Trump claims he can control IDF actions in Lebanon because Israelis respect him

Nonetheless, Israel said to rebuff private US request to withdraw from Lebanon; president says relationship with Netanyahu is ‘good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane'.

US President Donald Trump said this week that he would be able to keep Israel from launching new attacks in Lebanon because the country has a lot of respect for him, thanks to his previous policies regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump was asked during an interview with Axios — which was taped on Thursday and aired Friday — whether he’d be able to “control Israel from attacking Lebanon,” as Washington and Jerusalem have publicly disagreed about the decision to tie Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah to the controversial memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. “Yeah, I will be,” the president responded.

“They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say,” he added, recalling how he pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal orchestrated by the Obama administration and which Jerusalem opposed, and how he authorized a major attack on Iran’s three main nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day war with Tehran last June. Trump has fumed over the scope of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon in recent days, insisting they have hampered efforts to reach and maintain an agreement with Iran.

Israel has agreed to refrain from attacking Beirut in response to that US anger but has kept its troops in a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which would appear to violate the terms of the deal that the US reached with Iran, given that the agreement states that all military operations in Lebanon must cease. The deal signed by Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to end a conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling for a cessation of fighting between the US, Iran and their allies on all fronts, including Lebanon. It also provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of a 60-day negotiation period on broader issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program.

Israel had no part in negotiating the deal, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distanced himself from it. Still, the terms of the opening clause, permanently ending the war and ruling out any resumption, indicate that it is binding on the US, Iran “and their allies.” Israeli officials are bitterly opposed to the deal’s terms, which resolve none of the war’s key goals, notably eliminating Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and creating the conditions for the fall of the regime. (Read More)

Iran says Israel-Hezbollah conflict to top agenda in today’s talks with the US

Iran says that the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group will top the agenda in talks with the United States in Switzerland today, as well as issues such as frozen Iranian funds and the sale of the country’s oil.

“The Zionist regime continues to violate its commitment in Lebanon, this issue will be the main topic of discussion in today’s talks,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says in a video shared by IRNA state news agency. Tehran said on Thursday it had signed a deal with Washington to end months of hostilities that began on February 28 following US-Israeli attacks on the Iranian regime.

Israel had no part in negotiating the memorandum of understanding. Still, the terms of the opening clause, permanently ending the war and ruling out any resumption, indicate that it is binding on the US, Iran “and their allies.” Israel had resisted efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon to be made part of the US-Iran deal. Channel 12 reported yesterday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the IDF to “hold its fire” in Lebanon, amid a flare-up that Israel blamed on Hezbollah’s attacks on troops in south Lebanon. (Source)

Tehran says closing Strait of Hormuz again following Lebanon flare-up

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June 20, 2026 / JNS)
The top command center of the Iran Armed Forces announced on Saturday it is again shutting maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, Reuters cited the Islamic Republic’s Mehr state news agency as reporting. “It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy’s breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a recorded message, according to AFP. The U.S. Central Command said on Saturday that commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased throughout the day.

“Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets,” it continued.
CENTCOM further said that the Joint Maritime Information Center issued an advisory this week affirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route that is free of arbitrary requirement claims or impediments. The U.S. and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 that stipulates, in the first clause, that the “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon” must be ensured. U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke with Fox News overnight Friday, saying that the choke point has been opened, facilitating the transportation of 16 million barrels of oil per dy.

Asked if Iranian forces are redirecting vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said he is “skeptical” of such reports. The vice president noted that mines are still present in the 20-mile stretch of the choke point, and therefore it could be that forces of the Iran’s navy warned ships against crossing in these areas. He continued that de-mining the strait could take up to 30 days, as stressed in the MoU. “But no, we’re not seeing any evidence of the Iranians still closing the Strait of Hormuz. It is going to take some time to clear those mines though,” Vance said. (Read More)

Dozen of Hezbollah terrorists trapped in terror stronghold

Political echelon orders IDF to hold fire in southern Lebanon; IDF opposes directive.

The IDF has received orders from the political echelon to hold fire in southern Lebanon. The military expressed opposition to the ceasefire directive. The IDF maintains high alert in light of threats from Iran and continues to operate in the southern Lebanon area. The ceasefire does not include the withdrawal of IDF forces from southern Lebanon. The troops continue to hold the forward defense zone, known as the "Yellow Line," and operate within it.

At the same time, IDF forces maintain operational control over the Ali Taher Ridge complex near the city of Nabatieh, considered a stronghold of the Hezbollah terrorist organization. According to a senior source, the IDF currently holds operational control of the area, and dozens of Hezbollah terrorists are trapped within the complex, unable to leave. Over the course of Saturday, heavy exchanges of fire occurred between the IDF and Hezbollah. Hezbollah claims 111 fatalities from Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the weekend, following the tank disaster in which the commander of the 52nd Armor Battalion, Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simchon, and three other soldiers were killed.

Lt. Col. Ben Simchon and the three soldiers, whose names have not yet been released, were killed during the night between Thursday and Friday in an operation in the village of Tabnit near the ridge, as part of efforts to seize Hezbollah’s underground complex at Ali Taher. A senior IDF official stated that the disaster resulted from a drone strike or an anti-tank missile hit, and not an operational accident. "Ed note: No wonder the IDF is mad. As they are fighting for their lives and the lives of the citizens in northern Israel and have the enemy, Hezbollah trapped, only to have yet another US President tells them to stop their attack. Enter Trump accusing Israel of taking too long to finish off Hezbollah.)  (Read More)

'Trump Has Changed His Attitude': Macron Reveals What Happened Behind Closed Doors at the G7

France Turns Up the Heat on Israel: Macron Says Trump Has Changed — and Netanyahu Has No Strategy.

French President Emmanuel Macron launched a sharp diplomatic broadside against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, describing his conduct of the war as destructive and lacking any strategic logic, while claiming that President Donald Trump has recently shifted his attitude toward the Israeli leader. Speaking in an interview on the French television network France 2, a day after the G7 summit concluded in Évian in the French Alps, Macron offered his most pointed criticism yet of Netanyahu's leadership. "It does not appear that Netanyahu has any strategic plan," Macron said. "He has achieved real security results and has defended his country against real aggression," he acknowledged, before adding that the policy as a whole was "destructive."

Macron accused Israel of causing widespread civilian harm in Gaza that was "completely unjustifiable," and condemned what he described as new settlement activity and unacceptable acts in Judea and Samaria, arguing the policy "feeds resentment and violence among all populations of the region." The most striking claim in the interview was Macron's assertion that Trump himself has grown frustrated with Netanyahu. "Trump has changed his attitude toward Netanyahu in recent days," Macron said, "and only under those conditions will it be possible to achieve real change." He did not elaborate on what had specifically triggered the shift, but the comments land against a well-documented backdrop of strain between Washington and Jerusalem. Trump confirmed in early June that he had called Netanyahu "f***ing crazy" during a heated phone call over Israel's continued strikes in Lebanon, though he later described the relationship as strong.

Some officials in the Trump administration have been working to establish informal channels with Israel's opposition, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot, amid growing concern over hard-right members of the Netanyahu government seen as extremists and frustration with the inability to advance various diplomatic agendas. (Read More)

JD Vance Breaks With Netanyahu: “America Is the Senior Partner, Israel Is the Junior Partner”

In a revealing podcast interview, Vice President JD Vance questioned the assumption that Washington and Jerusalem always share the same interests, described Netanyahu as a difficult leader, and made clear that America has no interest in turning Iran into a failed state. Vice President JD Vance delivered one of the clearest statements yet about the Trump administration's view of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and America's role in the Middle East.

Speaking on the popular "Diary of a CEO" podcast, Vance emphasized that foreign policy should be guided by national interests rather than personal trust or sentiment. When asked whether he trusted Israel and its government, Vance offered a blunt response. "I don't trust anybody." The Vice President explained that international relations are based on shared interests rather than personal confidence. "When our interests align, we work very well together," Vance said. "But do I trust anyone? No. We simply have to stay focused on our interests at all times."

The comments came as the Trump administration continues to defend its controversial agreement with Iran. During the interview, host Steven Bartlett referenced reports of a heated conversation between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Israeli military operations that reportedly took place shortly before a planned concluding of the agreement. According to the account discussed during the podcast, Trump expressed frustration with the timing of the strikes and described Netanyahu as "a very difficult person." The discussion quickly turned to the broader U.S.-Israel relationship. Vance rejected the idea that the two countries always share identical goals.

"Some people describe the United States and Israel as fundamentally aligned on everything. That's simply not true," he said. "We are different countries with different needs and different geography." The Vice President pointed out that historical examples demonstrate these differences. In the early 2000s, Israel viewed Iran as its primary strategic concern, while the United States was focused on the threat posed by Al-Qaeda. Perhaps the most striking part of the interview came when Vance openly described the balance of power between Washington and Jerusalem. "We are the world's superpower," he said. "Accordingly, we are the senior partner, and they are the junior partner. That's how it works. (Read More)

Hardliner reveals ‘top-secret’ Khamenei objections to US talks on state TV

A hardline lawmaker sparked a major backlash after reading excerpts from what were described as top-secret letters by Iran’s Supreme Leader on state TV, claiming he opposed US talks, before he was interrupted and the program was abruptly cut off. Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had repeatedly objected to the course of negotiations with the United States and set conditions that were not reflected in the Iran-US memorandum of understanding. His remarks came as Iran’s negotiating team travelled to Switzerland for a new round of technical talks with the United States, days after Tehran and Washington signed the MoU aimed at ending the war and opening the way for further negotiations.

“The Supreme Leader explicitly expresses his dissatisfaction,” Nabavian said on the program. “He says, ‘Why did you not observe the conditions?’ ”He said Khamenei had written that Iran was “neither in a hurry nor under any compulsion to negotiate or reach an agreement,” adding that the talks should be aimed at “ending the war and securing compensation,” not the nuclear issue. According to Nabavian, Khamenei had also told negotiators not to discuss what he called “the main issue," apparently referring to Tehran's nuclear program. “I will read one sentence. There is no other choice,” Nabavian said, before quoting from what he described as Khamenei’s correspondence: “What has taken shape in the Pakistan negotiations is fundamentally different from what was supposed to happen and from what constituted the condition for the legitimacy of the negotiations.”

Nabavian said Khamenei then called for the negotiations to be stopped. He also said Khamenei repeated his position on the nuclear file on April 4, April 18 and April 24, insisting that Iran should either achieve “victory” by forcing the other side to fully recognize its right to enrichment, or remove the nuclear issue from the agenda of negotiations “forever.” On the Strait of Hormuz, Nabavian said Khamenei viewed the waterway as a key point of leverage against Washington.

“The Strait of Hormuz is a very important key,” Nabavian quoted him as saying. “If the Americans want pressure taken off their throat, they must first implement preconditions, foremost among them the payment of compensation and debts.” Nabavian added that “none of these things” had appeared in the MoU. He said Khamenei had insisted that management of the Strait of Hormuz must remain exclusively in Iran’s hands, “not even with Oman, let alone other countries. (Read More)

Iranian MP Fired Live on Air After Reading Khamenei's 'Top Secret' Letters

A stunning broadcast meltdown on Iranian state television has triggered a political firestorm in Tehran, after a hardline parliamentarian began reading classified correspondence from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei live on air — only to be abruptly cut off and fired moments later. Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of Iran's influential National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stunned viewers during what was supposed to be a routine interview when he pulled out documents he described as "top secret" letters and internal communications from Khamenei himself. The move, clearly intended as a protest against the regime's diplomatic posture, sent producers scrambling to kill the feed.

Within minutes of the broadcast being terminated, Iran's state broadcasting authority announced it was pursuing criminal charges against Nabavian for disclosing classified state secrets. A senior network executive was forced to resign immediately, according to sources familiar with the matter. Before the feed was cut, Nabavian managed to reveal explosive details about Khamenei's true position on the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States — a stance sharply at odds with the public messaging from Iran's diplomatic team currently in Switzerland.

According to the classified letters Nabavian cited, Khamenei expressed fierce opposition throughout April to the direction of talks with Washington, repeatedly questioning why Iranian negotiators were abandoning the regime's core red lines. The Supreme Leader made clear, Nabavian stated, that Iran faced no time pressure whatsoever and should never rush into an agreement at any cost. The documents revealed that Khamenei's sole objective for the talks was securing an end to the war and extracting massive financial compensation from the West — not addressing Iran's nuclear program. In fact, the Supreme Leader explicitly ordered negotiators to remove the nuclear issue from the agenda "forever," unless the international community granted Iran full recognition of its right to enrich uranium without restrictions. (Read More)

Fallen commander's wife sends final farewell

Ariel, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel Dor Ben Simhon, commander of Battalion 52 in the 401st Armored Brigade, who was killed in action in southern Lebanon, published a heartbreaking farewell message on Facebook. She recalled the first time she met Dor, writing: “Eight years ago I began at the IDF Tactical Command School. There were 120 men before me, and I wondered how there wasn’t even one ‘hot guy’ there for me. Then you came to present a lesson learned from a road accident you caused - an educational experience, and luckily it arrived. I said, ‘Oh, there he is.’ In the first year you only bothered me, and in the second year you chased after me like crazy (even if that isn’t exactly true, you’re not here to deny it, so I’m telling the truth now)." 

Biton described their relationship as one they quickly realized was meant to be. “We started a wonderful relationship, and relatively quickly we knew it was ‘the one.’ We went through so much together until the proposal, here in your kibbutz. Of course, yes. Yes to that smile that lit up every face. Yes to your wisdom. Yes to the love that came in so many different ways. Yes to the beauty that was so deeply inside you and radiated outward. And yes to the kibbutznik who dared to get married in shorts and leather sandals."

She wrote that their years together were the happiest of her life. “As a fighting family, we were together through difficult periods, but in the long run you gave me the seven most beautiful years of my life. Seven years of real love, of innocence that is hard to explain, of building a home together, of creating a family. Now you have left me with the two most amazing daughters in the world. Maybe now I’ll stop getting upset when people tell me how much they look like you. I hope they will keep your presence alive with me every single day."

She thanked him for the person he was and the impact he had on her. "Thank you for making me a better person, for being a supportive husband, and for teaching me how to mow the lawn. Even as I write this, I know there are so many people here, because you simply couldn’t not fall in love with. Every weekend at home I had to share you with many people who loved you, and I’m glad you felt that love during your life." “You were a commander who was a people person; you were a commander of a mission. Your dedication inspires admiration, and your intelligence served this country well. I would walk around proudly and say that I’m the wife of a commander." (Read More)

Iran Sentences Singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 Lashings for Performing Without a Hijab

In 2024, Parastoo Ahmadi, age 29, livestreamed a video of her singing the patriotic song Az Khoone Javanane Vatan (From the Blood of the Youth of the Homeland) that went viral, generating millions of views. She and several musicians who performed with her was briefly detained before being released, but according to court documents obtained by The Guardian, she received a harsh and brutal punishment by the regime for not wearing a hijab.   

Bahar Ghandehari, the director of advocacy at the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran, said that the punishment shows the severity of Iran’s human rights abuses. “Ahmadi’s punishment of 74 lashes for merely singing and appearing without a hijab is yet another reminder that human rights conditions in Iran have not changed, despite the Iranian authorities’ wartime propaganda campaign aimed at improving their image,” said Ghandehari.    

Moein Khazaeli, a human rights lawyer counseling Iranian activists, said the sentence had no legal standing. “Singing, performing music and producing or disseminating musical works by women are not criminalised under Iranian criminal law. Consequently, such activities cannot reasonably be construed as the ‘production, distribution or publication of obscene content’,” he said. “The imposition of a flogging sentence against artists, civil society activists or other citizens is not merely a matter of domestic criminal law,” he continued. “It also raises serious concerns regarding states’ international obligations to prohibit torture and safeguard human dignity. For this reason, numerous human rights organizations consider flogging not a legitimate form of punishment, but rather a form of torture and inhuman treatment.”  (Ed note: Will she survive the 74 lashes?  She won't be the first, or the last woman to be beaten and raped to death for not wearing a Hijab.)   (Source)

Iran Threatens Missile Strike on Israel Tonight, Closes Strait of Hormuz Over Lebanon Fighting

Iran threatened to launch missiles at Israel tonight and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, accusing the U.S. of failing to stop Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Iran's military command issued a direct threat Saturday to launch missiles at Israel tonight, as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all shipping and accused the United States of failing to enforce a ceasefire over Lebanon, in a dramatic escalation that threatens to unravel the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed just days ago. Iran's military declared Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, citing Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon as justification, according to Iranian state media. U.S. Central Command pushed back shortly afterward, saying commercial ship traffic in the strait had actually increased Saturday "as U.S. forces continued operating in the general area to support freedom of navigation."

The Srugim document obtained by JFeed adds a direct military threat to the closure announcement: a Hezbollah-affiliated network citing Iranian sources warned that "if the aggression against Lebanon continues, Iranian missiles may be launched at Israel tonight." The Iranian Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a formal statement that the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically critical waterways, would be completely closed to vessel traffic. The announcement came just hours after U.S. Vice President JD Vance sought to calm global markets by declaring there were no signs Iran was moving to block the strait.

Tehran blamed Washington for failing to enforce Article One of the memorandum of understanding, which Iran says obligates the United States to halt what it called "the ongoing ceasefire violations by the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon." The statement explicitly cited continued Israeli Air Force strikes in Lebanon and the IDF's refusal to withdraw from the south of the country as grounds for the escalation. Iran also warned that the Hormuz closure was only a first step. "If the aggression continues, additional measures will be planned and taken to compel the enemy to honor its commitments," the statement read. (Read More)

Netanyahu braces for Trump pressure on Israel's military moves

Israel Hayom has learned that Jerusalem is preparing for growing diplomatic pressure from Washington. Sources close to the prime minister say Israel must "act wisely" and not respond emotionally. In light of US President Donald Trump's reversal on Iran, Israel is preparing for a period of at least several months in which pressure will be applied on it to limit its military operations.

Israel Hayom has learned that the line adopted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the demands expected from Trump is to "say 'yes' where possible, and 'no' as much as necessary." Sources close to Netanyahu further say Israel must "act wisely" in the current situation and respond with its head, not its gut. Netanyahu's aides also stress that Israel will safeguard its own security. "The enemies are around our borders, not anyone else's, and we will act against them," a diplomatic source said.

It should be noted that at this stage, there is no known US demand for the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces troops from southern Lebanon. The understanding in Israel is that such a demand may come only if a full nuclear agreement is signed between Iran and the US, and the assessment in Jerusalem is that no such agreement will be reached. Meanwhile, CNN reported, citing an Israeli source, that Netanyahu is trying to influence the final agreement with Iran through right-wing media figures and pro-Israel senators, with the aim of applying pressure on US President Donald Trump. (Source)

Sovereignty without conquest: Israel must not surrender its autonomy to US - opinion

The greatest strength of the US-Israel relationship has always been that it united two independent democracies pursuing common objectives while retaining the freedom to protect their own interests.

For decades, Israel and the United States have proudly described their relationship as one built on shared values, shared interests, and shared threats. The relationship survived political disagreements, military conflicts, and changing administrations because it rests upon something deeper than temporary policy alignment: mutual respect between two sovereign democracies. Yet recent developments surrounding American negotiations with Iran raise an uncomfortable question that many Israelis are increasingly asking: Can a nation remain fully sovereign if another country, even its closest ally, expects it to comply with agreements it neither negotiated nor approved.

The issue is not whether the United States has the right to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran. Every sovereign nation has that right. Nor is the issue whether Israel and America should occasionally disagree. Healthy alliances are built to withstand disagreements. The issue is whether Israel’s security decisions are gradually being subordinated to American political calculations. Recent media reports suggest that Washington has negotiated understandings with Tehran without meaningful Israeli participation and has subsequently expected Israel to conform to arrangements whose details remain unclear. If true, this represents more than a diplomatic disagreement. It raises fundamental questions about sovereignty itself.

The irony is difficult to ignore. When the United States concluded that Iran’s nuclear ambitions represented a threat to global stability, it was prepared to project military power halfway around the world. American leaders justified such actions under the universally accepted principle that nations have the right, and indeed the obligation, to protect themselves and their citizens from emerging existential threats. Israel shares that assessment regarding Iran. (Ed note: This article, dated June 19. 2026 is from a somewhat liberal Jerusalem Post.)  (Read More)

Israel fears Iran could use US deal to accelerate nuclear program

Israel's security establishment believes the Lebanese front must not be connected to Iran and oppose an IDF withdrawal. At the same time, officials warn that despite progress in talks between Washington and Tehran, Israel must formulate a new strategy on Iran and prepare for the possibility that it will exploit the coming months to advance its nuclear program. The Israeli security establishment does not know exactly what the details are of the emerging deal between the US and Iran, but security officials say now is the time to minimize the damage and try to influence the final agreement as much as possible during the 60 days in which it will be discussed. As for the Lebanese front, Israel's main task now is to try to separate Iran from Lebanon as much as possible, despite Iran's clear attempts to reconnect the two.

The way to do this, security officials believe, is through firm opposition to an IDF withdrawal back to the international border. There is near unanimity among Israel's political and security leadership regarding the need to keep the IDF deployed along the yellow line, at least in order to protect residents of the north. At the same time, the view at the top of the security establishment is that Israel should respond harshly, including with another strike in Dahiyeh, to any launch toward the State of Israel, even at the cost of another confrontation with Iran and American displeasure.

As of now, the soldiers positioned beyond the border line have not received new instructions, and they are continuing to destroy terrorist infrastructure and defend themselves against threats when necessary. At the same time, the IDF is also preparing for the possibility that Israel's political echelon will issue different instructions. Likewise, as has been evident over the past three days (as of the time of writing), Hezbollah is not firing at the State of Israel, and its forces are not advancing and are focusing on defending themselves. Ultimately, the test will be one of action, meaning whether Hezbollah fires at the State of Israel and what Israel does in response. (Read More)

Erev Shabbat Thoughts From Jerusalem As the World Turns Against Us

It's been a devastating week, five soldiers lost, Hezbollah's relentless fire, a world turning away. Here's what to do where there is nowhere left to look.

This has been a week that felt, for many of us, like the ground shifting beneath our feet. The Trump administration, the one so many American Jews and Israelis had placed extraordinary hope in, has in the space of days made moves that feel like a betrayal. Not a gentle pivot. A shock. The kind that leaves you staring at your phone at midnight wondering what world your children are inheriting. I've spoken to friends in Israel and in the U.S. this week, thoughtful people, informed people, and the word I keep hearing is the same: devastated. Alarmed. Hopeless. So as the sun starts its descent on another impossible week, here are a few thoughts from a religious Jew who is also, like you, just trying to make sense of this. Hashem has a plan. We don't know what it is.

I know that sounds simple. Maybe it sounds dismissive. It isn't. It's actually the hardest thing in the world to hold onto, because emunah doesn't mean believing when things look fine. Anyone can do that. Emunah means believing precisely when it looks bad. When the math doesn't add up. When the allies aren't there. When the news keeps coming and none of it is good. It might not look good. It might not feel good. That's part of the deal.

Today we lost four soldiers. Four. While the diplomatic world debated memorandums and frameworks and signing ceremonies, Hezbollah fired drones, UAVs, missiles and rockets at our people, and our soldiers were out there, as they are every single day, standing between those weapons and the rest of us. Their families will not have a normal Shabbat tonight. There are no words for that. We say Baruch Dayan HaEmet when the worst comes to bear, we bless the True Judge even then. Not because we understand. Not because we're not in pain. But because we recognize that the story isn't over, and the Author isn't lost, even when we are.

And so we do what our ancestors did thousands of years ago when they too faced enemies they could not defeat alone, when the walls were closing in and the nations turned away. We turn our eyes heavenward. We daven. We ask Hashem for mercy and for peace. ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, ה' יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם. Hashem will give strength to His people. Hashem will bless His people with peace. Am Yisrael has survived things that should have ended us. It didn't. It won'tShabbat shalom. (Ed note: Thoughts from the author of this article, Gila Isaacson. The word "Hashem" (הַשֵּׁם) is a Hebrew term that literally translates to "the Name". In Judaism, it is used as a highly respectful, everyday substitute for the sacred, unpronounceable four-letter name of God (the Tetragrammaton, or YHWH).  (Source)

'Why should we surrender?': Hezbollah chief says group capable of victory

The IDF has attacked over 100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over the past day, killing dozens of terrorists the military said in a statement Friday.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem described Lebanon as entering a new phase, saying it was facing dangerous conspiracies and threats in a Friday speech. In the speech, Qassem claimed that there is a coordinated campaign aimed at ending Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon. “[Israel and the US] sought to close air, sea, and land crossings to prevent the arrival of weapons, technology, and anything else that would strengthen the Resistance,” he said

“The scheme aimed to block reconstruction efforts so that people would remain displaced and homeless, and to turn the Resistance's support base against the Resistance itself. They imposed a suffocating financial blockade to prevent us from addressing the situation or recovering,” he added. Qassem also accused Israel and the US of reneging on the November 2024 ceasefire agreement due to Assad’s fall, claiming that they believed the balance of power in the region had shifted.

The Hezbollah chief, who took over following Israel’s assassination of previous head Hassan Nasrallah and his presumed successor Hashem Safieddine, asserted that Lebanon entered a “most dangerous phase” in his speech. Still, Qassem rejected the idea that death can deter the terrorist group, stating that “[Hezbollah is] a group that does not fear death, and we are always victorious in confronting those who threaten us with death.” “The massive losses are less than surrender and defeat. If we are capable of victory, why should we surrender?” he asked. (Ed note: Remember that the young fighter is told he gets "73 virgins" if he dies in battle. With IsIam, this is a religious war, not political.) (Read More)

Hezbollah leader vows complete expulsion of Israeli forces from Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem blasted blasts what he describes as a joint US-Israeli "conspiracy", vowing the terrorist group will achieve the definitive expulsion of Israel.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered a fierce televised address on Friday, intensifying his anti-Israel rhetoric and asserting that the terrorist group will completely expel Israeli forces from Lebanon. In his speech, Qassem framed the ongoing regional conflict as a massive, coordinated effort by Western powers and Jerusalem to dismantle the group's operations entirely.

"Today, in Lebanon, we are facing the most dangerous stage in our history and the largest joint American, Israeli, and international conspiracy, which threatens the future of our country and our children," Qassem claimed. “The main objective of this plan is to uproot and completely eliminate the resistance and its popular base in Lebanon." The Hezbollah leader further claimed that Israel and its allies resorted to brutal tactics after failing to defeat the organization on the battlefield.

“To achieve this goal, the enemies first launched a criminal and unrestrained war, killing civilians and carrying out widespread destruction in order to bring the resistance to its knees," Qassem charged. “In the next step, the United States and the Zionist regime, after witnessing changes in regional equations following developments in Syria, violated previous agreements in order to upset the balance of power in their favor." Despite ongoing military pressures, Qassem remained defiant, declaring that the strategic efforts to neutralize his group have utterly collapsed. He emphasized that the group has no intention of scaling back its operations until Israel completely surrenders its remaining territorial presence in the region. (Ed note: And President Trump wants Israel to "play patty cake" with this clown.)  (Read More)

Vance's Warning to Israel: Read Between the Lines

The Vice President didn't just scold Israel on Thursday. He delivered a message Washington has never before sent so openly — and the subtext was unmistakable.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stepped to the White House podium Thursday and offered what he framed as a dose of hard truth to America's closest Middle East ally. But beneath the language of frustrated friendship ran something considerably colder: a barely veiled warning that American military support for Israel is no longer unconditional, and that Israel's ability to defend itself depends on its compliance with Washington's diplomatic agenda.

The remarks were unprecedented in their bluntness. Veteran Israeli intelligence journalist Ronen Bergman described Vance's statements as unlike anything he could recall being said by an American president or vice president about Israel — surpassing even the sharpest moments of tension under Clinton, Obama, Biden, or Harris. The opening was pointed enough on its face. Vance declared that Donald Trump is "the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," and said that Israel's leaders had failed to appreciate the military and diplomatic support Washington has provided.

But it was the next line that carried the real weight.

Over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars," Vance told reporters, in a direct rebuke aimed at Israeli cabinet ministers who criticized the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed Wednesday.

Read plainly, that is a statement of fact. Read in context, it is something else: a reminder that the Iron Dome interceptors, the munitions, the air defense systems keeping Israeli cities alive during Iranian missile barrages — all of it flows from Washington. And Washington is watching. "If I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world," Vance added. The implication, which Vance left studiously unstated, was obvious to anyone paying attention: allies who attack their benefactors can find themselves without a benefactor.

...What Vance was communicating, stripped of diplomatic packaging, amounts to this: Israel's military survival has been subsidized by the United States. That subsidy comes with expectations. Those expectations currently include accepting a U.S.-Iran deal that Israel's own security establishment views as dangerous, withdrawing from positions in Lebanon the IDF believes are operationally necessary, and doing so without public complaint from cabinet ministers.

...For Jerusalem, the message Thursday was not subtle. The most powerful voice in the Republican Party — the man many expect to succeed Trump — just told Israel, from the White House briefing room, that its security umbrella is contingent on political cooperation. That it has no other friends. And that it should choose its words carefully. (Read More)

JD Vance sparks anger with attacks on Israel

Members of Congress and academics expressed outrage over JD Vance’s criticism of Israel in a statement he delivered at the White House.

The harsh criticism leveled against Israel by U.S. Vice President JD Vance has sparked angry reactions. Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida wrote: “Israel is our greatest ally and strongest partner in the Middle East. The evil Iranian regime wants to wipe BOTH of us off the face of the Earth. That will never happen because we will ALWAYS stand together." “America’s unwavering support for Israel’s defense helps make the America First agenda possible, the U.S. stronger, and the world a safer place," he stressed.

Professor Jeffrey Lax of New York University, a prominent activist for the Jewish community and in the fight against antisemitism and discrimination against pro-Israel professors and students, was even sharper in his criticism. “The most sickening part of JD Vance 's mid-book tour press conference? Right here, where he accuses Israel(!) of attacking civilian population centers in Beirut when every honest person on earth knows it is exactly the other way around," Lax said. “This man CANNOT be our next president," Lax declared.

The criticism was also echoed by the “Green Prince," Mosab Hassan Yousef, who lives in the United States. Israel is not a client state. It is a sovereign, independent, and powerful nation.Its strength has never depended on any foreign leader, it comes from its own people. While the partnership with the United States has been valuable, Israel has never been a burden. It has delivered massive contributions to American technology, medicine, cybersecurity, and defense, far beyond what most Americans realize. At a moment when America is facing deep internal and external challenges, turning against one of its most capable and loyal allies is not just shortsighted, it is self-destructive. Those who believe they are weakening Israel by attacking it are actually weakening America’s own interests," Yousef said.

During a White House briefing yesterday (Thursday), Vance claimed that Israel was bombing Lebanon indiscriminately. "The president is sometimes frustrated that when we are at a breakthrough toward an agreement - there is a major explosion in Beirut and many people who are not connected to Hezbollah lose their lives. That is not acceptable to us - and Israel needs to make sure that does not happen," Vance said.

The vice president also criticized Israeli cabinet ministers, saying: “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have in the entire world." He claimed that two-thirds of the weapons that defended Israel “were developed in the United States and funded by the American taxpayer." He added: “Anyone who thinks Israel’s problem is Donald Trump needs to wake up." “We speak with Bibi and members of the Israeli government almost every day, and Trump has been very clear that he is not denying Israel’s right to self-defense. The Israelis, like all sides, must respect this peace process," Vance added. (Ed note: Wow. Any reactions to that?)  (Source)

4 soldiers killed in battle in Lebanon

Four IDF soldiers fell in battle early Friday morning in Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. The IDF cleared for publication that one of the fallen is LTC Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, aged 32, from Beit HaShita, the commander of the 52nd Battalion, 401st Brigade. The families of the other fallen soldiers have been notified, and their names have not yet been cleared for publication. They will be released at a later time.
An initial inquiry into the incident found that around 12:20 a.m., a suspicious target, either a drone or an anti-tank missile, struck a 52nd Battalion tank that was operating under the command of the Givati Brigade Combat Team in Kfar Tebnit, killing the four soldiers. In a second incident, at approximately 4:00 a.m. in the Beoufort area near Tebnit, an explosive drone struck troops from the Commando Brigade. Five soldiers were wounded, one severely.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog lamented: "This is a very difficult and painful morning. With profound grief, we learned of the terrible news that four of our nation’s sons fell in battle in Lebanon, including LTC Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, the Commander of the 52nd Battalion, 401st Brigade." He continued, “About two months ago, after the Battalion Commander, LTC Y., was severely wounded in combat, Dor took command upon himself, and from that point led his soldiers at the front with determination and responsibility.

"LTC Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon and the additional three fallen soldiers, whose names have not yet been cleared for publication, join a long and unbearably painful list of the daughters and sons who have fallen in defense of our homeland and people. Each one was an entire world, with dreams, hopes, and aspirations cut down in their prime. “Together with the whole of the people of Israel, we embrace their beloved and precious families and send them our heartfelt condolences at this difficult moment. We pray for the recovery of the wounded and for the well-being of all IDF soldiers and security forces. May the memory of our heroes be blessed," Herzog concluded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent condolences to the families of the fallen and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded in the exchanges of fire yesterday. (Read More)

IDF Unleashes Massive Retaliation Strike After Four Soldiers Killed: Over 80 Hezbollah Targets Destroyed in Single Night

Israel struck more than 80 Hezbollah command posts and launch sites across southern Lebanon overnight • Dozens of terrorists killed in precision airstrikes • The massive operation followed the deaths of four IDF soldiers, including battalion commander Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon | Full details of the retaliatory campaign (Israel News)

The Israeli Air Force executed one of its most extensive strike campaigns in southern Lebanon in recent weeks, destroying more than 80 Hezbollah targets in a single night and eliminating dozens of terrorists in what military officials described as a direct response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed terror organization. The massive retaliatory operation came hours after four IDF soldiers, including a senior tank battalion commander, were killed in a Hezbollah attack in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit. The IDF confirmed that Lt. Col. Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, 32, commander of the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade, was among those killed when a suspected drone or anti-tank missile struck his tank shortly after midnight.

According to the IDF statement, Israeli warplanes struck command headquarters, rocket launch positions, and terror infrastructure across the Nabatieh region and multiple other areas in southern Lebanon's security zone and beyond. The strikes targeted facilities where Hezbollah operatives were actively operating at the time of the attacks, resulting in dozens of terrorist casualties. In addition to the extensive operations in the Nabatieh sector, Israeli aircraft struck two Hezbollah command posts in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley region. Military sources confirmed the facilities were actively occupied by terror operatives when the strikes were carried out, marking a significant expansion of Israel's operational reach beyond the immediate border zone.

The IDF emphasized that the campaign was launched in direct response to what it characterized as systematic and repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah. Israeli forces operating north of the Litani River continue their mission to dismantle the strategic underground infrastructure that Hezbollah constructed over years along the border area. In a separate incident during the night, the IDF identified Hezbollah terrorists launching rockets toward Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon. In what military officials described as rapid operational closure, Israeli aircraft eliminated two terrorists who attempted to flee the launch site on a motorcycle. The IDF subsequently destroyed the rocket launcher from which the projectiles had been fired. (Ed note: Uh Oh. Is Israel in trouble after defending itself against an attack from Hezbollah? Will Iran use this to end the MoU?)   (Read More)

Vance: Israeli critics of Trump need to ‘wake up’ to their situation, he’s ‘only head of state’ who still likes Israel

US Vice President JD Vance closes out his White House press conference on the US-Iran memorandum of understanding by lashing out at Israeli critics of the deal once more, claiming that US President Donald Trump is the only world leader who retains sympathy for Israel and that the US is the only “powerful ally” it still has. He adds that many of Israel’s arms are manufactured in the US, and says Israelis focused on criticizing Trump need to “wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.”

He notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refrained from criticizing the deal in conversations with him, but adds, using the premier’s nickname, “What I will say, and this does bother me, is that you have seen people within Bibi’s cabinet who have come out and attacked the deal, and in some ways very personally attacked the president of the United States.”

He adds, “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. And he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”

He continues, addressing Israeli critics, “Over the last three months, two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.” Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, a growing chorus of voices in the US have taken a critical tone toward — if not outright opposed — US military aid to Israel, which once enjoyed broad support in Washington. Netanyahu has proposed phasing it out over a decade-long period. (Ed note: Take that, Israel! According to JD, the only reason Israel is alive today is because of Amerian tax payer dollars.)  (Read More)

Israel and Iran harden stances on Lebanon pullout, risking Trump’s deal

Iranian official says MOU will be void if IDF does not fully withdraw, while source close to PM vows not to back down; army posts fresh map of buffer zone, says troops will remain.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Thursday that a continued IDF presence in southern Lebanon would mean the “annulment” of the memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States, as Israel doubled down on its plans to keep troops in the area amid its ongoing conflict with the Hezbollah terror group. Speaking to the Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese news outlet Al Akhbar, Esmaeil Baghaei said the continuation of Israel’s offensive would be a violation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran that was signed this week.

“It was not acceptable for us to abandon our brothers in Lebanon,” the spokesman said. “We cannot talk about ending the war while parts of Lebanese territory remain under the occupation of the Zionist entity. As long as the occupation continues, it can be said that the war is still in place and has not ended in essence.” The signed memorandum affirms a commitment to Lebanon’s territorial integrity in the face of Israel’s ground operation against the terror group. The clause has proven thorny as Israel refuses to withdraw from wide swaths of southern Lebanon, saying it will not cede the ground to Hezbollah, which has long held sway in the country’s south and from which it has been firing missiles and drones at Israel.

An official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters that Israel had been “conducting stubborn negotiations” with the US on the issue of maintaining its deployment in Lebanon.srael has no intention of backing down on its positions, the official said, amid continued hostilities between IDF troops and the terror group. US and Iranian negotiators were set to meet Friday in the Swiss resort town of Burgenstock for initial talks on Iran’s nuclear program and other outstanding disputes. The negotiations outlined in the memorandum are meant to result in a final deal within a 60-day time frame. But Baghaei appeared to rule out any progress in talks so long as Israel pressed on with its offensive against Hezbollah,

“The second phase of our negotiations will begin to reach a final agreement, and this final agreement will be achieved only if the memorandum of understanding is fully implemented, which, in our view, means the complete cessation of attacks and the end of the occupation,” Baghaei said. “The Zionist entity does not want to provide any opportunity for any diplomatic path to calm the situation in our region,” the official charged, asserting that the US was responsible for “obliging” Israel to respect the memorandum. (Ed note: One can see where this is going. Hezbollah will strike at the IDF and of course, the IDF will retailate thus making Iran and President Trump very mad. Iran will then call off the treaty negotiations and Israel will be the villain, the bad guy, and everything will be the fault of Israel.)  (Read more)

JD Vance attacks, Ben Gvir fires back

US Vice President defends MOU with Iran, criticizes opponents of the agreement in Israel, and calls on Israel “not to go wild" in southern Lebanon.

US Vice President JD Vance addressed criticism in Israel of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran in an interview with The New York Times, and defended the agreement promoted by President Donald Trump. Vance said he had not heard direct criticism of the agreement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Maybe I missed it, but I don’t think Bibi himself has actually criticized the deal. Because I think he’s maybe a little more familiar with the details of what’s in it," he said.

He then addressed criticism voiced by ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. “People in their system, like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, attacked the deal. My response to them would be: What exactly is your proposal? You can’t just kill your way out of solving every national security problem you have," he said.Vance claimed that the criticism in Israel stems from a lack of trust, adding that in his view the United States has proven its commitment to Israel over the years. According to him, the claim that this is a bad agreement “is not supported by the facts" and does not align with the depth of the relationship between the two countries.

The vice president also addressed the situation in Iran, saying that “the moderate side in Iran, which wants a better relationship with the West, has won the internal debate in recent months." According to him, under the agreement, Iran will not be able to maintain a missile program that threatens the entire world. He further noted that the United States expects Israel “not to go wild" in southern Lebanon, while maintaining its right to defend itself. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded to the remarks on X, writing in English: “Here is the proposal, JD Vance: deal with the Nazis of the 21st century the same way the United States dealt with the Nazis of the 20th century." (Source)

"I Had a Different Opinion": Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Breaks Silence on the American Peace Pact

Breaking his prolonged public silence, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a formal written declaration confirming his reluctant authorization of the sweeping fourteen point memorandum of understanding, while claiming US President Donald Trump finalized the treaty purely out of economic and political weakness.

The supreme political authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran has delivered its first official assessment regarding the newly finalized fourteen point memorandum of understanding with the United States, revealing internal executive hesitation before ultimately ratifying the controversial international framework. Breaking hours of strategic silence following the digital execution of the treaty by the White House, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a comprehensive written communiqué directly to state media networks. The highly calculated messaging sought to project a position of regional strength, framing the sweeping maritime and economic concessions granted by the American administration as a desperate geopolitical necessity for Washingtonrather than a diplomatic capitulation by the regime in Tehran.

The written address materialized immediately after the White House officially confirmed that the US president had digitally finalized the sweeping diplomatic document during an executive stopover in Paris, placing the fourteen point framework into immediate statutory effect. Refraining from a public, televised appearance, the Iranian leader utilized his written declaration to shape the regional narrative surrounding the sudden end of the economic containment protocols. Khamenei observed that as you know, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States, before asserting that it was the American president who, out of weakness and need, took all available measures to achieve this goal.

The core of the executive message centered on the deep policy friction that occurred within the regime's high commands ahead of the formal signing ceremony, confirming that top clerical leaders harbored severe reservations regarding the long term non proliferation parameters. The supreme leader explicitly acknowledged his initial personal opposition to the diplomatic roadmap, revealing the internal political trade offs required to secure his final sovereign authorization. Khamenei stated that in principle, I had a different opinion, but I gave approval following a commitment given to me by the president, in his role as chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, on his behalf and on behalf of the council members, to preserve the rights of the Iranian people and the resistance front. (Read More)

Trump says he expects 'complete ceasefire' with Hezbollah

In a series of social media posts, US President Donald Trump claims America is 'committed to peace,' accuses 'fools' who think he hasn't been tough enough on Iran of being 'either jealous, bad people, or stupid.'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday evening said that he expects a "complete ceasefire," including between Hezbollah and Israel. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump wrote, "The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold. The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up."

"We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The memorandum of understanding, meanwhile, says that the signing of the declares "the immediate and permanent termination" of fighting, including in Lebanon, and "ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon." But, it adds that, "The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph."

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli Air Force intercepted several rockets launched toward IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon. Several additional rockets fell adjacent to the soldiers. No injuries were reported. On Wednesday, a Hezbollah drone launched towards IDF forces left one Israeli soldier dead and seven others injured.In an earlier Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump claimed, "There is no 300 Billion Dollar payment to Iran by the U.S. That’s Fake News! All there is for the U.S. is Success, Lower Oil Prices, and Victory. Check out the Stock Market. Dumocrat propaganda at play!!!"

On Thursday afternoon, he insisted, "Oil is flowing, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon (the world will be safe!), the stock markets are roaring, jobs are at records, and prices are dropping (affordability!). Our country is strong, safe, and respected like never before. 'You're welcome!'" A separate post accused, "These fools, who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are 'tumbling' down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" (Source)

Trump’s deal is a catastrophic capitulation to Iran’s aggressors, leaves Israel vulnerable and constrained

In the US president’s reality-challenged view, Israel is an ingrate and a warmonger, while Iran’s mass-murdering leaders are ‘very rational.’ They are indeed all too rational, and he, clearly, is not.

On March 2, the third day of the US-Israel war against Iran, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff gave an interview to Fox News in which he explained why the administration’s efforts to negotiate a deal with the regime in Tehran earlier in the year had failed. He and Jared Kushner, Witkoff recalled, had been tasked with seeking an agreement under which Iran would halt its nuclear program, dismantle its ballistic missile program, cease its support for proxies, and eliminate its navy “so we can have freedom of the seas.”

Far from entertaining a willingness to compromise, despite having been battered in the June 2025 12-day war, said Witkoff, the Iranian negotiators bragged that their obduracy and duplicity had been paying off. On the nuclear front, they gloated, they had amassed 460 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which, Witkoff noted in his interview, could be turned into weapons-grade within 10 days “In that first meeting, both the Iranian negotiators said to us directly — with no shame — that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% [enriched uranium] and that they’re aware that could make 11 nuclear bombs,” Witkoff recalled, aghast. The Iranians, he exclaimed, “were proud that they had evaded all sorts of oversight protocols to get to a place where they could deliver 11 nuclear bombs.”

They also claimed to have “an inalienable right” to enrich their nuclear fuel,” he noted, saying that he and Kushner had responded, robustly, by declaring “that the president feels we have the inalienable right to stop you dead in your tracks.” Fast-forward three and a half months, and the US will on Friday formally sign a memorandum of understanding with Iran, already signed digitally long-distance, that resolves none of the goals of the war — none of the goals that Witkoff and Kushner attempted to resolve in their negotiated effort to avert the war.

...US sources have vouchsafed in recent days that CIA Director John Ratcliffe has warned Trump and his key officials that the regime is playing a double game. The CIA chief has reportedly explained that evidence gathered by US intelligence agencies raises serious doubts that Iran would be willing to make the nuclear concessions that the US wants in any final deal. “The intelligence reflects that the Iranian intentions are not in line with their commitments under the deal,” one US source told Axios. “Not in line with their commitments.” What magnificent understatement. (Ed note: Please note that this long, complete, and complex article is from the very liberal Times of Israel newspaper. Even the Times doesn't like the MoU.)  (Read More)

 

Iran won the war against US and Israel, chief negotiator Ghalibaf claims

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declares victory over the US and Israel, claims the Strait of Hormuz has permanently entered a new reality.

During a state television broadcast on Wednesday, Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran emerged triumphant in its recent armed conflict against the United States and Israel. Characterizing the hostilities through an ideological lens, the legislative leader framed the fighting as a clash of ultimate values. “The recent war was a war between the front of truth and falsehood," Ghalibaf said.

He insisted that the resistance managed to thwart the strategic goals of the nation's adversaries, asserting“We did not allow the United States and Israel to achieve the nine goals they set out from the start of the war." Reflecting on his approach to international relations, Ghalibaf noted that his willingness to engage in statecraft is rooted entirely in a position of leverage. “When I talk about negotiation and diplomacy, I mean diplomacy of power," Ghalibaf said, adding that he supported negotiations that were themselves “a form of struggle."

The chief negotiator positioned himself as the ultimate skeptic of Washington's political establishment, noting that he directly communicated his deep reservations to US Vice President JD Vance. Ghalibaf recalled informing the American leader that he possessed “not the slightest trust" in him. Addressing the geopolitical reality of the world's most critical energy shipping corridor, Ghalibaf referenced his previous public remarks concerning the vital maritime lane. 

...In the meantime, the United States commits to lifting the naval blockade and removing any other interference or restrictions it has imposed on Iran, as well as distancing its forces from the region. Iran agreed to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, free of charge, for only 60 days, from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and in the opposite direction. (Read More)