Netanyahu after Trump meeting: US conditions for Iran must include nuclear weapons, MidEast proxies

He said that although he remains skeptical of any deal with Iran, Trump believes that the conditions for Tehran "may lead them to accept terms that would allow for a good deal."

US negotiations with Iran must include not only the matter of nuclear weapons but also ballistic missiles and the country’s Middle Eastern proxies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Thursday, ahead of take-off from the United States after his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

I have just completed a brief but important visit to Washington, during which I spoke with our great friend, President Trump,” he said. “We share a close, genuine, and open relationship.” The meeting, the seventh between the two since Trump returned to office last year, lasted three hours, two more than the scheduled time. It was more muted than on past visits, with Netanyahu using the White House’s back entrance, which was closed to the press.

The prime minister said that he affirmed to Trump that the negotiations must include “elements that are important to us, to the State of Israel, and, in my view, to the international community as a whole: not only the issue of nuclear weapons but also ballistic missiles and Iranian proxies in the region.” (Read More)

Israel looks to wean itself off US aid, but breaking free could cost both sides

Israel’s battle against Hamas in Gaza over the past two years was waged with extensive military support from the country’s closest ally, the United States. Since the Hamas-led invasion and massacre that sparked the war, Washington has supplied Israel with an estimated $16-22 billion in military assistance. That wartime support supplemented the $3.8 billion the US sends Israel in defense aid annually, together reinforcing the strength of the military alliance.

But while largely appreciated in Jerusalem, the heavy reliance on foreign assistance has also raised concerns in Israel about the downsides of the aid, including the level of control it gives the US over Israel’s military spending and priorities. With the agreement underpinning the annual aid disbursement set to expire in the coming years, the White House occupied by a president who has sought to reduce handouts to foreign allies, and restrictions on arms sales during the war with Hamas a fresh and painful memory, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that Jerusalem will phase out its dependence on US military assistance.

The shift could help recalibrate the US-Israel relationship and address those downsides, but analysts warn it could also carry deep knock-on effects domestically and on the international stage, depleting Israeli coffers and boosting hostile elements. Phasing out aid would represent “a much deeper decline of US influence in the Middle East,” warned former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, adding that it risks weakening US-Israel military ties and calling for careful consideration of a potentially destabilizing move.

While the move carries considerable risk, Israel has survived without US aid before. It fought in 1967 without US weapons, and has found ways to cope with restrictions even since aid was ramped up. After the US restricted the use of American cluster bombs during the 2006 Lebanon War, Israel developed its own improved version For Jerusalem, the challenge of weaning off Washington’s assistance will be to preserve cooperation while reducing unwanted control. (Ed note: But wasn't Someone who said that "Jerusalem was the apple of His eye" left out of this converstion?)   (Read More)

Iran’s FM berates Israeli daily over report of secret mass executions

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday derided a report by the Israel Hayom newspaper that the Islamic Republic had secretly executed thousands of people who participated in protests after telling Washington it would not do so. “Whenever Miriam Adelson’s mouthpiece pushes a dramatic claim about Iran, it’s worth asking who it serves,” Araghchi posted on X, referring to the Israeli-American philanthropist who owns the free daily. “Even the US president has acknowledged where her primary loyalties lie.”

He went on: “In its latest piece, Adelson’s outlet declared — just an hour before [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s White House visit — that Iran had ‘deceived’ Trump. “The facts: No executions have taken place, no court process has been concluded, and more than 2,000 prisoners have been pardoned. Before buying the narrative being peddled, consider who benefits from it — and who may actually be doing the deceiving.” According to the Israel Hayom report, information has reached several intelligence agencies — including Israel’s Mossad and British and German services — indicating that the Islamic Republic has executed thousands of protesters, despite having told the US it wouldn’t do so.

Regime forces have shot or strangled the protesters in custody, the intelligence reportedly indicates, and have told the protesters’ families that they were killed amid the unrest, despite evidence they were arrested alive. The report, published Wednesday in English and Hebrew, cited two unnamed diplomats. It came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump on, among other things, a potential strike on Iran, and it was published shortly before the meeting began. (Read More)

Saudi Royals Predict Trump Will Conduct "Limited Strikes" on Iran

A source within the Saudi royal family reveals to N12 that Riyadh expects President Trump to bypass Prime Minister Netanyahu’s influence and order "limited" military strikes on Iran. The Saudi source suggests that while Netanyahu is pushing for a more radical, decisive strike, Trump is likely to act independently. "We have a feeling that Trump will do what he thinks and that Netanyahu will not influence him this time," the source told Sapir Lipkin.

Negotiations in Oman and Qatar, though blessed by Riyadh, are reportedly failing to move the needle. The source predicts that after approximately two more weeks of dead-end diplomacy, the U.S. will pivot to mil itary action. According to the source, Iran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear or missile programs, rendering the current mediation efforts by Oman and Qatar largely "to no avail."

Despite the diplomatic efforts, Trump is moving forward with plans to amass nearly half of the military power he originally intended to deploy in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. But instead of a full-scale war, the Saudis anticipate "one or two" targeted strikes. They warn, however, that this will only be a "temporary solution" and will not neutralize the long-term Iranian threat to Israel. (Source)

US transported 6,000 Starlink terminals into Iran since January - WSJ

The United States smuggled thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran in January as the Iranian regime cut off internet service in the country as part of a brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests, according to a report published by the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is a satellite-internet network that can be accessed through small, portable Starlink terminals. The US sent around 6,000 terminals to Iran in an unprecedented, direct attempt to deliver internet freedomto regime-stifled protestors, according to officials cited by the outlet.

The majority of the US State Department’s purchase of almost 7,000 terminals was made in January, utilizing funds diverted from similar “internet-freedom initiatives,” to “help anti-regime activists circumvent internet shut-offs in Iran,” officials told WSJ. Starlink terminals are just one of the methods the US has explored for expanding uncensored internet access for Iranians despite regime blackouts.

The US additionally funds virtual private networks (VPNs) for Iranians, and, according to the WSJ, there is some debate among US officials regarding whether Starlink or VPNs better protect Iranian internet freedom. “Operating Starlink without VPNs would make it easier for Iranian authorities to geolocate the user,” US officials told the WSJ, adding that VPNs are “more accessible and cost-effective for a broader base of people." (Read More)

Breitbart Business Digest: The Trump Administration’s Hidden Ace to Rebalance Trade Even if Tariffs Are Struck Down

The legal establishment in Washington has convinced itself that the Supreme Court is about to ride to the rescue of the global trade status quo. Lawyers at white-shoe firms are telling their multinational clients to hold tight: the courts will strike down the President’s tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and the whole trade rebalancing project will collapse.

They’re wrong. Not because the Justices won’t strike down the tariffs. They might. But because the administration has a path forward that doesn’t depend on tariff authority at all, one that rests on powers the statute expressly grants in plain English, and one that may actually be more effective than tariffs at forcing surplus countries to the table.

Here’s the thing the trade establishment doesn’t want to think about: IEEPA doesn’t just let the president regulate imports. It lets him prohibit them. And it lets him issue licenses as exceptions to that prohibition. Those aren’t implied powers or creative readings. They’re right there in the text of the law: the president may “prevent or prohibit” importation and may act “by means of instructions, licenses, or otherwise.” That language points to a mechanism that could reshape the global trade landscape even if every tariff the administration has imposed gets struck down tomorrow. President Donald Trump holds up a display of reciprocal tariff rates during his “Liberation Day” event in the White House Rose Garden on April 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Read More)

Key Points from Zeldin's Speech/Statements Today:

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin spoke today, February 12, 2026, alongside President Trump, announcing the rescission of the 2009 "Endangerment Finding" and ending vehicle greenhouse gas regulations, calling it the "single largest act of deregulation in U.S. history" to boost energy, the economy, and lower costs. He highlighted rolling back climate rules, reorganizing the EPA for efficiency, and addressing issues like diesel exhaust fluid for farmers, framing these as delivering on promises for American prosperity and energy independence.

Key Points from Zeldin's Speech/Statements: 

Deregulation: 

He called rescinding the 2009 finding the "biggest deregulatory action in American history," removing legal basis for many climate rules on cars, power plants, and industry.
Economic Focus: 

Zeldin stated these actions will lower the cost of living, help the auto industry, and bring back manufacturing jobs.
"Follow the Science, Law, and Common Sense": 

He emphasized a commitment to cleaner air, land, and water while removing what he sees as stifling regulations.
Reorganization: 

The EPA is consolidating offices to streamline operations and eliminate inefficiencies.
Farmer/Trucker Support: 

He announced actions to address Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) issues, preventing forced vehicle shutdowns for farmers and truckers.
Tour of States: 

Zeldin noted visiting all 50 states in under a year, listening to concerns about regulations and disaster response. 

 
Context:

* These announcements formalize actions proposed by the Trump administration to reverse Obama-era climate policies, following a Supreme Court ruling.

* The move removes the EPA's justification for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, paving the way for new rules and rescinding old ones, including delaying a Biden-era rule on vehicle emissions. 

* Environmental groups have criticized these moves as the biggest attack on climate action in U.S. history. (Ed note: Anyone looking for a 327 Chevy Chevelle, a 383 Plymouth Road Runner with a 4 speed, or a classic Chevy 2dr Nomad? And what was your favorite Ford? Perhaps we will see those types of cars again.)   (Source: Google AI Overview)

Hamas vows not to lay down arms until Israel’s ‘elimination’

"The matter of Palestinian weapons is linked to the presence or elimination of the occupation," said Osama Hamadan.

Hamas will not lay down its weapons until Israel is “eliminated,” Osama Hamdan, a senior official in the terror organization, vowed on Wednesday. “We have been very clear with mediators, and in our messages passed on to the relevant parties, that the matter of Palestinian weapons is linked to the presence or elimination of the occupation,” stated Hamdan, referencing Israel in an interview with Al Jazeera.

“To this day, the Palestinian national motto states that the occupation needs to be eliminated,” he stated. “The weapons are legal according to international law, and by virtue of the will of the Palestinian people, so these weapons will not be laid down until their goal is achieved.” Hamas’s official charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and refers to parts of the Quran that call for Muslims to kill Jews everywhere.

However, Hamdan said, “if the establishment of a Palestinian state is in the cards, it is possible to have some kind of agreement on a hudna,” or a temporary truce, which according to Islamic doctrine can be used to rebuild, rearm and prepare for future hostilities. (Ed note: Oh my, what did Steve and Jared say? What are ya going to do now, Deal Maker? That's an "in your face, Trump" for sure!) (Read More)

Trump After ‘Good Meeting’ with Netanyahu: ‘Nothing Definitive’ on Iran as Pentagon Preps Second Carrier

President Donald Trump said after a nearly three-hour White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “there was nothing definitive reached” beyond his insistence that negotiations with Iran continue — warning that if a deal cannot be consummated, “we will just have to see what the outcome will be,” as the Pentagon readies a second aircraft carrier for possible deployment to the Middle East. Speaking in a post on Truth Social following Wednesday’s session, Trump described the meeting as “very good,” adding that “the tremendous relationship between our two Countries continues.”

On Iran, however, the president made clear diplomacy remains the immediate track — but not the only option. “There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated,” Trump wrote. “If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be.” Trump pointedly invoked Operation Midnight Hammer — the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year that capped the 12-day Israel-Iran war — as the precedent for what follows failed diplomacy.

“Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them,” he stated. “Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible.” The president added that he and Netanyahu also discussed what he called “tremendous progress” in Gaza and “the Region in general,” concluding, “There is truly PEACE in the Middle East.” The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement posted to X, said the two leaders discussed “the negotiations with Iran, Gaza and regional developments,” with Netanyahu emphasizing “the security needs of the State of Israel in the context of the negotiations.” “The two leaders agreed on continued coordination and the close contact between them,” the Israeli readout said. (Read More)

Iran secretly executed thousands despite promise to US

Tehran promised to halt executions but secretly continued killing protesters while misleading Washington about willingness to negotiate on missiles and terror proxies, sources reveal.

Iran has deceived the United States at least twice to prevent strikes and reach talks in Oman, according to two diplomatic sources, one of them from the region. During the first weeks of January, as the US prepared for a strike and began advancing its forces toward the Gulf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian conveyed messages to the Americans, including a promise that they would respond to initial American demands to avoid a strike. The Americans first demanded a halt to the massacre of protesters and the prevention of the expected executions there. 

Araghchi and Pezeshkian pledged that there would be no executions, and President Trump presented this as an achievement on January 14 that led to postponing the decision to launch a strike. "We were told that the killing in Iran has stopped and there is no plan for executions, or for an execution, or for executions – that's what I was told based on reliable authority."

However, according to intelligence information that reached several intelligence agencies in the West, including the Mossad and the British and German agencies, the executions continued, but efforts were made to conceal them. Instead of hanging protesters who were caught in city squares, they were shot or strangled in custody, and their families were told they died in the protests, even though there is evidence they were arrested alive. According to estimates, this method resulted in thousands of executions, separate from the tens of thousands killed during the dispersal of protests. In addition, the West continuously receives reports about the ongoing suppression of protests and demonstrations breaking out in rural cities, and about mass arrests.

The second story is no less serious. Iran conveyed a message to the Americans through Turkey that it was ready to open negotiations with the US "for comprehensive discussion of all disputes." The Americans demanded details, and according to diplomatic sources, Iran confirmed it would agree to discuss not only the nuclear issue but also long-range missiles and the support and maintenance of terror organizations dependent on it – Hezbollah, the Houthis, the militias in Syria and Iraq, and, of course, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. (Read More)

Iran rushes to protect Natanz, its most crucial nuclear site, from potential US strike

Tehran may have used the delay in the US's potential strike to make the beneath-mountain facility nearly untouchable.

High-resolution satellite imagery of Iran's largest and most crucial remaining nuclear facility shows a recent rush to protect it from potential American or Israeli aerial attack, according to the Institute for Science & International Security (ISIS). Satellite imagery from February 10 appears to show that Tehran has taken advantage of delays in any such attack since the December 28 protests started to better defend the facility. 

The facility in question is a large tunnel complex at Kolang-Gaz La Mountain, aka Pickaxe Mountain, a mountain near the series of Natanz nuclear facilities, which were the center of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program until the Israel-Iran War of June 2025. Most of the other Natanz facilities, including the existing centrifuges at the time, were destroyed in June 2025, but for reasons that have not been fully explained to date, this facility was not struck. Construction started at the site by 2021, and the ISISthink tank and The Jerusalem Post revealed its existence to the public in early 2022.

According to the think tank, the relatively new enormous underground facility is still not thought to be operational, one of the reasons it may not have been struck previously, but there are concerns that it could be used to enrich uranium or even for some kind of clandestine rush to a small nuclear weapon at some point if not dealt with. Certainly, since June 2025, it has received extra attention and emphasis from Iran as its singularly most important undamaged facility for potential nuclear program use. (Read More)

Iran’s poorly maintained ‘dark fleet’ poses major risk for oil spill in Mideast - Guardian

Five of the ships were aging, very large crude carriers capable of holding about 300,000 tons of oil, meaning a single accident could dwarf past disasters, the report noted.

Iran’s network of aging oil tankers used to move crude under sanctions is increasingly being flagged as an environmental and maritime safety risk, with experts warning that a serious accident could trigger a catastrophic spill, The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The Guardian said Pole Star Global assessed 29 Iran-linked vessels that “went dark” by switching off satellite identification systems, and found that about half were older than the recommended 20-year safe service life. Analysts said the ships are believed to be poorly maintained and may fail to meet international safety standards because they operate outside normal scrutiny

Seven of the 29 vessels were placed in an “extreme risk” category because they were over 25 years old, and three were more than 30 years old. It added that five of the ships were both aging and very large crude carriers, capable of holding about 300,000 tons of oil, meaning a single accident could dwarf past disasters, the report noted.

The Guardian cited more than 50 reported incidents involving shadow tankers globally in recent years, ranging from collisions to spills, and said nine oil slicks between 2021 and 2024 were attributed to Russian “dark fleet” vessels. It said the Iranian fleet has drawn less scrutiny, despite analysts warning that its age profile is among the worst observed.  (Read More)

Iran Threatens War Over Second U.S. Carrier's Deployment

Iranian media outlets aligned with the regime reported that Tehran will interpret the deployment of a second American aircraft carrier to the Middle East as a “definite step toward war”. The statement was issued in response to reports that the Pentagon has ordered preparations for a second carrier strike group to deploy to the region.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is already in the Middle East. The Pentagon has ordered the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group to prepare for rapid deployment to the region. The George H.W. Bush is currently off the coast of Virginia, conducting training exercises.

President Trump has not yet given final approval, but if he does, its schedule could be expedited, potentially allowing it to sail within two weeks once the final order is given. Regime-linked media described the potential arrival of a second carrier as a clear escalation that would sabotage ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. This would be the first time in nearly a year that two U.S. aircraft carriers are simultaneously stationed in the region. (Source)

US forces evacuate Syria's al-Tanf military base, relocating to Jordan, sources tell AFP

US forces departed the al-Tanf military base in eastern Syria, relocating troops stationed there to Jordan, two Syrian military sources told Agence-France Presse on Wednesday. "American forces withdrew entirely from al-Tanf base today," a Syrian military source told Agence France-Presse. US forces had been removing equipment from the base for the past 15 days, another Syrian military source told the outlet.

The US forces would "continue to coordinate with [personnel in al-Tanf] from Jordan," the second source added. The al-Tanf base is strategically located in the tri-border area of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. It was established in 2014 as a key hub for operations by the global coalition against Islamic State terrorists.

The base was used to host the evacuated injured soldiers and personnel following an ISIS attack in December. US personnel have also been posted in Jordan for decades, and the forces departing al-Tanf are likely to join an existing US military base in the kingdom. (Ed note: Remember to keep one eye on Syria.)   (Read More)

Why Iran may not afford to close the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran’s frequently invoked threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz may be far easier to signal than to carry out, not least because it would harm allied China more than the hostile West. For now, the threat is muted as Iran and the United States have returned to the negotiating table. But the shadow of war has not lifted. Hardline and influential voices in both capitals continue to push a confrontational line, and the presence of the US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln near Iranian waters is a reminder of how quickly tensions could escalate.

Earlier this week, units from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached and boarded a commercial vessel flying a US flag in the strait, while a US F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that had approached the carrier strike group. On the same day, amid a diplomatic scramble across the region to keep talks alive, hardline lawmakers in Tehran publicly revived calls to close the strait. Yet the economic constraints on any serious disruption are severe.

The China factor

According to data from commodities intelligence provider Kpler seen by Iran International, nearly 95 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports in 2025 were loaded at Kharg Island and shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, primarily to China. Estimates from the US Energy Information Administration show that roughly 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products—about one-fifth of global consumption—pass through the strait each day. 

Only about 6 percent of that volume is destined for Europe and the United States. Asian buyers dominate, absorbing 84 percent of oil and petroleum products transiting Hormuz, as well as more than 80 percent of liquefied natural gas shipments. China alone imports around 5 million barrels of oil per day via the route. Any sustained disruption would therefore strike directly at Beijing’s energy security.

A narrowing margin

...With sanctions also complicating imports from Russia and Iran, China’s reliance on Persian Gulf oil—and on uninterrupted traffic through Hormuz—is set to deepen further. From a Western perspective, these shifts have quietly altered the risk calculus. While any disruption in Hormuz would still push global oil prices higher, Europe and the United States are now better positioned than in the past to absorb short-term shocks. China is not.

...For Iran, the costs would be higher still. Roughly 80 percent of its foreign trade, oil and non-oil alike, moves through ports along the Persian Gulf. Closing Hormuz would not only jeopardize China’s energy supplies but effectively paralyze Iran’s own external commerce. (Ed note: Very interesting article, Kharg Island is about 43 miles from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran.)    (Read More)

‘Take the Oil’: Seizing the Kharg Island Terminal Is the Ultimate Checkmate to Iran

Should Trump Take Kharg, Rather than Destroy It, He Can Ensure the Regime Can Never Again Pay the Salaries of Its Bureaucrats and Soldiers

America Should Seize the Kharg Oil Terminal—Not Bomb Iran

When protests erupted in Tehran’s bazaar, President Donald Trump warned Iran on TruthSocial, “If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has now called Trump’s bluff. Reports filtering out of Iran suggest Iranian security forces have conducted a massacre of protestors far larger than what the Chinese Communists did at Tiananmen Square. Either Trump stands down, at which point he essentially mirrors President Barack Obama, voiding his own red lines in the wake of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons use, or he attacks Iran.

The Kharg Island Play

Fortunately, Trump has a way out if he only looks at past plans. In 1979, after radical students loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took 52 American diplomats hostage, President Jimmy Carter tasked Adm. James “Ace” Lyons to come up with a plan to compel their release. Lyons proposed blockading Iranian ports and seizing Kharg Island. His logic was simple: The Revolutionary regime could not afford a cessation of its oil exports.

Carter’s aides ultimately rejected the plan; they feared a blockade sliding into direct conflict, something Carter himself had ruled out in the emergency National Security Council meeting that occurred just after the hostage seizure. Carter’s fear and self-deterrence kneecapped his administration and empowered Khomeini to extort the United States. Only when Ronald Reagan took office did Khomeini release the hostages, fearing what might come next. 

Iran’s Geography Problem

Lyons died in 2018, but his plan remains as relevant 46 years later. Iran’s vulnerability is its geography. The Persian Gulf is extremely narrow and shallow. At its deepest point, it is only 298 feet deep. In comparison, Lake Michigan’s deepest point is almost 1,000 feet deep. The Persian Gulf’s average depth is even less—just 160 feet deep, but much shallower as it slopes up to Iran’s rocky shore. In practice, this means that ordinary tankers, let alone the supertankers that today carry most crude, cannot get anywhere near the Iranian coast. To resolve this problem, the Iranians pipe most oil they produce to the Kharg Oil Terminal, built during the Shah’s time, on Kharg Island, about 15 miles off the coast of Iran. Today, Kharg is responsible for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

What Will Iran Do In Response?

...Will Khamenei take the loss of Kharg sitting down? First, there is a limit to what Khamenei can do when he’s hiding in an underground bunker isolated from even his top aides. Second, any Iranian military attempt to confront U.S. forces will not only divert forces from attacking Iranians in the streets but will also end with those Revolutionary Guardsmen losing in epic fashion.

...After Operation Praying Mantis, regional Arabs told a joke: “Why does the Iranian Navy have glass-bottom boats?” The answer: “So they can see their air force.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, of course, could target Kharg with ballistic missiles, but that would sign their death warrant. Not only would Trump respond in kind, but such action would end Iranian oil exports for months to come, again leaving salaries unpaid.

...Khamenei’s arrogance and his misreading of Trump already led to the loss of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, raising questions even among supporters about what their multibillion-dollar sacrifice was for. To cap that off with a loss of Iran’s oil revenue would likely be too much for even Khamenei’s most ardent supporters to survive. Ace Lyons will be laughing from his grave. (Read More)

As Iran marks revolution anniversary, official insists missile program nonnegotiable

Iranian president says Tehran won’t yield to ‘excessive demands’ from US; Tehran rally attendees chant ‘Death to America and Israel’; shouts of ‘Death to Khamenei!’ also heard.

Iran’s missile capabilities are its red line and are not a subject to be negotiated, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said on Wednesday, as the Islamic Republic marked the anniversary of the 1979 revolution with events overshadowed by the looming threat of US military action. “The Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities are nonnegotiable,” Ali Shamkhani said, according to state media, while appearing in a march commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Washington has long sought to extend talks on Iran’s nuclear capabilities to additionally cover its missile program. Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions, but has repeatedly ruled out linking the issue to other questions, including missiles. US President Donald Trump has not ruled out strikes against Tehran although, after initially threatening military action due to the regime’s treatment of protesters, he has since tied his decision to a potential deal on the Iranian nuclear program. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who wants a tougher stance against Tehran, was due to hold talks with Trump at the White House on Wednesday. In a speech at Azadi Square in the capital for the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would not yield to “excessive demands” from Washington. “Our Iran will not yield in the face of aggression, but we are continuing dialogue with all our strength with neighboring countries in order to establish peace and tranquility in the region,” he said. (Read More)

Estimation: Iran will have about 2,000 ballistic missiles "within weeks"

Israeli officials spoke with CNN ahead of the expected meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Iran's actions and the threats it poses. "Netanyahu will emphasize to Trump the need for military freedom of action in Iran, even if an agreement is signed between Tehran and Washington," said the officials. According to them, the Prime Minister intends to present new intelligence information to Trump on Iran's military capabilities, mainly regarding the rehabilitation of ballistic missiles.

The assessment in Israel is that, without intervention, Iran will possess up to 2,000 missiles within weeks or months. Netanyahu flew this morning to Washington, D.C., for a diplomatic visit, during which he will meet with President Donald Trump. This is Netanyahu’s seventh visit to the U.S. since Trump's re-election.

Before his departure, Netanyahu said: "I am now going to the United States for my seventh trip to meet with President Trump since his re-election. This, of course, does not include his unforgettable visit to Israel and his speech in the Knesset." "I think these things reflect the unique closeness in the exceptional relationship we have with the United States, personally with the president, and with Israel and the United States-a relationship that has never been like this in our history," he added. (Source)

Netanyahu meets Witkoff, Kushner ahead of White House talks with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Tuesday with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner ahead of scheduled talks with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.The meeting, held at Blair House in Washington, focused on “regional issues,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, adding that Witkoff and Kushner briefed the premier on the first round of talks with Iran.

Other participants included Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter and Netanyahu’s military secretary, Roman Gofman, according to a photo distributed by the PMO. Netanyahu touched down in Washington just hours earlier for his seventh visit since Trump began his second term, saying the trip would focus on Iran, Gaza and other regional developments.

“I will present to the president our perspectives on the key principles in the negotiations—principles that, in my view, are important not only for Israel but for anyone in the world who seeks peace and security in the Middle East,” the premier said on the tarmac at Ben-Gurion Airport. Netanyahu was also scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, about two hours before his private Oval Office meeting with Trump, according to the State Department. (Source)

US draft plan on Gaza would reportedly allow Hamas to keep some small arms

The Hamas terror group will reportedly be allowed to keep some small arms while surrendering most of its long-range weapons, according to a draft plan drawn up by officials involved in the US-led Board of Peace. According to the report in The New York Times, a team including US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace Gaza envoy, plans on sharing the document in question with Hamas in the coming weeks.

The report says that the draft of the plan would see a “phased disarmament” of Hamas, which is likely to take at least months if not longer. According to the newspaper, “it was not immediately clear” where any weapons Hamas handed over would go and how such a plan would be carried out.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said that no reconstruction can move forward in Gaza before Hamas is disarmed, is slated to meet with US President Donald Trump in the White House tomorrow. An Israeli source said earlier today that Netanyahu will stress to Trump that phase two of the Gaza ceasefire “is not moving.” Israel has been telling the US that another IDF operation in Gaza is necessary in order to move to Trump’s vision for Gaza and the region, according to the source. (Ed note: Say it ain't so, Trump. Will you please call your boys Laurel and Hardy home, and let Israel do its job. Do you not remember when you said that Hamas MUST DISARM?) (Source)

The Secret Reason Arab Leaders Are Losing Sleep Over the Trump-Netanyahu Flash Meeting

Middle East expert Yoni Ben Menachem reveals why Arab rulers are "anxious for their seats" as Netanyahu heads to D.C. Will he be able to convince Trump to strike Iran?

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boarded his official aircraft for a high-stakes "flash meeting" with President Trump in Washington on Tuesday, a wave of anxiety swept through Arab capitals. The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, is being watched by regional leaders who fear a decisive shift in U.S. policy toward Iran could destabilize their own tenuous grip on power.

According to Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Middle East analyst and senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs, the primary concern among Arab rulers is "the chair," the survival of their regimes. In an interview with Channel 14, Ben Menachem described a region "in shock" over the possibility that Netanyahu will successfully persuade Trump to abandon ongoing nuclear negotiations in favor of a broad military campaign to topple the Islamic Republic.

While some Israeli officials have pushed for strikes against Iran’s ballistic missile sites, Arab leaders worry such an escalation would trigger a regional war that could "undermine the stability of the Middle East" and jeopardize their own internal security. The anxiety is compounded by a perceived link between the campaign against Tehran and the future of Judea and Samaria. Ben Menachem noted that many in the Arab world believe a weakened Iran would pave the way for Israel to tighten its control over Judea and Samaria. Conversely, some regional actors view the continued rule of the Ayatollahs as a necessary counterweight that preserves the long-term prospect of a Palestinian state. (Ed note: An excellent thought and analysis by the Jfeed Staff.) (Read More)

Iran’s Water Crisis Reaches a Breaking Point as Reservoirs Run Dry

Official figures expose the depth of Iran’s water emergency, while the ruling establishment responds with repression instead of solutions Iran’s water crisis has reached a stage where even official statistics can no longer conceal the scale of the disaster. Reports published by state-affiliated media show that a large share of the country’s dam reservoirs are effectively empty, pushing drinking water and agricultural supply—especially in Tehran—into a red-alert situation. At the same time, the regime has offered no structural response to this crisis, continuing instead down a path defined by repression and coercion.

According to a report published by the state-run outlet ILNA on February 6, total water inflow into Iran’s dam reservoirs by February 1 of the 2026 water year stood at approximately 7.34 billion cubic meters. This represents a 4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. Total stored water in dams has fallen to about 18.77 billion cubic meters, a 16 percent year-on-year decrease. Most strikingly, official figures now admit that 64 percent of dam reservoirs across the country are empty. These numbers confirm what communities across Iran have been experiencing for years: the water crisis is not temporary, regional, or accidental. It is systemic and nationwide.

Tehran on the Edge of a Water Emergency 

The situation in the dams supplying Tehran and Alborz Province is even more alarming. The Amir Kabir (Karaj) Dam reportedly holds only six million cubic meters of water, with a fill level of just 1 percent. The Lar Dam is in a similarly dire state, containing around ten million cubic meters—also at roughly 1 percent capacity. Other key reservoirs tell the same story. The Latian and Mamloo dams are each at just 8 percent capacity, while the Taleghan Dam stands at 21 percent. Taken together, these figures place the capital squarely in a critical water emergency, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of urban life, public health, and food security.

A Crisis Years in the Making

Water scarcity is only one of many accumulated crises facing Iran, but it is among the most revealing. Decades of mismanagement, environmentally destructive development, corruption, and the prioritization of ideological and military projects over public welfare have drained the country’s natural resources. Despite repeated warnings from experts, the ruling establishment has failed to make meaningful investments in sustainable water management or climate adaptation. More fundamentally, there has been no accountability. Officials rotate, slogans change, but policies remain locked into a system that treats public needs as secondary to regime survival. (Read More)

How Iran’s water bankruptcy seeped into the protest movement

Unrest that began in Tehran’s Bazaar in January spread nationwide in recent weeks, and turned deadly. Early reports described security forces using live fire in multiple Zagros belt towns, including the Ilam province, and nearby communities such as Lordegan. Violence eventually escalated dramatically during the government’s nationwide crackdown of January 8 to 9, when by some accounts over thirty thousand protesters were killed in possibly the worst massacre in Iran’s modern history.

Many of these protest hubs overlap with areas where severe water shortages in recent years have made life increasingly difficult. The pattern matters: these are not isolated security incidents, but repeated episodes of escalation in regions already under acute water stress and economic strain, where basic service failure has been eroding public tolerance for years.

Iran is approaching what its own meteorological authorities describe as “water day zero”—the point where supply systems simply stop functioning. In that frame, “shortage” is the wrong word; this is system failure. Many scientists describe this as “water bankruptcy”—a condition, associated with researchers including United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health’s Kaveh Madani, in which the damage becomes effectively irreversible on human timescales. And when system failure shows up at the tap, it turns a long-term resource crisis into an immediate legitimacy crisis—especially in provinces where people already live on the edge of service collapse.

The unifying force in these protests is not ideology. It is the erosion of dignity. When officials demand “endurance” while connected networks profit from scarcity, the issue stops being technical. It becomes a judgment about whether the state considers citizens worth serving. That is when water stress becomes a political risk-multiplier: it raises baseline pressure, broadens participation beyond organized activists, and shifts perception from temporary hardship to systemic neglect. (Source)

Iran seals Isfahan tunnels as US issues Hormuz warning

Satellite images taken this week show Iran has filled in all three tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear complex, according to the Institute for Science and International Security. The middle and southern portals are now unrecognizable and completely covered, while the northern entrance, which includes additional passive defense features, also appears to be backfilled, said the organization. No vehicle activity is visible around any of the three access points.

“It appears clear that the Iranians are seriously concerned about a US/Israeli aerial attack and/or raid against this particularly hardened nuclear facility,” said the Washington-based think tank. “Backfilling the tunnel entrances would help dampen any potential airstrike and also make ground access in a special forces raid to seize or destroy any highly enriched uranium that may be housed inside difficult,” the group continued. 

“It is also possible that Iran could have moved equipment or material into the tunnels to protect them, although this cannot be confirmed,” the institute said, noting that, “Preparations like these were last observed in the days before Operation Midnight Hammer struck facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” referring to the U.S. military’s June 22, 2025, strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. (Read More)

New satellite footage shows Iran taking steps to protect Isfahan nuclear site

New high-resolution satellite imagery published by Institute for Science and International Securityreveals Iran's efforts to protect Isfahan nuclear complex by covering tunnel entrances with soil.

High-resolution satellite imagery of Iran's Isfahan nuclear complex, taken on Sunday and published on Monday by the Institute for Science and International Security, reveals significant changes around the site’s tunnel entrances. The images show that the middle and southern entrances have been completely covered with soil, making them unrecognizable. The northernmost entrance, which features additional passive defense measures, has also been backfilled with soil.


The Institute for Science and International Security said that the alterations suggest Iran is taking steps to protect the facility from potential US or Israeli aerial strikes or ground raids. It noted that backfilling the tunnels would dampen the effects of airstrikes and complicate special forces operations intended to seize or destroy sensitive materials, such as highly enriched uranium, that may be stored in the tunnels. While it cannot be confirmed, it is possible that Iran has moved equipment or materials into these tunnels for protection, said the organization.


It also noted that similar preparations were observed just before Operation Midnight Hammer this past June, in which the US joined Israel and struck the nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This past Friday, The Associated Press published satellite images which show activity at two Iranian nuclear sites bombed last year by Israel and the United States that may be a sign of Tehran trying to obscure efforts to salvage any materials remaining there. (Source)

'Strategy-shaping session': Netanyahu, Trump to discuss Iran talks, options if diplomacy fails

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will depart on Tuesday for a short visit to the United States. He is slated to meet with US President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration on Wednesday. Israeli officials describe the meeting as a “strategy-shaping session,” meaning that it will focus not only on the US-Iran negotiations themselves but also on what could happen if the talks were to fail, including discussions of a potential US military strike.

Accompanying the prime minister will be his military secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, and acting director of the National Security Council (NSC) Gil Reich. US Vice President JD Vance said in Armenia on Monday that there were no redlines at this stage, but that Trump was seeking a broad and comprehensive agreement. “If there are red lines in the talks with Iran, Trump will be the one to set them,” the vice president said. “He wants a meaningful deal. Reaching an agreement with Iran would benefit everyone.” Meanwhile, Washington has issued a warning to vessels flying the US flag to stay as far away as possible from Iranian territorial waters while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, out of concern for potential provocations by Tehran.

Concurrently, the Islamic Republic is hardening its positions. Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that the country may agree to dilute its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% in exchange for the full removal of all sanctions. Additionally, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's political advisor, is expected to arrive in Oman on Tuesday to continue discussions on a potential deal with the US. (Read More)

US official reiterates: Trump opposed to Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria

White House official reiterates President Trump’s opposition to Israel applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. Trump made similar remarks to reporters last September.

A White House official on Monday reiterated US President Donald Trump's opposition to Israel applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria. "A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region," the official told the Reuters news agency. The comments come a day after the Cabinet approved significant decisions that will reshape the legal and civil structure of Judea and Samaria, particularly focusing on removing regulatory barriers and accelerating settlement development.

These measures, pushed forward by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, aim to repeal outdated Jordanian-era legislation and improve land management practices. A key decision includes declassifying land registries in the area, which were previously kept confidential, to improve transparency and facilitate lawful land transactions.

Additionally, the cabinet lifted the ban on real estate sales to Jews, repealing the Jordanian law that prohibited such sales. This will allow Jewish buyers to purchase land under more straightforward procedures, similar to those in central Israel. The planning authority for Jewish areas near Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs has also been transferred to the Civil Administration, which will streamline planning processes. Other measures include upgrading Rachel’s Tomb’s administrative status for better municipal services and expanding state oversight in Areas A and B for environmental and legal enforcement. The cabinet also re-established a long-dormant land purchase committee to proactively secure land for future settlement. 

Last September, Trump stressed in a conversation with reporters that he will “not allow" Israel to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. No, I will not allow it. It's not going to happen," Trump replied firmly at the time, when asked by a reporter about the issue. To the question of whether he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about this, Trump responded, “Yeah, but I'm not going to allow it, whether I spoke to him or not. I did, but I'm not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank. There's been enough. It's time to stop now." (Source)

UK, US denounce security cabinet decision to expand West Bank annexation

Both countries join Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in criticizing Israel's plan to expand control over the West Bank.

Officials from the United Kingdom and the United Statescondemned on Monday the Security Cabinet's decision to strengthen Israel's administrative legal control over the West Bank. "A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region," said a US official, who reiterated President Donald Trump's opposition towards Israel annexing the West Bank. In October last year, preliminary approval for the plan was met with resistance from US Vice President JD Vance, who called the move a "deliberate political provocation by the opposition." 

"The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel," he said. The policy of President Trump is that the West Bank will not be annexed. This will always be our policy," Vance said during a trip to Israel amidst Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks last year. Britain also called on Israel to reverse its decision to expand control over the West Bank. "The UK strongly condemns the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision yesterday to expand Israeli control over the West Bank," the British government said.

Critics have said Israel's move to ease settlement expansion and widen its powers in the West Bank went in the direction of annexing occupied land."Any unilateral attempt to alter the geographic or demographic make-up of Palestine is wholly unacceptable and would be inconsistent with international law. We call on Israel to reverse these decisions immediately," the British government added.  (Ed note: JPost knows better, it's not "the West Bank.")  (Source)

Soldiers warn: This is how Hamas challenges the border

Hamas sending women and children to test IDF reaction to ceasefire violations, as IDF prepares for largescale Nukhba infiltration, Doron Kadosh reports.

Soldiers from the IDF's Alexandroni Brigade are warning that Hamas has renewed its abilities along the "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip. According to the forces, Hamas continues to challenge the IDF daily, among other things through infiltration attempts and the use of women and children to test the readiness of the forces. Galei Zahal's military correspondent Doron Kadosh returned from a visit with the brigade's soldiers and presented an updated report. The soldiers testified that Hamas sends women and children to test the forces' response in the area.

"When there's an armed terrorist posing a threat, there's no dilemma," they said. "The dilemma arises when we see women and children. We are still a humanitarian army." According to the forces, the incidents continue almost daily, sometimes involving terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs, pistols, and even axes. Despite the daily incidents, the commanders are preparing for more significant scenarios, mainly a potential infiltration attempt by a Nukhba unit into an IDF outpost or into Israeli territory.

Kadosh stressed, "Two-and-a-half years after the Nukhba attack on October 7th, the fact that the IDF is still preparing for Nukhba unit attacks, which could happen and Hamas is capable of carrying out, only shows how far Hamas is from being defeated or losing its military capabilities." He added, "The commanders testify that Hamas is recovering, strengthening, filling the ranks of the commanders who were killed, and it is far from raising a white flag. It is a highly capable enemy."

The commanders note that the infiltration tunnels which threatened surrounding communities have been destroyed, but within the "yellow line" area there is still an active tunnel network. "However many tunnels you think there are - there are many more," said one of the senior commanders." Concluding his report, Kadosh shared the message the soldiers want to convey from their positions in Gaza: "Don't forget that we are still at war. The home front has returned to routine, but there are reservists still on the front lines - and remember us." (Source)

US expects ‘substantive content’ and nuclear concessions from Iran at next meeting

Netanyahu’s urgent trip to Washington comes amid Israeli concerns over stalled Iran talks and U.S. envoy responses, with Jerusalem worried about gaps on missiles and regional threat.

The US administration has told Iran that it expects Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Iranian delegation to arrive at the next round of nuclear talks “with significant content,” two sources familiar with the matter told i24NEWS. The initial meeting between the parties was described as a “good meeting,” but focused primarily on procedural issues rather than substantive negotiations. Washington now anticipates that Tehran will present tangible concessions on its nuclear program and other pressing concerns during the upcoming discussions.

The developments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a hastily arranged meeting with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, sources say. Israeli officials are dissatisfied with the responses provided last week by US envoy Steve Witkoff during his talks with Netanyahu and senior defense officials.

Jerusalem is increasingly concerned that the current trajectory of the US-led talks with Iran may not meet Israel’s core security demands, particularly regarding Tehran’s ballistic missile program and support for regional proxy groups. Criticism of Witkoff’s approach has grown in Israel amid fears that any emerging deal could leave these issues insufficiently addressed. (Ed note: FM Araghchi has been running circles around President Trump's boys, Laurel and Hardy.) (Source)

Iranian Foreign Minister: US must drop unrealistic demands

Iran may continue indirect nuclear talks if the US shows seriousness, says FM Araghchi, who calls on Washington to drop what he describes as its “unrealistic demands".

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States will proceed if Tehran concludes that Washington possesses the “necessary seriousness" to reach a negotiated resolution. Speaking at a press conference in Tehran and quoted by the Xinhua news agency, Araghchi elaborated on Friday’s indirect talks between Iranian and US delegations held in Muscat, Oman. 

He noted that while there are signs the United States is serious about reaching a deal, there are also indications that cast doubt on its determination. He cited the continuation of sanctions and military movements in the West Asia region as causes for concern, questioning the extent of US readiness and commitment. Iran will continue to monitor and assess all these indicators, Araghchi said, emphasizing that indirect dialogue does not stand in the way of achieving an agreement.

However, he pointed to issues within the content of the talks, such as what he described as “excessive and unrealistic" US demands and unreasonable claims, as the true obstacles to progress. Araghchi said that if the US demonstrates a respectful and fair approach based on mutual interests, an agreement would be possible. He reaffirmed Iran’s position that it will not renounce its right to develop and utilize peaceful nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment. He stated that success in the negotiations will depend on the other side taking this matter seriously.

Araghchi also made clear that Iran’s missile program has never been and will not be discussed in the talks with the United States, affirming that the negotiations will remain focused solely on the nuclear issue. (Ed note: So who's got "hand"? It certainly is not President Trump's boys, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.) (Read More)

Khomeini’s Grandson Warns: U.S. ‘Will Die’ Before Iran is Humiliated, Israel Will Be ‘Erased’ if Muslim Nations Gain Power

Americans “will die” before Iran is humiliated, warned Ali Ahmad Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder, who also insisted Israel would be “erased” if Muslim nations ever acquire the military capability to do so.

In remarks aired Wednesday on Lebanese television channel Al Mayadeen TV and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute, Khomeini said the threat was conditional on Islamic nations acquiring the means to strike Israel. During the interview, he claimed that Israel and its allies fully understand what he described as the underlying intentions of Muslim nations toward the Jewish state. “The Israelis know full well that if a day comes when any Islamic nation is capable of firing missiles at Israel and striking Israel, and if they are capable of erasing Israel, they will do to Israel what Hamas did to it,” Khomeini said.

When pressed by the interviewer on whether he meant all Islamic nations, Khomeini responded unequivocally. “All of them. Today we see that some countries in the region are not fulfilling their duty, saying that they are incapable of doing so,” he said. “Israel knows, America knows, and the leaders of the superpowers know that if a day comes when the Islamic countries are capable of bombing Israel, they will do it.” The interviewer again sought clarification on whether he meant Gulf, Arab, and other Islamic countries, to which the revolutionary leader’s grandson replied, “All of the Muslim nations.”Khomeini also emphasized defiance and confrontation, framing Iran’s posture as unyielding. (Ed note: Gee, what a nice guy. A chip off the old block, no doubt.)  (Read More)