Trump says Iran ceasefire ‘on life support’ after Tehran submitted ‘garbage’ proposal

US president says he’s considering renewing operation to escort ships through Hormuz, as Netanyahu convenes security cabinet and Iran calls US ‘greatest threat’ to world peace.

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Monday said the ceasefire with Iran was “on life support,” a day after he rejected the proposalsubmitted by Iran over the weekend for a permanent truce. “It’s unbelievably weak,” Trump said of the truce, while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. “I would call it the weakest right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn’t even finish reading it.” The US president claimed that Iranian negotiators told their American counterparts that they were prepared for the US to retrieve Tehran’s stockpiles of highly-enriched uranium, but then refrained from putting that concession in the response paper submitted over the weekend. Iran has shown no public indication that it is prepared to make such a concession.

“Two days ago, they said, ‘You’re going to have to take it.’ We were going to go with them. But they changed their mind because they didn’t put it in the paper,” Trump told reporters. Trump also asserted that Iran’s negotiators said that the uranium stockpiles are difficult to retrieve due to Washington’s strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites last year, and that only the US or China have the tools capable of pulling it out from underground.

He also claimed that Iranian negotiators had also “guaranteed that they wouldn’t obtain] nuclear weapons for a very long period of time,” only to leave that out of Tehran’s official proposal as well. The fact that Trump indicated he would have accepted such a guarantee, even though it was not indefinite, appears to be out of step with his longstanding insistence that he intends to ensure Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. Asked whether he still thinks he can make a deal with the current regime, Trump responded in the affirmative, while adding that it is comprised of moderates who desperately want to reach an agreement and “lunatics” who want to keep fighting. (Read More)

No alternative': Iran’s Speaker demands US accept 14-point peace proposal

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warns of military surprises, insists the US must accept Iranian proposal to end the war.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Monday that Iran’s military is “ready to deliver a well-deserved response to any aggression." “Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results. The whole world has already figured this out," he wrote in a post on social media. "We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised," added Ghalibaf. In a later post, the Iranian Speaker said that the only option is accepting the Iranian proposal to end the war, which US President Donald Trump rejected as “unacceptable" on Sunday.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another," he wrote. “The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it," stated Ghalibaf. On Sunday, Iran rejected the US proposal to end the war, with officials in Tehran claiming that "the American proposal is equivalent to a surrender by Tehran to Trump’s excessive demands."

Trump on Monday intensified his rhetoric towards Iran, saying, “Iran’s proposal is stupid. I didn’t even finish reading it. I had an amazing plan after Iran was defeated. They must understand that they will not have nuclear weapons. They are dangerous." He emphasized that “the ceasefire is very weak after the piece of garbage they sent us." (Ed note: Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is telling us that he's bad to the bone, and don't mess with him. The man is doing some trash talking. Come on Trump, time to do the thing.) (Source)

As Iran’s economy sinks, hardliners turn to conspiracy

As prices continue to soar across Iran, hardline clerics and pro-government figures are increasingly attempting to shift blame away from the state even as economic pressure deepens for ordinary citizens. In Mashhad, firebrand Friday prayer leader Ahmad Alamolhoda claimed that “US Army infantry is responsible for rising prices.” He later said the remark was metaphorical, arguing that the war had triggered hyperinflation and that “profiteers and the main culprits behind rising prices are the US army’s infantry. ”Earlier in the week, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline daily Kayhan, wrote that “rising prices and hoarding are the products of the enemy’s infiltration in the government.”

While Iran’s armed forces were “working miracles,” he argued, the economy had been left undefended, allowing enemies to undermine battlefield gains. Shariatmadari, who for decades attacked previous administrations over inflation and economic mismanagement, remained notably quiet during the ultraconservative governments of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ebrahim Raisi. In 2024, he claimed rising prices had “nothing to do with the performance of the government or parliament,” describing inflation as part of a foreign conspiracy. Last week, he questioned why parliament had stopped monitoring the government’s performance. Days later, lawmakers held an online session with Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh to discuss food prices, a move widely mocked in Iranian media as ineffective and detached from public hardship.

While Alamolhoda urged Iranians to embrace a vague “jihadist economy,” Shariatmadari called on officials to confront an unspecified “economic mafia.” Moderate outlets, however, framed the crisis differently. The daily Arman Melli argued on Sunday that the latest surge in prices could not be explained solely by wartime conditions, pointing instead to years of structural economic problems, rising state expenditures and populist policymaking. The paper also called for “effective use of diplomacy” to end the conflict while safeguarding national interests, arguing that renewed negotiations could help stabilize the economy. The reformist website Rouydad24 described a society undergoing “economic and psychological erosion,” where inflation was no longer an abstract statistic but a daily reality. (Read More)

Iranian-backed militias search Iraq for 'Zionist-American' base in show of force - analysis

Reports of a secret Israeli base in Iraq have now led Baghdad to feel it must do something and stage a show of force, resulting in Iranian-backed militias sending forces to southern Iraq.

In the wake of the Wall Street Journal report about a “secret Israeli base” set up in Iraq during the Iran war, the Iraqi government and various militias are seeking answers. The WSJ had said that “Israel built and defended a secret Iran war base in Iraq.” Now Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces and the army say they have launched “a large-scale operation to impose sovereignty in the Najaf desert.” The PMF is made up of Iranian-backed militias. These include Kataib Hezbollah, and other groups that are sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups. The militias play a major role in Iraq. In recent months, they have been posted along the Syrian border.

Iraq initially reacted to news of the “secret” base by denying its existence. Then, claims emerged that Iraq had been warned by the US to stay away from an area in southern Iraq in March. There were reports that Iraqis had approached the site, resulting in an airstrike. Rumors on social media claimed an Iraqi shepherd was killed in March. This has now led Baghdad to feel it must do something and stage a show of force. The result is that the PMF has pushed to send its forces to southern Iraq.

Ostensibly, the PMF should have already been able to go to this area, so the reports in Iraq are more about portraying the PMF as essential to Iraq’s security.This comes amid US pressure to keep the militias and their members out of the new government being formed by the prime minister-designate Ali al Zaydi. The new prime minister was chosen two weeks ago after five months of uncertainty following the November 2025 elections. As such, this is a sensitive time for Iraq. (Read More)

UAE targeted Iran's Lavan Island refinery during secret attacks against Islamic regime - report

The United Arab Emirates was behind some of the recent strikes against Iranian assets, such as the attacks on Lavan Island's refinery at the beginning of April, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. According to the report, which cited sources informed in the matter, the UAE carried out the strikes secretly as a response to Iran targeting Emirati civilian and energy infrastructures. Iran later sent another barrage of drones and missiles against both the UAE and Kuwait in response to this attack, even if there was no official confirmation of who was behind it at that time.

The Emirati government didn't publicly confirm its participation in the strikes against Iran, which were done before the current ceasefire started. The United States silently welcomed the UEA's initiative to participate in the strikes, according to the WSJ, with officials telling the newspaper that the Trump administration expected more active participation from the Gulf nations during the war.

The UAE was among the countries hardest hit by the recent war between Israel, the US, and Iran, both economically due to the closure of airspace and the Strait of Hormuz, and physically, as many Iranian attacks targeted infrastructure in the Emirates. The active participation of the UAE in the Iran war, with recent reports also saying that the Emirates were behind some of the most recent attacks on Iranian assets, seems to be another step by the Gulf state to position itself as a security powerhouse in the region.  (Ed note: And speaking about "energy infrastructures" I think that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is still available.)  (Read More)

Lebanon asks US to pressure Israel to halt attacks and operations

Lebanon's president has urged the United States to put pressure on Israel to cease fire and stop home demolitions in south Lebanon, the presidency said on Monday, as the death toll from Israeli attacks rose. Lebanon's health ministry said 74 people had been killed by Israeli strikes in the last three days despite a truce announced last month in fighting between Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Israeli military, a spokesperson said. Tehran said it had demanded security for Lebanon as part of a proposal for ending the wider war with the US and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's proposal.

The Hezbollah-Israel conflict reignited on March 2 when the group opened fire at Israel in support of Tehran. Hostilities have continued since Trump declared a ceasefire on April 16, mostly in south Lebanon, where Israel is occupying a self-declared security zone, saying it aims to guard against Hezbollah attacks. The Lebanese health ministry spokesperson said the victims since Saturday had been killed in various Israeli strikes, including one that killed at least seven people in the southern town of Saksakiyeh.

It said 2,869 people had been killed since March 2, including 584 medics, women, and minors. Its toll does not say how many combatants are among the dead. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a meeting with US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, "stressed ... the necessity of pressure on Israel to halt fire and military operations and the destruction and bulldozing of homes," the presidency said. (Ed note: Oh my, are those big bad IDF troops beating up on poor Hezbollah again? Have you ever noticed how both Hamas and Hezbollah attack Israel, and when the IDF strikes back, it's the most terriible thing? Also note the fact that both Hamas and Hezbollah are using the civilian population as human shields?)  (Read More)

IDF reveals footage from covert mission north of the Litani

The IDF published footage on Tuesday from the covert mission that was revealed earlier in the day to establish operational control in the area of the Litani River. Special forces from the IDF's Egoz Unit and Golani Reconnaissance Unit crossed the Litani River last week to operate deep in Lebanese territory near the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, some ten kilometers from the Israeli border. The operation is one of the most significant and brazen since ground operations in Lebanon began, as it broke the "Litani barrier," a status quo in the campaign.

The forces crossed the river covertly on APCs and proceeded toward a main Hezbollah launching zone from which heavy rocket and mortar barrages have been launched toward IDF forces in southern Lebanon in recent weeks. During the operation, the troops located compounds used by Hezbollah terrorists, underground tunnel routes containing large quantities of weapons, weapons storage facilities, and missile launchers. The Israeli Air Force struck more than 100 military targets in support of the troops operating in the area.

In addition, while dismantling terrorist infrastructure, the troops struck and eliminated dozens of terrorists in close-quarters combat, alongside aerial support. During one of the encounters, the troops located and cleared a significant underground tunnel route used by Hezbollah terrorists. An Oketz Unit dog fell during the operation, and several IDF soldiers were wounded and evacuated to receive medical care. Lt. Col. B., commander of the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, summed up the mission: “During the offensive, we captured selected targets and exposed enemy infrastructure. The Golani Reconnaissance Unit encountered terrorists in face-to-face combat and eliminated them. The fighters are operating with bravery, doing exceptional work, and showing great courage. The mission is to protect the residents of the north and ensure security for the citizens of Israel, anywhere we choose and by any method we choose." (Source)

The Hormuz Crisis: A Looming Global Starvation Catastrophe

As the UN warns of a total agricultural collapse in the Third World due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, the Eastern Mediterranean remains on edge. security forces prepare for potential spillover as energy and supply routes face unprecedented disruption. The United Nations and global monitoring agencies have issued a dire warning, signaling that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global famine. According to internal reports released today, the blockade is strangling the supply of affordable energy and critical agricultural additives, such as nitrogen-based fertilizers. These products are essential for sustaining crops in the developing world, particularly across Africa, where local agriculture relies heavily on Middle Eastern nitrogen exports to farm otherwise infertile or arid lands.

From the Strait of Hormuz to the Empty Refrigerator

The UN report highlights a "real and immediate possibility" that the lack of these supplies will decimate agricultural output. Beyond crude oil and gas, the Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital artery for the chemical byproducts of energy extraction used in global food production. Experts warn that without these additives, even Europe could face severe food shortages. Furthermore, there are growing fears that African governments may be forced to clear-cut protected wildlife reserves to find fertile soil for survival, threatening endangered species and ecological stability. 

Mediterranean Tensions and Diplomatic Deadlock

The crisis comes at a time of peak instability across the Mediterranean, with shipping lanes facing increased scrutiny and insurance costs skyrocketing. While international bodies call for a diplomatic solution to reopen the Strait, the political front remains hostile. President Trump recently dealt a blow to de-escalation efforts by flatly rejecting the latest Iranian negotiation proposal. Addressing the document in a characteristically blunt fashion, the President dismissed the offer as "garbage," signaling that the United States is not interested in a compromise that fails to address the root of the regional blockade. (Source)

Second suspected oil slick near Iran raises fears of major disaster in vital global oil corridor

A second suspected oil slick has been detected near Iran’s Kharg Island export hub, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI, heightening fears of an environmental disaster as a larger spill identified May 8 continues drifting toward Saudi Arabian waters. The suspected new slick comes as U.N. officials warned Sunday that oil spills in the region could trigger an environmental catastrophe amid the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis. "Another possible oil spill was detected today at 11 a.m. local time," Windward told Fox News Digital. The approximate visible area, according to the firm, was between 12 to 20 square kilometers.

Tehran has pointed to foreign vessels, but maritime experts say the main slick — estimated at tens of thousands of barrels and covering about 65 square kilometers, according to the U.N. University Institute for Water, Environment and Health — is more likely linked to aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures or a "war mode" environment that has threatened the waterway since February.We should worry about the cause of the slick and monitor things carefully to see if there are new developments," U.N. official Dr. Kaveh Madani told Fox News Digital. "If this slick gets bigger, we should be seriously worried about there being a leakage of aging infrastructure," Madani said, adding the slick was "moving away toward the southwest of the island."

"We just have to see how it moves and if it gets closer to the centers of population. If it does, desalination operations also must be halted. The risk is low right now," he said.Madani also noted the slick is near a zone with a heavy concentration of pipelines and energy infrastructure. "Keeping these infrastructure systems healthy and operational has been very hard for the Iranians even in peacetime due to sanctions," he said, warning that amid conflict, a "major accident is very likely."Water circulation in the Persian Gulf is slow, meaning pollution can persist for extended periods, he added. "We saw similar instances during the Gulf wars and the Iran-Iraq War, with these things impacting coastal communities, the fishing industry, marine life and even the intake of desalination plants," he said. (Read More)

Trump's problem with Iran's demands

Iran demands control of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions and a ceasefire in Lebanon in exchange for an agreement with the U.S. The demands have provoked anger at the White House.

Iran has presented the United States with a sweeping list of demands in response to ongoing negotiations, according to reports from the Lebanese outlet Al Mayadeen, triggering a sharp reaction from Donald Trump, who warned that “Iran will not be laughing anymore." The reported Iranian proposal includes several major conditions that would pose significant obstacles for the Trump administration. Among the demands are an immediate end to the war, guarantees for a ceasefire in Lebanon - which Tehran reportedly described as a “red line" - the lifting of all American sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and unrestricted Iranian oil exports. The most dramatic demand, according to the report, is Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, sources quoted by The New York Times said that despite the escalating rhetoric, both Washington and Tehran are considering a temporary interim arrangement. Under the reported framework, the current ceasefire would be extended by 30 days, during which Iran would suspend its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while intensive negotiations toward a broader agreement continue. The contacts between the two sides are reportedly being conducted in writing, with Pakistan serving as a mediator.

However, The Wall Street Journal reported that major disagreements remain, particularly regarding Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles. According to sources familiar with the talks, Tehran has refused to fully accept the American demand to sharply reduce its enriched uranium reserves. The report said Iran has proposed diluting part of its enriched uranium stockpile while transferring the remainder to a third country. Tehran is also demanding guarantees that the uranium would be returned if negotiations collapse or if the United States withdraws from the agreement at a later stage. (Read More)

"They Won’t Laugh Anymore": Trump Unleashes a Blistering Ultimatum to Tehran

President Donald Trump has launched a fierce verbal assault on Iran, claiming the days of the regime "laughing" at the United States are officially over as he prepares for a high-stakes call with Israel. 

President Donald Trump issued a series of combative statements on Sunday, signaling a major hardening of his stance toward the Iranian regime following Tehran's latest diplomatic response. In a lengthy and aggressive post on Truth Social, the President accused Iran of playing games with the United States and the international community for nearly half a century. The fiery rhetoric comes just moments before a scheduled high-stakes telephone conversation between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to coordinate their next moves in the regional war.

Trump did not hold back in his criticism of past American leadership, specifically targeting the administration of Barack Obama. He accused the former president of "abandoning Israel and other allies" while granting Iran what he described as a "new and especially powerful lease on life." Trump highlighted the controversial transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars, including $1.7 billion in physical cash that he claims was flown directly to Tehran in suitcases and bags, effectively emptying Washington's banks to fund "Iranian thugs."

The President's post detailed decades of Iranian aggression, claiming the regime has "pulled the United States by the nose" while responsible for the deaths of Americans through roadside bombs and the brutal suppression of its own people. He cited figures claiming the regime has eliminated approximately 42,000 unarmed protesters within Iran. Trump concluded his warning by stating that while Iran may have laughed at the United States in the past, "they won't laugh anymore," signaling that the current military and economic siege will not be lifted easily.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a parallel interview with "60 Minutes," reinforced this sense of urgency, stating that the war is far from over as long as enriched uranium remains on Iranian soil. He listed remaining targets that must be addressed, including enrichment sites, ballistic missile facilities, and the various terrorist proxies Iran supports. Netanyahu’s simple solution for the nuclear material was to "just go in and take it out," a physical mission he believes is entirely doable regardless of whether it is performed by Israeli or American special forces. (Read More)

"Restraint is Over": Iran Issues Chilling New Threats Against U.S. Bases

Iran has delivered its formal response to the American peace proposal while simultaneously warning that its period of military restraint has officially ended.

Tehran has officially submitted its response to the American framework for ending the war, delivering the document through Pakistani intermediaries on Sunday. The Iranian state news agency IRNA confirmed the move, but international observers remain skeptical about the content of the message. Reports from Bloomberg indicate there are currently no signs that the response is positive, suggesting that the diplomatic stalemate may continue despite months of intense pressure. \

The diplomatic movement was accompanied by a wave of aggressive rhetoric from the Iranian parliament. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the National Security Committee, declared that the "phase of restraint" is now over. He warned that any further harm to Iranian vessels under the U.S. blockade would be met with a decisive and heavy response against American ships and military bases. "The clock is moving, and not in favor of the Americans," Rezaei added. 

Rezaei further taunted the U.S. administration, advising them to stop committing "stupid acts" and avoid sinking further into what he described as the "swamp" of the Middle Eastern war. He asserted that the best path for Washington is to surrender and offer concessions, claiming that the West must get used to a "new regional order" led by Tehran. This hardline stance suggests significant internal resistance to any agreement that involves a total nuclear climbdown. 

Adding to the tension, the Iranian military spokesperson issued a specific threat to other nations in the region. He warned that any country cooperating with American sanctions against Tehran would find it "difficult" to cross the Strait of Hormuz. He also claimed that if Iran is attacked again, the "enemy" will be surprised by entirely new weapons, combat methods, and even new "theaters of war" that have not yet been seen in the current conflict. (Read More)

'Doesn't matter at all': Iran fires back after Trump rejects its response

Iran has rejected the US proposal to end the war, the IRIB news agency reported on Sunday night. According to the report, officials in Tehran claimed that "the American proposal is equivalent to a surrender by Tehran to Trump’s excessive demands." An Iranian official earlier downplayed US President Donald Trump’s rejection of the Iranian response to the US proposal to end the war, saying that Trump’s rejection “does not matter at all".

Speaking to the Tasnim news agency, the senior Iranian official stated, "No one in Iran drafts plans to please Trump. The negotiating team draft is solely for the rights of Iran, and naturally, it is better if Trump is dissatisfied with them." The comments came after Trump said that Iran's response to the US proposal to end the war is unacceptable. "I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called 'Representatives.' I don’t like it - TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The post came hours after Trump accused Iran of “playing games" with the United States and the world for 47 years, while sharply criticizing former President Barack Obama’s handling of relations with the Islamic Republic. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Iran had delayed negotiations with the United States and “the rest of the World" for decades before allegedly benefiting from the Obama administration’s policies. “He was not only good to them, he was great, actually going to their side, jettisoning Israel, and all other Allies, and giving Iran a major and very powerful new lease on life,"

Trump wrote of Obama. Trump claimed that Iran received “Hundreds of Billions of Dollars" from the United States, including “1.7 Billion Dollars in green cash, flown into Tehran." He added that the money was “handed to them on a silver platter" and alleged that it arrived “in suitcases and satchels." “They had never seen money like this, and never will again," Trump stated, adding that Iranian officials “finally found the greatest SUCKER of them all, in the form of a weak and stupid American President." The President also accused Iran of killing Americans with roadside bombs, suppressing protests, and “wiping out 42,000 innocent, unarmed protestors." He concluded the post by declaring, “They will be laughing no longer!" (Source)

Netanyahu on 60 Minutes: Toppling the Iranian regime is possible, but not guaranteed

In a wide-ranging interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, which aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that while significant gains have been made against the Iranian threat, the conflict remains ongoing. The Prime Minister emphasized that the mission will not be complete until Iran's nuclear capabilities are fully dismantled and its regional proxies are neutralized.

Addressing the current status of the war, Netanyahu said, "I think it accomplished a great deal, but it's not over, because there's still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran. There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports." Netanyahu underscored the absolute necessity of removing enriched uranium from Iranian soil. When asked how such a feat could be achieved physically, the Prime Minister responded bluntly, "You go in, and you take it out."

While he declined to detail specific military plans or joint operations with the United States, he noted that President Donald Trump shares this unwavering commitment. "President Trump and I, that if necessary, we can reengage them militarily, if it's necessary," Netanyahu stated He highlighted that the Iranian regime’s fanaticism makes it a unique threat, distinct from any other nation.

"You don't want a fanatic regime like that, that hates America... you don't want them to have nuclear weapons. That's what prompted President Trump and me to go out and stop them. The Prime Minister also addressed the critical situation in Lebanon, where Israel has been working to degrade the capabilities of Hezbollah. He revealed that Israel has destroyed more than 90% of the 150,000 rockets and missiles Hezbollah possessed before the conflict, but warned that thousands still remain. (Read More)

'Brothers are not abandoned!': Netanyahu's promise to Druze and Circassian leaders

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Druze and Circassian local leaders and revealed that he has held discussions with President Trump about the Druze in Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his staff attended the Conference of Druze and Circassian Local Authority Heads on Sunday at the Dead Sea. He was joined by Federation of Local Authorities Head Haim Bibas, Druze community spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, Druze and Circassian Local Authorities Forum Head and Kasra-Samia Local Council Head Yasser Ghadban, and other local authority heads.

Netanyahu began his remarks by addressing the security situation of the Druze community in Syria. He revealed that he was dealing with the matter and that he had held discussions about it with US President Donald Trump. "I want to tell you that the most important mission is ensuring life," he stated, adding that "I am committed to this - to bring all the power and all the strength of the State of Israel to this sacred mission, because you bring the strength and power to our alliance."

During his address, Netanyahu honored the heroism of the Druze and Circassian soldiers on the battlefield: "I see it in the heroic soldiers. I see it in the bereaved families who break my heart. I see it in the endless display of heroism by the Druze fighters and commanders. I have been committed to this from a very young age; these are not just words." "I want you to know that I do this for a simple reason - because we are brothers.

This is not a phrase, nor is it a collection of empty words. It comes from the depths of my heart. It guides our fighters and our pilots, and it will continue to guide us." This being said, he added: There are also things that have not been implemented but which must be carried out. The Druze and the Circassians are brothers - brothers are not abandoned!" (Ed note: These are the Druze in Syria, and there is a lot going on; keeping militant groups out of the "buffer zone" in Syria, possession of the Golan Heights, and protecting the Druze. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.) (Source)

IDF: Hamas Has Full Control of Gaza, Ceasefire in Jeopardy

Israeli defense officials are warning that Hamas has nearly restored full civilian control over the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire, while using humanitarian aid as a major source of income and renewed authority. Israeli defense officials are warning that Hamas has nearly restored full civilian control over the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire, while using humanitarian aid as a major source of income and renewed authority.

According to a report by N12, the IDF and defense establishment now believe the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza should be significantly reduced. Officials said the assumptions that guided policy immediately after the war are no longer relevant, and that there is no current shortage in Gaza that justifies the entry of around 600 aid trucks per day.

A defense official told N12 that the amount of food entering Gaza each day is four times higher than what is required under the UN’s official methodology. Officials said that the oversupply has allowed Hamas to exploit the aid system, rebuild its civilian governance and generate revenue. According to the report, most of the aid is reaching Hamas or Hamas-linked channels. The terrorist organization is reportedly collecting taxes from Gaza merchants at rates of up to 30%, with the money being used to rebuild its military and governing capabilities.

“The humanitarian aid has become an economic engine for Hamas,” military sources said, adding that the system is bringing hundreds of millions of shekels into the organization’s coffers at the expense of Gaza’s civilian population. Defense officials said Hamas ministries and municipalities have resumed work almost fully, allowing the group to reestablish itself as the governing power in the Strip. The activity reportedly includes aggressive market taxation, looting of aid shipments and renewed smuggling attempts. (Read More)

Iran Denies Oil Spill Off Kharg Island

A suspected oil spill covering dozens of square kilometers has been detected in satellite images near Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, though Tehran has denied responsibility and dismissed reports of a spill linked to Iranian facilities. Satellite imagery from the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites showed a grey-and-white slick in waters west of the island between May 6 and May 8. The cause of the suspected spill and its point of origin remain unclear.

Leon Moreland, a researcher at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, said the slick appeared visually consistent with oil and estimated that it covered about 45 square kilometers. Louis Goddard, co-founder of the climate and commodities consultancy Data Desk, also said the images likely showed an oil slick, describing it as potentially the largest such spill detected since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran 70 days ago.

Maariv cited an Iranian official Friday denying the report and calling it part of enemy “psychological warfare.” The official claimed the material seen in the area came from oil tanker waste discharged into the sea by a European tanker, which he said had damaged the environment.The US military and Iran’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the satellite images. Kharg Island is central to Iran’s energy sector, handling around 90% of the country’s oil exports, much of them bound for China. US forces previously said they destroyed military targets on the island earlier in the war. (Ed note: What no one is talking about at this point is the fact that that oil slick is moving towards Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. That could compromise saltwater distillation and reverse osmosis processes, sparking severe water security concerns across the region. If that offshore oil slick catches fire, it poses a severe threat to local marine and coastal environments and no one goes fishing for a very long time. The people of the Bushehr area could  be heavily impacted by a black rain fallout.)  (Read More)

Israel, US focused strikes on nuclear weaponization over enrichment during Iran war - report

Israel and the US prioritized the degradation of Iran's nuclear weaponization abilities during Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury over the targeting of nuclear enrichment sites, an Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) analysis of satellite imagery revealed on Thursday. According to the analysis, little new damage was dealt to Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities already destroyed in strikes carried out during the 12-day war in June of 2025. Instead, facilities and infrastructure related to the weaponization of enriched uranium, such as development sites, were targeted.

One such target analyzed by the institute was the Min Zadai site, which is suspected to have played a key role in Iran's attempts to recover nuclear weapons capabilities after the June 2025 strikes. On March 3, the IDF announced strikes on the complex, describing the site as a partially underground “nuclear headquarters" where nuclear scientists were developing key components for nuclear weapons systems.

Reporting by the French newspaper Le Monde suggested that the Min Zadai complex was involved in the metallurgy of nuclear weapons cores. Another such site is Taleghan 2, a highly fortified facility within Iran’s Parchin military complex that has been used in Iran’s nuclear weapons testing and development of advanced explosives.Universities with connections to Iran’s development of nuclear weapons were also targeted. Tehran’s Malek Ashtar University, which the IDF directly tied to nuclear weaponization, and an adjacent laboratory-type building connected to the university by a footbridge, were heavily damaged in strikes. (Read More)

Iran runs dry as Islamic Republic funds ideology and foreign proxies

Iran’s water crisis is not only about scarcity or drought. It is also about where the Islamic Republic chooses to spend the country’s money, and what it leaves unfunded at home. In a system where political and ideological objectives consistently outweigh environmental sustainability and public welfare, even severe and widely recognized crises fail to trigger meaningful correction. In this sense, Iran’s water crisis is not a failure of resources, it is a consequence of deliberate choices. The impact of decades of misguided water engineering and policy decisions is already visible across Iran’s water systems. Major lakes and wetlands such as Urmia Lake have shrunk. Groundwater has been depleted across more than half of the country’s plains, land subsidence is accelerating, and per capita water availability has fallen to near or below 1,000 cubic meters.

At the same time, access to reliable drinking water has become increasingly uncertain. Water quality is declining because of inadequate wastewater treatment and aging infrastructure, while policy still emphasizes large-scale agricultural self-sufficiency despite mounting environmental constraints. It would be easy to assume that these failures could stem partially from financial limitations. But this is not a story of absolute constraint. Even under sanctions, Iran has continued to generate substantial revenues, particularly from oil exports, over the past decade. The water crisis is not necessarily due to a lack of resources, but how those resources are allocated. Based on Iran’s FY1404 (2025-2026) public budget, significant funding is still directed toward religious and ideological institutions, amounting to roughly $750 to $860 million annually, depending on exchange rates.

At the same time, Iran’s regional activities, including support for groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis, and allied militias, are widely estimated, based on publicly reported figures, to cost an additional $1.1 to $1.5 billion each year. These estimates reflect direct financial transfers and likely understate total support, which also includes substantial non-cash assistance such as weapons, equipment, and logistical backing.In total, nearly $1.8 to $2.4 billion per year is allocated to priorities that do little to address Iran’s most urgent domestic challenges. Even redirecting a portion of these resources toward water management and infrastructure could support large-scale, practical solutions. Over a five-year period, such a shift would mobilize roughly $10 billion, enough to move beyond short-term fixes and begin addressing some of the structural drivers of Iran’s water crisis. (Ed note: The two economic tables with explanation that follow is something to read.) (Read More)

Egyptian army in Sinai - the path to war

59 years ago, in June 1967, the Egyptian military’s entry into Sinai led to war, then we took the initiative and won; today, Israel’s silence over the violations is concerning.

This week we are marking 59 years since the Six - Day War - the war in which the territories of Judea, Samaria and Benjamin, the Jordan Valley, Sinai and the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and above all the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount were liberated. Itshould be recalled, that the war broke out began when Egypt violated the understandings on the demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula, established after the withdrawal following the previous conflict, Operation Kadesh. On Israel’s Independence Day in 1967, Egyptian President Nasser deployed the full strength of the Egyptian army into Sinai, which for a decade - since Israel’s withdrawal after Operation Kadesh - had been largely demilitarized and contained UN forces.

The main headline of Maariv on May 16, 1967 (6 Iyar 5727), reported the move, accompanied by a subheadline: “Washington advises Israel not to take the Egyptian show of force seriously." Three weeks later, it became painfully clear how misguided that advice was. The sweeping victory in the Six - Day War obscured the fact that there had also been an intelligence failure - not unlike that of the Yom Kippur War. The difference is that in 1973 we refused to read the warning signs and ignored clear indications of an impending Egyptian - Syrian surprise attack, whereas in May 1967 Egyptian actions were overt and the Arab world’s calls for Israel’s destruction were so explicit that Israel ultimately had no choice but to launch a preemptive strike to save itself - something that was not done in 1973.

I was reminded of this history, particularly of May 1967, in light of recent reports regarding violations of the peace agreement with Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula - violations that are deeply concerning. Yair Altman reported over the weekend that Egyptian forces in the area now include more than 60,000 soldiers, nearly 1,000 tanks, and hundreds of artillery systems. According to the report, an additional reinforcement of about 10,000 ground troops has recently been deployed to Sinai, along with armored vehicles and heavy equipment. It was also reported that air - defense systems of the Egyptian army have been deployed in the region, including S - 300VM Antey - 2500, Buk - M2, and Tor - M2 systems. The peace agreement with Egypt, of which little remains in practice, had one central achievement: the demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula, aside from limited forces explicitly permitted under the treaty. That achievement has been steadily eroded in recent years. (Read More)

IDF hits more than 85 targets across Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces over the past 24 hours attacked more than 85 targets in Lebanon belonging to Hezbollah, the military said in a statement on Saturday. Among the targets struck were weapon storage facilities, launchers and structures used by the Iranian-backed organization to advance terrorist activities against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, the military added. In separate incidents, an underground site in the Beqaa Valley used to produce weapons and Hezbollah terrorists operating against Israeli soldiers in Southern Lebanon were attacked, the IDF said.

Also on Saturday, Hezbollah fired explosive drones at Israeli territory near the border, wounding three reservist soldiers, the military relayed in a separate statement. One reservist sustained severe injuries, while an officer and the third reservist were moderately injured. All three were evacuated to the hospital and their families were notified, the IDF said. In addition, explosive drones and projectiles were launched at soldiers operating in Southern Lebanon. One drone damaged an unmanned IDF engineering vehicle. No troops were injured in any of the incidents, the IDF noted. “This incident constitutes another violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the army stated.

Later on Saturday, an explosive drone was found in northern Israel near the Lebanese border. Security forces were dispatched to neutralize the drone. No injuries or damage were reported regarding the incident, the IDF said. On Friday, at about 2 p.m., the Shi’ite proxy group fired rockets at Nahariya, Acre and Haifa’s bayside suburbs, triggering air-raid sirens in the region. The Israeli Air Force intercepted one projectile, with the others striking open areas, the military said. No injuries were reported.

Also on Friday, several rockets were fired at IDF troops operating in Southern Lebanon, hitting areas near them. No injuries were reported in this incident as well, the military noted. On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statemen confirming that Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike in central Beirut on Wednesday night, identifying the target as the head of the group’s Radwan Force. Netanyahu said Israeli forces had killed more than 200 Hezbollah terrorist operatives over the past month and were carrying out similar operations against terrorist cells in Gaza, including on Wednesday. (Source)

Surfers in war-torn Gaza find rare moments of relief taking to the waves

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — Despite the dire humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire remains in place, a handful of Palestinian surfers are finding joy — and relief — riding the waves of the territory’s Mediterranean coastal waters. Only three or four men still surf due to a shortage of surfboards and the materials needed to fix damaged ones, said Tahseen Abu Assi, a surfer in Gaza City. Abu Assi carried his surfboard with him through every displacement he endured during the two-year war because, he said, he wouldn’t be able to replace it.

“If something happened to it I won’t be able to get another one,” he said, noting that no boards have entered the Palestinian territory since 2007, when Hamas ousted the Palestinian Authority and took control of the Strip. Surfboards are among sports equipment and other products that are banned by Israel, which prohibits an array of dual-use items that could be used to carry out terror attacks on Israel. On Tuesday, Abu Assi was among three surfers who took to the sea off the Gaza City port, including Khalil Abu Jiab, who rode the high waves with his arms raised in joy.

After the war began, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that included seaborne attacks on Israeli beachgoers, the Israeli military heavily restricted sea activity in Gaza. Fishing and swimming are prohibited and dangerous in the waters off northern and southern Gaza. It’s also risky to enter the waters off central Gaza, where Gaza City is located, due to Israeli patrols.“There is fear, of course, but we can’t leave this sport,” Abu Assi said. “During the war, in the middle of the war, in the middle of the bombing and the planes above us, we used to go down and practice this sport.” Gaza’s waves rarely rise high enough for surfing, so when they do, surfers drop everything to get in the water, he added. (Ed note: Dude, surf's up!)  (Read More)

World Bank Warns Oil Demand Destruction Is Spreading Globally Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruptions

The World Bank described the Strait of Hormuz disruption as 'the largest energy supply shock on record.'

The World Bank has warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and escalating conflict in the Middle East are triggering a global oil supply shock that is beginning to suppress energy demand worldwide. In its May 7 analysis, the World Bank said that global oil demand declined by 0.8 million barrels per day year-over-year in March and is forecast to fall by another 1.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026. “Oil demand destruction is emerging,” the World Bank said, citing rising prices, trade disruptions, and reduced economic activity in advanced economies, Asia, and the Middle East.

The warning came as Brent crude prices surged following what the World Bank described as the “near-total disruption” of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly one-quarter of global seaborne crude oil trade passes through the narrow waterway. By the end of March, Brent crude prices had risen approximately 65 percent, or $46 per barrel, marking what the World Bank called the largest monthly increase on record.

Prices later eased after a temporary ceasefire announcement but remained volatile amid uncertainty over negotiations involving Iran and the United States. The World Bank projected that global oil output would decline by 6.9 million barrels per day, or 6.6 percent year-over-year, during the second quarter of 2026, representing the sharpest quarterly decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States is expected to account for most non-OPEC+ production growth, with output increasing by roughly 500,000 barrels per day, partially offsetting Middle East disruptions. (Read More)

Massive oil spill off Iran’s Kharg Island? Satellite images show huge slick near key oil export hub

Story highlights

Satellite imagery revealed a 45-square-kilometre oil slick near Iran’s Kharg Island, a vital export hub. The suspected spill occurs amid ongoing US-Iran maritime clashes and high-stakes ceasefire negotiations.

New satellite imagery has revealed a suspected major oil spill near Iran’s Kharg Island, with analysts estimating that tens of thousands of barrels of oil may have leaked into the Persian Gulf amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel. (Ed note:A  45-square-kilometre oil slick about 28 miles wide.)  (Source)

Massive oil slicks spotted off Iran’s Kharg Island as Trump touts Hormuz clash

Satellite images show new oil slicks off Iran’s main oil export hub, raising leak fears and claims Tehran may be dumping crude at sea amid US blockade and storage shortages.

Some details of the skirmish between the U.S. military and Iran on Thursday night have yet to be released. But President Donald Trump, as is often the case, disclosed several details about the incident. Trump gave a vivid account of the Iranian attack on three U.S. destroyers, which were not damaged. “Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!”

Meanwhile, new satellite images from the company Soar appeared to show large, fresh oil slicks off Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. Tehran confirmed over the past week that oil production had been reduced because of the U.S. blockade, but the circumstances behind the slick remained unclear. It could be the result of a leak. Other claims have suggested oil was pumped into the sea because storage space had run out due to the blockade. In newer images, the oil slick appeared to be moving south. Social media users expressed concern over what appeared to be an oil spill in the satellite images.

“This must be dealt with quickly before the oil reaches the coasts of other Gulf states,” a Saudi influencer wrote on X, where he has more than 750,000 followers. In a statement overnight, the U.S. military said the three destroyers involved in the exchange of fire with Iran and that crossed the Strait of Hormuz “successfully,” as Trump put it, were the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason. (Read More)

Suspected oil spill seen on satellite images near Iran’s Kharg Island export hub

A suspected oil spill covering dozens of square kilometers of sea near Iran’s main oil hub of Kharg Island has been seen on satellite imagery this week. The likely spill – appearing on images as a grey and white slick – covered waters to the west of the 8-kilometer (5-mile) long island, pictures from Copernicus’s Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites showed on May 6-8. “The slick appears visually consistent with oil,” says Leon Moreland, researcher at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, who estimated that it was covering an area of approximately 45 square km.

Louis Goddard, co-founder of consultancy Data Desk, which focuses on climate and commodities, agreed that the images likely showed an oil slick, which he said was potentially the largest to occur since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran 70 days ago. The cause of the possible spill and the point of origin are currently unknown, Moreland adds, noting that images from May 8 showed no evidence of additional active spills.

Kharg Island, where US forces said they had destroyed military targets earlier in the war, is the hub for 90% of Iran’s ​oil exports, much of which is bound for China. The US Navy has been blockading Iran’s ports in an attempt to stop Tehran’s tankers from entering and exiting, while US and Iranian forces have clashed in the Gulf. The war has also trapped hundreds of ships in the Gulf and caused the world’s biggest disruption to crude oil supply, as well as hitting global supplies of oil products and liquefied natural gas. (Source)

Trump says US will start 'Project Freedom Plus' if Iran talks fail

Earlier on Saturday, a reporter asked Trump if he thought Iran was "slow-rolling" talks, to which the President replied, "We'll find out soon enough."

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that the United States would initiate renewed operations in the Strait of Hormuz if peace talks with Iran fail to move forward. "We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen," said Trump, "but it would be 'Project Freedom Plus,' meaning Project Freedom plus other things." Trump did not elaborate on what elements may be added to Project Freedom. Trump added that Pakistan had asked the US "not to do" Project Freedom. On Tuesday, Trump announced that he would pause Operation Project Freedom, which was initiated to guide ships through the Strait under US military escort. According to an NBC News report on Thursday, pressure from Saudi Arabia also played a role in Trump’s decision to pause the operation.

Also on Saturday, a reporter asked Trump if he thought Iran was "slow-rolling" talks, to which the President replied, "We'll find out soon enough." On Friday, US forces disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers attempting to violate the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by firing precision munitions into their smokestacks, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday, saying the vessels were "no longer transiting to Iran."

The ships had attempted to enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman when US forces disabled them. On Thursday, the US also carried out retaliatory strikes on Iranian military facilities after Iran launched missile and drone attacks on US ships in the region, CENTCOM confirmed. "US forces intercepted unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with self-defense strikes as US Navy guided-missile destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman," wrote CENTCOM. (Source)

Iran rejects ultimatums: No response to US proposal until review is complete

Spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry says Iran is still reviewing the US peace proposal and will not be moved by deadlines.

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Friday that Iran's response to the US proposal to end the war is still under review, adding that Tehran will announce its position once a conclusion is reached and that it is not affected by deadlines or ultimatums. Baghaei’s remarks, made on the sidelines of a ceremony in Tehran, were quoted by the ISNA news agency. Responding to a question regarding Iran's answer to the US proposal, Baghaei stated, "This matter is still under review, and we will announce it once we reach a conclusion."

Regarding reports that the Americans have set a deadline for Iran to respond to the plan, the diplomatic spokesperson said, "As I mentioned, this matter is still being examined; we are doing our job and pay no attention to such deadlines." Baghaei also commented on Thursday’s exchange of fire between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and said, "The action taken by the US military was a gross violation of international law and the ceasefire." He stressed, "Although we are nominally in a state of ceasefire, our Armed Forces are in full readiness, closely monitoring the situation, and will respond to any mischief with decisiveness."

Baghaei’s comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States is expecting a response from Iran regarding negotiations and warned that any Iranian attempt to control traffic through an international waterway would “unacceptable." Speaking to reporters in Rome following a meeting with Pope Leo, Rubio said, “We should know something today. I mean, we’re expecting a response from them." He added that the administration hoped the response would “put us into a serious process of negotiation." US President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday night that the US is still negotiating with Iran, despite the exchange of fire near the Strait of Hormuz. (WOW. Is that a "in your face, Mr. deal maker?")  (Read more)

UAE Reports More Iranian Drone and Missile Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Holding

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday reported another barrage of missiles and drones from Iran, just hours after Iran attacked three U.S. Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Defense Ministry said there were three “moderate” injuries from the Iranian attack, which included two ballistic missiles and three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The ministry cautioned civilians to stay away from debris left by intercepted Iranian weapons.

“Since the beginning of the blatant Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates, the air defences have engaged a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,263 UAV’s,” the Defense Ministry said. The UAE noted that ten people have been killed and 230 injured by Iran’s attacks, including citizens of over two dozen countries across the Middle East and Africa. Friday’s strike was the third Iranian attack on the UAE this week. During Operation Epic Fury in March and April, Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones at the UAE and other neighboring countries, including Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The UAE said on Friday it would establish a committee to document “Iranian acts of aggression, international crimes and the damages resulting from them.”

The committee, chaired by the attorney general of the Emirates, will prepare documentation “in accordance with the highest legal and technical standards,” using “reliable evidence.” These documents will be introduced as evidence when the UAE seeks to recover damages from Iran in international court. The UAE Foreign Ministry rejected Iran’s attempts to justify its attacks based on Emirati cooperation with the United States, stating that the UAE’s international relations are a “purely sovereign matter” and cannot be dictated by Tehran. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was still holding, despite Iran’s attacks on the U.S. destroyers and UAE civilian targets. (Read More)

Ghalibaf pushes for the role many thought he already had

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appears to be trying to solidify his position inside Iran’s fractured post-war leadership after recent weeks exposed the limits of assumptions that he had effectively emerged as the country’s de facto ruler. In an audio message published on May 6, Ghalibaf laid out five requests directed at Iranians at home and abroad, framing austerity, solidarity and public mobilization as essential to surviving what he described as one of the most critical periods in Iran’s contemporary history.  

The intervention marked Ghalibaf’s clearest political re-emergence after a period in which hardline factions appeared to sideline him despite his elevated wartime profile. Ghalibaf rose to prominence during the 12-day war with Israel and the United States in 2025, when he was widely seen as one of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s most trusted political figures. After Khamenei’s death, he headed Iran’s delegation in the Islamabad talks with the United States — perhaps the clearest sign yet of his standing within the new order. Repeated remarks by President Donald Trump hinting at regime change in Iran and suggesting that a figure from inside the system could ultimately emerge reinforced speculation abroad that Ghalibaf might become the face of a post-Khamenei transition.   

But his position soon appeared less secure. Hardline critics accused him of weakness in negotiations and insufficient resistance to Western pressure, and for a period he largely retreated from public view before gradually re-emerging. In the May 6 message, Ghalibaf urged Iranians to recognize that the country was engaged in “one of the biggest wars in Iran’s contemporary history,” arguing that enduring hardship was necessary to secure a strategic victory. His central appeal focused on austerity, with Ghalibaf calling saving and reduced consumption “the missile the people can fire at the heart of the enemy.” He also called for reviving mutual-aid networks similar to those formed during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged the Basij militia to return to what he described as its historic role as a neighborhood-based problem-solving force helping citizens navigate daily hardships.

The appeal contrasted sharply with the Basij’s prominent role in suppressing protests during the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom movement and the unrest of January 2026. Ghalibaf’s final request targeted Iranians professionals and experts abroad, whom he urged to contribute ideas and resources to help manage wartime economic pressures. He encouraged expatriates not to wait for official outreach but to “force officials” to use their capabilities. The appeal quickly drew criticism from some Iranians overseas, with users on social media arguing authorities could not simultaneously seek help from expatriates while hardliners continued threatening confiscation of assets and punitive measures against critics abroad.    (Read More)