Why the Pentagon is buying 30,000-pound bunker busters as Iran tensions rise

Amid high-tensions between the United States and Iran, the US Air Force has awarded Boeing a sole-source contract to replenish its arsenal of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs. The US dropped over a dozen MOPs on Iranian nuclear facilities in June during Operation Midnight Hammer.

According to a partially redacted justification notice posted online last week, the US Air Force said that it was awarding Boeing the sole-source contract because “this procurement and sustainment activity is critically needed to replenish the inventory of GBU-57's, ended during Operation Midnight Hammer (21 Jun. 25).”

Boeing is the only company that makes the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator and the justification notice is intended to explain why the Pentagon did not carry out a fully competitive tender for the specially designed munition.

The defense giant has “uniquely acquired expertise over a period of 18 years of adapting this specialized weapon to meet evolving mission needs as MOP transitioned from proof-of-concept to Full Operational Capability,” the document said, adding that awarding the contract to any other company would have resulted in unacceptable delays. (Read More)

The Oil Weapon: Iran Threatens Multi-Year Energy Blackout if War Begins

Tehran has responded to President Trump’s thirty-day deadline with a chilling promise of a "deterrent lesson," warning that any military action will trigger a global economic collapse and the permanent destruction of Gulf energy hubs.

As diplomatic teams prepare to head to Geneva for a high-stakes Tuesday summit, the Iranian leadership has issued a defiant and aggressive response to President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum. General Mousavi, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, labeled Trump’s recent demands as "reckless" and unbefitting of a world leader. While the U.S. has pushed for a swift deal to curb nuclear activity, Tehran has signaled that it has no intention of backing down on its core capabilities. In a series of coordinated statements from the military, parliament, and state media, Iran has made it clear that while it is willing to discuss economic cooperation, its uranium enrichment program andmissile stockpiles are non-negotiable. Furthermore, the regime has warned that any attempt to resolve the standoff through force will result in a regional war that will bypass Iran’s borders and shatter the stability of the global energy market for years to come.

Ebrahim Rezai, the spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, stated firmly on Sunday that the Geneva talks will not include concessions on nuclear fuel. "In the round of negotiations in Geneva, we will not discuss stopping or giving up uranium enrichment, and there is no intention to remove Iran's nuclear stockpiles from the country," Rezai said. He claimed that these points were already accepted by the Americans and are entirely separate from regional issues or missile development. According to Rezai, the "Zionist regime" remains the central problem in the region and should be dealt with in a separate framework with neighboring countries.

...The article explained that while a blocked shipping lane can be reopened quickly, the destruction of refineries takes years and billions of dollars to repair. In such a scenario, the global market would face a prolonged oil shortage that would cripple the economies of both Western and regional powers. Citing the failures of Western military campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war against terrorists in Gaza, the Iranian press argued that military superiority does not guarantee victory. Instead, an attack on Iran would only "strengthen the discourse of resistance" and unite actors opposed to Western hegemony, turning a regional war into a permanent global crisis. (Read More)

Netanyahu: Iran ‘lies and cheats’

Any agreement must remove all enriched nuclear material from Iran, dismantle its enrichment infrastructure, curb its ballistic missile program and dismantle the axis of terror that Tehran has built across the region, said the Israeli premier.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated his doubts regarding the possibility of any deal with Iran, which he said must include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, and not just stopping uranium enrichment. His comments came ahead of a second round of U.S.-Iranian talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, and amid a major American military buildup in the region which is still underway.

“I will not hide from you that I express my skepticism of any deal with Iran, because, frankly, Iran is reliable on one thing: they lie, and they cheat,” Netanyahu said in a keynote speech to the annual gathering of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem.

In his first public address after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington last week, the Israeli leader said that any agreement must remove all enriched nuclear material from Iran, dismantle its enrichment infrastructure, curb its ballistic missile program and dismantle the axis of terror that Tehran has built across the region. “There shall be no enrichment capability—not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place,” he said. (Read More)

Trump told Netanyahu he’d back Israeli strikes on Iran if talks fail – report

Discussion of potential attack is ongoing, CBS reports; as 2nd round of US-Iran talks set to start, PM demands Iran remove enriched uranium, dismantle facilities, limit missiles.

US President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Netanyahu in December that he would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program if the US and Iran could not reach a deal, CBS News reported on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The US outlet reported that discussions about such an attack, roughly eight months after the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, are ongoing. During last year’s war, the US joined the Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. This time, the American role in an Israeli attack would involve helping jets refuel in midair or aiding Israel in receiving permission to fly over neighboring countries, CBS reported.

Several countries have said they would not let their airspace be used for an attack on Iran. The report came as Iran’s foreign minister departed for Geneva on Sunday ahead of a second round of talks with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program, and as Netanyahu voiced skepticism that the negotiations would succeed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged that the talks could fail, while emphasizing that Trump remains committed to seeing them through. Iran, meanwhile, signaled flexibility on its nuclear program and urged Washington to pursue a deal with mutual economic benefits. (Read More)

Netanyahu: Israel ready to phase out US military aid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the opening gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations’ 51st Leadership Mission to Israel on Sunday night in Jerusalem.

The Prime Minister spoke about his recent trip to the United States and his meeting with President Trump. “I just had very important meeting with President Trump. The focus was on Iran. The President is determined to exhaust the possibilities of achieving an agreement," Netanyahu said. Addressing the Iranian issue, Netanyahu stated, “I expressed my skepticism of any deal with Iran because Iran is reliable on one thing - they lie and cheat." 

He outlined conditions that he said must be included in any agreement. “First, all enriched material has to leave Iran. Second, there should be no enrichment capability. Not just stop the process but dismantle the infrastructure that allows you to enrich. Third, need to deal also with the question of ballistic missiles. And the fourth is to dismantle is the axis of terror of Iran. And finally, distrust and verify. Must have effective inspections for all of the above." Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu said Israel had three goals in the war: “return the hostages, disarm and dismantle Hamas military capabilities, and third dismantle Hamas governing capabilities. The first has been achieved."

“Hamas must give up its weapons. The weapon that does the most damage is the AK-47. Assault weapons. There are 60,000 such weapons, they must go," he said. “First disarm Hamas. Second, demilitarize Gaza. We dismantled about 150 km of 500 km of tunnels. We’re giving the President’s plan a chance. It can be done the easy or hard way. We hope the easy way. Because we know the human cost of war. But that goal must be achieved. And one way or another it will be. “Gaza will not pose a threat ever again to the State of Israel," Netanyahu declared. On the economy, the Prime Minister said, “After 2 years of war, our economy is growing rapidly, our stock market is at an all-time high. The shekel vs the dollar is almost at a 30-year high. Inflation is going down." (Read More)

Syria demands full Israeli withdrawal

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said that the current talks with Israel are focused on Israel’s withdrawal from territories it occupied in southern Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, and not on the Golan Heights issue. Speaking at a security conference in Munich, al-Shibani emphasized the importance of a full Israeli withdrawal to reach a security agreement between the two countries.

The negotiations will certainly not reach a point where there is acceptance of the current situation imposed by Israel in southern Syria," al-Shibani said. According to him, the process will ultimately lead to an Israeli withdrawal, a halt to interference in Syria’s internal affairs, respect for Syrian airspace, and non-interference with Syrian sovereignty.

He noted that the new Syrian regime has been working from day one to rebuild the country and unify internal ranks. However, he added, Israel may not view Syrian policies favorably or might be seeking to provoke conflicts in the region. In another context, al-Shibani said that the Syrian regime is working to integrate the civil and military institutions of the Kurdish minority within the Syrian government, and that there is no possibility of re-admitting ISIS-affiliated fighters who were held by the Kurdish militia and were recently transferred to Iraq. (Ed note: Yep, always remember to keep one eye on the state of Syria and old HTS.) (Source)

Israeli Tanker Jets Fly Openly in Syrian Skies

In a stark demonstration of Israel's evolving dominance over the skies of the Middle East, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) aerial refueling aircraft was publicly tracked operating deep inside Syrian airspace.

The Boeing 707 Re’em tanker, bearing tail number 264, transmitted an unencrypted squawk code of 4512 as it cruised visibly over eastern Syria near the border with Iraq. Flight tracking data from aviation enthusiasts and open-source intelligence monitors captured the jet's path in real time, with no apparent efforts to mask its identity or trajectory. The aircraft, a veteran of Israel's long-range strike capabilities, was observed loitering at altitudes typical for in-flight refueling operations, likely supporting fighter jets on extended patrols.

This overt incursion marks a profound departure from the shadows of secrecy that once defined Israeli operations in Syrian territory. Just a few years ago, such a flight would have triggered immediate Syrian air defenses, risking escalation with Damascus's Russian-backed forces or even direct confrontation with Iranian proxies. The skies over Syria were a no-man's-land of electronic warfare, where Israeli jets hugged terrain and jammed radars to evade detection during precision strikes on Hezbollah arms convoys or Iranian entrenchments.

But the landscape has changed irreversibly. The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024, followed by the fragmentation of Syrian military cohesion and the withdrawal of key Russian assets amid Moscow's quagmire in Ukraine, has left the country's airspace as porous as it is precarious. Israel's subsequent normalization pacts with Arab states, coupled with targeted operations that have decimated Iran's "Axis of Resistance," have further tilted the balance. No longer must the IAF operate as an uninvited guest; today, it moves as a de facto sovereign.

Syria's air defenses are a shell of their former selves, and with Iran's supply lines severed, the regime in Tehran watches helplessly as its strategic depth evaporates. Israel's reach now extends unchallenged from the Golan to the Euphrates." The implications ripple far beyond the tactical. For Iran, whose influence once radiated through Syria as a vital corridor for arming militants in Lebanon and beyond, this openness signals a closing window. Tehran's ability to project power, via precision-guided missiles or drone swarms, relies on safe havens in Syrian territory. (Read More)

Israel warns: Hamas setting conditions for second stage of ceasefire

Ahead of the transition to Phase B of US President Donald Trump's plan for rebuilding Gaza, Hamas has set a new demand: to maintain its control over Gaza while keeping its role as a political entity. Israel has sent a firm message to the US that any inclusion of Hamas in the administration of the Gaza Strip will not be accepted under any circumstances. Israel has also made it clear that it will not agree to any political or economic agreements where the murderous terror organization maintains its power within Gaza's government system.

According to Kan News, Hamas refuses to transfer its authority to the technocratic committee established to manage Gaza, preferring instead to maintain control over the territory while partially disarming. According to the information provided, Hamas has approached Arab countries and expressed its desire to advance an arrangement similar to Hezbollah’s control in Lebanon, combining political activity with military control over the territory.

On Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told attendees at the opening gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations that Israel had three goals in the war: "return the hostages, disarm and dismantle Hamas military capabilities, and third dismantle Hamas governing capabilities. The first has been achieved."

He stressed, "Hamas must give up its weapons. The weapon that does the most damage is the AK-47. Assault weapons. There are 60,000 such weapons, they must go." "First disarm Hamas. Second, demilitarize Gaza. We dismantled about 150 km of 500 km of tunnels. We’re giving the President’s plan a chance. It can be done the easy or hard way. We hope the easy way. Because we know the human cost of war. But that goal must be achieved. And one way or another it will be. "Gaza will not pose a threat ever again to the State of Israel," Netanyahu declared. (Source)

‘We are prepared to move from defense to offense’: Israel signals harder line in Gaza

Military leaders warn that failure to disarm Hamas could trigger renewed operations even as diplomacy moves forward. Israel and Hamas continued to exchange fire over the weekend, despite a fragile ceasefire still in place in Gaza.

Health officials from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces overnight between Saturday and Sunday. The IDF has yet to comment, though recent days have shown an uptick in clashes. Hamas says nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, after two years of war. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since.

“Things are moving in Gaza,” Dr. Nimrod Goren, president of Mitvim – the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, and an executive board member at Diplomeds – The Council for Mediterranean Diplomacy, told The Media Line. “Even if the plan appears questionable in terms of its sequencing and its end game on the ground, the reality on the ground in recent months has improved, and the process is continuing, contrary to expectations. There is a very limited momentum of progress, and if you look at the plan with adjusted expectations, there is room for some satisfaction.”

After completion of the first phase of the deal, which included the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a halt in large-scale fighting, US President Donald Trump is trying to kickstart the second phase. That phase is expected to include Hamas’ complete disarmament, a full Israeli withdrawal, and the establishment of a technocratic government to administer the territory, removing Hamas as Gaza’s sovereign authority.

...“We are not giving up on the war objective that was set out, which is to completely demilitarize Gaza and disarm Hamas of all its weapons,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told troops stationed along the Yellow Line in Gaza on Friday. “We are prepared to move from defense to offense.” (Read More)

PM and Trump reportedly agree to ‘full force’ economic pressure campaign against Iran

Blocks on Iranian oil exports to China among options, US official tells Axios; Geneva to host next round of US-Iran talks, though second American official sees ‘zero chance’ of deal.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to intensify the “maximum pressure policy” in order to force Iran to give up its nuclear program, including clamping down on the sale of Tehran’s oil to China, according to a Saturday report citing two US officials.

At the two leaders’ meeting at the White House earlier this week, “We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China,” a senior American official told Axios.

According to the report, some 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports go to China, leading the US and Israel to believe that clamping down on trade between the two countries would “significantly” increase economic pressure on Tehran. Trump, under authority by an executive order he signed last week, could impose 25% tariffs on China for trading with Iran. The pressure campaign will be implemented alongside the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, the report said. (Read More)

US demands for zero enrichment ‘not on the table anymore,’ senior Iranian negotiator says

Majid Takht-Ravanchi issued threats to U.S. forces, warning war would be bad for "those who have initiated this aggression" and "a different game" compared to June 2025.

Iranian deputy foreign minister and nuclear negotiator Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC on Sunday that, as far as Tehran is concerned, U.S. demands for zero enrichment are “not on the table anymore." The Islamic Republic is ready to consider U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals if the Americans are willing to discuss sanctions relief, the senior Iranian official told the BBC during an interview in Tehran. 

“The ball is in America’s court,” Takht-Ravanchi continued. “They have to prove that they want to have a deal with us, and if we see a sincerity on their part, I’m sure that we will be on a road to have an agreement.” Takht-Ravanchi’s claim that the “issue of zero enrichment is not an issue anymore and, as far as Iran is concerned, it is not on the table anymore” directly contradicts claims made by Trump as recently as Friday.

Trump told reporters following a military gathering at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Friday that he continues to insist on no enrichment. “Tremendous [military] power has arrived, and additional power, as you know, another carrier is going out shortly, so we’ll see it out if we can get it settled for once and for all that would be good,” the president added. Reuters cited two U.S. officials as saying on Friday that the military had been preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against the Islamic Republic. (Read More)

PA's draft constitution enshrines pay-for-slay, defines Palestine as part of 'Arab homeland'

A draft of a constitution for a future Palestinian state made public this week cemented in law the pay-for slay program, omitted any mention of the Jews' historic ties to Jerusalem and appeared to endorse the idea that descendants of Palestinians displaced during the 1948 war have a so-called "right of return" to Israel. The first article of the document apparently seen by PA leadership as the equivalent of a foundational document of their future state affirms that Palestine is "part of the Arab homeland" and the "Palestinian people are part of the Arab nation."

The fourth article designates Islam as the official religion and Islamic Sharia as the principal source of legislation. While Christianity is accorded a protected status, Judaism is not mentioned in the article nor anywhere else in the text. Neither are Jews. Article XXIV assigned to the future state the duty to "work to provide protection and care for the families of martyrs, wounded, and prisoners, and those released from the occupation prisons and the victims of genocide."

Last year Abbas announced the cancellation of the PA's terror rewards program known as "Pay-for-Slay," saying that the payments to terrorist prisoners and so-called Martyrs’ families would be reconfigured into a more general social welfare program. Yet article XXIV suggests that financial support for perpetrators of terror remains a priority. The text was made public at the order of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. It makes references to the Palestinians' "right of return" without clarifying that the return would be to the future Palestinian state. (Read More)

Iran Issues Chilling "Death Sentence" to Israeli Leaders

Iranian state TV has broadcast a "hit list" of Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu and the Mossad chief, marked with red crosshairs. In a chilling Hebrew-language threat, the regime warned: "We will determine the time of your death."

In a blatant escalation of psychological warfare, Iranian state television has broadcast a graphic "hit list" targeting Israel's top political and military leadership. The segment, which aired late yesterday, featured the faces of Israeli officials marked with red crosshairs and included a direct threat delivered in Hebrew. The broadcast by Iran’s state-run Ofogh network displayed what it termed a "bank of legitimate targets." The list of individuals marked for assassination includes: 

* Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister
* Israel Katz, Defense Minister
* R/A Eyal Zamir, IDF Chief of Staff
* David (Dadi) Barnea, Director of the Mossad
* Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, Head of Military Intelligence (Aman)
* Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Commander of the Israeli Air Force

The Iranian presenter accompanied the images with a menacing ultimatum aimed directly at the Israeli public. Speaking in Hebrew, the host declared, "We will determine the time of your death. Wait for the Ababil." The term "Ababil"** carries a dual meaning intended to strike fear. In Islamic tradition and the Quran, it refers to a miraculous flight of birds that dropped stones to destroy an army of enemies. In the modern military context, "Ababil" is the name of a prolific family of Iranian-manufactured tactical drones and loitering munitions, suggesting a direct threat of UAV strikes against these specific individuals. (Read More)

Erdogan’s New Empire: How the Sunni Axis Quietly Surrounded Israel

While the eyes of the State of Israel are fixed with anxious anticipation on the Iranian uprisings that erupted in January 2026, a threat no less severe is metastasizing under the national radar. In the brief strategic window between the waning of high-intensity combat in Gaza in September 2025 and the pivot of our attention eastward, a dangerous vacuum was created, and the Sunni Axis is racing to fill it.

The American withdrawal from Syria was far more than a logistical maneuver; it was the starting pistol for a new era. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani now rules with an iron fist over critical trade routes and oil pipelines. While Jerusalem was busy celebrating the "elimination" of Hezbollah, Jolani has already managed to explicitly threaten Israel twice this month alone.

The bombing of his headquarters may have made for a good photo op, but on the ground, Jolani doesn't take Israel into account. Syria is undergoing a rapid process of re-armament. The achievements gained from the collapse of the Assad regime are vanishing, replaced by a radical Sunni rule under Turkish patronage, presenting Israel with a new Northern Front far more complex than the one we knew. 

The warning is written in bright Sunni letters. A triple alliance of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt is taking shape, with one clear goal: to push Israel to the edge. 

* Egypt: Continues to arm itself at a frantic pace while facilitating, or at the very least, allowing, arms smuggling into Judea and Samaria, and likely Gaza as well.

* Jordan: As usual, the Hashemite Kingdom remains at the mercy of the Bedouin tribes and American support, while our eastern border has become a "Wild West" of unchecked smuggling.

* Turkey: Erdogan is no longer satisfied with mere rhetoric. Turkey now maintains a presence within Gaza and near Mount Hermon, posing a direct military threat to Israel.  (Read More)

Marco Rubio's Munich Speech Just Went Viral | WATCH

Trump’s fire, Rubio’s logic, and the standing ovation that signaled the end of the Globalist era. Deploying a masterclass in "Common Sense Realism," Secretary of State Marco Rubio tonight forged an unapologetic backbone for the American vision of a reshaped West. Speaking to a room of European elites in Germany, Rubio achieved the unthinkable: he dismantled Europe’s radical drift and its dogmatic obsession with globalist institutions, and received a standing ovation for it. Rubio didn't just carry the message of the Trump era; he weaponized it into a rigorous realist framework. He bypassed standard political broadsides to deconstruct the European status quo: a "blind" radicalism and a religious devotion to international bureaucracy that hollows out the very heritage it claims to protect.

By pivoting from the hollow rhetoric of "shared values" to the cold reality of strategic necessity, Rubio held up a mirror the European elite could no longer ignore. He juxtaposed American diplomatic triumphs against the inertia of the UN, grounding his argument in a shared Western tradition. As the "Good Cop" to Trump’s disruptor and JD Vance’s provocateur, Rubio struck the ultimate balance: a masterclass in historical depth, economic logic, and diplomatic humility.

While Rubio’s vision was forward-looking, it remained silent on the structural vacuum the U.S. helped create. To understand the "Rubio Doctrine," one must look at the scars of the past: The 1956 Post-Colonial Pivot: Washington and Bonn effectively colluded to re-engineer Western Europe into a defensive garrison, systematically dismantling British and French imperial reach to consolidate continental stability under an American umbrella.

The Sutton Thesis: As historian Antony Sutton argued, American industrial and financial interests historically played a paradoxical role in fueling the very Soviet threat that necessitated Europe's dependency.The Internal Rot: The Neo-Marxism currently hollowing out European culture is not a foreign virus; it is an ideological export, as prevalent within American institutions today as it is in Brussels. 

(Ed note: It is said that Rubio is quite the intellect and statesman. Rubio in '28'?  I'll bet that he said nothing that the future coming Antichrist would appreciate.)  (Read More)

‘Aliens are real’: What former US president Barack Obama said about extraterrestrial and Area 51

In a podcast interview, former US president Barack Obama said aliens are “real” but dismissed claims that extraterrestrials are being held at Area 51.

Former US president Barack Obama answered a question that has created a social buzz for decades, saying that aliens are “real”. He made the remarks in a podcast interview released on Saturday (Feb 14), confirming the existence of extraterrestrial life. The former leader also addressed popular conspiracy theories linked to Area 51, the top-secret US Air Force base in Nevada that is rumoured to keep aliens. (Source)

Obama: 'Aliens exist'

Former US President Barack Obama appeared on Tyler Cohen’s “No Lie" podcast this week and stated that “aliens are real." Obama also dismissed longstanding conspiracy theories, particularly the claim that aliens are being held at the secretive Area 51 military base in Nevada. According to him, there is no underground facility where aliens are being kept-unless there is a “massive conspiracy" hiding such information even from him as President of the United States.

When asked what his first question was upon entering the White House, he once again returned to the subject. “Umm… where are the aliens kept?" he joked. This is not the first time Obama has publicly addressed the possibility of life beyond earth.

The remarks come amid renewed interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), following years of reports about Pentagon-released UFO videos and growing public discussion about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. One of the most well-known claims relates to the 1947 Roswell incident, which believers say involved the discovery of debris from a non-human craft. (Source)

Breaking: Next Round of US-Iran Nuclear Talks Set for Tuesday in Geneva, Led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

The outcome could prove pivotal in averting escalation following last year's U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities and amid Tehran's internal challenges.

The Trump administration is gearing up for the next phase of high-stakes negotiations with Iran, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland. A U.S. delegation including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner will lead the American side in indirect talks mediated by Omani representatives, according to sources briefed on the matter and reported by Reuters and other outlets.

This follows the first round of renewed discussions held on February 6 in Muscat, Oman, where Witkoff and Kushner met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Those talks were described as a "good beginning" by Iranian officials and "very good" by President Trump, focusing exclusively on Iran's nuclear program amid heightened regional tensions. No major breakthroughs were announced, but both sides agreed to continue consultations after returning to their capitals.

The Geneva session comes as the U.S. maintains significant military pressure in the Middle East, including the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the region alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln. Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to reach a deal curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile capabilities could lead to "very traumatic" consequences for Tehran, even floating regime change as potentially the "best thing" for Iran. (Ed note: Has anyone thought about this entire situation? We've two real estate developers dealing with the Iran and US, Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Gaza.)    (Read More)

US military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations

The US military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two US officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries. The disclosure by officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the ongoing diplomacy between the United States and Iran.

US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week in an effort to revive diplomacy over Tehran's nuclear program, after Trump amassed military forces in the region, raising fears of new military action.
US officials said on Friday that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, adding thousands more troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers, and other firepower capable of conducting attacks and defending against them.

Trump, speaking to US troops on Friday at a base in North Carolina, said it had "been difficult to make a deal" with Iran. "Sometimes you have to have fear. That's the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of," Trump said. Asked for comment on the preparations for a potentially sustained US military operation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: "President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran." "He listens to a variety of perspectives on any given issue, but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security," Kelly said. The Pentagon declined to comment. The United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. (Read More)

Message to Iran: USS Gerald R. Ford redeployed to Middle East

The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships, currently deployed in the Caribbean, have been ordered to the Middle East and are not expected to return to their home ports until late April or early May, according to US officials quoted by the New York Times on Thursday. The redeployment marks a significant extension of the carrier strike group’s mission, which was originally expected to conclude with an early March return.

Officials informed the Ford’s crew of the decision on Thursday, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The strike group will now join the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf, strengthening the US naval presence amid ongoing tensions with Iran. The redeployment comes as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed pressure campaign against Iran’s leadership.

Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Wednesday. During the meeting, Netanyahu attempted to persuade the US President not to reach a partial deal with Iran and to safeguard Israeli interests. On Thursday, Trump called on Iran to make a deal, warning the Islamic Republic “it's going to be very traumatic if they do not. The Gerald R. Ford’s warplanes previously took part in the January 3 operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. US military leaders have not publicly commented on the redeployment. (Source)

US strikes 30 Islamic State targets in Syria as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the forces used precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.

The United States announced it struck 30 Islamic State targets in Syria on Saturday, including infrastructure and weapons storage targets. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), US forces used precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.

The strikes are a part of the larger Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched on December 13, 2025, in response to attacks on US forces in Syria's Palmyra, which resulted in the death of two US servicemembers.

"More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations," the CENTCOM statement said. This is a developing story. (Ed note: The Islamic State is ISIS. Did you know that there are at least eight different terrorists groups now operating in Syria, four major, and four minor groups? Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.) (Source)

Board of Peace envoy: Technocrats can’t enter Gaza if ceasefire violations persist

The Board of Peace’s High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov said at the Munich Security Conference on Friday that the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza in place of Hamas cannot enter the Strip if violations of the ceasefire continue. “We need to make sure that what is happening now with the violations of the ceasefire stops,” said Mladenov, without placing blame on either Israel or Hamas. “If you put the committee tomorrow in Gaza and the violations of the ceasefire continue the way they are now. We’re only embarrassing the committee and ultimately making it ineffective.”

Under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a committee of Palestinian technocrats unaffiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, is supposed to oversee the reconstruction of the devastated Strip, with backing from the US-led Board of Peace. Mladenov, a former Bulgarian minister and UN envoy to the Mideast, took on his central role on the Board last month.

Mladenov’s comments came as IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir saidon Friday the military would “respond to any violation” and would not give up on the war objectives of demilitarizing the Strip and disarming Hamas. Zamir, who was visiting Gaza, confirmed that the army has such plans ready to go if the government orders it. Israel has carried out daily strikes on what it says are terror operatives in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, the death toll since the October ceasefire stands at nearly 600 and includes scores of women and children. (Ed note: And not only the problem of the committee members, but how would you like to be a construction worker, trying to build, and having Hamas take shots at you all day long?)   (Read More)

Doctors Without Borders suspends activities at Gaza hospital due to presence of gunmen

Organization says incidents, including, suspected weapons transfers, have increased since ceasefire; statement marks 1st time international group confirmed gunmen in Gaza hospitals.

Doctors Without Borders said in a statement on that it has suspended non-critical medical activities at Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s Khan Younis due to the presence of armed men at the medical facility and “a recent situation of suspicion of movement of weapons.” The aid group said that armed men have additionally been arresting patients. MSF’s statement appeared to mark the first time that an international humanitarian group in Gaza has publicly reported the presence of armed men in a hospital or the possible use of such a facility for moving weapons.

“In recent months, in Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, patients and MSF personnel have seen armed men, some masked, in different areas of the large compound of the hospital. This had not been in areas where MSF has activities, but in other parts of the hospital compound,” Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in the statement explaining its decision to halt work at the Nasser Hospital since January 20.

MSF has been a key provider of medical and humanitarian aid in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel triggered a two-year war in the enclave. Israel and Hamas agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire in October, though both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violations. “With an uptick since the ceasefire, MSF teams have reported a pattern of unacceptable acts, including the presence of armed men, intimidation, arbitrary arrests of patients, and a recent situation of suspicion of movement of weapons,” the humanitarian organization said. “These incidents pose serious security threats to our teams and patients.” (Read More)

A SUMMARY OF THE 2025 ANNUAL REPORTS

A MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC: 

The Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds report on the current and projected financial status of the two programs each year. This document summarizes the findings of the 2025 reports. As in prior years, we found that the Social Security and Medicare programs both continue to face significant financing issues. The non-health-specific intermediate (best estimate) assumptions for these reports were set in December 2024. The Trustees will continue to monitor developments, reevaluate the assumptions, and modify the projections in later reports. Based on our best estimates, this year's reports show that: 

• The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033, unchanged from last year’s report. At that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 77 percent of total scheduled benefits.

• The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund is projected to be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits through at least 2099, the last year of this report’s projection period. Last year’s report projected that the DI Trust Fund would be able to pay scheduled benefits through at least 2098, the last year of that report’s projection period.

• If the OASI Trust Fund and the DI Trust Fund projections were combined, the resulting projected fund (designated OASDI) would be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2034, one year earlier than reported last year. At that time, the projected fund’s reserves would become depleted, and continuing total fund income would be sufficient to pay 81 percent of scheduled benefits. (The two funds could not actually be combined unless there were a change in the law, but the combined projection of the two funds is frequently used to indicate the overall status of the Social Security program.) 

• Although the OASI Trust Fund depletion year remains the same, both the OASI and OASDI depletion dates advanced by about 3 calendar quarters, relative to last year’s projection.

• The Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033, three years earlier than reported last year. At that point, that fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 89 percent of total scheduled benefits.

• The Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund is adequately financed into the indefinite future because, unlike the other trust funds, its main financing sources—enrolled beneficiary premiums and the associated federal contributions from the Treasury—are automatically adjusted each year to cover costs for the upcoming year. Although the financing is assured, the rapidly rising SMI costs have been placing steadily increasing demands on beneficiaries and general taxpayers. (Ed note: I had thought that SSA would begin 'shortpaying' by 2029 and 'bankrupt' by 2031. A very well explained article with lots of charts, and it's very long. I guess we may have 2 more years.) (Read More)

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)