Night of Rage: Iran’s Chilling Vow to Unleash Chaos on the Gulf Tonight

Iranian officials and state-affiliated media have threatened a "Night of Rage" and the closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait in response to American naval pressure.

The rhetoric coming out of Tehran has reached a fever pitch, with various officials and state-affiliated voices promising devastating consequences for the U.S. and its regional allies. A military source told the Tasnim news agency that if the UAE continues to act as a "tool" for Israel, they will be taught a lesson they will never forget. "If the Emirates perform an unwise action, all of their interests will become a target for Iran, and no place in their facilities will be safe," the source warned. This was punctuated by a tweet from an Iranian military spokesperson promising a "Night of Rage" in response to recent American naval successes.

Adding a new layer of strategic threat, Hossein Shariatmadari, a close associate of the regime and editor of the Kayhan newspaper, suggested that Iran should retaliate against the U.S. naval blockade by closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Shariatmadari argued that seizing or blocking ships carrying oil and goods to "enemy countries" is a legitimate response to American aggression. He noted that nearly 6 million barrels of oil and up to 70 commercial vessels pass through that point daily, representing over 10 billion dollars in trade. Closing this artery, he claims, would cause "irreversible damage" to the U.S. and its partners, forcing ships to take significantly longer and more expensive routes.

The Iranian regime is also engaging in a war of metaphors, with Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, mocking President Trump’s approach to global politics. Velayati stated that the political world is not an adventure movie like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and that anyone trying to interfere with the "lifeline of the world" will find themselves at a dead end. He further warned that Trump is ignoring the fact that global food security and fertilizer supply chains passing through Hormuz are under Iranian control. Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaee, another top advisor, labeled the U.S. as the world's "only pirate" and warned that American aircraft carriers will soon become "graveyards" for their crews. (Ed note: Let us see what the night brings. This people are known to be trash talking, lying with trying to intimidate everyone around them.)   (Source)

Small Boats Destroyed: Navy Obliterates Iranian Vessels Attempting to Harass Shipping

A senior American Admiral, speaking to Reuters, has declared that the ongoing U.S. military blockade of Iran is exceeding all strategic expectations. The Admiral noted that while Iran has made several attempts to disrupt international shipping and retaliate against American forces, these efforts have largely ended in failure. According to the report, U.S. forces recently engaged and destroyed six Iranian small boats that were attempting to interfere with commercial shipping lanes. The Admiral used the occasion to issue a direct warning to Tehran, stating that Iranian forces are strongly advised to keep their distance from all American military assets to avoid further destruction.

The naval standoff has seen a rise in direct kinetic engagements, with the Admiral confirming that Iran has targeted both commercial vessels and U.S.Navy ships using cruise missiles. Despite the use of these advanced weapons, the American defensive shield has remained effective in preventing significant damage to the blockade's operations. "Iran tried but failed to disrupt the movement of commercial shipping by firing at it," the Admiral noted, emphasizing that the U.S. remains committed to maintaining the flow of global trade while simultaneously strangling the Iranian military's logistics.

The success of the blockade represents a major pillar of the current administration's strategy to force Iran into a disadvantaged position. By cutting off access to maritime routes and successfully intercepting hostile attack craft, the U.S. has maintained a firm grip on the Persian Gulf and the surrounding waters. The Admiral’s comments suggest that the military pressure is achieving its goal of isolating the Iranian regime, leaving their naval forces struggling to find a way to break the American encirclement. As the war continues, the U.S. maintains that any further interference with the "humanitarian" movement of neutral ships will be met with the same decisive force that sank the six Iranian vessels earlier this week. (Source)

Trump threatens to 'blow Iran off face of the Earth' if US vessels attacked

US President Donald Trump threatened that Iran would be "blown off the face of the Earth" if US vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz during an interview with FOX News on Monday. “We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before," Trump said. “We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”

Trump's comments came just after several missiles were launched from Iran at the UAE, and the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, said the US had destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran. Cooper said he "strongly advised" Iranian forces to remain clear of US military assets as it launches the operation. He said a US blockade of Iran, which prevents ships from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory, also remains in effect and is exceeding expectations.

Earlier on Monday, a South Korean ship sailing near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked, according to the Korean media outlet Chosun Daily, citing a government official. Trump acknowledged the attack in his FOX News interview, emphasizing that no other damage had been reported in the Strait. He added that South Korea should join US efforts to protect ship movements near Iran, noting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would hold a news conference on Tuesday with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine.

Also on Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-aligned Fars News Agency claimed that two missiles had hit a US naval frigate near the port of Jask at the southern entrance to the strait, forcing it to turn back. A US official later told The Jerusalem Post that the IRGC claim was false, with CENTCOM noting two US-flagged ships had successfully transited the Strait on Monday, something Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied. (Read More)

Trump says US to begin escorting ships out of Persian Gulf through Strait of Hormuz

The US will start guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz from Monday morning (Middle East Time), according to a Sunday statement by US President Donald Trump shared on Truth Social. "This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time. I am fully aware that my representatives are having very positive discussions with the country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," he said in the statement.

According to Trump, the operation will be centered on helping the vessels leave the Persian Gulf, with countries asking "the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait." "They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," he added.

According to his statement, the ships to be escorted out "will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation," and he calls the operation a "humanitarian process" to save the crews of ships trapped in the Gulf. "If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully," he warned at the end of the post. (Ed note: What is your guess, will the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have the nerve to go after the US Navy?)     (Read More)

Trump to Kan News: Iranian proposal is unacceptable

US President Donald Trump told Kan News on Sunday that the new Iranian proposal is "not acceptable." Trump stated that he had reviewed the proposal and rejected it. "I studied the new Iranian proposal, and it is not acceptable to me," he said in the interview. He added that "the campaign is progressing very well. The US President also reiterated his call for President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "He is a prime minister during wartime. Israel would not have existed without me and Bibi, in that order. You need a prime minister who can focus on the war and not on nonsense," Trump stated.

A short time earlier, Iran announced that it had received the US administration’s response to its proposal and was "reviewing it." Earlier on Sunday, a report by Al Jazeera detailed the 14-point proposal, outlining terms for a permanent end to the ongoing conflict, including a timeline to resolve all issues within 30 days. According to the report, the proposal, delivered via Pakistan in response to a US-backed nine-point plan, prioritizes a comprehensive resolution rather than an extension of the current ceasefire. The plan calls for guarantees against future military attacks, the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding Iran, and the lifting of sanctions imposed over decades.

The proposal also includes demands for the release of frozen Iranian assets worth billions of dollars and the payment of war reparations. Tehran is further seeking an end to all hostilities, including fighting in Lebanon, as part of a broader regional de-escalation. A central component of the proposal is the establishment of what was described as a new mechanism governing the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global energy supplies pass. The issue of navigation in the strait remains a key point of contention between the sides. (Read More)

Two Weeks to Breakout: The Chilling New Estimate for Iran's Nuclear Weapon

Major General (Res.) Tamir Hayman, the head of the Institute for National Security Studies and a former high ranking intelligence official, has issued a sobering assessment of the war against Iran. In his first major interview since returning from reserve duty, Hayman told News 12 that while the Iranian military and economy have been severely degraded, the core existential threat to Israel, the nuclear program, remains largely intact. He warned that without a definitive resolution through either a "perfect deal" or a massive military strike, the region remains at a dangerous stalemate similar to the start of the war.

Hayman analyzed the three primary goals defined by the Israeli government: toppling the regime, removing the nuclear threat, and eliminating the missile threat. He noted that while Iran is significantly weaker than it was months ago, the regime has survived its most difficult challenge yet. "Iran is weaker, especially in the military field, with the erosion of the Revolutionary Guard's air and sea capabilities," Hayman stated. However, he cautioned that the "breakout time" to a nuclear weapon is essentially back to where it was before the war. He revealed that before the current campaign, Iran was only "two weeks" away from having enough fissile material for a bomb.

The General explained that because Israel is fighting as part of a coalition rather than in a simple partnership, there have been "limitations and restraints" imposed by the United States that prevented a total strike on nuclear infrastructure. "We hardly touched the nuclear issue," he warned, noting that the 440 kilograms of enriched uranium currently held by Tehran is just one component of a larger problem. He emphasized that a true breakout time assessment must include the number of underground sites and advanced centrifuges, all of which continue to exist despite the months of fighting. 

Looking forward, Hayman warned that relying solely on a siege to topple the regime is a "complete gamble" with no historical precedent for success. He argued that if the war ends without addressing the nuclear file, the overall balance of the campaign could be seen as negative for Israel. "If the nuclear threat is not treated, then the question is asked, what did we do in this whole event?" he remarked. With President Trump’s patience potentially wearing thin, Hayman suggested that the window for a decisive military or diplomatic victory is closing, leaving Israel at a critical crossroads.  (Ed note: If this Major General is anywhere close to correct in his assessment of Iran's nuclear situation, Israel could be in trouble!)

 (Source)

Dr. Bill Salus comments: “In this article the Major General identifies the three primary goals defined by the Israeli government: toppling the regime, removing the nuclear threat, and eliminating the missile threat. These three goals are also specified in the Jeremiah 49:34-39 Elam prophecy.

1.     toppling the regime, (Jer.49:38) “I will destroy its king and officials.” (Regime change), 

2.     removing the nuclear threat, (Jer.49:35), 

3.      eliminating the missile threat, (Jer.49:35) “‘Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, (eliminate Iran’s missile threat), The foremost of their might.” (eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat). 

Jeremiah’s 2600 hundred year old Elam prophecy appears to be in the process of finding fulfillment.

Air force expansion propels Israel to a major military power - analysis

Israel’s rapid expansion of its air force amidst the current multi-front war is transforming the nation into a major military power. Although Israel doesn’t have aircraft carriers or the ability to project its air power globally, the decision to proceed with additional F-35 purchases makes Israel a global leader in the use of the 5th-generation aircraft. Israel will become one of the largest users of the F-35 and likely the global leader per capita in terms of aircraft.

According to Lockheed Martin data from the end of January 2026, there are currently 20 countries using the F-35. These include large users like the US, with some 2,000 aircraft in multiple services. The UK has acquired 138 of the warplanes, while Australia wants 100 of them, Canada has procured 88, and Italy wants a total of 115. In addition, Japan is acquiring 142 of the planes, and South Korea has 60. Israel will now have 100 of them in four squadrons, making it a major user. For a country of Israel’s size and population, this is a lot of 5th-generation aircraft.

Israel has shown throughout the recent multi-front war that began with the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that it will use its air force to confront threats around the region. This has included around 939 days of combat on numerous fronts. Israel has had to fight Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran. There was also one airstrike in Qatar. Israel’s air force has led the way in this effort. While Israel has a large and advanced ground force and has also bolstered its navy in recent years with the acquisition of the Sa’ar 6 corvette and new submarines, the air force is Israel’s long arm in terms of being able to carry out wars around the region. (Read More)

Hezbollah MP vows terror group will ‘thwart’ Lebanon-Israel talks as clashes persist

A Hezbollah lawmaker on Sunday said that the terror group will be able to “thwart” the objectives of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, as the Iranian proxy fired several rockets and drones at IDF troops operating across the border despite a declared ceasefire. Speaking at an event honoring killed Hezbollah operatives, Hassan Fadlallah said that “these negotiations with all their results do not concern us, and we will not implement them.” “We have a free people and a steadfast resistance capable of thwarting all the objectives of these negotiations, which increase the sharp division in the country between the factions of our people and within the state itself,” Fadlallah said.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US have held two meetings in Washington in recent weeks, the first of their kind in decades. Washington has urged Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, whose government seeks to disarm Hezbollah, to meet directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which Aoun has so far avoided. Hezbollah has strongly rejected the talks, with its leader Naim Qassem calling them a “sin.” Fadlallah said on Sunday that “any new agreement that will be established in Lebanon must guarantee that our country will not be attacked in any way.”

Hezbollah and Israel have continued to attack each other since US President Donald Trump first announced a ceasefire on April 16, which has now largely unraveled, though fighting remains at a lower level than before. On Saturday, the Lebanese army said its commander Gen. Rudolf Haykal met with US Gen. Joseph Clearfield, who heads the committee monitoring the ceasefire. The participants at the meeting underlined the importance of the Lebanese army’s role and the need to support it during the current phase, the Lebanese statement added.    (Read More)

IDF takes responsibility for 16 front-line communities in security shift

The Cabinet approved on Sunday Defense Minister Israel Katz’s proposal for the Israel Defense Forces to assume responsibility for the security of 16 communities in front-line areas. The move shifts to the IDF exclusive operational authority and responsibility for thwarting terrorism and hostile activity and in those areas. The communities include nine in the north and seven in the center of the country, Israeli website N12 reported. The nine communities in the IDF Northern Command area of responsibility are Bar Yohai, Beit Jann, Kibbutz Hulata, Moshav Kfar Hoshen (Safsufa), Kisra-Sumei, Moshav Meron, Or HaGanuz, Moshav Sde Eliezer and Yesud HaMa’ala. Falling under Central Command are six kibbutim: Afikim, Beit Zera, Degania Alef, Degania Bet, Gesher and Hamadia, and the village of Menahemia.

The selection of the communities was made on the basis of a security analysis that examined parameters such as distance from the border and threat level, as opposed to the distance from the nearest police stations and military forces, N12 reported. Israeli police will continue to manage civilian security in these communities, including maintaining public order, the security of life and property, and handling criminal offenses. Special emphasis was placed on Meron. While overall security envelope will be managed by the IDF, police will still hold responsibility for ensuring order and security at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a popular Jewish religious pilgrimage site that normally attracts hundreds of thousands during the Lag Ba’Omer holiday.

Israel has canceled this year’s Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Mount Meron to ensure public safety. The holiday this year runs from the evening of May 14 through May 15. Forty-two million shekels (~$14.2 million) were allocated from the Ministry of Defense (spread over 2028-2030) and an additional 18 million shekels (~$6 million) from the National Security Ministry’s budget for the security effort. (Source)

How a weaker dollar is quietly making life more expensive

NEW YORK (AP) — A hidden force is quietly pushing up costs for everything from your summer vacation to your weekly grocery bills: a weaker U.S. dollar. The dollar has fallen about 10% against other major currencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, a pullback potentially playing a role in Americans’ concerns about affordability. “It’s kind of a hidden tax,” says economist Thomas Savidge of the conservative-leaning American Institute for Economic Research. “What your dollar is going to be able to buy is going to shrink.” A look at where the dollar stands and what it means for you: 

 
Historic dollar decline

The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against other major currencies, logged its steepest six-month drop in more than 50 years in the first half of 2025. Though the decline hasn’t deepened, the dollar index is still about 10% lower than the start of Trump’s term.A strong dollar makes imports cheaper and can help keep inflation in check. A weak one can increase prices on foreign goods but boost American exports.

U.S. presidents have long voiced support for a strong dollar even as they pursued policies that, at times, pushed the currency lower. Trump has suggested a strong dollar puts the U.S. at a disadvantage and that a weak dollar helps American industry. And as with most things with Trump, he’s been blunter in his messaging.“You make a hell of a lot more money with a weaker dollar,” he said last year, one of a number of public statements showing his preference for seeing the dollar decline 

Big multinationals benefit

Trump isn’t alone in seeing benefits of a weaker buck. In recent months, corporate earnings calls have been peppered with talk of how a weaker dollar has helped companies from Philip Morris to Coca-Cola, wit executives pulling out C-suite phrases like “favorable currency impact” to note how the dip brought tailwinds outside the U.S. that added to bottom lines. “In many cases, we’ve got a weaker dollar, which is not unhelpful,” Elie Maalouf, the CEO of InterContinental Hotels, said on a February call as the company announced higher profits and revenues. 

For big multinational companies that do business overseas, a weaker dollar can spur sales for products that suddenly become cheaper. But the vast majority of U.S. businesses are not operating beyond the border. For those catering to domestic customers, it’s a different story, particularly if they are reliant on importing goods.

Travis Madeira, a fourth-generation lobsterman who founded the lobster-shipping business LobsterBoys with his brother, makes about 80% of his sales to Americans, unlike some competitors who primarily export. “The exporters are gonna have the advantage when it comes to the dollar weakening,” says Madeira, who is paying more to import bait and buy Canadian lobsters. “These guys are gonna have a little bit of a lever on us.” 

 
Expect more movement

Currency values are constantly moving and, while the dollar’s recent fall is notable, it has reached lower levels at points in the presidencies of each of Trump’s predecessors, back through the creation of the Dollar Index in 1973, when Richard Nixon was at the helm. Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard University economist and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, says while “a lot of policies that Trump is doing are something of a cancer for the dollar,” he believes that it was destined to fall no matter who was in charge.

“The dollar had been on a 15-year bull run,” he said. “I would argue the dollar is still wildly overvalued, and over the next maybe five or six years, it might fall 15%.” What does that mean for American consumers? Rogoff says commodity prices are likely to rise, particularly with the impact of the Iran war on fuel prices. “They’re just going to go up,” he says, “no matter what the dollar’s at.” (Read More)

Iran cuts oil output as US blockade strains storage - BBG

Iran has begun curbing oil production as the US naval blockade tightens around its oil trade, with exports plunging, storage filling and tankers gathering near the country’s main export hub, Bloomberg reported. The blockade, which took effect on April 13, has left Tehran trying to manage a pressure campaign aimed at its most important source of revenue. Bloomberg said the war has entered a stalemate, with Washington betting that lost oil revenue will force Iran to yield and Tehran betting it can outlast the economic pain and keep global energy prices elevated.

A senior Iranian official told Bloomberg that Tehran is proactively reducing crude output to stay ahead of storage limits rather than waiting for tanks to fill completely. The official said the move could affect as much as 30% of Iran’s oil reservoirs, but argued the risks were manageable because Iranian engineers have years of experience idling and restarting wells under sanctions. “We have enough expertise and experience,” said Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Association. “We’re not worried.”

Bloomberg said Iran’s oil sector had remained resilient before the blockade, producing about 3.2 million barrels a day in March, with exports close to prewar levels. But the current blockade is different from earlier sanctions pressure because the US is physically trying to block waters around the Strait of Hormuz, stranding tens of millions of barrels at sea. Since the blockade began, Iran has increasingly turned to floating storage. Bloomberg said aging and in some cases derelict tankers have gathered near Kharg Island, Iran’s main export terminal in the Persian Gulf.   

\US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that Kharg Island was “soon nearing capacity,” warning that the pressure could cost Iran about $170 million a day in lost revenue and force Tehran toward negotiations. “It looks like there’s been a significant slowdown in production,” Antoine Halff, co-founder and chief analyst at Kayrros, said on a conference call. “There is stress in the system.” If storage fills completely, Iran would have little choice but to cut production by the amount it can no longer export. Based on prewar domestic consumption of about 2 million barrels a day, Bloomberg said that could leave fields operating at roughly half their potential. (Read More)

Soaring prices push medicine beyond Iranians' reach

Medicine prices in Iran have surged sharply in recent weeks, with some drugs rising by as much as 380%, according to reports received by Iran International, as the country grapples with soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and worsening wartime disruption. The price hikes come as many Iranians are already struggling to cope with an economic crisis driven by years of sanctions, mismanagement and, more recently, war-related damage and supply-chain disruptions.

The US dollar passed 1.81 million rials on Iran’s open market on Wednesday, rising nearly 8% in a single day as the country’s economic crisis worsened under the strain of maritime blockade, stalled diplomacy and mounting pressure on households. A review of around 200 medicines found that prices in many cases have more than doubled since before Nowruz, while pharmacists say the prices of roughly 5,000 branded medicines have changed and more are being added to the list each day. The surge comes as the US blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz remains in place despite President Donald Trump’s extension of a temporary ceasefire with Tehran earlier this month.

At the same time, citizens in several cities have repeatedly reported shortages of essential medicines in pharmacies, including drugs for heart disease, neurological disorders and cancer treatment. In one case, a citizen reported shortages of the anti-clotting drug Plavix at Tehran’s Rajaei Hospital, a major cardiac centre. Among the steepest increases were insulin products. Iranian-made insulin pens rose from around 205,000 tomans to 640,000 tomans, while foreign brands such as NovoMix and NovoRapid jumped from around 240,000 tomans to 890,000 tomans.

One doctor told Iran International the cost of medicine has risen so sharply that many patients can no longer afford their prescriptions. A citizen whose wife has metastatic cancer said a drug she needs every 21 days rose from 65 million tomans for the first doses to 114 million tomans by the fifth. Prices for some specialist and cancer drugs have also climbed sharply. Filgrastim, used by chemotherapy patients to stimulate white blood cell production, more than doubled in price from around 3.2 million tomans to 6.6 million. Rituximab, used to treat lymphoma, blood cancers and autoimmune diseases, rose by more than 11%, while trastuzumab, a targeted breast cancer treatment, saw a similar increase—adding millions of tomans to already high treatment costs. (Read More)

Jordan strikes Sweida, claims it carried out ‘deterrent operation’ against drugs, arms trafficking

Jordan carried out a wave of strikes in the Druze-majority Syrian province of Sweida, the Jordanian military and Syrian state media announced on Sunday. Local sources told Syrian media that the Jordanian army “likely… targeted a headquarters containing weapons and drugs controlled by rebel groups in the village of Shahba in Sweida.”

The Jordanian army says it “carried out a Jordanian deterrent operation targeting several locations used by arms and drug traffickers along the Kingdom’s northern border” and swore to “continue to deal proactively, decisively, and deterrently with any threat to the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom, and will dedicate their capabilities and resources to confronting it with full force and determination.”

The series of airstrikes targeted at least five locations, including warehouses in the Syrian town of Arman, sources told a reporter for Agence France-Presse. The Jordanian military has been known to carry out strikes against drug smugglers in Syria, and the latest strikes come amid a larger effort to disband the Captagon trade, which was once used to strengthen the Assad regime. (Ed note: So Jordan is saying that the "Druze-majority Syrian province of Swede" the Druzes, who Israel is defending, are dealing drugs?)  (Read More)

PSALM 83

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

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

Israel approves purchase of 2 more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from US

Israel will procure two more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from the United States, following lessons learned from the recent Iran war, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday. Over the weekend, a defense procurement committee made up of senior ministers approved a Defense Ministry plan to acquire a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals that are valued at tens of billions of shekels, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the jets “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”

Following the committee’s approval, Defense Ministry director general Amir Baram instructed the ministry’s mission to the US to “move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.” The aircraft would eventually bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet to 100 and F-15IA — the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX — fleet to 50 in the coming years. Currently, Israel has 48 F-35I jets, following an initial order of 50. Another 25 F-35s were ordered in 2023, which are expected to be delivered starting in 2028. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, and the first are expected to be delivered starting in 2031.

In a statement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the recent war in Iran “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.” “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.Baram said that “alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond.” “Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” he said, referring to the recent 40-day conflict with Iran. (Read More)

LBCI Video Mocking Hezbollah as ‘Angry Birds’ Sparks Outrage

Lebanese television channel LBCI has triggered a storm of anger among Hezbollah supporters after airing a satirical video that portrays the group and its Secretary-General Naim Qassem in the style of the popular game Angry Birds. In the clip, Hezbollah fighters are depicted as bird characters being launched at targets, while Naim Qassem’s voice is featured in the background, referring to him as “the chief bird”. His real audio is heard declaring: “There is no surrender with us”.

The video quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from Hezbollah loyalists who called it disrespectful and provocative. Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the content and warning against attempts to sow internal divisions in Lebanon. LBCI, known for its independent and often critical stance toward Hezbollah, has not yet commented publicly on the backlash. (Ed note: Do catch the video in this article, it was shown on Lebanese TV by Lebanese people.)  (Source)

Ministers set to discuss renewing Gaza war as Hamas refuses to disarm — report

Arab diplomats say Hamas willing to discuss disarming only as part of establishing a Palestinian state; IDF says at least 3 terrorists killed in Gaza, one wounded approaching troops.

The security cabinet is reportedly scheduled to discuss renewing the war in Gaza on Sunday, as negotiations to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the Strip stall “Hamas is not standing by the agreement on disarmament. We are holding discussions with mediators,” an Israeli official told the Kan public broadcaster on Saturday evening. US President Donald Trump’s ​plan for the Gaza Strip, which was initially embraced by Israel and Hamas, calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from the enclave and reconstruction to ⁠start as Hamas lays down its weapons.

The disarmament of Hamas has been a key sticking point in talks to implement the plan and cement the ceasefire reached in October, which halted two years of full-blown war triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel. Violence has continued in Gaza, much of which remains in ruins Nickolay Mladenov, leading Trump’s Board of Peace, held talks with Hamas leaders for weeks, and toward the beginning of last month, gave the group until April 11 to accept the Board of Peace’s proposal for it to gradually hand over all of its arms.

The plan, partially leaked to the media, follows an eight-month timeline, beginning with Hamas handing over its heavy weaponry and maps of its tunnel network within 90 days. But Hamas has largely bucked the demands to give up all of its weapons, two Arab diplomats familiar with the negotiations told The Times of Israel on Saturday. Instead, the terror group submitted a counter-offer to the Board of Peace, insisting that the issue of its weapons only be addressed as part of a framework culminating in the establishment of a Palestinian state. (Read More)

“Now is the time to defeat Hamas:" IDF General Staff pressing to renew fighting in Gaza

Senior officials in the Israel Defense Forces General Staff are pushing for a renewal of military operations in the Gaza Strip, arguing in closed-door discussions that “the best time to defeat Hamas is now." According to the officials, despite the war ending in October, Hamas was not defeated and continues to strengthen its control over the territory while rearming itself. The report was published this morning by military correspondent Doron Kadosh on Galei Tzahal.

The sources stated that Hamas continues manufacturing weapons, including rockets, explosive devices, and anti-tank missiles intended for attacks against Israel and IDF forces. They stressed that the mission defined at the beginning of the war - preventing Hamas from ruling Gaza - has still not been completed. In recent months, several rounds of talks were held in Cairo between Hamas leaders and international mediators. However, Hamas reportedly refused to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and begin a process of disarmament. Senior military officials believe that without further action, the current situation will persist.

At the same time, the IDF has in recent days redeployed regular brigades from southern Lebanon to the Gaza and Judea and Samaria sectors following a reduction of forces in the north. Southern Command has reportedly completed preparations for operational plans and declared readiness to resume fighting, pending decisions by Israel’s political leadership. Over the past several weeks, the IDF has intensified strikes and expanded targeted operations against militants, with nearly 100 operatives reportedly killed.

In addition, the so-called “Yellow Line" has been pushed farther west, increasing Israeli control in Gaza from 53% to approximately 59% of the territory. At the same time, disagreements reportedly remain within the General Staff regarding the timing of another large-scale ground operation, partly because of the heavy burden placed on reserve soldiers. Some senior officers believe such a move should be delayed by several months, noting that reservists are currently serving an average of about 80 days per year. (Source)

US warns: Paying Iranian tolls could trigger harsh sanctions

The United States Treasury Department issued a stark warning Friday to international shippers, cautioning that any payments made to Iran for passage through the critical Strait of Hormuz could result in heavy American sanctions. Through its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Treasury highlighted growing concern over Iranian efforts to force vessels into paying tolls in exchange for safe navigation in one of the world’s most vital energy corridors.

The advisory stressed, “US persons and U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign entities are generally prohibited under US sanctions from engaging in transactions with the Government of Iran, including the provision or receipt of services, unless exempt or authorized by OFAC." While OFAC stopped short of naming companies involved, reports reveal that some tankers have already handed over as much as two million dollars in toll fees to Tehran since the US-Israeli confrontation with Iran erupted on February 28.

Adding to the tension, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union revealed earlier this month that Tehran plans to charge one dollar per barrel of oil on tankers during the fragile ceasefire. Ships would first be required to email Iranian authorities with details of their cargo, after which they would be permitted to pay the extortionate fees in bitcoin. President Trump reacted forcefully to the Iranian scheme, declaring bluntly that “they better stop now!" Earlier, he had suggested the unusual idea of a US-Iran “joint venture" for managing such tolls. 

The Iranian regime has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed since the war began, in response to the US-Israeli strikes. In mid-April, the US began a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced the blockade after delegations from Iran and the United States held extended negotiations in Islamabad but failed to produce an agreement. (Ed note: Wait one minute. How does Iran charge a toll on shipping when the US Navy has the Strait closed?)  (Source)

Tehran hardens stance on Hormuz as ‘non-negotiable’

Iran’s leadership is hardening its stance on the Strait of Hormuz, framing the waterway as a strategic and non-negotiable asset amid rising tensions and US pressure. Statements have intensified following a message for National Persian Gulf Day attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. In the message, he described the strait as a “strategic asset” and outlined a vision for the region’s future as “a future without America,” emphasizing the importance of “Iranian management of the strait.”

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf signaled the shift most clearly, linking current policy to both strategic doctrine and historical precedent. “Today as well, by exercising management over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will ensure that it and its neighbors enjoy the valuable prospect of a future free from the presence and interference of America,” he wrote on X. In a separate English-language post, he mocked the feasibility of a US naval blockade, sharing a map of the United States and arguing that even drawing walls from coast to coast would still fall short of Iran’s total border length.

“If you build two walls, one from New York to the West Coast and another from Los Angeles to the East Coast, the total length will still be about 1,000 kilometers shorter than Iran’s borders,” he wrote. “Good luck blockading a country with those borders.” The tougher messaging comes as Washington pursues a strategy of sustained economic pressure, including a naval blockade aimed at restricting Iran’s oil exports. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes—has become the central point of confrontation in the standoff.

Reports from US media suggest the Trump administration is seeking international backing for a maritime coalition to secure shipping routes, while also rejecting Iranian proposals to reopen the strait as part of interim negotiations. Masoud Foroughi, deputy managing editor of the conservative newspaper Farhikhtegan, described Khamenei’s message as more than routine rhetoric, calling it a “strategic signal” and arguing that it rejects the idea—raised by some in Tehran—that the strait could be used as a bargaining chip. Other officials struck an even harder line. Deputy parliament speaker Ali Nikzad said the strait “must not return to its previous state,” while describing it as Iran’s “atomic bomb”—a remark underscoring its perceived strategic leverage. (Read More)

Iran submits new proposal to end war; Trump says he’s ‘not satisfied’

Offer sent via Pakistan said to envision US unwinding blockade at start of Hormuz talks rather than as precondition; suggests nuclear negotiations in exchange for sanctions relief.

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was dissatisfied with a new ceasefire offer from Tehran and confirmed he had been briefed on ways to “blast the hell out of them” if no deal were reached. “They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” he said.

n response to a separate question, Trump said: “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to.” He also claimed the talks were complicated because Iran’s leaders were “not getting along with each other, and it puts us in a bad position.” Confirming that US Central Command chief Adm. Bradley Cooper had briefed him this week about military options in Iran, Trump said: “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal — those are the options.”

Trump said that he would prefer “on a human basis” not to bomb Iran, but that he also doesn’t want the country to obtain nuclear weapons. Iranian state media and a Pakistani official had said earlier Friday that Tehran had submitted its latest proposal, without elaborating. The official, who is involved in Pakistani mediation over the war, said Islamabad had received the proposal late on Thursday and forwarded it to Washington. Talks have faltered over Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is under competing Iranian and US naval blockades. (Read More)

Iran’s economy under palpable stress, but prepared to hold out amid US blockade

Islamic Republic’s stockpiling of imports ahead of war hasn’t yet curbed bank withdrawals or rationed necessities; still, spiraling joblessness may fuel regime’s fear of protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Weeks of conflict have aggravated Iran’s dire economic problems, risking calamity after the war, but the Islamic Republic looks able to survive a standoff in the Gulf for now, despite a US blockade that has cut off energy exports. With major fighting paused by an April 8 truce, Iran is locked in a stalemate with the US and Israel, with talks for a lasting ceasefire stalled while Tehran keeps the Strait of Hormuz shut and Washington blockades Iranian Gulf ports. Despite bad damage to infrastructure and industries and an oil-export squeeze, Iran has plentiful internal supplies, steady trade with neighbors and only limited signs of immediate stress from state-revenue losses caused by the blockade.

If US President Donald Trump expects Iran to blink first in their game of economic chicken, with global inflation rising and midterm elections approaching, he may be waiting a while. “I think that they have calculated a longer runway than I think economists or Western policymakers are anticipating,” said Sanam Vakil, head of the Middle East program at the Chatham House think tank in London, referring to Iran’s leaders. Facing what they see as an existential threat to the Islamic Republic, Iran’s ruling clerics and Revolutionary Guards are able to use their iron grip on the country to hold out for a sustainable deal from Washington, Vakil said.

“They are quite known to use repressive capacity. They’re relying on people using their savings,” she said, adding that Tehran was falling back on its “resistance economy” approach of relying on internal resources and trading across land borders. The extent of economic damage from the war – and the likelihood of imminent economic crisis – is hard to gauge given the lack of reliable official data and a partial internet blackout since January. (Read More)

Iran using ceasefire as opportunity to dig out buried missiles, launchers - report

Iran is using the ongoing ceasefire to dig out missiles, munitions, and launchers which had been either intentionally hidden underground or were buried under rubble from US and Israeli airstrikes, NBC News reported on Friday, citing a US official and two other people familiar with the matter. According to the sources, the US believes that Iran intends to rebuild its missile capabilities in preparation for the resumption of war if negotiations fall through.

US President Trump was set to meet with his national security team on Thursday to review options for opening the Strait of Hormuz and removing nuclear material, a US official told NBC. US CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper was scheduled to brief the president and the team on the options, and Trump is expected to make a decision in the coming days. A White House official told NBC that Trump’s upcoming trip to China and planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was pushed off to mid-May, may contribute to his decision. The visit has been made a priority, and the White House wants to avoid pushing it off again.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier in April that the US had intelligence that Iran was trying to reconstitute its military capabilities. During a press conference, Hegseth addressed Iranian leadership, saying, “You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them.” “You only have what you have. You know that, and we know that. You can move things around, but you can’t actually rebuild,” Hegseth said.

However, while Hegseth said that Iran now has “no defense industry,” a sentiment that has been echoed by many in the Trump administration, NBC reported last week that the US has intelligence Iran maintains not only many of their ballistic missiles but over half of the Iranian air force’s aircraft, as well as over half of the IRGC’s fleet of naval assets. (Read More)

IDF Senior Officials: "If Uranium Remains in Iran, the War is a Failure"

Senior IDF officers addressed the outcomes of the military campaign against Iran today (Friday), warning that despite achieving significant military objectives, the mission will be considered a failure if enriched uranium is not removed from Iranian territory. They cautioned that without the removal of the material, Iran could rapidly pivot back toward producing a nuclear bomb. While the IDF has successfully targeted missile arrays, headquarters, and senior commanders, officials emphasized that these are only tactical achievements: 

* The Strategic Goal: "If the uranium leaves Iran through diplomatic means, we have done our part. If it stays in Iran, we have achieved nothing," the officials clarified.

* The Concern: There is a deep-seated fear that once the war ends, the Iranian regime will "rush" toward nuclear breakout using remaining infrastructure.  

* The Ultimatum: Officials stated that all diplomatic avenues to remove the nuclear threat must be exhausted; otherwise, it must be addressed by force.

Meanwhile, the United States continues its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly prefers maintaining the blockade over renewing strikes or withdrawing, stating that Iran is currently "in a state of collapse." Regarding the conflict in Lebanon, the IDF has openly admitted that the Air Force is still struggling to find an effective countermeasure to Hezbollah’s explosive drones, which continue to cause casualties among troops in southern Lebanon:


* Interception Challenges: A senior officer admitted, "There is currently no 100% solution for the drones." 

* Technological Limits: The Iron Beam (laser system) has proven ineffective against this specific threat. Furthermore, a test of a new drone interception system conducted two weeks ago failed to yield the desired results.  

* Shift to Offense: Since defensive technology is lagging, the IDF is shifting focus to attacking drone operators up to 20 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory.

The IDF estimates that the Middle East is undergoing a fundamental transformation, though uncertainty remains high:

1. Syria: Efforts are being observed to rehabilitate Syrian military capabilities and air defense systems. 

2. Regional Alliances: There is an assessment that new regional alliances may form post-war, aiding Israel in both defense and response to threats.  

3. Long-term Presence: Senior officers estimate that the IDF will remain positioned at the "Yellow Line" in Lebanon for an extended period.  (Source)  

Lebanon’s internal splits over talks with Israel trip up Saudi mediation efforts

BEIRUT, Lebanon – A growing rift between top Lebanese officials has thrown a wrench into Saudi efforts to help Lebanon’s leaders forge a united position over historic negotiations with Israel, Lebanese sources and foreign officials told Reuters on Thursday. Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the 1990 agreement that ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war, has deepened its engagement in recent days with Lebanon, where a shaky US-brokered ceasefire has failed to fully halt the nearly two-month war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group.

Ties between Riyadh and Beirut had been strained for years due to Hezbollah’s power over Lebanese politics and security, but the Sunni kingdom sees an opening after the group was severely weakened by war with Israel in 2024.The US intended for the April 16 truce between Israel and Lebanon to allow for direct talks on a peace deal, potentially shaking up Lebanon’s internal dynamics and its role in the region. But Lebanese leaders remain at odds over the negotiation format and ultimate goal. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has defended face-to-face talks with Israel in Washington, and has said the ceasefire should be transformed into “permanent agreements.”

Although he has stopped short of explicitly calling for a peace deal, two sources familiar with Aoun’s position told Reuters he had privately expressed his readiness to normalize ties with Israel to stop the war. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, is opposed to direct talks, reflecting the Shiite group’s position. Berri believes Lebanon should seek a non-aggression pact with Israel, but not a full peace deal, two Lebanese sources familiar with his position told Reuters.

...But Hezbollah and much of its broader Shiite Muslim constituency, who have borne the brunt of Israel’s attacks, are firmly opposed to face-to-face talks and to normalizing ties. Some people protesting against talks earlier this month called for the government to be toppled. Like its Iranian patron, Hezbollah seeks to destroy Israel. Saudi Arabia’s intervention with Lebanese leaders was driven by the risk of such instability – as well as its concern that Lebanon was moving toward peace with Israel too swiftly, according to a Gulf source with knowledge of the matter, two senior Lebanese political sources and the Western official. (Read More)

US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, US officials say

The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe.

The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe. Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier this week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the US in talks to end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing. A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said recent German rhetoric had been "inappropriate and unhelpful."

"The president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," the official said. The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty US military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe. The official said the drawdown would bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered a buildup by then-President Joe Biden.

The official also cast the decision in terms of the Trump administration's push for Europe to become the main security provider on the continent. But it is nonetheless another potent reminder of Trump's willingness to respond to perceived disloyalty by allies. Reuters exclusively reported last week an internal Pentagon email that outlined options to punish NATO allies that Washington believes failed to ​support US operations in the war with Iran, including suspending Spain from NATO and reviewing the US position on Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands. (Read More)

Inside Trump’s “Final Blow” to Break the Tehran Standoff

Israel is preparing for an escalation between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days. How it is expected to unfold? Trump and time will say. The Trump administration is pivotally shifting its posture toward Iran, moving from the sustained combat of Operation Epic Fury, which began with the seismic strikes on February 28, 2026, toward a high-stakes "dual move" designed to reset the geopolitical chessboard. 

 
The "Final Blow" Briefing
According to recent reports from Fox News, the Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, recently met with President Trump in the Situation Room to present a refined operational plan. Cooper, alongside the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, outlined a strategy involving: 

*  Short, Surgical Waves: A series of high-intensity strikes focusing on Iran's remaining strategic infrastructure.  

* Targeting Logic: The plan specifically pinpoints the regime’s remaining military assets, leadership nodes, and the industrial base used for drone and missile production. 

* Hypersonic Deployment: Sources indicate the Pentagon is considering the use of the"Dark Eagle" hypersonic missile system, capable of striking targets from 2,000 miles away with almost no warning, alongside B-1B Lancer bombers for heavy-payload delivery. 

The 60-Day Clock and Legal Maneuvering 

The administration’s push to "formally conclude" current clashes is not just a military decision but a legal necessity. Under the War Powers Resolution, the 60-day window for military action without explicit Congressional approval is closing (as the conflict began Feb 28).  By declaring the initial "clashes" over, the White House aims to:

1. Reset the Legal Timer: Officially concluding one phase of operations allows the administration to claim "readiness" for a fresh, targeted escalation if negotiations fail.

2. Diplomatic Leverage: The move signals to Tehran that while the U.S. is willing to observe the current mediated ceasefire, it is actively preparing a "final blow" if Iran’s leadership, now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remains inflexible on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program.    (Read More)

Report: CENTCOM Seeks First‑Ever ‘Dark Eagle’ Hypersonic Missile Deployment to Counter Iran

U.S. Central Command has reportedly requested the first-ever deployment of the Army’s “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile to the Middle East to target Iranian ballistic missile launchers moved beyond current U.S. strike range, as President Donald Trump weighs potential next actions.

The request, first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, is driven by intelligence assessments that Iran, taking advantage of the ongoing ceasefire, has reportedly repositioned key ballistic missile launchers beyond the reach of existing U.S. systems, including the Army’s Precision Strike Missile, which is limited to roughly 300 miles, according to the report.

The Dark Eagle system — also known as the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon — has a reported range of more than 1,700 miles and is designed to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) while maneuvering in flight, allowing it to evade advanced air defenses and strike high-value targets deep inside Iranian territory.

If approved, the move would mark the first deployment of the long-delayed system, which has not yet been formally declared fully operational. A defense official, however, told Fox News the system has reached initial operational capability, marking the first time the United States has a land-based hypersonic weapon available for potential use. According to reporting, U.S. Central Command on Thursday briefed President Trump on options for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, with plans aimed at forcing Tehran back to negotiations under increased pressure.

Trump has not authorized any strikes and declined to discuss potential military operations, and no final decision has been announced. The briefing comes as U.S. officials prepare for the possibility of renewed military action despite the ceasefire, amid indications Iran has used the pause to reposition assets and harden defenses deeper inside the country. (Read More)

Khamenei vows to protect nuclear program, warns US over Gulf presence in written statement

Khamenei reiterated that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile technologies, accusing the US of causing instability in the Persian Gulf and vowing to expel foreign forces.

The "noble" Iranian population will safeguard the regime's nuclear and missile technologies as "national assets," a Thursday speech attributed to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei read. The speech was read on Iranian state TV by a broadcaster and posted on Khamenei's official X/Twitter account. Iranians will "safeguard these assets just as they do their maritime, land, and airspace borders," the speech continued.

"A new chapter for the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuzis unfolding," it read. "Today, it has been proven to not only the global public opinion but even to the rulers of countries that the US's presence and establishment in the Persian Gulf is the main source of instability in the region," it stated.  "The US's flimsy bases lack the resilience and capability even to ensure their own security, let alone provide any hope for US's dependents and the US-worshippers in the region," the speech continued. "The brilliant future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without the US where the progress, comfort, and prosperity of its nations are served," it added.

"We share a 'common destiny' with our neighbors surrounding the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. These foreigners from thousands of kilometers away, who are greedily carrying out transgressions in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, have no place here except at the bottom of its waters," the speech stated.

"Iran will put an end to the hostile enemy's exploitation of the Strait of Hormuz," it stated, adding that Iran's management of the strait would "ensure the security of the Persian Gulf." The gulf has "provoked the greed of many devils over the centuries," including "repeated aggressions carried out by European and American foreigners," it said.A similar statement was read in early April. Khamenei is believed to be seriously wounded following Israeli and US airstrikes on Tehran. (Source)