Hamas refuses to give up weapons, demands Board of Peace change Gaza ceasefire plan

Hamas has rejected the US-led Board of Peace's disarmament plan, demanding changes and accusing the mediator of pro-Israel bias.

Hamas rejected the US-led Board of Peace's disarmament plan for the terror group and asked the board to make modifications to it, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. The BoP's high representative, Nickolay Mladenov, and three other mediators were also present, the source added. Separately, while speaking to the BBC, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks accused Mladenov of pro-Israel bias.

The official also accused Israel of not yet fulfilling its obligations of Phase I of the ceasefire deal, saying that Hamas would not participate in Phase II negotiations until Israel does so. "We are waiting for Mladenov to provide a clear timetable for Israel to fulfill the remaining obligations of Phase I," a senior Hamas official told the BBC.

Israel, though, has withdrawn from populated areas of the Gaza Strip to positions east of the Yellow Line, has increased the amount of aid entering the area, and maintains that movement on the terror group's disarmament is needed before further progress can be made on its side. The BoP's disarmament plan was first passed to Hamas during meetings in Cairo last month, following the Trump administration's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff's announcement of Phase II in mid-January. (Read More)

Hamas plans to use Iran, Lebanon negotiations to avoid disarmament, gain control of Gaza's BoP

Hamas is using the instability created by the security situation in southern Lebanon and Iran to avoid advancing its disarmament compromises and gain political force in Gaza, a source from the security establishment warned on Wednesday. According to the source, Hamas is taking advantage of Israel's focus on the Hezbollah situation and the US focus on the Iranian front to buy time and avoid progress on the political front. The main strategy by the Hamas leadership seems to be collecting taxes, recruiting activists, and taking control of goods entering the Gaza Strip.

One of the sources added that Hamas is trying to create the appearance of giving up power, but in practice, even if forced, it will aim to control the new rulers of the Gaza Strip from the shadows. The security source said this mirrors Hezbollah's strategy during the Hassan Nasrallah era, when they didn't seize direct control of Lebanon but had the political and military power to operate without repercussions from the government.

Hamas rejected the US-led Board of Peace's disarmament plan for the terror group and asked the board to make modifications to it, a source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. The BoP's high representative, Nickolay Mladenov, and three other mediators were also present, the source added. The BoP's plan is expected to last between 6 and 8 months, and the duration serves the organization's strategy of buying time, as elections in Israel and the midterm elections in the US will be held during this period, further diverting attention from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, according to Walla, most senior Hamas officials left Qatar for Turkey and other countries after receiving "signals" that it was advisable for them to leave. Qatari security forces tightened their measures to prevent targeted assassinations, and Hamas understood the clues amid fears of similar actions by the Israeli intelligence community. (Source)

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4).

While many of today's top Bible experts are predicting that Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, and several other countries are going to invade Israel according to the prophecy in Ezekiel 38, this timely book explains how Psalm 83 is an entirely different prophecy that occurs prior. Discover how Israel defeats their ancient Arab enemies, and why Americans need to stand beside Israel in this coming war! This book is an updated version of Isralestine, The Ancient Blueprints of the Future Middle East, which was written by the same author. This updated version includes over 17 new chapters and appendices. (CLICK HERE)

Minister Bezalel Smotrich: 'Peace with Lebanon? Only through strength, power, and victory'

Minister Smotrich in an interview with Arutz Sheva: 'We are clearing a security buffer zone in Lebanon, we will continue to strike Hezbollah, and we will restore security to the residents of the north.'

Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich said in an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that Israel’s military campaign in southern Lebanon is aimed at deepening achievements against Hezbollah and ensuring long-term security for northern communities. “We are cleansing a security zone in Lebanon. There will be no infiltration threat, no anti-tank missile threat. We will continue striking Hezbollah and restore security to the residents of the north," Smotrich said, adding that the campaign is part of what he described as dismantling “the Iranian axis of evil over the past two and a half years."  

Smotrich pointed to continued rocket fire from southern Lebanon, including incidents reported in the morning, as evidence of the need to sustain military pressure on Hezbollah. He also referenced indirect diplomatic contacts with Lebanon, saying they reinforce his long-held political outlook. “Even the indirect negotiations that began yesterday with the Lebanese government prove that the right-wing approach over the years was correct. Peace can be achieved through strength, power and victory," he said. “Those who think peace comes through withdrawals and the defeatism of Oslo do not understand the neighborhood they live in." 

  

Turning to Iran, Smotrich said the country had “suffered a very heavy blow," while expressing support for continued pressure. “We hope more is still ahead. Will it surrender under economic pressure, or will we need to force it again with full strength? Time will tell," he said. He added that Israel is working to remove what he described as an existential threat from nuclear development and ballistic missiles, while dismantling regional proxy networks. (Read more)

Bereaved families: Hamas disarmament failed, it's time for victory

Dozens of bereaved families pen harsh letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warn Hamas has had time to regroup.

Dozens of bereaved families affiliated with Hagevura Forum on Wednesday morning sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a transition to the final stage of decisive military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The appeal comes following the expiration of an ultimatum given to the terrorist organization to disarm. According to the families, the ultimatum allowed Hamas time to regroup but failed to produce any diplomatic results.

In their letter, the families first expressed support for the government’s recent military operations in Iran and Lebanon, but warned against complacency on the southern front, stressing, "The central lesson of October 7 is that no threat can be taken lightly." "What was clear from the outset is now clear to all: The terrorist organization has no intention of giving up its weapons. Any attempt to rely on international actors is doomed to fail."]

The bereaved families, who lost loved ones in the war, stressed that Israel’s security must remain solely in Israeli hands, warning, "No one will do the State of Israel's work for us. The only one who can remove the threat is the IDF. You pledged that Gaza would no longer pose a threat - now stand by your word. In their deaths, our loved ones commanded us victory and courage." (Ed note: AND, more than one American President needed to get their nose out if Israel's business, and let them fight and take back their land.)   (Source)

Netanyahu: We are about to subdue Bint Jbeil

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement this evening (Wednesday) on the campaigns in Lebanon and Iran. "I stand by the residents of the north who are continuing to stand firm. At the same time, our forces are continuing to strike Hezbollah. The fighting is focused on Bint Jbeil. Bint Jbeil was the capital of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. This is the place where Hassan Nasrallah said 26 years ago: 'The Israelis are cobwebs.' We are about to overcome Bint Jbeil; we are, in effect, about to eliminate this great stronghold of Hezbollah," Netanyahu began.

He noted that "at the same time, I instructed the IDF yesterday to continue widening the security zone and to also spread it eastward toward the slopes of Mount Hermon, so that we can better assist our Druze brothers in their time of distress." "Concurrently, we are conducting negotiations with Lebanon. These negotiations have not taken place for over 40 years. They are happening now because we are very strong, and nations are coming to us, not just Lebanon. In the negotiations with Lebanon, there are two central goals: First, the disarming of Hezbollah, and second, a sustainable peace. Peace through strength," eh stated.

On Iran, he said, "Our American friends are updating us constantly on their contacts with Iran. Our goals and those of the United States are identical: We want to see the enriched material removed from Iran, we want to see the cancellation of enrichment capabilities within Iran, and of course, we want to see the opening of the straits. It is too early to say how this matter will end, or even how it will progress. In anticipation of the possibility that fighting may resume, we are prepared for any scenario." (Ed note: Remember, this 'Bint Jbeil' is a city on the border with Israel, not the Jbeil which was Gebal in Psalm 83:7 That Jbeil is about 38 miles above the city of Beirut.)  (Source)

Iranian Parliament speaker: Iran and Hezbollah are 'one soul'

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declares that no ceasefire with the US is possible without including Lebanon, demanding America abandon its "Israel First" policy.

Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday insisted once again that no ceasefire in Iran would be possible without the inclusion of Lebanon. “The completion and consolidation of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon will be the result of the resistance and steadfast struggle of the great Hezbollah and the unity of the Axis of Resistance," Ghalibaf wrote in a post on social media.

He added, “The United States must comply with the agreement. Resistance and Iran are one soul, both in war and in ceasefire. America should withdraw from ‘Israel First’ mistake." Last Friday, as Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad for peace talks with the United States, he stated that negotiations would begin if Washington accepted Tehran’s “preconditions."

Those preconditions were a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets. Ghalibaf claimed in a post on social media that both had been "mutually agreed upon between the parties" but had "yet to be implemented," Despite the claims by Iranian officials that a ceasefire in Lebanon is part of the ceasefire between the US and Iran, the US and Israel have clarified that Lebanon is not included in the Iran ceasefire. (Source)

THE FUTURE WAR PROPHECIES

In the last days, mankind will dwell in a war-torn world! Conventional battles, nuclear exchanges and supernatural demonic invasions are coming. The FUTURE WAR Prophecies book and DVD locates the battlefields, identifies the participants, explains the motives, provides the details and explores the outcomes of these coming world changing conflicts which include:

• Israel vs. Iran and its proxies,
• The destruction of Damascus in Isaiah 17,
• The final Arab-Israeli war of Psalm 83,
• The Russian coalition’s invasion of Israel in Ezekiel 38,
• The two Christian-killing crusades of the Tribulation Period,
• The demonic invasion that torments unsaved people for 5 months,
• The 200-million demonic army that kills one-third of humankind,
• The war in heaven between Michael the archangel vs. Satan,
• The battle of Armageddon between Jesus Christ vs. Antichrist,
• The final Gog of Magog War at the end of the Millennium.

These wars and more are covered in this revealing book. Don’t be caught in the crossfire! Discover what wars are coming so that you can keep yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way. (CLICK HERE)

1st time in 43 years: Direct talks between Israel, Lebanon begin

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon have begun talks in Washington for the first time in more than four decades. 

The first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in move 40 years began today (Tuesday) at the American State Department. The meeting is taking place at the US State Department in Washington, with Israel making it clear before it began that the talks will have no impact on the fighting in Lebanon. At the same time as the talks opened, the IDF announced preparations for increased fire from Hezbollah. As they began, incessant alarms sounded in Kiryat Shmona and other settlements in the Galilee region, after a drone strike at the entrance to Nahariya.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before the talks began, "The Lebanese people are victims of Iranian aggression, and this needs to stop. And so our hope here, and I know this will be a process, is that all of the complexities of this matter are not going to be resolved in a very positive context from a terrorist proxy of Iran. So that is the hope here today."

Rubio added that this is a lengthy process, "This is more than just one day. This will take time, but we believe it is worth this endeavor, and it is a historic gathering that we hope to build on. And the hope today is that we can outline the framework upon which a permanent and lasting peace can be developed." on the Israeli side is Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, and on the Lebanese side is Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamada Muawed. Participating on the American side are US Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa and Mike Needham from the US State Department. (Source)

"Do You Think We Are Idiots?" Northern Leader Blasts Netanyahu and Trump over Lebanon Negotiations

Margaliot Chairman Eitan Davidi warns that residents of the north are being ignored while the Isreali media focuses on Iran and entertainment during ongoing rocket attacks. Eitan Davidi, the chairman of Moshav Margaliot, issued a scathing critique this morning against the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Directing his anger at both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, Davidi claimed that the residents living on the front lines are being completely bypassed in decisions regarding their own security.

Davidi suggested that the American administration is doing everything in its power to hinder Israeli military action and prevent a decisive victory, short of openly begging the enemy for a ceasefire. He warned that the Israeli government is making a grave mistake by negotiating over the heads of the northern citizens. "Does Israel think there is a group of idiots sitting here on the fence? They are seriously mistaken," Davidi said. "Wake up, Mr. Prime Minister. The north belongs to the State of Israel. Everyone knows these negotiations will not succeed, and everyone is lying to one another!" 

The remarks come after another day of intense rocket and missile fire from Hezbollah terrorists toward northern communities. Beyond the physical threat, many residents are facing severe economic distress and a lack of adequate public or private bomb shelters. Local citizens have also turned their frustration toward the Israeli media. They argue that while news outlets provide extensive coverage of the campaign against Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the daily reality of living under fire in the north is being marginalized. (Read More)

Nuclear Near Miss: Satellite Images Reveal How Close Israel Came to Bushehr

Russia has issued a severe warning to Israel following airstrikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where hundreds of Russian specialists have been evacuated in the midst of the fighting.
A major diplomatic crisis has erupted between Moscow and Jerusalem following Israeli airstrikes in the immediate vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. The Kremlin issued an unprecedented warning to the Israeli government, stating that military activity near the site poses a risk of a catastrophic radiological disaster that could affect the entire region. This tension comes as the Russian state nuclear agency, Rosatom, completed its fifth wave of evacuations, pulling 108 specialists out of the facility and leaving only a skeleton crew of 20 senior staff members. While Israel has avoided hitting the reactor itself, satellite imagery has confirmed the destruction of Iranian air defense systems just meters from the site’s perimeter. 

The Bushehr facility is Iran’s only operational commercial nuclear power plant and has long been considered a "civilian shield" for the regime’s broader nuclear ambitions. Because the site is managed and fueled by Russia, any direct hit would likely draw Moscow into the war. Satellite photos from April 2026 reveal that at least two air defense batteries and an adjacent structure were obliterated within 1.5 kilometers of the active reactor. Reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency also suggest that a projectile landed near the compound, killing a security guard with shrapnel. These precision strikes indicate that the IDF is systematically stripping away the defenses protecting the reactor without yet pulling the trigger on the core itself.

The Russian presence at Bushehr is not merely symbolic; it is a multi billion dollar strategic partnership that ties Iran to Russian technology for decades. Before the war, over 700 Russian experts lived at the site, working on the operation of Unit 1 and the construction of additional reactors. The current evacuation signals that Moscow no longer believes it can guarantee the safety of its citizens in the face of Israeli intelligence and air power. As the IDF continues to target military assets embedded within civilian and nuclear infrastructure, the risk of a miscalculation that could spark a confrontation with Russia or a nuclear leak remains the highest priority for international monitors. (Source)

Trump: Iran killed 42,000 protesters in two months

'Absolutely unacceptable' for Iran to have a nuclear bomb, IRGC killed at least 42,000 protesters since February, US President Donald Trump says.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning revealed that Iran has killed tens of thousands of unarmed protesters since February. Biting into Pope Leo XIV, Trump wrote, "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable. Thank you for your attention to this matter. AMERICA IS BACK!!!"

Meanwhile, according to a report by the New York Times, the United States requested during peace negotiations held in Islamabad that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment activities for 20 years, The Iranians, in a formal response sent on Monday, said they would agree to up to five years, according to two senior Iranian officials and one US official who spoke to the New York Times. President Donald Trump has rejected that offer, the US official said.

The official said the US has also asked Iran to remove highly enriched uranium from the country, and the Iranians have insisted the fuel stays inside Iran. But they have offered to dilute it significantly, so that it could not be used to produce a nuclear weapon. There are also discussions of holding another round of in-person negotiations, but officials told the New York Times no plans have been finalized. (Source)

13 Days to Collapse: The ‘Reservoir Kill-Switch’ That Could Permanently Wipe Out Iran’s Oil Empire

A chilling new analysis warns that Trump’s naval blockade has pushed Iran to a point of no return. With storage tanks nearly full, Tehran faces a 13-day ultimatum before its entire oil infrastructure is forced into a catastrophic, permanent shutdown. A sharp new economic analysis is warning that President Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has put Iran on a brutal 13-day clock.

According to Miad Maleki, an Iranian-born former U.S. Treasury official, Iran’s oil storage tanks will reach full capacity in roughly 13 days. Once that happens, Tehran will have no choice but to shut in its own oil wells. Experts say shutting in wells, especially older fields, can cause permanent damage to reservoir pressure and long-term production capacity. It’s not just a short-term headache, it could cripple Iran’s oil industry for years. Maleki’s breakdown, now going viral after being highlighted by macro trader Boris Schlossberg (@Fxflow), paints a dire picture: 

*  90% of Iran’s exports and imports move through the blocked Strait of Hormuz
* Roughly half a billion dollars per day in lost revenue
* The Iranian rial has already crashed more than 50%
* Food inflation is spiking above 120%
* Gasoline shortages could hit 40% nationwide

his comes as the blockade, now in its second day, is already being tested in real time, with a Chinese-linked sanctioned tanker successfully breaching the strait yesterday and a second one entering today. The clock is ticking. (Source)

Chinese‑built satellite in Iranian hands tracked US bases - report

Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic Republic a new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by the Chinesecompany Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China, the report said, citing leaked Iranian military documents.

The Iranian military commanders directed the satellite to monitor major US military sites, the newspaper said, citing time-stamped coordinate lists, satellite imagery, and orbital analysis. The images were taken in March, before and after drone and missile strikes on those locations, FT said. In response to the report, China’s Foreign Ministry stated to Reuters that the notion of Iran using its satellite to direct attacks on US targets was - ‘not true.’ The White House, CIA, Pentagon, as well as Earth Eye Co. and Emposat, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

As part of the deal, the IRGC gained access to commercial ground stations operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider of satellite control and data services, with a network spanning Asia, Latin America, and other regions, according to the report. The satellite captured images of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 13, 14, and 15, FT said. On March 14, US President Donald Trump confirmed US planes at the base had been hit. According to the report, the satellite also monitored Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and locations close to the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Manama, Bahrain, and Erbil airport, Iraq, around the time of IRGC-claimed attacks on facilities in those areas. (Read More)

The Next Front: Why Israel is Bracing for a Houthi Blockade in the Red Sea

Israeli security officials are increasingly concerned that Houthi terrorists in Yemen will attempt to block the Bab al-Mandeb strait as a "price tag" for the American blockade of Iran.

While much of the world's attention is focused on the American naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli security officials are turning their gaze toward a different strategic bottleneck: the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Concerns are mounting in Jerusalem that Houthi terrorists in Yemen will move to block this vital waterway, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Such a move would serve as a "price tag" or a retaliatory strike on behalf of their Iranian sponsors, effectively cutting off the primary trade route to the Suez Canal and severely impacting global shipping and the Israeli economy.

The Bab al-Mandeb strait is considered one of the most important shipping lanes in the world, serving as the essential bridge between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Until now, the Houthi terrorists have largely remained on the sidelines of the current war, engaging only sporadically by launching a small number of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel, none of which caused significant damage or casualties. However, defense experts believe that the threat to freedom of navigation is the most potent weapon remaining in the Houthi arsenal. A blockade in the Red Sea would not only target Israel but would disrupt the entire global supply chain, forcing a massive international response. 

 Israel is not operating alone in its efforts to neutralize this threat. Security officials are reportedly in constant and close contact with the United States, as well as regional partners and nations across Europe and Africa. The goal of this international coordination is to establish a unified front that will deter the Houthis from implementing a blockade. The concern remains that an escalation in Yemen could lead to a broader regional war, drawing in multiple navies to protect the freedom of the seas. As the maritime siege on Iran continues, the stability of the Red Sea has become a critical priority for the Israeli defense establishment. (Source)

"A Dangerous Game": Russia Evacuates Nuclear Experts and Warns Israel of Regional Catastrophe

Relations between Jerusalem and Moscow reach a breaking point as Russia evacuates its nuclear experts from Iran’s Bushehr reactor. Following a series of IDF strikes, the Kremlin issued a blistering warning to Israel, labeling the military operations a "dangerous game" that risks a catastrophic regional nuclear disaster. Diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Moscow have reached a "boiling point" as Russia officially evacuated its final team of nuclear experts from Iran’s Bushehr reactor today. The withdrawal follows a series of increasingly sharp warnings from the Kremlin regarding Israeli airstrikes in the vicinity of the nuclear site.

According to a report by political correspondent Yaron Avraham, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Israel have repeatedly contacted Israeli officials over the last several weeks. Moscow’s tone shifted from diplomatic concern to outright condemnation following an IDF strike that reportedly occurred in close proximity to Russian personnel. In a highly unusual and severe move, a senior Kremlin official dispatched a formal letter to a top-tier counterpart in Jerusalem. The message was blunt:

"You are putting our people in danger. This is a dangerous game that could lead to a massive nuclear disaster with severe consequences for the entire Middle East. We call on you to stop."

Sources indicate that the IDF was unaware of the presence of Russian citizens and experts at the specific location during the strike in question. While Israeli officials have since "sharpened protocols" and clarified that there was no intent to harm Russian envoys, the incident has caused significant damage to the strategic coordination between the two powers. The evacuation of the experts from Bushehr is seen as a physical manifestation of Russia's loss of patience. By pulling its specialists out, Moscow is signaling that it no longer considers the site safe, or its relationship with Israel stable enough to guarantee the safety of its citizens. (Read More)

NATO allies refuse to join Trump's Strait of Hormuz blockade

The United States' NATO allies said on Monday they would not get involved in US President Donald Trump's plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, further ratcheting up tensions within the increasingly fragile alliance. Trump said the US military would work with other countries to block all maritime traffic in the waterway, after weekend talks failed to reach an agreement to end the six-week conflict with Iran. The US military later specified that the blockade, due to start at 17:00 p.m. on Monday, would only apply to ships going to or from Iranian ports.

"The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. But NATO allies, including Britain and France, said they would not be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade, saying instead that it was vital to open the waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil usually passes, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28.

Their refusal to participate is yet another point of friction with Trump, who has threatened to withdraw from the military alliance and is weighing pulling some US troops from Europe after several countries resisted supporting the US campaign against Iran by denying US military planes use of their airspace. "We're not supporting the blockade," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC." My decision has been very clearly that whatever the pressure, and there's been some considerable pressure, we're not getting dragged into the war," he said. (Read More)

BREAKING: China Declares Iran Has Opened the Strait of Hormuz for Chinese Ships – Warns U.S. “Do Not Interfere”

As the U.S. Navy launches a full blockade, Beijing reveals a backdoor deal allowing Chinese vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. With oil prices spiking, Iran is now selectively opening the world’s most critical chokepoint to "friendly nations" while shutting out the West. 

Beijing has confirmed that Iranian authorities are allowing Chinese vessels to transit the critical Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Iran conflict. Chinese officials state multiple ships have already passed safely under existing trade and energy agreements, declaring: “The Strait of Hormuz is open to us." Iran is selectively permitting passage for “friendly nations,” including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, while restricting or blocking U.S. and Israeli-linked vessels.

This comes as the U.S. Navy begins a full naval blockade of Iranian ports in the strait today, following the collapse of weekend talks in Pakistan. China is urging immediate de-escalation, warning that any disruption threatens global energy security, especially as Beijing is Iran’s largest oil buyer. Oil prices are spiking sharply. (Read more)

EXCLUSIVE: Iran’s central bank warns economy may take 12 years to rebuild after war

Iran’s central bank has warned President Masoud Pezeshkian that rebuilding the country’s war-damaged economy could take more than a decade, sources familiar with internal deliberations told Iran International. In a stark assessment delivered to the president in recent days, senior economic officials said the damage inflicted during the 40-day war with the United States and Israel—combined with Iran’s already fragile economic situation—could take up to 12 years to repair. Several major airports were damaged during the conflict, while strikes also targeted oil facilities, refineries and petrochemical installations that are central to Iran’s export revenues and industrial supply chains.

Officials involved in the discussions warned that the destruction of production capacity could trigger a sharp surge in inflation in the coming months. According to the assessment presented to the president, inflation could reach as high as 180% if shortages of industrial inputs persist. The same projections estimate that unemployment could rise by around two million people as factories, service providers and small businesses struggle to resume operations. According to sources familiar with the discussions, central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati has been urging Pezeshkian to take urgent steps to stabilize the economy, including restoring full internet access and pursuing an agreement with the United States.

Tehran and Washington appear to be exploring the possibility of further talks following the one in Pakistan last weekend. Iranian economists have long argued that a diplomatic thaw and easing of sanctions could be the best path toward economic stabilization. Iran has maintained a nationwide internet shutdown for weeks during the conflict, a move officials say was intended to counter cyber threats but which has also severely disrupted businesses that rely on global connectivity. Iran’s digital economy accounts for roughly 5–6% of the country’s GDP, and the shutdown has cut off millions of entrepreneurs from customers, payment systems and online platforms. (Read More)

Close-quarters gun battle in Lebanon, ten soldiers wounded, three severely

Israeli Paratroopers conduct fierce and prolonged gun battle with Hezbollah terrorists in Bint Jbeil, leaving ten soldiers wounded, three of whom severely.

Ten IDF soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade were wounded on Monday night in an intense close-quarters confrontation with Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Bint Jbeil, the IDF's main area of operation over the past few days. Forces from the Paratroops Brigade 101st Battalion operated in the town, which is a strategic Hezbollah stronghold. During the operation, the troops encountered a squad of terrorists at very close range, and a fierce and prolonged gun battle ensued.

Three soldiers were severely wounded, another was moderately wounded, and six other soldiers suffered minor injuries. Immediately following the exchange of fire, a complex evacuation mission ensued. Some of the wounded were evacuated via IAF helicopters, while the others were evacuated by vehicle to the border and from there to the hospital. The soldiers' families were notified. (Source)

Rubio to join direct Israel-Lebanon talks at State Department

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take part in direct talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday at the State Department.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in direct talks between Israel and Lebanon scheduled for Tuesday, a State Department official said on Monday night, according to CNN. The US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and State Department counselor Michael Needham will also be part of the US delegation for the negotiations, which will be held at the US State Department. The Israeli and Lebanese delegations will be led by their ambassadors, Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh, respectively.

"This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel's northern border and to support the Government of Lebanon's determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life," the State Department official said. "Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbors should not be talking." The talks mark a significant step as Israel continues its conflict with the Hezbollah terror group while seeking to establish lasting security arrangements along its northern frontier with Lebanon.  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last Thursday that he has instructed the cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible. According to the Prime Minister, the decision follows repeated requests from Lebanon for direct talks. Netanyahu noted that the negotiations would focus on disarming Hezbollah and on establishing peace relations between the two countries. He further stated that Israel appreciates the Lebanese Prime Minister's call to demilitarize Beirut. 

Netanyahu later released a statement in which he clarified, "There is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with full force, and we will not stop until we restore your security." Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, Leiter and Hamadeh held a phone call this past Friday in order to finalize the terms of the talks. (Source)

Officials seek to temper expectations as Israel, Lebanon envoys set to hold historic meeting

Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter will meet with his Lebanese counterpart Nada Hamadeh in Washington on Tuesday morning, marking the most senior in-person engagement ever between the two countries, though two officials familiar with the planning for the Washington meeting told The Times of Israel that expectations should be tempered. “We’re not about to release the peace doves,” said an Israeli official. While a goal of the talks is an eventual peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the more immediate concern is the disarmament of Hezbollah, on which the gaps between the sides are significant, a US official acknowledged.

Lebanon says it is committed to stripping Hezbollah of its weapons, especially after it dragged the country into the Iran war by firing at Israel two days after the February 28 Israeli strike that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei. But Jerusalem is not convinced of Beirut’s ability to deliver and is pushing for more aggressive IDF action, even floating the reestablishment of a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, a policy first employed several decades ago before being abandoned after Israel determined it was counter-productive.

Beirut is hoping Tuesday’s talks will lead to a halt of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, with its foreign minister arguing that such an outcome could be framed as a blow to Iran — which has pushed to extend the truce it inked with the US last week to protect Hezbollah — by further “reinforcing the separation between the Lebanese file and the Iranian track.” (Ed note: The Lebanese government has neither the ability or will to defeat Hezbollah. The Isareli IDF does and will.) (Read More)

Lebanon-Israel talks ‘stabbing resistance in the back,’ Hezbollah leader says

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Monday urged Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to reverse his decision to outlaw the Iranian-backed terrorist group, which he described as “stabbing the resistance in the back. Qassem addressed supporters in a prerecorded statement ahead of historic direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington, D.C., which are set to take place on Tuesday, April 14. “Israel and the United States have openly stated they want to strengthen the army to disarm Hezbollah, fight it, dismantle its institutions and eliminate the resistance, its people and all who support it,” Qassem said, according to a translation by Iran’s Press TV propaganda outlet. “They want the [Lebanese] army to fight its own people—something the army cannot and will not do.”

Hezbollah “will neither calm down nor surrender, and the battlefield will speak,” he warned, calling on Aoun to “confront the [Israeli] aggression together; afterward, we can agree on the future.” Rejecting negotiations with Jerusalem as “futile and humiliating,” Qassem said his terror group would “remain steadfast, keep our heads held high and liberate the land.”An anonymous Lebanese official told the country’s anti-Hezbollah daily Nida Al-Watan on Monday that Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam “succeeded in separating the Lebanese issue from the Iranian one, preventing their fates from being intertwined.” “Iran will not be allowed to intervene and regain control of the situation in Lebanon,” the official said, adding that Tuesday’s meeting would be focused on “the need for a ceasefire before the start of talks, a condition Lebanon has set without receiving an Israeli response so far.”

According to local reports, Lebanese security forces are on high alert, especially in Beirut and the Mount Lebanon Governorate, and are monitoring possible friction in response to the negotiations. A U.S. State Department official confirmed on Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in the talks with Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, and Nada Hamadeh, the Lebanese envoy in Washington. Michel Issa, U.S. envoy to Lebanon, and Michael Needham, State Department counselor, are also scheduled to attend. “ As a direct result of Hezbollah’s reckless actions, the Israeli and Lebanese governments are engaging in open, direct, high-level diplomatic talks—the first such talks since 1993—brokered by the United States,” the official said.Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, following the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war. (Read More)

Israel pummels Hezbollah’s ‘last stronghold’ in southern Lebanon

Israel Defense Forces entered Bint Jbeil, a city in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. The army has called it the “last stronghold” of the terror group Hezbollah that threatens northern Israeli settlements. It expects to conquer it in the coming days. Lebanon’s National News Agency on Sunday described “violent clashes” in the city amid Israeli artillery shelling. The IDF said dozens of terrorists have fled to Bint Jbeil, which it has surrounded for several days. Bint Jbeil is considered a symbol of Hezbollah “resistance.” Its former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah delivered his infamous “cobweb” speech from the city on May 26, 2020 during Israel’s evacuation from Lebanon under then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

“This Israel, with its nuclear weapons and most advanced warplanes in the region, I swear by Allah, is actually weaker than a spider’s web,” Nasrallah said. “Israeli society is war-weary and lacks the resilience to endure a bloody conflict or suffer casualties. Israel may appear strong from the outside, but it’s easily destroyed and defeated.” Nasrallah was eliminated by Israel in Sept. 2024. Israel has announced it intends to clear southern Lebanon of terrorists up to the Litani River to protect its northern residents. Hezbollah has repeatedly broken its pledge to evacuate its forces from the area, which it agreed to do as part of an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal reached in November 2024. On March 2, Hezbollah attacked Israel in solidarity with Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 9 that Israel will hold direct dialogue with Lebanon with a view to disarming Hezbollah. Israel is reportedly under pressure from the Trump administration to wrap up its operations in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire with Iran announced on April 8, even though it contradicts earlier statements by Israel and the U.S. that the Iran agreement does not include Israel’s actions to bring the terrorist group to heel.

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire itself appears on the ropes as Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan on Sunday after talks broke down with his Iranian interlocutors. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said. Tehran opted “not to accept our terms,” Vance said, speaking alongside Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for peace missions, and Jared Kushner, who advises his father-in-law, U.S. President Donald Trump. (Ed note: The city, Bint Jbeil which is located in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, is approximately 60 to 70 miles from the city of Jbeil previously named Byblos and Gebal, which is in Psalm 83:7. But stay tuned as the IDF still could face Hezbollah in such cities as Sidon and Tyre.)  (Source)

Assault on Hezbollah's Fortress: IDF Encircles and Hammers Bint Jbeil | WATCH

According to the military, Israeli forces completed the encirclement of the town over the past week before launching a ground assault. Troops have since entered Bint Jbeil, killing more than 100 Hezbollah operatives, destroying infrastructure, and seizing significant quantities of weapons. The IDF said Monday it is nearing full control of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, a longtime Hezbollah stronghold, following a major offensive led by the 98th Division.

According to the military, Israeli forces completed the encirclement of the town over the past week before launching a ground assault. Troops have since entered Bint Jbeil, killing more than 100 Hezbollah operatives, destroying infrastructure, and seizing significant quantities of weapons. The IDF said operations are still ongoing, with commanders estimating that several more days will be required to eliminate remaining fighters and fully secure the area.

Bint Jbeil has long held symbolic importance for Hezbollah. It was the site of a 2000 speech by former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, in which he described Israel as weaker than a “spider’s web,” a phrase that became a central element of the group’s rhetoric. During the current fighting, the soccer field where that speech was delivered was destroyed, according to Israeli military statements. The IDF said it now controls the town, including key sites associated with Hezbollah’s presence there. (Read more)

US to begin enforcing Strait of Hormuz blockade from Monday morning, CENTCOM announces

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that it would start implementing a complete maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz from Monday at 10 a.m. ET (5 p.m. in Israel), in accordance with US President Donald Trump's decision. "The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," CENTCOM announced, adding that vessels transitioning from and to non-Iranian ports would not be stopped.

The announcement also said that a Notice to Mariners broadcast would be sent before the blockade effectively begins, with vessels urged to contact US forces using "bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches." Trump said on Monday that, after the failure during the first round of negotiations between the US and Iran, the American Navy would block the Strait "effective immediately," with all ships coming and going from Iranian ports being stopped. He also accused Iran of extorting the world by claiming to have placed mines in the Strait, saying that "nobody knows about but them [the mines]."

"We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be blown to hell," Trump added. Finally, Trump said that other countries, along with the US, would be involved in the blockade, without mentioning which countries would actually participate. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted to the blockade by calling it "maximalism," and accusing the US of "shifting goalposts" during the negotiations in Islamabad last week. "Zero lessons learned," he said in his social media statement. (Read More)

Israel cancels school in Lebanon border towns ahead of expected escalation

The Israel Defense Forces’ Home Front Command on Saturday night announced the suspension of all educational activities and restricted public gatherings in communities along the border with Lebanon. The decision to close schools, including those operating in fortified buildings, followed an assessment that Iran-backed Hezbollah would intensify attacks on northern Israeli communities on Sunday and Monday, Channel 12 News reported. The Home Front Command guidelines in the so-called “frontline areas” were also tightened to limit public gatherings to up to 50 people outdoors and 100 indoors, down from a previous cap of 200 people for indoor events.

The restrictions had previously been relaxed on April 9 following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Air-raid sirens continued to sound in Israel’s Upper Galilee on Sunday morning, including in the city of Kiryat Shmona, warning of incoming rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. There were no immediate reports of injuries in the aerial assaults. The IDF during an overnight operation struck a rocket firing position in Southern Lebanon’s Jouaiyya area, “thwarting the launch before it could be carried out,” the military said on Sunday morning, sharing footage of the operation

Hezbollah began firing rockets and suicide drones at Israel on March 2, in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war. In response to the terrorist organization’s violation of the U.S.-brokered Nov. 27, 2024, truce agreement, Jerusalem launched an aerial campaign against Hezbollah and ordered IDF troops to advance and take control of additional areas in Southern Lebanon to halt cross-border attacks. (Ed note: The "Jouaiyya area" is located about 10 miles from the city of Tyre and is a municipality within the Tyre District.) (Source)

Trump orders blockade of Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. Navy would immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of marathon negotiations with Iran aimed at ending almost six weeks of war, placing a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would interdict vessels that had paid tolls to Iran and begin clearing naval mines that Tehran had deployed in the strategic waterway, a chokepoint through which some 20% of global energy supplies transit. “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. “I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

Trump further warned that “any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL.” The statement followed approximately 21 hours of talks in Islamabad mediated by Pakistan, which ended without agreement on terms to halt the conflict that began on Feb. 28. U.S. officials said the negotiations failed due to Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning a pathway to nuclear weapons capability, while Iranian officials accused Washington of failing to build trust. Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, said following the talks that the United States required “an affirmative commitment that [the Iranians] will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon.”

Vance left Pakistan on Sunday after the talks broke down. “The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said.Tehran opted “not to accept our terms,” Vance declared, speaking alongside Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for peace missions, and Jared Kushner, who advises his father-in-law, the U.S. president. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation, said it was time for Washington “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.” The collapse of negotiations casts uncertainty over the 14-day ceasefire set to expire on April 22. Pakistan said it would seek to facilitate renewed dialogue between the parties, urging both sides to maintain the truce.

Control over the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central strategic issue in the conflict, with Iran’s actions affecting global oil flows and maritime security in the Persian Gulf. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting of the Security Cabinet on Sunday evening following Trump’s announcement to discuss its ramifications. Netanyahu said on Saturday night that the Israel Defense Forces’ campaign against Iran and its regional terrorist proxies is “not yet over” despite “historic accomplishments” during 40 days of war. In a televised address, Netanyahu warned that Jerusalem still has “more to do” and remained committed to eliminating the threat posed by Tehran’s remaining “magazine of missiles” and enriched uranium. (Source)

Trump says he doesn’t care if Iran returns to talks: ‘If they don’t come back, I’m fine’

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, United States — US President Donald Trump says he does not care if Iran comes back to negotiations with the United States after talks in Pakistan failed to produce a deal.

“I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine,” Trump tells reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, upon his return from Florida. The US military is set to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday at 10 a.m. ET. (Source)

After talks fail, IDF planning for return to war, Trump mulls strikes on Iran — reports

Apparent coordinated leak to TV networks indicate military preparing for collapse of ceasefire; US: Ending nuke program, support for proxies were ‘red lines’ at talks.

All three major Hebrew TV networks reported that the IDF is gearing up for renewed conflict with Iran as the ceasefire talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic collapsed, in what appeared to be a coordinated leak by defense officials on Sunday. The reported preparations come less than a week after a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan went into effect, and less than a day after negotiations in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal to permanently end the war in the Middle East.

Earlier on Sunday, the Ynet news site reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir instructed the military to move to a “heightened state of readiness” and to prepare for a resumption of hostilities with Iran. Then Channel 12 news reported in the evening, without citing any sources, that the IDF is not only gearing up for renewed conflict with Iran, but it is also preparing for a potential Iranian surprise attack on Israel. The Kan public broadcaster, meanwhile, cited a “senior defense official” as saying that “Israel is interested in renewing the war against Iran,” after the war ended “too early, without sufficient pressure being applied on Iran regarding the nuclear issue and ballistic missiles.”

The report said Israel was awaiting US President Donald Trump’s decision to renew the conflict, at which point the military will attempt to pressure Iran into giving up its nuclear program by striking its energy infrastructure. Channel 13 similarly reported that the IDF’s level of alert has been raised “significantly” and that Zamir instructed the military “to prepare for an immediate resumption of fighting and ordered the initiation of combat readiness procedures.” The IDF has not commented on the reports, but last week, while visiting southern Lebanon, Zamir said that the military is “prepared to return to combat [in Iran] with full force if required at any given moment.” (Read More)

US fails to find support on blockade of Strait of Hormuz? UK's Starmer says, do not back Trump's stance

Starmer said that UK minesweepers and anti-drone capabilities will continue operating in the region but British naval ships and soldiers will not help the US in blocking Iranian ports.

The united states President on Sunday (April 12) blamed the failed talks with Iran on two primary reasons. One, he said that Iran is not willing to give up its "nuclear ambitions" and secondly, Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as promised and laid mines in the waters, effectively making the passage of ships impossible, said the US president.  (Source not avaiable)

Germany says US blockade of Hormuz is pressure tactic, not end of talks

The German government expects negotiations over a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to continue, a spokesperson says.

“The supposed blockade … does not mark the end of this diplomatic process,” the spokesperson says, referring to an announcement by US President Donald Trump. “We see it as a move to ramp up the pressure.”

The spokesperson also cites a statement from US Central Command, which he says “does not mention a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but rather a blockade of Iranian ports — that is a different approach.” (Source)

Vance: Iran rejected our terms for an agreement

US Vice President JD Vance says no agreement was reached with Iran after 21 hours of talks hosted in Pakistan, saying Tehran refused core US demands on its nuclear program.

US Vice President JD Vance said early Sunday morning that talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan had concluded after 21 hours without an agreement after Iran did not accept Washington’s terms for an agreement. Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Vance expressed appreciation for his Pakistani hosts while delivering a sober assessment of the outcome. Vance described the talks as substantive but ultimately unsuccessful in securing a deal.

"We've been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news," he said. "The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America."He added, "So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement." Vance emphasized that the United States had clearly communicated its positions during the negotiations.

"We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on, and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on. And we've made that as clear as we possibly could, and they have chosen not to accept our terms," the Vice President said. When asked what specifically Iran had rejected, Vance declined to detail the private discussions publicly.

"Well, I won't go into all the details because I don't want to negotiate in public after we negotiated for 21 hours in private," he said. "But the simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. That is the core goal of the President of the United States, and that's what we've tried to achieve through these negotiations." (Read More)

Iran says US fell short in key Pakistan negotiations

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said the US failed to gain trust in Pakistan talks, as negotiations ended without agreement.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the United States failed to gain Iran’s trust during the recent round of negotiations held in Pakistan, following the departure of the American delegation In remarks published after the talks, Ghalibaf said that prior to the negotiations, Iran had emphasized its “goodwill and necessary determination," but noted a lack of trust stemming from past experiences.

“My colleagues in the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking initiatives, but in the end, the other side could not gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations," he said. Ghalibaf added that the US had come to understand Iran’s “logic and principles," and now faces a decision on whether it can build the necessary trust. “Now is the time for the US to decide whether it can gain our trust or not," he stated.

He further emphasized that Iran views “power diplomacy" as a parallel approach alongside military struggle in pursuing the rights of the Iranian people, adding that efforts to consolidate what he described as the achievements of “forty days of national defense" would continue without pause. Ghalibaf also expressed appreciation to Pakistan for hosting and facilitating the talks, referring to the country as a “friend and brother" and sending greetings to its people. (Ed note: Oh my, what must we do to "gain their trust?" For real! Iran is still working the US for control and position.)  (Read More)

Out-blockade Iran': Trump floats Hormuz naval blockade in post after Islamabad talks fail

“It would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now,” the article, from Just the News, claimed.

After both the US and Iran reported a failure to reach a deal during the weekend’s ceasefire talks in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared an article suggesting he would "out-blockade Iran’s hold over the Strait of Hormuz." The article, from Just the News, claimed that the president could repurpose the strategy he used against Venezuela, and that “it would be very easy for the US Navy to exert complete control over what does and does not go up and down the Strait now.”

“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer,” Vice President JD Vance said after nearly 24 hours of negotiations. “We will see if the Iranians accept it.” Pakistan, the country currently leading the mediation efforts, released a statement expressing gratitude to both sides for their willingness to negotiate and urging them to uphold the ceasefire until a deal could be reached.

As of Sunday morning, both the US and Iraniandelegations left the negotiation table unsatisfied, with Vance claiming the US had been “quite flexible,” and the Iranian team saying the negotiations had been “conducted in an atmosphere of mistrust.” In addition, Turkish media reported that negotiations surrounding certain key topics were so tense - namely, the management of the Strait of Hormuz - that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff nearly came to blows. (Read More)