Rubio: Iran's demands outrageous, nuclear deal not close

 Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a deal with Iran remains out of reach, calling Tehran's demands unrealistic.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that negotiations over a potential nuclear agreement with Iran had produced little progress, dismissing suggestions that Washington and Tehran were approaching a diplomatic breakthrough.

Speaking to reporters before departing for Paris to attend a G7 meeting, Rubio said several countries continued to present proposals to Iran, but there was no indication that an agreement was imminent.

"I don't have any wonder of progress to report to you. I think you see some of these things that are out there. You have a number of countries that continue to engage them with different ideas, but I wouldn't say we're at the verge of a breakthrough," Rubio said.

He stressed that President Donald Trump remained open to diplomacy despite the lack of meaningful results.

"The President would always prefer to solve every problem diplomatically. Sometimes that's not possible.But if there's a chance to do it, we will explore it."

Rubio sharply criticized Tehran's negotiating position, arguing that its demands had prevented the discussions from producing meaningful results.

"Right now it hasn't been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic."

The Secretary of State also defended Trump's military actions against Iran, saying the President had confronted a longstanding security threat that previous administrations had failed to address. (Read More)

Is the U.S. Preparing the Ground for a Wider Iran Campaign?

U.S. strikes on Iranian air defenses near the Strait of Hormuz have resumed after the midterms. Some analysts see a shaping operation; Trump says talks are progressing.

President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces carried out "minor" strikes on Friday night that destroyed an Iranian air-defense system on Qeshm Island, saying it was taken out "in about 15 minutes, maybe five." Iranian state media reported that two missiles hit the Suza area of the island.

The strikes followed what the U.S. described as defensive strikes on Monday, when explosions were reported on Qeshm, Hengam Island and near Bandar Abbas. Iranian media reported further explosions on Qeshm overnight Saturday. The renewed activity comes after a lull in U.S. strikes in the run-up to the midterms.

The case for a "shaping operation" (Read More)

Is this the beginning of the total collapse of the Islamic regime of Iran?

Journalist Nikita Kapoor shares disturbing news about the potential collapse of Iran's Islamic regime in her video, "Millions In Iran Starve! No Food, No Water, No Money! Will Iran Face A Hunger Revolution? | Decoded": 

"Let's start with the explosive development that has shocked the entire world. On Sunday, a senior Iranian lawmaker himself has admitted the entire truth. Ali Babai Karamani, head of parliament's social affairs committee told Didban Iran something that the Iranian government tried to hide for months throughout this war. He said up to 50 million Iranians are struggling to obtain enough food and 8 million face absolute poverty and malnutrition."

 ...This is the scary part viewers. If 50 million people cannot get food today, what will happen tomorrow? What will happen next month? History tells us hunger leads to anger. Anger leads to protest. Protest leads to revolution. Already people are cutting back on housing, on education. How long before they take to the streets in Iran again? Already pensioners cannot survive. How long before the entire system breaks? Experts are warning if this continues, Iran could face total collapse, not just economic collapse, but also social collapse. What do you think about it? Can Iran survive this hunger crisis? Will the government fix its subsidy disaster or is this the beginning of the total collapse of the Islamic regime of Iran?" (Read More)

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Senior Researcher Brad Myers Comments:

Can you see that things in Iran are rapidly heading toward a situation where tens of millions of angry Iranians take to the streets, potentially leading to a bloody revolution and ground war against the Islamic regime? 

Is it still so hard to believe that, one day, the Lord might enable the enemies mentioned in Jeremiah 49:37 to overthrow the Iranian government and military, which have threatened to destroy Israel with long-range ballistic missiles? 

Up to 50 million Iranians struggle to afford food, lawmaker says

Up to 50 million Iranians are struggling to obtain enough food, while eight million face absolute poverty and malnutrition following the mishandling of a subsidy reform, a senior lawmaker said Sunday.

Ali Babai Karamani, head of parliament's Social Affairs Committee, told Didban Iran that the removal of the preferential exchange rate of 285,000 rials per dollar was intended to preserve access to subsidized essential goods.

Babai Karamani said poor implementation had left large sections of the population unable to obtain enough food to meet their daily calorie needs.

Iran's Guards warn tankers as Houthis target Riyadh

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned ships against cooperating with US forces after reporting three tankers on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, while Houthis targeted Saudi Arabia and Israel warned of unfinished operations against Iran on Sunday.

The Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers caught fire after taking what they described as an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guards linked the fires to vessels disabling their navigation and identification systems and cooperating with US forces, warning that ships defying transit rules and accompanying the US military would face similar consequences.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations center separately reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while sailing outbound through the strait on Saturday. All crew members were safe, and no environmental damage was reported.

UKMTO also received a report of another tanker catching fire near Oman's Musandam Peninsula, prompting the evacuation of its crew. Authorities were investigating both reports.

Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted two ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh by Yemen's Houthis, followed by two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia, according to coalition statements. (Read More)

AI ‘godfather’ Geoffrey Hinton: it might turn out we were better off without AI

One of the “godfathers of AI”, Geoffrey Hinton, has said it could turn out that humans would have been better off never developing the technology as he warned it could trigger a large-scale incident this year or next, such as a temporary blackout of financial or power systems.

The Nobel prize-winning computer scientist told the Guardian he is not a “doomer” about the technology that is underpinned by his groundbreaking research into artificial neural networks and believes AI has the potential to lead to a “wonderful future” but he said “it might be that we would have been better off never developing it”.

Hinton, 78, said that within a decade and possibly sooner, humanity will know whether it can manage the technology’s risks and enable what he called “radical abundance” or whether “we fail to manage the risks and … have a huge gap between rich and poor, huge cultural problems, massive unemployment, just society being torn apart”.

Hinton was speaking before a screening of a new feature-length documentary, AI: Probably Nothing to Worry About – a title suggested by an AI chatbot – featuring him and his former Google colleague Demis Hassabis. Hinton tells the documentary makers: “I feel I have a duty. I’ve got a reputation that makes me a spokesperson and I need to burn it all on this.”

Speaking to the Guardian, Hinton took aim at the risk-taking by the leaders of some of the major AI companies who continue to release ever more powerful AI models as they race for supremacy and market-share, saying he didn’t trust Sam Altman, the chief executive of the ChatGPT maker, OpenAI, “at all”. “I think [Mark] Zuckerberg and [Elon] Musk and Sam Altman, they understand the risks, and they don’t give a shit. They’d rather have the money. That’s my belief.” (Read More)

Trump says resumption of strikes on Iran ‘quite unlikely’, cites ‘positive momentum’ towards ending war

The US president says he had “an excellent conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar, wherein much was discussed with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“Most importantly, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others, would prefer the status quo, in other words, a continuation of the Greatest Naval Blockade in History, and the new Operation Iron Gate — Therefore, Land and Sea,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“All have agreed that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon — That is non-negotiable! Should there be any change with respect to developments in the Middle East, the United States of America is ‘locked and loaded’ and ready to go,” he added.

“At this point, however, that seems to be quite unlikely. Israel, and the entire Middle East, are protected from Iranian danger and threats. We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict, and will ensure that America’s interests are at all times protected. At the conclusion of this Military Engagement, the American People, and the World, will be far safer and more secure.”

US Democrats will ‘end the war in Iran one way or the other’, says Jeffries

US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has told reporters that the Democratic Party will “end the war in Iran one way or the other”, when asked whether he was open to a government shutdown to end the conflict.

Jeffries is poised to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives in January. In the coming weeks, Democrats will vote to choose the party leader for the chamber. (Read More)

LONGER REACH: Iran Says It Has Scrapped Its Missile-Range Limit

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced Saturday that restrictions on the range of the country’s missiles have been lifted, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reports, raising the prospect of Tehran pursuing weapons capable of reaching targets beyond its previously declared 2,000-kilometer limit.

Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi made the announcement at a news conference in Tehran. Asked whether a directive to respond to threats without geographic restrictions meant the missile-range restriction had been removed, he replied, “This restriction has been lifted for us.”

Mohebbi did not identify a missile capable of exceeding the previous limit or present evidence of a newly operational weapon. Instead, he emphasized that Iran needed to demonstrate its capabilities in practice rather than announce them in advance. “Our duty is to show our capabilities on the battlefield,” he said.

The announcement followed instructions from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei directing the armed forces to respond immediately and effectively to threats without geographic limitations. Tasnim said Khamenei also ordered an overhaul of Iran’s military target database to cover American and Israeli assets.

Mohebbi described Iran’s approach as asymmetric warfare and claimed it could strike adversaries at locations they would not anticipate. His remarks outlined an expanded targeting policy, but left unanswered how quickly Iran could translate that policy into an actual increase in missile range.

The previous 2,000-kilometer range already put Israel and much of the Middle East within reach. The Associated Press reported that Iran is not known to possess missiles exceeding that limit.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DM Katz: Iran renewing pursuit of nuclear weapons, Israel's mission ‘not yet complete’

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Iran is attempting to revive its pursuit of nuclear weapons, saying Israel must remain prepared to act against threats to its security.

“Regarding Iran, the mission is not yet complete,” Katz said at a memorial ceremony for soldiers who fell in Operation Kadesh.

He accused Tehran of renewing efforts to acquire nuclear weapons while engaging in other activities that endanger Israel. “We cannot accept these threats,” he said.

Katz said Israel would pursue a proactive, offensive policy against its enemies and must be ready for any scenario. Protecting the country’s citizens, he added, requires taking whatever action is necessary.

Alongside his warning, the defense minister urged Israelis to put national security above internal divisions, arguing that the challenges ahead demand support for the military and a shared sense of responsibility.

“It is acceptable to debate and to disagree; however, when the nation’s security is at stake, we must be able to rise above our differences,” he said.

Katz stressed that soldiers and commanders need to know the public stands behind them, while Israel’s enemies must understand that domestic disagreements do not weaken its resolve against external threats. (Read More)

Are hackers targeting America’s food supply?

A series of cyberattacks on grocery stores out of Europe have raised concerns about cyber threats stateside as the U.S. government warns businesses of potential attacks targeting industrial refrigeration and cold-chain monitoring systems.

What have US officials said?

Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI Cyber Division, spoke in an advisory warning Thursday, urging organizations to take mitigation steps against potential malicious cyber actors immediately.

“These systems protect food and medicine across health care, food and agriculture, and other critical sectors here in the United States as well. Attackers are getting in through controllers that are unpatched, reachable from the internet, or still using the default passwords listed in the manufacturer’s manual,” said Leatherman.

In a joint warning from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), experts urged organizations to eliminate public internet exposure, isolate operational technology and enforce credential security to mitigate potential attacks.

A grave warning from ex-FBI

Former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker spoke with Fox News to warn Americans further, interpreting the cyberattacks as a form of “asymmetrical warfare,” where opponents use unconventional tactics to expose the vulnerabilities of a stronger opponent. (Read More)

US declares land blockade on Iran

CENTCOM establishes Iron Gate task force to intercept weapons and technology at Iran's land borders and Caspian Sea, after Tehran turned to alternative routes to evade naval blockade.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, has ordered the creation of a task force to disrupt the transfer of advanced weapons systems through Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. The move expands American pressure on Iran beyond the naval blockade on its ports.

The new force, called Iron Gate, will consist of approximately 20 military personnel 

and civilian employees. It will operate from CENTCOM headquarters at MacDill Air 

Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The team will coordinate with other US government 

agencies to intercept transfers of advanced weapons systems, dual-use technology, 

and sanctioned materials. The force will also work to disrupt the transfer of funds 

originating from illegal activity. (Read More)

IDF uncovers weapons caches next to humanitarian aid boxes, near UN posts in southern Lebanon

 
During operations by the 'Oded' (9th) Brigade Combat Team in the area of Meiss El Jabal, Israeli forces found Kalashnikov rifles, RPG launchers and rockets, and more.

IDF troops in southern Lebanon recently uncovered two stockpiles of military equipment and weapons in a civilian home located approximately 200 meters from a United Nations post and in a storage facility located approximately 100 meters from a UN post, the military announced on Sunday. 

During operations by the 'Oded' (9th) Brigade Combat Team in the area of Meiss El Jabal, Israeli forces found Kalashnikov rifles, RPG launchers and rockets, a PK machine gun, fragmentation grenades, an explosive device, ammunition, and communications and surveillance equipment. 

These were found alongside humanitarian aid boxes and emblems of the Amal and Hezbollah terrorist organizations.(Read More)

Report warns of growing threat of deadly attacks on synagogues worldwide

 
Attackers increasingly use lethal weapons and target congregants on way to services, Diaspora Affairs Ministry says ahead of the anniversary of Kristallnacht. 

Threats to synagogues and Jewish worshipers are rising around the world, with attackers increasingly using firearms, incendiary devices and vehicle-ramming tactics, a new report has warned. 

Attacks increasingly extend beyond synagogue buildings to target congregants traveling to and from prayer services, according to the document released Thursday by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry ahead of the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9.  

It examined attacks and threats against Jewish institutions and worshipers between October 2023 and September 2026. (Read More)

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Senior Researcher Brad Myers Comments:

According to a document released Thursday by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, as reported by The Times of Israel, there is a growing threat of deadly attacks on synagogues and Jewish worshipers worldwide.

On May 5, 2024, DW published an article titled "Antisemitism rising dramatically across the world — report," highlighting a disturbing global surge in antisemitic incidents:

"A global trend of increasing antisemitism has skyrocketed since Hamas' deadly October 7 attack, a new report has said. The Tel Aviv University report says many Jews across the world may soon be unable to live in safety.  Antisemitic incidents are rising across the world at a rate unseen since World War II, with the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza spreading 'a fire that was already out of control,' an annual report released on Sunday said."

Don't you see the unprecedented hate being directed daily at Jews living in countries around the world, especially since October 2023? Could this possibly lead in the future to a genocidal campaign of the Jewish people as foretold in Zechariah 13:8–9, which would be considerably worse than the Holocaust that killed approximately six million Jews living in Europe?

Looking at the current trends toward increasing hatred for Jews worldwide, can you see how it might not be so hard for the Antichrist, with his totalitarian global government, to gain public support from citizens around the world in the last three and a half years of the Tribulation Period to destroy synagogues, hunt down Jews, and hand them over to the governing authorities?

Dr. Bill Salus talks about this mass genocide of the Jewish people on page 73 of his book The Final Prophecies:

"In Satan’s final phase 4, he will attempt to kill all the Jews. Zechariah 13:8 says that two-thirds of the Jews will be killed, but Zechariah 13:9 speaks of a surviving segment of one-third of the Jews. These Jews are called the Faithful Jewish Remnant. They are the ones that adhere to Christ’s warnings to flee from Israel in Matthew 24:15-20."

"This remnant of Israel represents the woman that fled into the wilderness of Rev. 12:6. This topic was explained in more detail within the prior chapter entitled, “The War in Heaven.” That chapter pointed out that Satan’s plan to commit the genocide of the Jews, through the Antichrist, was centered around preventing the Second Coming of Jesus Christ."

 

US Forces Ready for Iran Combat on Trump Order

Thousands of American air and naval personnel at sea, at Middle East bases and in the United States are prepared to strike Iran if the president gives the order.

Thousands of American air and naval personnel are ready to launch major combat operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders them to, Pentagon officials and military commanders told The New York Times on Wednesday.

The forces are stationed aboard more than a dozen ships and at bases across the Middle East and in the United States, according to the report. The U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up specific plans, with potential targets including Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenals.

The report comes as Trump weighs his next steps following Tuesday’s midterm defeat, which senior Republicans have blamed largely on the war with Iran. Trump said on Tuesday that the United States has no immediate plan to strike Iran, as Qatar continues mediation efforts between the two sides. (Read More)

Israeli experts predict Trump likely to attack Iran before Dems take control of Congress in January

 

“His heritage will be defined by whether he wins decisively against Iran or not,” Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, told JNS.

The sweeping defeat of many Republican candidates in the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, including in states and seats that had been GOP strongholds for decades, could accelerate U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to renew strikes against Iran before Democrats take control of Congress in January, Israeli security and foreign-policy experts told JNS.

As election results came out, Trump stated that “I wasn’t on the ballot and if I was, we would have won in a landslide.” He also said that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who lost a governor’s mansion typically considered very safe for Republicans, had been a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, “in the last six months of his political life.” Trump’s endorsed candidate for Senate, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, is thought to have underperformed to such an extent—losing by 12 points—that it cost Abbott the race.

On Wednesday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that a pollster, who is “one of the smartest people I know in politics,” told him that voters who abandoned the Republicans would return if the GOP focused on four main things: “end the war, focus on cost of living/inflation, put America first and change our relationship to Israel.”

Trump told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday night that “Iran was a piece of it,” but that he doesn’t regret going to war against the Islamic Republic. “I did the right thing,” he told the paper. “I would have done it again.”

Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, told JNS that the midterm election results “might accelerate Trump’s decision to act against Iran now and try to finish the job until January, before the new Congress will be in place.”

The results could have significant implications for Israeli national security, particularly given the congressional role in providing military assistance to the Jewish state throughout the war, according to Avivi.

“For Israel, the relationship with Congress and the Senate is very, very important, and they have taken very meaningful decisions during the war to assist Israel,” he told JNS. “We’ll have to see how this will look in this new reality.”

Avivi said that a decisive victory against Iran could also improve Republicans’ prospects in the 2028 presidential election, particularly if Trump succeeds in “bringing down the Iranian regime and dismantling the Shia axis.”

“It would be wise to continue until there is a clear victory, because if President Trump stops now and loses the war, that would be even worse,” Avivi told JNS. “I think he’s thinking about his heritage, and his heritage will be defined by whether he wins decisively against Iran or not.” (Read More)