Iran Is Playing America Again

The emerging U.S.-Iran negotiations reveal a familiar pattern: a determined revolutionary regime exploiting an American leadership that increasingly mistakes ideological conflict for an economic transaction. At the moment, the negotiations appear to be moving in only one direction. Washington seems eager to reach an agreement, while Tehran is testing every possible boundary, and every round of fire brings control back to Iran. It decides peace and War in the region.

Rather than negotiating from a position of compromise, Iran is stretching the process itself, convinced that time works in its favor and that the United States has a limited tolerance for prolonged confrontation. This dynamic is not entirely new. It bears a striking resemblance to an earlier strategic failure: the belief that peace could be engineered with the Palestinians by creating artificial symmetry between Israel and organizations fundamentally committed to Israel's destruction.

Many Israelis convinced themselves that territorial concessions would moderate their adversaries. Instead, those concessions created the conditions for Iranian-backed terrorist infrastructure to emerge in territory Israel itself had relinquished.The common assumption behind both episodes is similar. In each case, a powerful democracy hesitates to use its overwhelming strength. Whether because of moral restraint, economic priorities, war fatigue, or simple strategic misjudgment, it signals reluctance rather than resolve. Its adversary interprets that restraint not as goodwill or strength but as weakness, and responds by expanding its ambitions - despite the irrational nature of those actions.

The comparison is not perfect. Israel surrendered land that was directly tied to its own security and historical identity. The United States is primarily pursuing economic and geopolitical interests. It is reasonable for great powers to weigh economic considerations in foreign policy. The problem begins when policymakers assume that every rival is motivated by those same considerations. That appears to be one of the central weaknesses of Vice President J.D. Vance's approach. His strategic framework seems to assume that economic incentives ultimately outweigh ideological commitments. If prosperity can be offered, hostility can eventually be moderated. That assumption misunderstands the nature of the Islamic Republic. (Ed note: A great analysis of Iran's ability to negotiate with the US. What no one in DC can seem to grasp is the fact that with Iran, this is not an economic or political war, it is indeed a Religious War!)   (Read More)

Vance vs. Rubio: Inside The White House Battle Over Israel, Iran, and 2028

JD Vance and Marco Rubio are pulling in opposite directions on Iran and Israel, exposing a deep Republican split with major stakes for the US-Israel alliance and 2028. The White House insists there is no daylight between them. The reality tells a different story. Behind the carefully worded statements about "full unity" in Washington, two of the most powerful figures in the Trump administration are pulling in sharply different directions on the most consequential foreign policy question of our time: what America owes Israel, and what it is willing to give Iran.

ice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both been seen as potential successors to President Trump and are the product of powerful, competing constituencies within the Republican Party. That competition is now playing out in real time, with Israel's security as the stakes. Vance lashed out at Israeli critics of the preliminary US-Iran deal, and suggested that Israeli bombings of civilian infrastructure in Beirut, intended to weaken Hezbollah, were undermining US-led peace efforts. He has also revealed that the US invited an Iranian intelligence official to serve as a deconfliction liaison with the Pentagon in Qatar, and framed Iran as a potential partner in a transactional deal that would allow America to refocus its strategic attention on China.

In an interview with the New York Times, Vance criticized Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich over their opposition to the Iran MOU and calls to escalate in Lebanon, saying: "You are a country of nine million people, and you cannot simply rely on killing as a means to solve every national security problem you face." Rubio has staked out the opposite ground. While Vance was meeting with Iranians in Switzerland, Rubio traveled through the Gulf to reassure allies rattled by what they see as excessive concessions to Tehran, repeatedly defending Israel's military campaign in Lebanon as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. When asked to address Vance's criticism of Israel, Rubio deflected before recounting a Hezbollah assault on an Israeli checkpoint earlier in the week, letting the contrast speak for itself.

The sharpest point of friction is Lebanon. A US-brokered "deconfliction cell" on the Lebanese front includes Iran alongside the United States, Qatar, Pakistan, and Lebanon itself, but not Israel, a move Rubio's camp views as a dangerous concession of influence to Tehran in a theater where he has been trying to build an Iran-free framework. (Read More)

Iran expert: 'Iranians feel betrayed, realize they're alone'

Iran expert Dr. Thamar Eilam Gindin discusses the confusion Trump's shifting policies have created among the Iranian people-and explains why it is regime supporters who are taking to the streets.

The changing approach of U.S. President Donald Trump toward Iran-war, negotiations, renewed strikes, no negotiations, and back again-has left the Iranian public confused, uncertain whether they should once again risk their lives to overthrow the Ayatollahs' regime while waiting for American assistance that has yet to materialize. Arutz Sheva spoke with Dr. Thamar Eilam Gindin, an Iran expert at the Ezri Center at the University of Haifa, about the mood on the streets of Iran.

"There is a very strong sense of betrayal" among opponents of the regime, she said. "One of the reasons they burned mosques on January 8 and carried out such bold acts was because Trump had promised to intervene once the regime began killing protesters. But not only did he fail to intervene-he even negotiated with the murderers after they had killed between 30,000 and 70,000 people."

"At the time, some argued that he was simply buying time to rearm, and some are making the same claim today. It is well known that the Islamic Republic buys time, meaning that both sides are buying time. Perhaps Trump's relative unpredictability is actually encouraging, because maybe he will reverse course from where things stand now." Asked whether these assessments are based on information coming directly from Iran or whether internet restrictions make everything speculative, Dr. Eilam Gindin noted that Iran's internet has recently been reopened to all providers after a period during which only government providers had access. (Read More)

Iran's Araghchi heads to Iraq as rumors swirl in Baghdad over Green Zone raid

Iraq has been trying to rein in some Iranian-backed militias, with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi seeking to show that he can rein in chaos in the country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Iraq on Sunday, showing that Iraq is still a valuable partner to Tehran. The visit comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spotlighted the threat of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. According to Iranian media Mehr News, “Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Saturday that the top Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi will visit neighboring Iraq on Sunday.”

The report says that Baghaei announced the visit on Saturday night, and the fact that it wasn’t announced earlier would appear to mean that Iran is either responding to something urgently or that they were concerned about revealing the visit, as usually these types of visits would be planned in advance. Iran’s foreign minister comes to Iraq as rumors swirl in Baghdad about a raid by security forces on the Green Zone. Rumors suggest Iraq is conducting an anti-corruption drive and has targeted some senior officials or politicians. It is not clear who has been targeted.

Some have suggested that Iraq may be targeting Sunni Arab parties, and others have suggested it could be Iranian-linked politicians. Iraq has been trying to rein in some Iranian-backed militias. Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is seeking to show that he can rein in the chaos in Iraq. Zaidi is also seeking to head to the US in July. Cracking down on Iranian-backed militias is an important aspect of the US pressure on Iraq.

The US wants Zaidi to disarm the militias. There are a dozen major militias in Iraq, and most of them are sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups. The Iranian government spokesman stated that during the visit, “Araghchi will discuss and consult with senior Iraqi officials about bilateral relations and regional and international developments.” (Ed note: IRGC Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani was just in Iraq on April 20th, 2026, and now FM Araghchi is on his way to Iraq also? What is this increased interest in "Assyria" which includes Iraq and Syria? Psalm 83:8.) )  (Read More)

The Nuclear Fatwa Is Dead: IRGC Media Openly Advocates for Iran to Build the Bomb

Fars News, affiliated with Iran's IRGC, has published a commentary explicitly calling for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon for deterrence, crossing a decades-old public red line.

In a development analysts are calling one of the most significant rhetorical shifts in the Islamic Republic's history, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency has published a commentary explicitly calling for Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, crossing a public red line that Tehran has maintained, however tenuously, for decades. Fars News wrote that Iran has no choice but to obtain a nuclear bomb to remove the military option against the country during the transition to a new world order, arguing that Iran must achieve nuclear deterrence to gain the "calm needed" to ensure other disputes can be resolved through negotiations, and that only under such conditions would negotiations be possible from the "right position."

The commentary argued that nuclear deterrence could create a balance of power between Iran, the United States and Israel, and keep the scope of any possible conflict "under control," adding that nuclear deterrence "does not mean that war will not occur; rather, the scope of the conflict will become controllable." Iran International noted that no part of the Iranian governing establishment, nor state-controlled media, had previously made such an argument publicly.

The statement lands at an extraordinarily sensitive moment. Iran's key enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow were severely damaged in U.S. and Israeli strikes, and the MOU signed on June 14th remains deeply contested, with hardline factions inside Iran actively working to torpedo it. Experts say Khamenei's death at the hands of the United States and Israel may have cleared a path for the regime's hardest-line factions to rethink his longstanding nuclear fatwa banning weapons development. "The nuclear fatwa is dead," Quincy Institute's Trita Parsi told CNN. "Elite opinion as well as public opinion has shifted dramatically on this, which shouldn't be surprising since Iran has been bombed twice in the midst of negoti)ations by two nuclear-equipped states." (Ed note: How many times have you heard President Trump say, "Iran will never have a nuclear bomb?" The IRGC just openly stated, "we're going for it." How will Trump ignore that "In your face" statement?

And Iran is NOT talking about "nuclear deterrence" they are talking about the annihilation of the Jewish race.       (Read More)

80 tons of explosives: IDF destroys massive Hezbollah terror tunnel in southern Lebanon

IDF destroys a Hezbollah underground infrastructure spanning over 200 meters in length and reaching a depth of more than 25 meters in the Majdal Zoun area.

As part of Operation Closing Verse, the IDF on Sunday evening destroyed an underground terror infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese village of Majdal Zoun. The tunnel network, spanning over 200 meters in length and reaching a depth of more than 25 meters, contained hundreds of weapons and heavily fortified infrastructure. This included blast doors, four launch shafts, and 12 rooms used for munitions storage and terrorist quarters.

Among the items discovered at the site were dozens of disassembled drones, aircraft components, warheads, and explosives. The IDF classified the complex as one of Hezbollah’s most significant strategic assets in the sector. According to the IDF, more than 20 Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated during operations in the area, including approximately ten members of the elite Radwan Force. The IDF noted that Israel notified the United States and the US envoy to Lebanon in advance regarding the destruction of the infrastructure.

"IDF commanders and troops will remain in the southern Lebanon security zone and will continue to destroy terror infrastructure, eliminate threats to northern communities, and ensure the safety of Israel's citizens," the military stated. Ahead of the detonation, regional councils in the Western and Upper Galilee notified residents that a powerful explosion would take place in the coming hours due to IDF operations targeting Hezbollah's terror infrastructure. "Due to the sheer force of the blast, local, independent earthquake alerts - which are not connected to Home Front Command systems - may be triggered. There is no danger to residents in the north." (Ed note: This is the same tunnel that the IDF was taking out last week and President Trump stopped them yelling, "Why are you always blowing things up?" The village of Majdal Zoun is about 6 miles south of the city of TYRE.)  (Source)

Trump threatens to ‘complete the job’ in Iran as US military launches fresh strikes

CENTCOM says it hit 10 targets ‘in and near the Strait of Hormuz’ in retaliation for drone attack on Panama-flagged tanker; IRGC responds by hitting US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain.

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the Islamic Republic of Iran will “no longer exist” if the United States is “forced” to resume the war, as he accused Tehran of violating a ceasefire by striking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The threat came after US forces said they struck “multiple” Iranian targets Saturday in another tit-for-tat response to attacks on shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz. “United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” Trump wrote. US Central Command said the strikes were in response to an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker Kiku, which was carrying some two million barrels of crude.

The US military said the latest response targeted “surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.”In total, it said it hit 10 Iranian military targets “at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz.” Iranian media reported several explosions in the Sirik and Qeshm areas of southern Iran.In the wake of the strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also accused the US of violating the terms of the ceasefire, announcing that its navy and aerospace forces had launched joint missile and drone attacks targeting US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation. (Read More)

Netanyahu: Deal tells Iran and Hezbollah they have ‘no role in Lebanon,’ and that Israel can keep security zone as long as needed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hails yesterday’s framework agreement with Lebanon as “a historic achievement for Israel” that advances progress toward ending the bilateral conflict and opens the prospect of “an eventual peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.” Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu says the deal is “a major blow” to Iran and to Hezbollah, and claims it marks US and Lebanese agreement to Israel holding a security zone in Lebanon for as long as is needed for Israeli security. 

“We’ll continue to hold it until Hezbollah and other terror groups are disarmed,” he says of the current security zone, “until there is no longer a threat to Israel from Lebanon.” He says Iran wanted to impose an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, but that he resisted this, and notes bitter Iranian and Hezbollah criticism of the agreement. With this accord, he claims, Israel, Lebanon and the US “are essentially telling Iran, ‘This is none of your business. You have no status here, no involvement and no role. Not you, not Hezbollah, not any terror group.'”

He acknowledges that Israel will be withdrawing from two small areas it currently holds, in a pilot project for disarming Hezbollah and transferring territory to the Lebanese Army. Showing the areas on a map, he says one is completely outside the security zone, and the other is on the edge of the zone in an area the IDF no longer needs to hold. Thus, he says, Israel is retaining the entire security zone area that it needs to protect northern Israel. (Source)

Here Is What the Israel-Lebanon Framework Agreement Actually Says

The U.S. State Department released the full Israel-Lebanon-U.S. trilateral framework signed June 26. Here is a breakdown of every major commitment in the document. The U.S. State Department released the full text of the trilateral framework agreement signed Friday in Washington between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. The document, signed in three original copies in English, lays out the architecture of what both sides describe as a path toward comprehensive peace. Here is what it contains.

The core commitment
Israel and Lebanon declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict between them and formally conclude any state of war. Both governments affirm the right of each state to exist in peace as sovereign neighbors, and commit to resolving all outstanding issues through direct bilateral negotiations facilitated by the United States.

Disarmament first, withdrawal second
The agreement establishes a phased, conditions-based process: the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will gradually reassume effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, but only in parallel with the verified disarmament and dismantlement of all non-state armed groups — meaning Hezbollah. IDF redeployment out of Lebanon is explicitly conditioned on the completion of that disarmament. A security annex, to be drafted with full U.S. support, will detail the specific steps, security arrangements, and verification mechanisms.

The pilot zones
Two initial pilot zones have already been agreed upon between the IDF and the Lebanese Armed Forces. In those areas, once disarmament of non-state armed groups is verified as complete, the Lebanese army will assume full security responsibility, international reconstruction support will begin, and Lebanese civilians will be able to return safely. Additional pilot zones will be determined by mutual agreement. 

Lebanon's explicit commitments
Lebanon commits to rebuilding the state's monopoly on the use of force, achieving complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensuring those groups have no military or security role and no armed presence anywhere in Lebanese territory. Lebanon also explicitly rejects any claim by any country or non-state actor to use force on its behalf without its express authorization, a direct, if diplomatically worded, repudiation of Hezbollah's self-appointed role as Lebanon's defender. 

Israel's position

Israel states that its military actions in Lebanon are solely a consequence of the attacks and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah, and declares it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. Israel affirms that full disarmament of those groups would eliminate any future need for IDF military action or presence there. 

Financing and reconstruction
Lebanon and the United States commit to blocking funds from reaching any entity affiliated with non-state armed groups, and Lebanon explicitly pledges that reconstruction money will not flow to Hezbollah or connected organizations. The U.S. commits to mobilizing international partners for Lebanese reconstruction, economic recovery, and humanitarian assistance — with all new American aid strictly conditioned on verifiable milestones and full transparency.

What comes next
Upon signing, both countries are to establish working groups to draft a full, comprehensive peace and security agreement, alongside parallel tracks of direct engagement facilitated by Washington. Both governments pledge to proceed in good faith until lasting peace is achieved. The agreement also commits both sides to cease hostile actions in international political and legal forums, and to work toward the return of remains and release of detainees. (Source)

Hezbollah says Israel-Lebanon agreement ‘null and void’; Israel said bracing for attack

Hezbollah’s leader on Saturday pilloried the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement signed in Washington as “null and void” and a surrender of Lebanon’s sovereignty, with the terror group’s top ally in Beirut’s parliament going as far as calling it an “incitement to civil war.” The deal Beirut and Jerusalem signed Friday, the result of five rounds of talks in the US capital, is intended to pave the way for an eventual peace agreement. It includes a pilot effort in which Lebanese soldiers will take control of some areas held by Israeli troops, as well as a process aimed at disarming Hezbollah.

Rejecting the agreement, the terror group’s chief Naim Qassem called it a “humiliation” and said it should be replaced by the Iran-US memorandum of understanding, which was signed the week before in Switzerland, and which linked the ceasefire in Lebanon with the truce between Iran and the US — a move that greatly concerned Israel. In a statement, Qassem said that any attempt to link Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the terror group’s disarmament crossed “red lines.” He further accused Lebanese authorities of “legitimizing” Israeli occupation through this “grave blunder,” which temporarily leaves much of southern Lebanon in Israeli military control, until the areas are verified to be cleared of Hezbollah and its infrastructure and handed over to the Lebanese military.

Channel 12 and Ynet reported that Israel was bracing for the possibility that Hezbollah will launch attacks on IDF forces or Israeli communities in the coming days in an attempt to undermine the newly signed framework deal. A defense official told Channel 12 that Israel was prepared for such an eventuality, and warned of “a severe and significant response” to any Hezbollah attack. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, called the deal signed with Israel “incitement to civil war,” and warned against its implementation. (Read More)

Furious Hezbollah Supporters Riot Against Israel-Lebanon Framework in Beirut | WATCH

Hezbollah supporters blocked roads near Beirut's airport Friday, waving Iranian flags and rejecting the US-brokered trilateral framework signed hours earlier in Washington. Hezbollah supporters poured into the streets of Beirut Friday, blocking major roads including routes near Rafic Hariri International Airport and Salim Salam Road, in protest of the trilateral framework agreement signed hours earlier between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States in Washington.

The demonstrations turned confrontational in some areas, with clashes reported between protesters and Lebanese security forces. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has declared the deal non-binding on the group, demanding full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory without any conditions on Hezbollah's weapons. Footage from the ground showed a sea of Hezbollah's yellow flags alongside portraits of Iranian leaders and symbols of the Islamic Republic. Lebanese national flags were conspicuously scarce, particularly in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, Hezbollah's stronghold, a visual that cuts to the heart of Lebanon's sovereignty crisis.

The scenes illustrated in real time the central contradiction the framework agreement must now confront: Lebanon's government signed a deal committing to disarm all non-state armed groups, while the most powerful armed group in the country took to the streets to reject it within hours. (Ed note: The roughly 31% of the Shiite population of Beirut, which is located in the Dahieh suburb is pro- Hezbollah. The Sunni, Druze, and Christian sects, who make up a part of Beirut's broader population is somewhat under 10%, but the majority of the Lebanese population opposes the activities of Hezbollah.) (Read More)

Underground monsters: What remains of the terror tunnels beneath Lebanese soil?

For decades, Hezbollah's vast tunnel project, larger than anyone imagined, was dug under Israel's nose under Lebanese soil, complete with an infiltration plan waiting for orders to be carried out. Watch.

For decades, Hezbollah’s tunnel project was built right under Israel’s nose-its flagship undertaking. Only now is it becoming clear just how vast it truly is, far beyond earlier estimates: missiles, living quarters, food supplies, weapons, and a raid plan waiting for the order to be executed. Former sector commanders spoke with i24NEWS about what may happen next under the terms of the agreement, while the dismantling of much of this threat still lies ahead.

Major General (res.) Yitzhak Gershon explains: “There are tunnels throughout Lebanon. If Hezbollah had joined the horrific surprise attack of October 7, we would have encountered Radwan Force militants at the entrances to Haifa. The enemy understands that it is vulnerable to Israeli air superiority and intelligence dominance. Therefore, the underground infrastructure is intended to conceal fighters, ammunition, missile stockpiles, and launchers-and above all, to hide hundreds of operatives capable of raiding the Galilee within a matter of hours."

Colonel (res.) Kobi Marom adds: “This is a massive Iranian investment, marked by a high degree of sophistication in the organization’s ability to embed extensive capabilities within multi-level underground structures. The depth and scale of the project raise questions about Israel’s ability to destroy the tunnels through Air Force strikes alone." He added: “The IDF may have destroyed only about 25% of the overall network. In the organization’s centers of gravity in Nabatieh, Beirut, and the Beqaa Valley, the underground system still enables continued production. It must be understood that the scale of this underground threat still lies ahead." (Source)

Hamas crushes ‘Peaceful Revolution’ protests in Gaza

Hamas clamped down on Gazans on Friday for attempting to protest against its rule over the Strip. The demonstrations, titled the “June 26 Peaceful Revolution,” were planned to take place in several locations throughout the Gaza Strip, but the terrorist group’s arrests and intimidation tactics prevented the protests from gaining traction, U.S.-based newspaper The Algemeiner reported. Hamas’s security apparatus detained or rounded up people at four hospitals in Gaza; Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, a resident of the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City told the newspaper.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity over fears for his safety, the man was cited as saying, “The situation in Gaza is very difficult. They are kidnapping people and threatening people. The level of terror is high. There are fatwas calling for killing and fatwas declaring people infidels in the mosques, and calls saying the protest movement has been postponed. Things are very difficult. Since the morning, they’ve been arresting people and kidnapping people from the streets. Things are very bad.”

The Association of Palestinian Scholars, a Palestinian religious body, warned that those linked with the protests will be deemed collaborators with Israel, a crime punishable by death under Hamas’s rule, according to The Telegraph. A debate on social media raged in the wake of the events, with Hamas supporters accusing the organizers of the demonstrations of being handled by an Israel Defense Forces Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, Ynetreported. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the Gaza-born senior fellow of the U.S.-based think tank Atlantic Council, said that Hamas deployed at least hundreds of its operatives across Gaza to suppress the protests, resulting in “eerily empty” streets. (Read More)

US launches strikes on Iran after second shipping attack

The US has conducted new strikes on Iran, following a drone attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) said it hit multiple targets across Iran in direct response to "continued aggression" against commercial shipping, including military equipment, communication systems, air defense sites and drone storage facilities. Donald Trump said the latest strikes were in response to Iran repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal, suggesting on Truth Social that "there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable". Iran is yet to comment on the latest strikes.

Centcom said in a statement, "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku," a Panama-flagged tanker. It added that commercial vessels are continuing to operate in the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the latest strikes were announced, the US president took to Truth Social, where he said was it was "very possible" that Tehran would "never learn". "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," he wrote on Saturday evening.

The post went on: "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" In the hours following the US strikes, Kuwait and Bahrain both reported that their air defence systems had been activated. "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks," the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said in a statement shared to X, asking the public to adhere to security instructions. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior has urged citizens to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place". (Read More)

US strikes Iran, as tit-for-tat attacks dramatically reignite tensions

The US military said it struck Iran again, hours after a tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz, in the worst escalation since the two sides signed an interim peace deal two weeks ago. Each of the warring sides has accused the other of violating the agreement reached two weeks ago to end the four-month-old conflict. US Central Command said on Saturday its forces carried out fresh strikes after a Panama-flagged tanker was attacked by an Iranian drone early on Saturday. In Iran, state broadcaster IRIB said early Sunday local time that explosions were heard in Sirik in southern Iran, without providing further details.

"Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to," CENTCOM said in a statement. It said the strikes were "in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" and targeted Iranian military surveillance, communications, air defense, drone storage, and mine-laying facilities. A US defense official later reported that the strikes on Iranian targets were complete, according to Fox News.

Washington said earlier that it hit Iranian targets overnight. Iran said it responded on Saturday by striking targets linked to US forces. Saturday's attack on a tanker in the strait followed another on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered the latest escalation. Iran has made a fresh bid to assert control over the world's most important energy shipping route, which has begun to reopen after months of disruption. (Ed note: The US hit Iran for the second time on Saturday, June 27th, about 2:15 pm west coast time.) (Read More)

The Pentagon Realignment: Washington Reviews Massive Middle East Troop Relocation After Severe Iranian Missile Strikes

A comprehensive Wall Street Journal investigation has revealed that the United States is considering a sweeping redistribution of its Middle East military forces, including expanding its presence in Israel, after Iranian strikes heavily damaged at least 20 American sites. The structural architecture of American military deployment in the Middle East is facing a historic re-evaluation following a wave of highly destructive kinetic operations. Defense planners are actively preparing to transition crucial assets westward to minimize the vulnerability of static forward positions against sophisticated long range bombardments. This strategic pivot marks a major shift in how international coalitions intend to station deterrence capabilities during active regional warfare. 

The United States government is reviewing the physical placement of its regional armed forces, exploring options to shift specific commands or total base functionalities to more secure territory. A detailed investigation published by the Wall Street Journal indicates that Israel is currently under serious consideration as a primary alternative for hosting expanded American combat units or technical capabilities. This strategic reassessment follows extensive collaborative operations where Israeli facilities hosted dozens of American fighter wings and refueling platforms.

The urgent security review was initiated after extensive ordnance impacts caused severe damage to at least 20 American military bases and diplomatic compounds throughout the theater of war. Defense officials are looking into downsizing the visible footprint of American forces stationed in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia while shifting critical command centers completely underground. Senior strategists are also looking into dispersing vital military capabilities across a much wider array of smaller installations to decrease their vulnerability to ongoing missile salvos.

A significant portion of the unpublicized structural damage was sustained by the United Statesnaval installation in Bahrain, which serves as the primary command center for maritime operations in the region. Elite missile forces and explosive drone waves launched by regional adversaries between late February and June inflicted extensive structural wreckage that the Pentagon withheld from public disclosures. The physical impacts compromised the primary base headquarters, at least 12 auxiliary military structures, and two vital satellite communication terminals. (Ed note: One article has stated that the damage is over $300 million to our bases.We have been told that Iran's Navy, Air force, and missile platforms are all gone. We know that Israel is very worried about those missiles.) (Read More)

Iran threatens: We'll respond to Israeli flights over the region

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters warns it is 'entitled to respond' if US cannot 'restrain and control' Israel.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters issued a warning Friday, claiming that Israeli military aircraft flying over the airspace of several neighboring countries while en route to Iran constitute "a dangerous move and a threat against the Islamic Republic." In a statement, the headquarters said, "We announce that if the United States is unable to restrain and control the Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate any threat against it and considers itself entitled to respond to these dangerous actions."

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported Friday that three foreign tankers attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization but were stopped after receiving warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy - despite the fact that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the IRGC no longer has a functional navy.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that the damage inflicted by Iran on the US Navy base in Bahrain during the recent war was far more extensive than the Pentagon has publicly acknowledged. According to the report, the United States is considering relocating some of its military assets from bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to Israel in an effort to reduce their vulnerability to potential Iranian attacks in a future conflict. (Ed note: That's a lot of trash talk coming from Iran when they know that Israel has advanced electronic warfare capabilities, cyber operations, and kinetic strike capabilities that very effectively block and blind the Iranian radar systems.) (Source)

Revolutionary Guards say they targeted US sites in Gulf after strikes on Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it attacked US sites in the Gulf region in retaliation to American strikes in Iran, according to state television.

“If the aggression is repeated, our response will be broader than this,” the IRGC says according to a post by state TV on Telegram. (Source)

Israel and Lebanon sign historic security framework agreement

Israel and Lebanon sign historic, US-backed framework agreement in Washington aimed at removing Iranian influence and disarming Hezbollah.

Israel and Lebanon on Friday afternoon signed a historic framework agreement. The agreement was signed in Washington in a special ceremony attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement was signed by Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Speaking before the signing ceremony, Rubio said, “We are pleased to announce the agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Both countries deserve it after years of suffering caused by external interference," he stated.

Israeli officials said earlier that a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon would be announced after four days of negotiations in Washington. Channel 12 News reported that the emerging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes the conditions for shifting the security reality on the northern border, with the primary objective for both sides being the complete removal of Iranian influence from Lebanon.

The agreement stipulates that Israel will remain within the Yellow Line zone until the Hezbollah terrorist organization is fully disarmed, and until it is proven that Lebanon can assume full sovereignty and responsibility over its own territory. "We will withdraw from the territory we have taken only if Hezbollah ceases to be a factor in the entire country," a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News. "We retain the freedom to respond to any threat that arises."

The same official added that Israel is working to solidify international recognition for its presence in the area as long as a threat persists along the border. The agreement is expected to include a pilot program which would see the IDF withdrawing from a limited sector it currently holds in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) moving in to replace the Israeli soldiers. (Read More)

Venezuelans dig through rubble as quake toll reaches at least 920 with over 51,000 missing

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands Friday in the aftermath of back-to-back earthquakes, citing the scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of the disaster climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. Citizens digging through the rubble of their homes said they have seen few state rescue teams in the areas hit hardest by the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that struck late Wednesday, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.

The lack of help compounded families’ desperation as the pressure to find buried survivors increased with each passing hour. The South American nation on Friday marked nearly two days since the disaster. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that period can be extended if they have access to food and water. Meanwhile, a broad international aid effort accelerated, with dozens of rescue teams from around the globe arriving in Venezuela or due to arrive there soon.“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the country’s National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”

The injured were pulled out, covered in dust and blood, among them children. Venezuelan state TV showed dramatic images of rescues, including a woman who was trapped under a cement slab with only a bare foot poking out before rescuers slid her out alive. But few government search teams were initially seen outside Caracas. The International Organization for Migration said that up to 6.76 million people in Venezuela could be affected by the quakes, some 2 million of them in Caracas alone. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”    (Read More)

'You'll find out': US hits Iranian targets minutes after Trump warns of retaliation

CENTCOM confirms US airstrikes targeted Iranian missile and drone sites after Iran violated the ceasefire by attacking a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Explosions were heard on Friday evening on the island of Sirik in southern Iran, local media reported. A senior US official confirmed to reporters that the US was striking Iranian targets in the area of the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement which said that its forces conducted strikes against Iran “as a powerful response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

According to the statement, US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone. It added that the Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of Iran’s attack. “The unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces clearly violated the ceasefire. Furthermore, Iran’s dangerous behavior undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor," said CENTCOM.

“CENTCOM forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the strait. The US military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect." he Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that their response to the US strikes would be "swift and decisive." They further claimed to have repelled a US attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came minutes after US President Donald Trump hinted that the US could retaliate for Iran’s violation of the ceasefire on Thursday. (Source)

US strikes Iran in retaliation for Strait of Hormuz cargo ship attack

The strikes follow Iran's launching of a one-way attack drone at the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely cargo ship along the Omani coast as it exited the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States conducted military strikes against Iranian targets on Friday in retaliation for Iran's attack against a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on X/Twitter. US Vice President JD Vance said of the strikes that "violence will be met with violence," in an X post on Saturday, noting that Iran can "pick up the phone" if it has "disagreements about how the MoU is being applied." Targets included Iranian missile and drone storage locations, as well as coastal radar sites, CENTCOM stated.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that it attacked several US military targets in retaliation for the US strikes, according to Iranian state media. The IRGC did not provide details on the US positions it targeted in the region.The IRGC statement came after the semi-official ISNA news agency published an earlier statement it said was from the IRGC, declaring the force's response to the US attack would be "swift and decisive," before later deleting the statement.

Also on Saturday, the head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee accused Trump of showing "no commitment to the principles of negotiation or the ceasefire." He added that the "reckless violation of the ceasefire" will lead to "regret and retreat" from the US. According to CENTCOM, the US strikes follow Iran's launching of a one-way attack drone at the Singapore-flagged M/V Ever Lovely cargo ship along the Omani coast as it exited the Strait of Hormuz. (Read More)

Vance, Rubio split on Iran war, Israel in Lebanon, as White House denies divergence - analysis

The contrast suggests that, even as the administration has emphasized unity, differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface, offering an early glimpse of the Republican Party’s future.

US President Donald Trump's administration has pushed hard to present a united front on the Iran war, but statements by his vice president and secretary of state have at times diverged over the past week, especially on the subject of Israel. Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the White House last week, lashed out against Israeli critics of the preliminary US-Iran deal. He suggested that Israeli bombings of civilian infrastructure in Beirut - intended to weaken Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israel - were undermining US-led peace efforts.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled through the Gulf this week, defended Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, repeatedly describing its actions as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. Pressed on Vance's criticism, Rubio deflected before recounting an assault by the Lebanon-based terror group on an Israeli checkpoint earlier in the week. The contrast suggests that, even as the administration has emphasized unity, differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface - a challenge for a White House whose political coalition is deeply divided on foreign policy matters. It also offers an early glimpse of the Republican Party’s future, with Rubio and Vance both seen as potential 2028 presidential contenders.

Both Vance and Rubio were dispatched on high-profile trips abroad over the past week to defend the preliminary peace accord inked between Washington and Tehran on June 17. Vance traveled to Switzerland for a round of talks with Iranian officials. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he struck a decidedly optimistic tone on the state of talks with Iran. He has also said repeatedly in recent weeks that Gulf states could fund Iran's reconstruction. (Ed note: The GOP's future? How about how the US deals with Israel could determine the future of America? Does anyone in DC have any idea of End Time Bible Prophecy concerning the state of Israel?)    (Read More)

Vance: US-Iran deconfliction cell has IRGC, CENTCOM reps ‘hanging out’ in Doha

US Vice President JD Vance has revealed that the deconfliction channel Washington and Tehran agreed to set up during talks in Switzerland this past weekend includes representatives from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the US Army’s Central Command, who will sit together in Qatar. “One of the things we wanted to come out with [was a] channel on the Iranian side [for reducing conflict], which we did,” Vance said in an interview with the UnHerd British news site, which took place while the vice president flew back from those talks in Switzerland on Monday, but wasn’t published until Thursday.

“They were like, ‘OK, fine, we’ll send somebody from the IRGC to go hang out in Doha with somebody from CENTCOM,’ and that’s how we’re going to settle a lot of these disputes,” Vance said. While US officials have recently revealed contact that has been established with the IRGC during negotiations with Iran since the outbreak of the war, the fact that Vance is now saying that the engagement is taking place at the military level was particularly noteworthy, given that the US has designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Before departing Switzerland on Monday, Vance gave a press conference during which he touted what he said were two new mechanisms that the US and Iran agreed to establish during their weekend negotiations — one to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and another to maintain a regional ceasefire, particularly in Lebanon. It was unclear which of those two mechanisms Vance was describing in the UnHerd interview, or whether the IRGC-CENTCOM coordination hub that has purportedly been set up in Doha will deal with both of those issues. (Read More)

Swiss Diplomacy Breakthrough: Vance Unveils Direct Superpower Communications Framework With Revolutionary Guards

United States Vice President JD Vance has revealed that Washington and Tehran have officially agreed to establish a direct, face-to-face communications channel in Doha between US Central Command and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to prevent further military escalation. The institutional boundary separating Western military commands from designated foreign state entities has shifted following significant diplomatic disclosures by the executive administration. A newly solidified bilateral mechanism is designed to connect senior defense officials directly to facilitate immediate conflict resolution. This structural transformation within Middle Eastern security architecture introduces an entirely new operational paradigm to global maritime and military tracking systems.

United States Vice President JD Vance announced on Thursday evening that Washington and Tehran have successfully agreed to establish a direct communication channel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. According to senior administrative officials, the primary objective of this unprecedented bureaucratic mechanism is to significantly reduce the probability of further military escalation. This direct contact framework marks a major procedural turn away from historical isolation policies. The vice president disclosed the existence of the secret diplomatic track during an extensive interview with the British news outlet UnHerd. Vance explained that both global powers officially agreed that senior American and Iranian military officers will physically meet in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, to systematically resolve ongoing friction points. The physical presence of designated liaisons in a neutral third country is designed to provide immediate verification capabilities during active regional crises.

The technical framework for this active military line was initially hammered out during highly confidential multilateral sessions overseen by European mediators. "During the talks with Switzerland, we agreed on the establishment of such a mechanism," Vance stated to the press. "They said: okay, we will send someone from the Revolutionary Guards to sit in Doha with someone from the US Central Command, and that is how we will solve a lot of these disputes," he asserted.

The strategic shift extends beyond American operational protocols, encompassing major regional partners who are simultaneously re-evaluating their traditional defensive frameworks. Vance explained that the United Arab Emirates has also opened highly specialized communication channels with Iranian officials that did not exist in any capacity in the past. These new regional tracking networks similarly involve direct interactions with the high command of the Revolutionary Guards. (Ed note: This will be folly, a serious lack of good sense, thought, or foresight. Why? All this new program has done is create a platform for The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to threaten, embarrass. challenge, US Central Command. Centcom is military and can make no political decisions.  The IRGC will run all over Centcom to show the Middle East just how big and mad they really are.)         (Read More)

Sa’ar: Hezbollah launched over 7,000 missiles at Israel since March

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Hezbollah launched over 7,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanon into Israel since March, says Hezbollah a threat to both nations. 'No country would tolerate such attacks.'

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke this week at the international session of the MUNI EXPO in Tel Aviv, addressing governors and mayors from around the world. "We are speaking following another round of the historic talks between us and Lebanon, taking place with the mediation of the United States," Sa'ar began. "We do not have any serious dispute with the government of Lebanon beyond a few border points that can be resolved in short negotiations," he stressed, adding, "We and Lebanon have a common enemy. This is the enemy of Lebanon’s future, sovereignty and independence, and it is also the enemy of Israel’s security. That enemy is Hezbollah."

"Very few in the international media mention the fact that Hezbollah started this war on March 2, after receiving instructions from Tehran to do so. Just as Hezbollah started the war on October 8, 2023, one day after Hamas’s attack on Israel."

Sa'ar also noted, "Since March alone, Hezbollah has launched more than 7,000 rockets, missiles and drones from Lebanese territory into Israel. Imagine your cities being attacked in this way. What country can accept this and not act to restore security to its citizens?" (Source)

Rubio Breaks With Trump, Calls Iran's New Leadership 'Crazy Islamists'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio contradicted President Trump's praise of Iran's new leadership, calling them "crazy Islamists" and hardening U.S. positions on Hormuz and proxies during a Gulf tour.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio drew a sharp line between himself and President Trump on Iran during a three-day Gulf tour this week, openly contradicting the president's recent praise of Tehran's new leadership by calling them what he said was simply a fact: "crazy Islamists." Asked during his trip whether he saw a change in Iran's current leadership, or whether he still considered them "crazy Islamists," as Trump had conspicuously declined to, Rubio did not hesitate. "That's not what I think," he said. "That's a fact."

The remark came as Rubio was wrapping up a Gulf swing through the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, where he sought to reassure American allies who absorbed heavy Iranian missile and drone fire during the more than 100 days of war that began February 28. The UAE alone was struck by approximately 2,800 missiles and drones; Kuwait's airport, commercial ports, and desalination plants were hit; and Qatar's Ras Laffan gas facility suffered significant damage.

Against that backdrop, Rubio delivered some of the toughest American rhetoric on Iran heard since the MOU was signed, even as the Trump administration simultaneously issued sanctions waivers allowing Tehran to sell oil on the open market. On the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio was unequivocal. The MOU states that Iran may not charge transit fees during a 60-day negotiation period, but Rubio went further, stating flatly that Washington would not accept any Iranian attempt to impose tolls on vessels passing through what he described as an international waterway subject to international law, full stop. "This is the situation in international waterways around the world," he said, "and that is what we expect here as well." 

On Iranian proxies, Rubio warned that a real end to regional hostilities was impossible while Iranian-linked militia groups continued launching missiles and drones from Iraqi soil. He said the issue was included in the MOU's framework and would be addressed in continuing negotiations. When Iran's leadership publicly denied aspects of the Switzerland talks, Rubio dismissed the contradiction without alarm. "We know what they agreed to," he said. "I don't know why they have to say the things they say." He acknowledged Tehran had its own domestic politics to manage, but said the only test that mattered was whether Iran actually honored its commitments. (Read More)

The heroic warrior nation defending the civilised world

This past week has been a shocking one. President Trump produced a ceasefire agreement that seemed to have been dictated by Tehran. He and JD Vance lashed out viciously at Israel, close and indispensable ally in this war. Now, Donald Trump is the only American president ever to have waged war on the Iranian regime. He and Israel had it on the ropes. Their achievements in drastically weakening the Iranian regime have been absolutely astonishing. So why did he suddenly release the pressure, throw away his advantage and hand Iran the power to dictate events? Well, I suggest the answer to that puzzle links America, Britain and Europe. None of them properly understands the war being waged against them all. 

This is an unprecedented and seismic moment in history. The onslaught upon Israel and the Jewish world is coming at us from all sides. The barbarities of October 7 presented the west with a challenge. Would it choose civilisation or barbarism? Much of the west, we now see, alas, has turned its back on civilisation. Instead of supporting Israel against genocidal attack, it’s turned instead against Israel and the Jewish people in an unprecedented loss of reason and moral compass. What we’re seeing is first and foremost an Islamist war against the west being waged through an onslaught against Israel and the Jews. The Islamists have always told us: first we are coming for the Jews, and then we are coming for the Christians.

Much of the west, alas, doesn’t understand this. It’s not joining up the dots. As a result, in Britain, Europe and America, there’s a refusal to do what it takes to defend itself. President Trump has turned on a dime to escape from a trap. This trap is because, in his words, an imminent global economic disaster caused by Iran taking hostage the Strait of Hormuz cannot be tolerated by him. But we have to ask, how in the world is mighty America unable to defeat a massively weakened Iran? The short answer is that to do so probably requires American boots on the ground. And that’s something the president will not commit himself to do do. Because the American people wouldn’t wear it.

Why is that? It’s because they don’t think the war with Iran has anything to do with their interests. That’s astonishing, given the hundreds of Americans attacked and killed by Iran over the past four decades as it’s pursued its war cry “Death to America”. What this initiative in the MoU means is that everyone can now see America is not prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to defend itself. And that will have emboldened evil forces threatening the west from around the world. Britain and Europe, meanwhile, are unwilling to go to war at all. They dance to the tune of kumbaya liberal universalism, which means they say all conflict must be ended by negotiation and compromise. Even with genocidal fanatics. (Ed note: This was a 14 minute speech given by Melanie Phillips to the JNS security conference in Jerusalem. You can watch the video or read her text. One thing that can be added is that Western Civilization does not understand that with the Islamic Republic, this is not a Political war, this is a Religious war in which Twelver Shi-ism, the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi will return for the end of times. In other words, they think that they are bringing back their 'Jesus.') (Read More)

Power, water outages disrupt daily life across Iran

Daily electricity and water outages disrupted life across Iran as summer began, with residents blaming years of underinvestment and deteriorating infrastructure despite officials citing rising demand and shrinking water supplies. Messages sent to Iran International from residents in Khuzestan, Ilam, Lorestan, East Azarbaijan, Alborz, Tehran and other provinces described hours-long daily power cuts and recurring water shortages that began with the onset of summer. The reports come as much of Iran experiences extreme heat, placing additional strain on the country's aging electricity and water networks. A resident of Khuzestan, one of Iran's main electricity-producing provinces, said scheduled power cuts had resumed despite the province generating far more electricity than it consumes.

On the first day of summer, with temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, they started cutting electricity again in a province that produces twice its own needs." Residents in Ilam province also reported electricity outages lasting up to four hours as temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius. One warned that if the blackouts continue, authorities would face "angry and protesting people." In Pardis, east of Tehran, a resident of a 14-story apartment building said electricity was cut for four hours during the day, leaving elevators out of service. How are we supposed to climb all these stairs?" Others said the loss of elevator access posed particular difficulties for elderly residents and families with young children.

Water shortages deepen disruption

Citizens also reported prolonged water outages, which they said often coincided with electricity cuts because pumping stations stopped operating. Mehdi Masaeli, secretary of Iran's Electricity Industry Syndicate, said last year that water supplies are interrupted when electricity fails because pumps stop working. Residents in Boumehen near Tehran said they had access to running water on only two days during the previous week, and then only for a few hours. "We have a sick person at home. We no longer know who to turn to."

People from Shahriar and Qods, west of Tehran, also described prolonged water cuts, with some saying supplies were unavailable from mid-afternoon until early the following morning. Several said repeated calls to the local water utility produced only tracking numbers and recorded messages. "Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury service." Officials have cited falling reservoir levels, declining rainfall and rising consumption as the main causes of the shortages. Many people, however, said authorities were blaming consumers instead of addressing years of underinvestment and poor management. (Ed note: Both Khuzestan and Ilam provinces are located within the ancient region once known as Elam.)    (Read More)

Qaani to Israel: Withdraw or Face Defeat

IRGC Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani declares Lebanon a "field of resistance," warns IDF forces will be driven out in disgrace if they don't withdraw immediately • Threat comes amid conflicting reports on Israeli positions in south (Israel News). The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force delivered a stark ultimatum to Israel on Thursday, demanding an immediate and complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory while warning that Israeli forces face inevitable expulsion "in shame, humiliation, and crushing defeat" if they refuse to leave voluntarily.

Qaani, who heads the IRGC's elite external operations unit responsible for managing Tehran's regional proxy networks, issued the threat in remarks carried prominently by Iranian state media. His statement marks one of the most direct public warnings from a senior Iranian military official since the escalation of fighting in southern Lebanon. "Israel must withdraw from Lebanon immediately," Qaani declared in the address. "Lebanon is a field of steadfast resistance, not a playground for occupiers." The Quds Force commander warned that if Israeli forces do not choose to retreat on their own terms now, they will soon be forced out under military pressure and will flee the region "in shame, in humiliation, and in crushing defeat."

The remarks from Qaani carry particular weight given his position as the operational architect of Iran's regional influence. The Quds Force serves as Tehran's primary instrument for arming, funding, and directing militia groups across the Middle East, with Hezbollah in Lebanon representing its most powerful and sophisticated proxy force. Qaani has commanded the unit since January 2020, when his predecessor Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Qaani's public intervention comes after months of conspicuous absence from the spotlight. The Quds Force chief has largely disappeared from public view since the outbreak of the current conflict, communicating primarily through written statements and social media posts rather than public appearances. In previous messages to Hezbollah operatives, he praised what he termed their "exceptional efforts" and urged them to remain "vigilant and ready."  (Ed note: Qaani was just in Iraq trying to stir things up.)  (Read More)