lebanese territory. Five Israeli maneuvering divisions are currently deployed in Lebanon, the same number that were inside Gaza at the height of that conflict. A source briefed on the matter told NPR that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the buffer zone for the coming months and potentially years, unless it sees tangible progress on Hezbollah's disarmament. (Ed note: The US got that one right.)  (Read More)

IDF destroys Hezbollah terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon

Troops operating under the 146th Division struck over 100 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites, eliminate 60 terrorists, in southern Lebanon.

Troops from the 551st, 401st, and 300th brigade, under the command of the 146th Division, continue operating south of the Forward Defense Line in order to remove threats to Israeli civilians. Over the past week, troops from the 551st Brigade struck more than 100 terrorist infrastructure sites, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

During one of the operations, a weapons storage facility was located in the Ras al-Bayada area and, a short while later, the facility was struck and destroyed. Troops from the 401st Brigade located more than 50 weapons in the area over the past week and destroyed dozens of terrorist infrastructure sites.

Troops from the 300th Brigade continue operating at key points in the area in order to defend the residents of the western Galilee. Thus far, the brigade has destroyed hundreds of terrorist infrastructure sites. The IDF will continue to operate against threats directed at Israeli civilians and IDF troops, and is operating in accordance with the directives of the political echelon. (Ed note: The area of Ras al-Bayada is located about 5 miles south of the city of TYRE.) (Source)

Egypt, Uganda agree to expand Nile water cooperation

El-Sisi said Egypt faces severe water scarcity, with annual per capita water availability falling below 500 cubic meters. 

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed on Wednesday in Kampala to deepen cooperation on Nile water management, aquaculture, trade, and regional security, as Egypt presses for stronger coordination with upstream states over one of Africa’s most politically sensitive river systems.

The talks, held during el-Sisi’s visit to Uganda, focused on the use of the River Nile, environmental pressures on the basin, and wider instability across Africa and the Middle East. According to Uganda’s State House, Museveni said wetland encroachment has become a major threat to the Nile Basin, driven partly by population growth and limited economic opportunities that push people toward farming in fragile ecosystems.

Museveni proposed large-scale fish farming as one way to create jobs, preserve wetlands, and expand exports. El-Sisi said Egypt would support modern aquaculture projects in Uganda and encourage Egyptian investors to enter the sector. The meeting came as Egypt continues to seek support among Nile Basin countries over water security, a longstanding concern sharpened by Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Egypt, which depends heavily on the Nile for freshwater, has repeatedly called for a legally binding agreement on the dam’s operation, while Ethiopia argues the project is essential for development and electricity generation. (Read More)

Trump says ‘decimation’ of Iran’s army ‘to be continued’ after he and China’s Xi discuss Hormuz

US President Donald Trump counted “the military decimation of Iran” among his administration’s accomplishments in a social media post on Thursday, adding, “to be continued!” The phrase, included in a lengthy Truth Social post, suggested he may resume the war against Iran after he returns from his trip to China on Friday. A ceasefire took effect in the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic in early April, though American-Iranian talks have yet to lead to an agreement. “I am not going to be much more patient,” Trump said in an interview aired on Thursday night on Fox News’ “Hannity” program. “They should make a deal.”

US Central Command head Admiral Brad Cooper said in testimony to a US Senate committee on Thursday that the war had significantly degraded Iran’s military capability but that it retained the ability to strike. Tensions also remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, the key pathway for the global oil supply that Iran has blocked since the war began in late February. On Thursday, a ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates was seized and was heading toward Iranian waters, the British military said, while India said a cargo ship was sunk amid the battle over the strait.

Trump said earlier that Chinese President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the strait, and pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in the war. “He said he’s not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show, after the two leaders met in Beijing. “He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said, ‘If I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.'” After talks between Trump and Xi on Thursday, the White House said the leaders had agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.

He also expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s future dependence on the strait, and the leaders agreed that Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons, the readout said. Tehran denies seeking such weapons, but it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. (Read More)

Iran’s FM Araghchi: Tehran has ‘no trust’ in US, will only negotiate if it’s serious

Tehran has “no trust” in the US and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is serious, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says, as talks on ending the war remain on hold. All vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz except those at war with Tehran, Araghchi tells reporters in New Delhi during a visit to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, adding that vessels wanting to transit should coordinate with its navy. The situation around the key conduit is “very complicated,” he says.

“Contradictory messages” have made Iran reluctant about the real intention of the Americans on negotiations, Araghchi says, adding that the mediation process by Pakistan has not failed but is in “difficulty.” Iran is trying to keep the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance but is also prepared to go back to fighting, he says.

Araghchi’s statement on Friday comes hours after US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that he’d agreed in talks with Chinese President Xi ​Jinping that Tehran must reopen the strait. Araghchi says Iran would “appreciate any country who has the ability to help, particularly China.” (Source)

WATCH: 'All of Israel is ours': Smotrich calls to annex West Bank in Jerusalem Day speech

"The time has come for us to finally erase the lines that distinguish between Areas A, B, and C, the entire Land of Israel is ours," Smotrich said at the Religious Zionist Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called to annex the entirety of the West Bank during a speech at a Jerusalem Day rally on Thursday night. Smotrich was addressing students and faculty at the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem - a flagship institution of the Religious Zionist movement, established by the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook, in the 1920s. Smotrich studied at the institution when he was younger.

"We have organized all the new young settlements, and approved more than a hundred new settlements in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said. "In the last three years, we have approved 60,000 housing units in Judea and Samaria. The people of Israel are returning home, and this time forever!" he continued. "The time has come to finally erase the lines that separate Areas A, B, and C. I placed a detailed plan on the cabinet table this week, and I call on the prime minister to adopt it. All of the land of Israel is ours," he added.

Areas A, B, and C are categories for administrative divisions of the West Bank established under the Oslo Accords. "For two and a half years, we have been in the midst of a hard and long war - a war that also costs us heavily, but also with great achievements on all fronts," he said, naming several senior Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas leaders killed since the October 7 massacre. He also praised the passing of the controversial death penalty bill, saying that Nukhba force terrorists will "soon go to hell." (Read More)

IDF striking near Tyre after repeated launches towards Israel

Hezbollah explosive drones fall near the Israel-Lebanon border, forcing students in northern Israel to remain in school after final bell rings.

The IDF is striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon, following a Hezbollah attack on northern Israeli communities. On Friday afternoon, as the last bell of the day rang in schools around Israel, Hezbollah terrorists launched explosive drones towards Israeli territory, setting off sirens in Even Menachem, Shomera, and Zarit. Due to indications of a hostile aircraft infiltration, students in the Maaleh Yosef Regional Council remained in their schools after the bell rang, instead of setting out for home. 

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in northern Israel, a number of explosive drones fell inside Israeli territory, near the Israel-Lebanon border," the IDF said. "No injuries were reported." Two of the drones were reported as having detonated near Shomera.

Earlier on Friday, sirens sounded in the areas of Masad and Eilabun in northern Israel after one projectile that crossed from Lebanon toward Israeli territory was intercepted. "These incidents constitute an additional violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terrorist organization," the IDF added. (Source)

Chief of Staff on eastern border: Prepare for surprise attack

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visits General Staff exercise simulating widescale terrorist assault, says military must maintain constant readiness for surprise attacks on Israel’s borders.

IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir on Friday visited the surprise General Staff exercise, in the eastern border area. He was joined by the Head of the Operations Directorate, MG Itzik Cohen; the Commander of the Ground Forces, MG Nadav Lotan; the Commander of the Central Command, MG Avi Bluth; the Commander of the 80th Division, BG Israel Friedler; the Commander of the 96th Division, BG Oren Simcha; and additional commanders. During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff held a situational assessment, drilled the division’s troops who had been called up, and examined their preparedness for a variety of scenarios. 

"One of the main lessons taken from the October 7th massacre is the need for a high and constant level of readiness for a surprise attack on our borders, from the platoon level to the General Staff," Zamir said during the visit. "This is what we are practicing here today - a General Staff exercise simulating defense against a wide-scale terrorist attack with complex scenarios in a challenging sector, with the mission of defending our borders and the residents of the area as our top priority."

He added, "This exercise is an important and significant drill that reflects the lessons we have learned and implemented, as well as the great importance we place on these sectors. It is our duty to strengthen our preparedness and remain alert and vigilant in the face of a surprise attack scenario. A force capable of arriving quickly at a deadly scene can contain the incident in its initial stages and reduce its scope. We activated multi-domain reserve and standby troops, including aerial support and the deployment of special forces by air - all of this is what we are practicing today." (Ed note: "surprise attack on Israel’s borders." What about a scenario where all the countries that surround Israel, also called the 'inner circle,' attack Israel at one time? That scenario is called Psalm 83.) (Read More)

CENTCOM: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis have been cut off from Iran’s weapons support

Before a US Senate committee, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, stated that the Iranian threat had been "significantly reduced." Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbors and U.S. interests in the region has been “considerably reduced,” CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Cooper said the Iranian threat has been “greatly diminished,” adding that Tehran “no longer threatens regional partners or the United States as it could in the past,” in any domain. He attributed the shift to the effects of recent military pressure, saying Iran’s capabilities have been “significantly weakened.” He noted that, prior to the conflict, Iran’s regional proxy network carried out more than 350 attacks against U.S. forces and diplomatic personnel over a 30-month period, roughly one attack every three days, resulting in the deaths of four American service members.

“Today, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are all cut off from weapons supplies and support from Iran,” the CENTCOM chief said. Cooper also highlighted changes in U.S. air defense tactics, saying American forces have reduced reliance on expensive high-end interceptors to counter Iranian drones, shifting instead toward more cost-effective munitions due to concerns over limited stockpiles. He further claimed that Iran’s drone inventory has been reduced to roughly 10% of its previous capacity. Despite a fragile ceasefire lasting about a month, sporadic clashes between Iranian and U.S.-aligned forces are still being reported. (Source)

Egypt Under Pressure: Sisi Struggles to Balance Economic Ruin with Regional War

Struggling with a massive flight of foreign capital and a collapsing economy, Egypt is fighting to maintain its status as a regional power while the war with Iran threatens its internal stability. 

Egypt is currently trapped in a paradoxical position, according to analysis by Professor Uzi Rabi. While the nation remains a vital strategic player with control over the Suez Canal, its internal economic foundations are crumbling under the weight of regional wars. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is navigating a landscape where Egypt is no longer the undisputed leader of the Arab world, yet it remains the primary buffer against total regional collapse. The ongoing war between Israel and Iran, combined with the instability in Gaza, has placed Cairo in a defensive crouch, fearing that economic hardship could lead to domestic unrest.

The economic numbers are particularly grim. Since the start of the war with Iran, approximately $10 billion in short term foreign capital has fled the country. This exodus of wealth is a direct threat to Egypt's internal stability, impacting everything from energy prices to tourism. Furthermore, Egypt relies on Israel for 15 to 20 percent of its natural gas supply. When the Leviathan gas field was temporarily shut down due to fears of an Iranian strike, the flow of energy to Egypt stopped, highlighting just how vulnerable the country has become to external shocks.

In response to these pressures, Sisi recently hosted French President Emmanuel Macron to present a list of demands. Egypt is seeking European backing for its stance against the displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula, as well as financial credit and investment to keep its economyafloat. The message to Europe is clear: if the West wants Egypt to remain a "defense wall" against refugees and a protector of global trade through the Suez Canal, it must provide immediate and substantial economic and political support.

On the diplomatic front, Egypt is performing a delicate balancing act regarding Iran. While Cairo frequently condemns Tehran to please its allies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it has no interest in joining a military coalition against the Islamic Republic. Instead, Egypt is partnering with countries like Pakistan and Turkey to call for an immediate ceasefire. For Sisi, the war is not a distant geopolitical game, it is an immediate tax on his country’s survival, manifesting in rising insurance premiums for ships in the Suez and a sharp drop in export declarations. (Read More)

Report: US military considering switching name of Iran war to ‘Operation Sledgehammer’ if ceasefire collapses

The US military is considering switching the name of the conflict with Iran to “Operation Sledgehammer” if the ceasefire fully collapses and President Donald Trump orders a return to fighting, NBC reports. Two US officials tell the outlet that the Pentagon is considering renaming “Operation Epic Fury.”

The broadcaster says that the name change could allow Trump to argue that there is a reset on the 60-day clock that would require US Congress to authorize a war.

NBC says that the Trump administration declared an end to Operation Epic Fury with the implementation of the ceasefire, but notes that the Pentagon has continued to use the name. US officials tell the outlet that other names are also under consideration and that the discussions are a sign that Trump is seriously weighing a return to hostilities. (Source)

Operation Sledgehammer: The Pentagon Prepares for a Total Collapse of the Ceasefire

The Pentagon is reportedly planning to rename its military campaign against Iran to "Operation Sledgehammer" in a move that could allow President Trump to bypass legal limits on war powers.    

Signs are mounting that the United States is preparing for a return to active combat with Iran as ceasefire negotiations appear on the verge of total collapse. A report on Tuesday indicated that the Defense Department is considering rebranding its regional military effort from "Operation Epic Fury" to "Operation Sledgehammer." This change reflects a growing expectation within the Pentagon that the current pause in major combat operations will not last.

The proposed name change carries significant legal weight under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. This law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of starting combat, starting a 60-day clock for either withdrawal or congressional approval. Because "Operation Epic Fury" was paused at the 40-day mark, a new operation name could legally "reset" the clock, allowing the administration to continue the war without immediate legislative interference.

President Trump has become increasingly aggressive in his public comments regarding the ceasefire. On Truth Social, he labeled Iran’s recent proposals as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" and told reporters the current diplomatic efforts are on "massive life support." Trump officially rejected the latest offer from Tehran, calling it a "garbage" deal that failed to meet American security requirements. (Read More)

Bolton's Blunt Warning: Iran Talks Are "A Waste of Oxygen" - And the Plutonium Nobody Is Talking About

As Trump and Vance edge toward a historic nuclear framework with Tehran, John Bolton issues a bone-chilling warning: Negotiators are ignoring 210 tons of spent fuel at the Bushehr reactor, enough for over 200 nuclear weapons.

As US and Iranian negotiators inch toward a possible framework agreement, one of America's most hawkish former officials is sounding the alarm, not just about the talks themselves, but about a nuclear threat hiding in plain sight that almost nobody in the room is addressing. John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser during Trump's first term, didn't mince words in a recent interview. Negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran, he said flatly, is "a waste of oxygen."

His argument: in 47 years, Tehran has never once abandoned its strategic objective of acquiring nuclear weapons, not under sanctions, not under diplomatic pressure, not under military strikes. They have lied, cheated, and violated every agreement they ever signed, Bolton contends, including covertly building a replica of North Korea's Yongbyon reactor in the Syrian desert, a facility discovered and destroyed by Israel in September 2007.

...While US negotiators have laser-focused on Iran's uranium enrichment program, the 440 kilograms enriched to 60% purity, the centrifuge cascades at Natanz and Fordow, Bolton and a growing chorus of nonproliferation expertsRussiawarn that a second, potentially larger nuclear threat is sitting untouched in a n-built power plant on Iran's southern coast. Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom, which built and has operated the Bushehr reactor for 15 years, has confirmed that 210 tons of spent nuclear fuel are now stored at the site. Cross-referencing that figure with IAEA reactor performance logs, nuclear experts calculate the spent fuel contains enough plutonium to manufacture more than 200 nuclear weapons. That is not a typo. Two hundred bombs. From a civilian power plant. Sitting in a spent fuel pond with, until recently, inspectors visiting only once every 90 days. 

...The process of chemically stripping plutonium from spent fuel is not as technically forbidding as it sounds. A 1977 US government assessment found that a facility roughly the size of a basketball court, using technology little more advanced than dairy production, could accomplish the separation. Bolton's position is that all of it is theater. Iran made its strategic decision about nuclear weapons 47 years ago, he argues, and has never wavered, not in its words to diplomats, and certainly not in its actions. After Israel launched a major strike on Iran's nuclear facilities last year, Bolton told CNN: "There was never a chance, let me say that again, never a chance that Iran was going to agree to any kind of deal that we would find acceptable. Diplomacy had no chance, given Iran's objectives." (Read More)