Trump said frustrated with limits of military leverage against Iran

US president reportedly to base strike decision on Witkoff, Kushner’s assessments of Tehran’s intentions after Thursday talks; Iran says protesting students must respect ‘red lines’

US President Donald Trump is becoming frustrated with “the limits of military leverage” against Iran, CBS News reported Tuesday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, advisers have told the US president that it was unlikely that limited strikes on Iran would be decisive, and that there was a risk of escalation into a wider conflict. Trump is considering launching a limited strike on Iran in the immediate future to pressure Tehran to agree to his nuclear demands, multiple reports have said in recent days.

If the Islamic Republic continued to hold out, that strike could be followed by a far larger campaign potentially targeting regime change, the reports said. But US options may be limited. An Israeli intelligence official told the UK’s Financial Times in an article published on Tuesday that Israel believes that — despite the US assembling a massive military force in the region, including two aircraft carriers — it only has the capacity to sustain four or five days of intense aerial assault on Iran. The official said the force could maintain a week of lower-intensity strikes. 

Israel is said to be fearful that limited US strikes on Iran could only embolden the regime. Iran has warned that even a limited US strike would draw a strong military response. Trump will base his decision on whether to strike Iran based on the assessments of his two chief negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, of Tehran’s intentions, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

The report, which cited people familiar with the matter, said that Witkoff and Kushner will brief the US leader on their impressions regarding whether Iran is serious about reaching a nuclear deal or just stalling for time. The two have reportedly been pressing the US president to give negotiations more time and are set to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Thursday. (Read More)

Target: The Airport? Lebanon’s Fears of a Massive Israeli Strike on Civil Infrastructure

Lebanese officials are sounding the alarm that Israel is prepared to destroy the country’s civilian infrastructure, including the Beirut airport, if Hezbollah intervenes in a looming U.S.-Iran war.

The threat of a regional war has placed the nation of Lebanon in a state of absolute terror. Following the U.S. State Department’s order to evacuate all non-essential personnel and their families from the American Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese government is bracing for a catastrophic military escalation. Foreign Minister Youssef Regi expressed these fears during a meeting in Geneva, stating that there are "extreme indications" that Israel plans to strike Lebanese civilian infrastructure with unprecedented force. The panic in Beirut is driven by a series of indirect warnings from Jerusalem, which clarify that the Lebanese state will be held fully responsible for any actions taken by the Hezbollah terrorists. If the "Resistance Axis" is activated to defend Iran, Lebanon may find itself at the center of a war that targets its power plants, bridges, and its only international airport.

Israel has reportedly transmitted a "harsh and indirect" message to the Lebanese government, outlining the consequences of a Hezbollah intervention. According to these reports, Israel will not distinguish between the terrorist group and the Lebanese state in a future war. If Hezbollah launches even a single rocket in support of Tehran, the IDF is prepared to strike "civilian facilities" with "full power." The message is clear: the Lebanese people will pay a heavy price for the actions of a proxy army that answers only to Ali Khamenei. This "all-out war" doctrine is a response to Hezbollah’s massive rocket arsenal, which remains a primary threat to northern and central Israel.

The fear of an airport strike has already caused ripples through the region’s aviation and tourism sectors. Foreign Minister Regi has urged the international community to intervene diplomatically, demanding that Lebanese infrastructure be kept out of the war. "We aspire to act diplomatically and demand that infrastructure not be attacked," he stated, while admitting that the situation is "very tense." The evacuation of American diplomats is seen as the clearest sign yet that Washington expects the "red zones" to expand into Lebanon within days. As the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier moves into position off the coast of Crete, the Lebanese government is left in a desperate position, unable to control Hezbollah but fully aware that their country’s future could be erased in a single night of Israeli air strikes. (Source)

PSALM 83

This book reveals a vastly overlooked ancient prophecy written over 3000 years ago. It predicts a concluding confederate invasion of Israel by the Arab countries that presently share common borders with the Jewish state. This coalition of countries is depicted on the red arrows upon the book cover image. The terrorist organizations within those territories, like ISIS, Hezbollah and Hamas, will probably also be involved in this final battle. Their confederate mandate is clear:. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." (Psalm 83:4). And don't forget Ammon, Moab and the third part, the tents of Edom.   (CLICK HERE)

US condemns Hamas after video shows terrorists intimidating, extorting Gazans

According to activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the clip shows Hamas operatives shutting down small vendors who refused to pay taxes and threatening violence, disappearance, and torture.

The US State Department condemned Hamas for destroying the tents of Gazans who refused to pay taxes in a Sunday post on X/Twitter in response to an undated video circulating online appearing to show Hamas's "Sahm" (Arrow) Unit terrorizing and extorting civilians. The video, posted on Palestinian anti-Hamas activist Hamza al-Masri’s Telegram channel, appears to show masked men belonging to Hamas tearing down a tent in Khan Younis while bystanders loudly protest the action.

According to Palestinian American activist Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the clip shows Hamas operatives shutting down small vendors who refused to pay taxes and threatening violence, disappearance, and torture, including "metal rods in legs and knees," against those who disobey. Throughout 2025, Hamas faced internal opposition from Gazans who rejected the group’s rule and its refusal to end the war. Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding peace. After a severe crackdown that included beatings, killings, and executions, the group appeared to reassert control. The video may reflect this ongoing effort to intimidate and control the population.

The Sahm Unit, part of Hamas’s police force, targets Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel and describes itself as responsible for “pursu[ing] and execut[ing] thieves, merchants, agents, and highwaymen.”In May 2025, following the protests, the unit announced plans to publicly execute and dismember three alleged Gazan collaborators. Previously, it has been reported to have released gruesome videos of public lynchings. (Read More)

Jordan’s erasure of Israel ‘runs counter’ to peace treaty spirit

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Amman’s vote to remove the word “Israel” from its parliamentary records.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that it “categorically condemns” Jordan’s decision from the previous day to erase all mentions of Israel from its official parliamentary records. “This decision runs counter to the spirit of the peace treaty which has been maintained for over thirty years. It must be denounced by all who strive to build a region of tolerance and understanding,” the ministry wrote on X.
The Jordanian parliament unanimously voted on Monday in favor of removing the word “Israel” from its records, in a proposal submitted by lawmaker Hayel Ayash, Hebrew media reported.

Speaking in the plenum, the parliamentarian said that the name “Israel” elicits the idea of “enemy” for every Jordanian. Lawmaker Abdul Nasser Khasawneh suggested formally substituting the term “Israel” with “usurping entity.” The Jordanian move came in the wake of recent remarks made by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee that reportedly sparked anger in some quarters in the Arab world.
The U.S. diplomat, during a Feb. 20 interview with controversial podcaster Tucker Carlson, declared that Judea and Samaria’s Area C, which constitutes 60% of the territories, “is Israel.”

“Area C is Israel. And Israelis can live in Israel. That’s what it is,” he said. He moreover stated that “It would be fine if they [Israel] took it all,” referring to the entirety of the biblically promised land, which today includes several Islamic states. However, he immediately qualified his remarks, saying, “But I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about here today … They don’t want to take it over, they’re not asking to take it over.” The U.S. Embassy in Israel later said the comments were taken out of context.

Politico reported on Monday that top State Department officials were in touch with Arab countries that expressed anger over the remarks, saying these are Huckabee’s personal views and do not reflect a shift in policy. (Ed note: As Ammon and Moab raise their heads, why would one think that there could not be the prophecy of Psalm 83 coming into focus? That Treaty is "as thin as the paper it is printed upon.")  (Source)

US Scrambles to Calm Arab Allies After Huckabee’s Biblical Expansion Comments

The U.S. State Department is in "damage control" mode after Ambassador Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson it would be "fine" if Israel took over massive swaths of the Middle East based on biblical prophecy.

The State Department has launched an urgent diplomatic "damage control" campaign following controversial remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. In an interview with Tucker Carlson that aired on Friday, February 20, Huckabee suggested he would be "fine" with Israel occupying vast territories across the Middle East based on biblical promises. According to a Politico report published yesterday, and confirmed by sources today, senior American officials have spent the last 48 hours calling counterparts in Arab capitals to clarify that Huckabee’s statements do not signal a shift in U.S. foreign policy.

The diplomatic firestorm was ignited during a discussion on Carlson’s show regarding the "Covenant of Abraham." Carlson noted that the biblical description of Israel’s borders - stretching from the "Wadi of Egypt to the Great River Euphrates" - would include modern-day Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and large parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. When asked if Israel has a right to that land, Huckabee replied: “It would be fine if they took it all.” Huckabee later qualified his statement, noting that Israel "is not asking to go back and take all of that" and is currently focused on protecting the land it legitimately holds. He described his initial remark as "somewhat of a hyperbolic statement."

The remarks triggered a rare joint condemnation from over **14 nations**, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar. 

* Saudi Arabia: The Foreign Ministry condemned the "extremist rhetoric" as a dangerous precedent and called on the State Department to formally clarify its stance.

* Egypt: Officials labeled the comments a "blatant violation of international law," stressing that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Arab lands.

* The Arab League: Described the statements as "absurd and provocative," warning that such language only serves to "inflame religious and national emotions" at a time of extreme regional instability.

To prevent a breakdown in cooperation with regional allies, many of whom are critical to current negotiations regarding Iran, the State Department has been working to distance the Trump administration from the Ambassador's words. Reassurances have been sent to allies stating that Huckabee was speaking as an individual rather than conveying a new White House directive. Critics also pointed out that Huckabee’s expansionist rhetoric directly contradicts President Trump’s "20-Point Framework" for Middle East peace, which rejects the annexation of Judea and Samaria. (Source)

Iran expected to submit draft agreement to US ahead of Geneva talks

Iran is expected to submit a draft agreement to the United States by Tuesday, two sources familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. US officials expect Tehran to present a comprehensive proposal rather than a document outlining general principles. The draft is intended to serve as the basis for discussions at a meeting scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. The talks are expected to include Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Oman’s foreign minister is also expected to attend, along with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

Israeli officials, along with some of their American counterparts, assess that the chances of a US-Iran agreement are low and that the likelihood of a US strike is high, several officials told the Post. US President Donald Trump and senior administration officials are expected to review the draft once it is received. Their assessment could determine whether the planned face-to-face meeting in Geneva proceeds or whether Washington concludes that diplomatic efforts have been exhausted. 

“It’s hard to see Trump sending his people to meet the Iranians if the gaps remain large after the Iranian proposal,” a US source told the Post. According to media reports in Oman, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to arrive in Muscat and transfer the draft agreement to US officials through Omani intermediaries. Against that backdrop, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting on Monday evening with Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Mossad Director David Barnea. Earlier in the day, Netanyahu told the Knesset: “We are in very complex and challenging days. No one knows what tomorrow will bring.”  (Ed note: FM Araghchi has been running circles around Steve and Jared. One would think that Trump has to know.)   (Source)

Witkoff and Kushner Are Pushing Trump To Hold Off on Iran Attack

As the U.S. military prepares for potential strikes, President Trump is reportedly leaning on the counsel of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Favoring a "business-oriented" diplomatic off-ramp, the duo is urging patience ahead of this Thursday’s high-stakes Geneva talks, even as hawkish voices in Washington push for immediate military action. President Trump's decision on whether to authorize military strikes against Iranis resting heavily on the counsel of two men: Steve Witkoff, his special Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Both men have privately encouraged the president to allow more time for diplomacy before ordering military action, making them the leading voices of restraint inside an administration that is otherwise growing increasingly hawkish on Tehran's nuclear program. The dynamic has come into sharp relief ahead of Thursday's talks in Geneva, where Witkoff is expected to gauge whether Iran is prepared to negotiate seriously over its nuclear program. Trump has indicated he will weigh their assessment before making any final decision on military options, according to people briefed on the discussions.
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"Witkoff and Kushner have both encouraged the president to allow time to see whether a deal is possible," one person familiar with the deliberations said. The two men represent what associates describe as the administration's pragmatic, business-oriented wing, advisers who see a potential nuclear agreement not only as a security achievement but as an economic opening. That instinct has put them at odds with a vocal hawkish contingent in Washington. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) has openly complained that unnamed advisers around Trump are counseling against military action. Neither Witkoff nor Kushner is urging Trump to abandon the military threat entirely (Ed note: And soon we will see who is correct, the 'Hawks' or the 'real estate developers.')   (Read More)

Iran May Already Have Operational Chemical & Biological Warheads on Its Ballistic Missiles

Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi warns that Iran has likely deployed operational chemical and biological warheads on its advanced ballistic missile fleet. With the Trump administration reportedly eyeing regime change and U.S. forces surging into the region, this high-level Israeli assessment marks a major escalation in the intelligence case for a preemptive strike. Iran is believed to have already produced operational chemical and biological warheads for its ballistic missiles, a top Israeli defense figure warned today in an exclusive interview.

Brigadier General (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a senior adviser to the Israeli government, told Bernie News Network (BNN): “The threat is not theoretical… There is a good chance they already have it and this is something that we believe may be operational.”
Avivi revealed that Iran has dramatically expanded its ballistic missile production since the 12-Day War in June 2025. The new missiles are more advanced than those fired at Israel last year and include precision, conventional, and potentially chemical and biological variants.

He described the chemical and biological ballistic missiles as “very, very dangerous and need to be dealt with.”In a public briefing on Monday that preceded today’s interview, Avivi stated explicitly that Iran is “continuing preparations for war and the production of ballistic missiles, including chemical and biological ballistic missiles.” (Ed note: This is very bad. If Iran does have chemical and biological warheads for its ballistic missiles so will their proxies. As a nation, the Jews were gassed once, they will never allow themselves to be gassed again.) (Read More)

Iran close to buying the supersonic Chinese missiles that could pose threat to US Navy

Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti‑ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic.

The deal for the Chinese‑made CM‑302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometers and are designed to evade shipborne defenses by flying low and fast. Their deployment would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities and pose a threat to US naval forces in the region, two weapons experts said.

Negotiations with China to buy the missile weapons systems, which began at least two years ago, accelerated sharply after the 12‑day war between Israel and Iran in June, according to the six people with knowledge of the talks, including three officials who were briefed by the Iranian government as well as three security officials. As talks entered their final stages last summer, senior Iranian military and government officials traveled to China, including Massoud Oraei, Iran’s deputy defense minister, according to two of the security officials. Oraei’s visit has not been previously reported. 

“It’s a complete game-changer if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and now senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies think tank. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept.” (Read More)

US refuelers, cargo planes spotted at Ben Gurion Airport as Iran tensions ramp up

American refueler and cargo planes were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday, amid a massive US buildup of military forces ahead of a potential attack on Iran. There was no comment from Israeli authorities regarding the American military deployment at Israel’s main civilian airport. The Boeing KC-135 refuelers and C-17 Globemaster cargo planes had arrived at Ben Gurion over the course of the preceding day. It was unclear whether they were in the country temporarily as part of a stopover.

At least two refuelers had arrived from Al Udeid base in Qatar — the biggest US base in the Middle East — according to analysts monitoring open-source flight tracking information. Around the same time, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, was seen arriving at Crete’s Souda Bay, likely as part of a supply stop at the US Naval Support Activity base located there.

US President Donald Trump ordered the carrier strike group to the Middle East earlier this month, to join another carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, that is already deployed to the region. The US is holding talks with Iran over its nuclear program, but has threatened to attack if they do not bear fruit. Trump also vowed to help anti-government protesters in Iran, before the regime killed them en masse last month. According to the Military Air Tracking Alliance, a team of about 30 open-source analysts that routinely analyzes military and government flight activity, more than 85 fuel tankers and over 170 cargo planes have headed into the region since mid-February. (Read More)

Witkoff: Trump deal will usher in ‘renaissance’ for Gaza

"We are going to have housing, and mass transportation, and we're going to be able to clear and demolish all the areas there," said Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for the Gaza Strip will get the war-town coastal enclave “ready for a renaissance,” Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News‘ “My View with Lara Trump” last week. “Who would ever have thought that we’d get to this place a year ago,” Witkoff told the president’s daughter-in-law, in an interview on the sidelines of Thursday’s Board of Peace meeting that aired Saturday.The $17 billion raised by Board of Peace members for the reconstruction of Gaza “is going to jumpstart us,” he told Trump, adding: “We are going to have housing, and mass transportation, and we’re going to be able to clear and demolish all the areas there and get it ready for a renaissance.

“Today it’s 17 [billion dollars], tomorrow it could be 34,” according to the U.S. envoy. As Donald Trump’s Board of Peace gathered in Washington on Thursday to chart a post-war future for the Strip, Hamas terrorists continued to systematically violate the ceasefire, and Israeli forces engaged in a relentless effort to dismantle entrenched terror infrastructure.

The president told the Board of Peace’s inaugural meeting he believes Hamas will lay down its weapons under his Gaza plan, warning the terrorist group will be “very harshly met” if they refuse to disarm. “The war in Gaza is over,” the president stated. “Hamas has been, I think, they’re going to give up their weapons, which is what they promised. If they don’t, it’ll be, you know, they’ll be harshly met, very harshly met.” Several top Hamas leaders, including Khaled Mashaal and Musa Abu Marzouk, have rejected key parts of the peace plan in recent weeks, including disarmament, despite having agreed to it in October. (Read More)

US says ambassador’s comments on Israel and the Middle East were taken out of context

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An uproar continued Sunday after the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East, as more Arab and Muslim countries objected and the U.S. said his comments were taken out of context. Huckabee spoke in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include much of the Middle East, including parts of modern-day Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. He quoted from Genesis Chapter 15 and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.

Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.” A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said Sunday that Huckabee’s comments were taken out of context and that there is no change to U.S. policies on Israel. In the interview, Huckabee added: “They’re not asking to go back and take all of that, but they are asking to at least take the land that they now occupy, they now live in, they now own legitimately, and it is a safe haven for them.” He added that Israel isn’t trying to take over Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, or Iraq but is trying to protect its own people.

A joint statement Sunday by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian Authority and several Arab governing bodies called Huckabee’s remarks “dangerous and inflammatory” and ones that endanger the region’s stability. (Read More)

Israel removed from Jordanian parliament minutes, proposing MP calls Israel 'enemy of Jordanians'

The Jordanian Parliament voted unanimously to remove mentions of "Israel" from the minutes of a debate on Monday, Jordanian and Israeli media reported. The parliament debate covered US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee's statements regarding the Israeli Security Cabinet's proposed West Bank administration reforms. The call to remove mentions of Israel was submitted by MP Hail Ayash, who said that the name of the Jewish state "represents an enemy to every Jordanian."

Jordanian Parliament Speaker Mazen al-Qadi said Huckabee's comments, which allegedly justified Israel’s control over "Arab lands," violated international law and the United Nations charter. "These statements are a blatant provocation and a serious breach of state sovereignty," Qadi said. The West Bank and Gaza Strip are Palestinian territories, Qadi stated, emphasizing that any claims rooted in [Jewish] religious narratives are "unacceptable and undermine prospects for a just, two-state solution," according to anti-Zionist outlet Roya News. Roi Kais, the Arab affairs correspondent for Israel's public broadcaster KAN News, reacted to the incident. This decision came "despite Jordan having signed a peace treaty with Israel 31 years ago," Kais wrote on X/Twitter. 

"The proposal received the support of the head of the 'Islamic Action Front' parliamentary bloc, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan's parliament, Saleh al-Armouti, who described the decision as 'bestowing an honor upon the parliament,'" Kais added. Armouti also stated that the decision "reflects a general parliamentary consensus around national issues," Kais cited. (Ed note: Bill Salus and Hal Lindsey have well said that, "the treaties with both Egypt and Jordan are as thin as the paper they are printed upon.") (Read More)

"We Will Use What We Never Have": Israel’s Nuclear Warning to the Iranian Regime

An Israeli security official has sparked international alarm by suggesting the use of non-conventional weapons if the state faces an existential threat, just as US envoys confirm Iran is only seven

days away from having enough material for a nuclear bomb. 

The rhetoric surrounding the Iranian nuclear crisis has reached a dangerous new peak, with high-ranking officials in both the United States and Israel signaling that the time for conventional diplomacy may be running out. During a candid interview on Sunday, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, revealed a staggering intelligence assessment: the Iranian regime has accelerated its uranium enrichment far beyond civilian needs. According to Witkoff, Tehran is currently "one week away" from possessing enough highly enriched material to produce a nuclear weapon. This revelation was followed by an even more provocative statement from Nissim Vaturi, a member of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who hinted that Israel is prepared to utilize its most secretive and powerful deterrents if the regime continues its march toward a bomb.

The assessment provided by Steve Witkoff underscores the failure of previous efforts to contain Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. "The Iranians have enriched uranium to a much higher level than a civilian level, over 60 percent," Witkoff stated, adding that they are likely just seven days from holding the material necessary for a weapon. This rapid progress has fundamentally changed the calculus for the Trump administration, which has prioritized "zero enrichment" as its primary goal. The presence of the "beautiful armada" in the region is no longer just a show of force, but a necessary shield against a regime that is on the verge of crossing the nuclear threshold.

Responding to this looming existential threat, Nissim Vaturi issued a stern warning that has been interpreted as a rare reference to Israel's rumored nuclear capabilities. "No one wants to try us, if we feel threatened to the point of an existential threat, Israel will use a weapon it has not used to this day," Vaturi declared. He further alluded to the Dimona nuclear facility by stating, "We have a textile factory," a common Israeli euphemism for its strategic deterrent. Vaturi’s comments suggest that if the Iranian regime believes it can hide behind a nuclear shield of its own, it is making a fatal miscalculation. As the Geneva talks loom, the message from Jerusalem is clear: Israel will not allow a second Holocaust, and every weapon in the arsenal, conventional or otherwise, is on the table to ensure the survival of the Jewish state. (Ed note: If Iran acquires enough enriched uranium, they will duck tape that bomb to an ICBM and send it immediately to Israel. Israel is well aware of that threat. And, listen up, Syria, this isn't just an idle threat from Israel.)  (Source)

Huckabee: Iran Still Trying to Enrich Uranium, Hasn’t ‘Scrapped’ Nuke Program, Has ‘Alarming’ Buildup of Ballistic Missiles

On Saturday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded to a question on if Iran is rebuilding its nuclear program by saying that they are “continuing to try to enrich uranium. They haven’t given up on it” and “they are building up, at an alarming rate, their ballistic missile capacity. That’s not a defensive posture.”

Huckabee said, “The talks continue. We hope that they could be successful. But successful means that Iran’s got to give up their nuclear aspirations, they have to stop enriching uranium. The president has been so clear…he’s told them what has to happen. It really is up to them, do they want to be a part of a civilized society or do they want to continue to do what they’ve done for 47 years, and that’s yell out, ‘Death to America’, put contracts out to assassinate President Trump, kill thousands of Americans, and work really hard to get a long-range ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead so that they could shoot it at America? That’s their choice.

Co-host Charles Hurt then asked, “So, do we have real evidence at the moment that they are, in fact, rebuilding their nuclear program?” Huckabee answered, “We know that they’re continuing to try to enrich uranium. They haven’t given up on it. Yes, so, we know that they have not scrapped their program and said, yeah, we don’t really need this after all. We also know that they are building up, at an alarming rate, their ballistic missile capacity. That’s not a defensive posture.” (Source)

Solution to Iran crisis is regime change, ousting Khamenei, Saudi royal family source tells N12

A Saudi royal family source told N12 that the solution for Iran is no longer a limited military strike but a fundamental regime change, starting with the ousting of Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The solution for Iran is no longer a limited military move, but a large, fundamental change, including the ousting of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Saudi royal family source told N12 News on Sunday. Khamenei and the regime "must be eliminated one by one," and "the only solution is to change the regime in Iran in one way or another," the source said.

"After the [anti-regime Iranian] protesters lost faith in [US President Donald] Trump, the solution is to eliminate the top leadership one by one, starting with Khamenei, so that there will be no leaders left, and then hold elections," they continued. Crown Prince Reza "Pahlavi is apparently not acceptable to the majority of the public inside Iran," the source said.

There is a feeling of missed opportunity on the streets of Iran, which has stemmed from not only the intense repression by the Islamic Regime, but also the lack of external support, according to the source.
"Trump missed the opportunity to eliminate the heads of the regime's security apparatus who suppressed the past protests, and by doing so, he lost the trust of the protesters," the source said. This was "the strategic mistake of the US and Israel - the lack of understanding of the social dimension inside Iran and the failure to build an alternative to the regime," the source added.  (Ed note: But didn't the Saudi Royal family just last week refuse the US the right to fly across their county to attack Iran?)   (Read More)

Saudi message may pave way for US strike on Iran

According to a diplomat from the region, Riyadh has conveyed a message that it is no longer blocking a US move against Tehran and is not ruling out the overthrow of the regime. The shift comes amid American pressure and a sense that Iran is dragging its feet in negotiations. However, Saudi Arabia is unlikely to join any military action for fear of an Iranian response.

Saudi Arabia has shifted its stance on the possibility of a US military strike against Iran and is no longer opposing such a move, according to a diplomat from the region. Riyadh is also not ruling out the overthrow of the regime in Tehran, the source said, though it is unlikely to join any military action for fear of Iranian retaliation. The message was recently conveyed to Washington after mounting American pressure and amid a growing perception that Tehran is stalling in negotiations. According to the diplomat, the Saudis made clear they would no longer block a US strike.

The position marks a departure from Riyadh's recent stance. Saudi Arabia had repeatedly stressed that it was not interested in regional escalation and had made clear it would not allow its territory to be used for an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had also held talks with Iran's leadership and sent conciliatory messages as part of an effort to prevent deterioration.

In addition, Riyadh has coordinated with other Gulf states to reduce tensions, including through security dialogue and regional contacts. The backdrop has been concern over a potential Iranian response targeting Saudi oil facilities and critical infrastructure, a scenario that has materialized in the past. Against that backdrop, the latest message to Washington reflects a shift in tone and approach, even if it does not signal willingness to take part directly in military action. (Source)

Iran could order proxies to attack American targets in retaliation if US strikes - NYT

Attacks could reportedly include the Houthis resuming its attacks on Western shipping boats in the Red Sea, or Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and other "affiliates" attacking US bases or embassies in Europe.

Iran may order its proxies to retaliate against American targets worldwide should US President Donald Trumporder "large-scale attacks" against the regime, the New York Times reported on Sunday evening, citing US and Western officials. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the officials told NYT that, while they haven't learned of any specific plots, "heightened 'chatter'" in intercepted terrorist communications "indicates some level of attack planning and coordination."

“Iran can work through proxies to conduct terrorist attacks that will raise costs for any US military campaign,” Executive Director of the Soufan Center in New York, Colin P. Clarke, shared with NYT, explaining that should Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the IRGC feel threatened by the US's attack, it may lead to them "order[ing] terror attacks abroad, including in Europe."

Such attacks could reportedly include the Houthis resuming their attacks on Western shipping boats in the Red Sea, or Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and other "affiliates" attacking US bases or embassies in Europe. According to the NYT , the Pentagon has in recent days rushed to order the preparation of additional Patriot batteries and other missile defenses to protect its troops stationed across the Middle East. (Read More)

Fresh campus protests in Iran continue for second day with shows of defiance

40-day memorial services for those killed in brutal crackdown last month become a rallying point for new demonstrations; regime stages pro-government counterprotests.

New anti-government protests continued for a second day in Iran, witnesses said Sunday, as university students in Tehran and another city demonstrated around memorials for thousands of people killed in a crackdown on previous nationwide demonstrations about six weeks ago. Iran’s state news agency said students protested at five universities in the capital, Tehran, and one in the city of Mashhad on Sunday. The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.

Iran’s government has not commented on the latest protests. However, Iranian media sought to highlight pro-regime demonstrations. Following campus rallies commemorating the protest dead on Saturday, the Fars news agency on Sunday published videos of fresh crowds of dozens of people waving Iranian flags and carrying memorial photographs at universities in the capital, Tehran.

One showed a rowdy gathering at Sharif University of Technology shouting, “Death to the shah” — a reference to the monarchy ousted by the 1979 Islamic Revolution — as they faced off with another group, with men in uniforms between them. Fars said there had been “tensions” at a minimum of three universities in Tehran, where some students chanted “anti-establishment” slogans. Iran International, a media outlet based outside the country and branded a “terrorist” organization by Tehran, shared a video on social media of students holding up the pre-revolution flag at Sharif University, as well as videos of rallies at other institutions of higher learning. (Read More)

'This isn’t a token strike,' analysts say as US prepares for a major confrontation with Iran

US military buildup in the Middle East signals a possible strike on Iran’s regime, with analysts suggesting it could lead to regime collapse within weeks.

“As I understand it, this is the biggest military buildup in the Middle East since 2003,” Col. Richard Kemp, a former British Army commander, told The Media Line. He paused on the comparison. The amount of force now in place, he said, is greater than what was visible during the12-day war in June 2025. “It’s very significant military power,” he added.

For weeks, the word “imminent” has circulated in Washington and across the region. But timelines remain unclear. It could unfold quickly. It could take longer. Kemp’s focus was less on rhetoric and more on the military posture taking shape around Iran. “I think it’s likely there will be a military strike, but I don’t think you’d say it’s inevitable,” he said. “I think it’s very likely.” The 2003 comparison is not just a line for emphasis. The footprint on the ground and at sea has grown noticeably in recent weeks.

There are now four American carrier strike groups either in the wider Middle East or moving toward it. That alone changes the equation. In the surrounding waters, roughly a dozen guided-missile destroyers are spread out, some near the Strait of Hormuz, others operating closer to the Red Sea. The United States already had a large presence in the region. More than 40,000 personnel are stationed across military bases and naval assets. With the arrival of the most recent carrier group, several thousand more service members are being added to that total. (Read More)

Witkoff Warns Iran is a Week Away from Weapons-Grade Uranium

US Envoy Steve Witkoff issues a chilling warning that Iran is now just one week away from nuclear bomb material. With the U.S. drawing a "red line" at zero enrichment and President Trump questioning why Tehran hasn't capitulated, the specter of a major military escalation looms over the Middle East. In a Fox News interview yesterday (Saturday), US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Iran is approximately one week away from possessing enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon, emphasizing, "This is already very dangerous. I can't allow this."

He highlighted zero uranium enrichment as a US "red line" in negotiations, noting current levels far exceed civilian needs. He added: “They say it’s all for a civilian program, but in practice they enriched far beyond the level required for civilian nuclear energy. They reached 60%, and they are probably a week away from industrial-level material for bomb production and that is already very dangerous. I cannot allow that. That’s something they will have to adhere to until they prove to us that they know how to behave.”

Witkoff also revealed President Trump is "curious" why Iran hasn't "capitulated" despite US military pressure, including naval deployments in the region. Regarding past claims of an ineffective Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear sites, Witkoff previously disputed leaked intelligence in a June 24, 2025, appearance on "The Ingraham Angle," calling the leak "treasonous" and asserting the strikes eviscerated key facilities. (Source)

Netanyahu Theatens Iran: "If the Ayatollahs attack, they will be hit with a response they cannot even imagine."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has laid down a clear marker for both Washington and Tehran, outlining Israel's "ironclad principles" for any future diplomacy and warning the Islamic Republic of an unprecedented military response should it choose escalation. In a high-stakes statement following his recent discussions with President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a blunt message to the "Ayatollahs" in Tehran, signaling that while the U.S. may be exploring a diplomatic path, Israel’s military readiness remains at a breaking point.

According to sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu presented a "maximalist" list of demands to the Trump administration, insisting that any new agreement must go beyond the original JCPOA framework. These "principles" reportedly include: 

*  Zero Enrichment: A total halt to all uranium enrichment on Iranian soil. 

* The Missile Clause: Strict limitations, or the total dismantling, of Iran’s ballistic missile program.

* Proxy Neutralization: An end to Iranian funding and arms transfers to "Axis of Resistance" groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

Netanyahu’s warning comes at a time of extreme regional volatility. With President Trump’s "Beautiful Armada" already positioned in the Gulf and Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaling a "Common Sense Realism" approach to the region, the Israeli security establishment is reportedly operating on high alert. The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel is not merely a bystander in the U.S.-led diplomatic efforts. By stating that Israel is "prepared for any scenario," Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's "Freedom of Action", the doctrine that the IDF reserves the right to strike Iranian nuclear or military assets independently if the regime crosses specific red lines. (Read More)

Trump's Mar-a-Lago could be targeted if US attacks Iran, says Iranian MP - report

An Iranian member of parliament warned that Iran could expand any wartime response beyond the Middle East and said that even US President Donald Trump’s “own palace” could be targeted, according to remarks published by Iranian outlet Didban Iran and later translated by Iran International. The lawmaker was identified as Amir Hayat Moghaddam, a member of Iran’s parliament and its national security and foreign policy commission. Iran International quoted him as saying Iran would deliver a “crushing response” if attacked by the United States.

According to the report, Moghaddam said Iran could sink a US warship in the Sea of Oman, strike US bases in the region, and target American forces, including “soldier, officer, or general.” He also said Iran’s attacks might not remain limited to the Middle East and could reach the US itself, adding that “Trump’s own palace” could one day be hit, in an apparent reference to Mar-a-Lago.

Didban Iran’s homepage listing shows the interview headline carrying the same language and identifies Moghaddam as a member of the parliamentary committee. No immediate US official response to Moghaddam’s specific remarks was identified in the reports reviewed by The Jerusalem Post at the time of publication. Reuterscoverage on Friday focused on the broader US-Iran escalation, including President Trump’s warning that Iran must make a deal within 10 to 15 days and Tehran’s threats to retaliate against US bases in the region if attacked. (Source)

Iran retaliates after EU blacklists IRGC

Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it has designated the navies and air forces of all European Union (EU) member states as terrorist organizations, the Xinhua news agency reported. The move was described as a response to the EU’s recent decision to label Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization, which Tehran called “unlawful and unjustified."

In a statement, the ministry said the EU decision is “in contradiction with the fundamental principles and rules of the United Nations Charter and international law." The statement added that the Iranian government acted in accordance with a 2019 law, under which “all those countries that in any way comply with or support the US decision to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization will be subject to reciprocal action." Iran’s move came three days after the Council of the EU formally added the IRGC to the bloc’s terrorist list, following a political agreement reached by EU foreign ministers last month. 

The agreement was made possible after France said it would support the move, withdrawing its longstanding opposition to it. The designation triggers restrictive measures under the EU counterterrorism sanctions regime, including the freezing of the group’s funds and other financial assets or economic resources within EU member states. Tehran was outraged by the EU’s late January announcement that it would classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization and summoned all EU ambassadors in the country. (Ed note: Why wouldn't the Shia mullahs of Iran care if there were war? In the Shiite religion of the Twelver, the 12th Imam will return during a time of great turmoil and chaos. This whole war fits right in with their religion.) (Source)

'Deal would be a miracle': US military buildup fuels uncertainty in Tehran

A sharp increase in US military deployments to the Middle East has intensified uncertainty in Tehran, where analysts and officials are debating whether the buildup signals imminent conflict or a bid to gain leverage in nuclear negotiations. Multiple US outlets reported on Thursday that national security officials have informed President Donald Trump that the military has positioned the necessary air and naval assets in the region to carry out a strike “within days,” potentially even by the end of this week.

In Tehran, some analysts cautioned that the military moves could signal genuine escalation rather than routine pressure. Political analyst Mohammad Soltaninejad told Entekhab: “If the negotiations fail or the US position changes—as happened before the 12-day war and in the middle of negotiations—it is possible that war could break out.” Jalal Sadatian, a former Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom, said in an interview with ILNA that war remains an unattractive option for regional states, particularly given the risk of US bases in those countries being targeted.

“The balance is still tilted somewhat more toward negotiation than toward war,” he said, arguing that Trump appears to be “more focused on threats and exercising pressure.” The military buildup follows the second round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, which ended Tuesday in Geneva without tangible results. Cautious optimism expressed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has not translated into broad confidence in Tehran. Financial markets have reacted nervously. Iran’s currency weakened nearly one percent in a single day, with the dollar rising toward 1,630,000 rials, reflecting broader concerns about the risk of escalation. (Read More)

Islamic State begins new phase of operations against Syrian regime with two terror attacks

Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for two attacks targeting Syrian army personnel in northern and eastern Syria, as the terrorist group signaled what it described as a new phase of operations against the country’s leadership. The terrorist group said on its Dabiq news agency that it had targeted “an individual of the apostate Syrian regime” in the city of Mayadin in Deir al-Zor province using a pistol, and attacked two other personnel with machine guns in the northern city of Raqqa.  

Syria’s Defence Ministry said in a statement that a Syrian army soldier and a civilian were killed on Saturday by “unknown assailants.” A military source told Reuters the soldier belonged to the army’s 42nd Division. The attacks come amid a sharp escalation by IS against Syria’s leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda leader who broke with the group in 2016 before leading a coalition of Islamist factions that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024.

On Saturday evening, IS released a recorded statement by its spokesperson, Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, who said Syria had “moved from Iranian occupation to Turkish-American occupation.” The group said it had begun a “new phase of operations” in Syria, describing Sharaa as a “watchdog” of the global coalition and vowing that his fate would be no different from that of Assad. Sharaa signed Syria’s accession to the global coalition to defeat IS during a visit to the US last November, when he met President Donald Trump. (Ed note: Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)   (Read More)

Report: Hezbollah preparing for war with Israel

Hezbollah is preparing for a possible war with Israel, Al-Arabiya reported. The report follows assessments that Iran is pressuring the terror group to join the fighting if the US strikes Iran. Sources who spoke with the Al-Arabiya claimed that the Friday airstrikes carried out in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley were a “prelude" to an Israeli military operation - one that appears likely to be conducted in parallel with strikes on Iran.

The report quoted sources close to Hezbollah who told Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath, both Saudi news outlets, that Hezbollah is no longer run by Lebanese leaders, but rather by officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, some of whom were already present in Lebanon.

According to the sources, the Iranian IRGC officers are not only responsible for rebuilding Hezbollah’s capabilities, but are also personally overseeing operational plans and meeting with Hezbollah teams in various areas in order to issue instructions. The report added that these Iranian officers also met with members of the missile unit that was targeted Friday in the Beqaa region. (Source)

What Is a Balance-of-Payments Deficit?

President Trump’s new tariffs were imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows temporary import restrictions when the United States faces “fundamental international payments problems,” including a “large and serious” balance-of-payments deficit. The term is not commonly used outside economic policy circles, but it refers broadly to a country’s financial relationship with the rest of the world. The balance of payments is a comprehensive record of all economic transactions between a nation and foreign countries. It includes trade in goods and services, income from overseas investments, cross-border financial flows such as purchases of stocks and bonds, and changes in official reserves.

In strict accounting terms, the balance of payments always balances: money leaving the country must be offset by money coming in. But when policymakers refer to a “deficit,” they are usually describing a persistent shortfall in trade and income flows—known as the current account—that must be financed by borrowing or by selling domestic assets to foreign investors. Historically, under fixed exchange-rate systems such as the postwar Bretton Woods framework, sustained deficits often led governments to lose gold or foreign-exchange reserves as they intervened to support their currencies. Under today’s floating exchange rates, the adjustment typically occurs through capital inflows from abroad, currency movements, or both.

The United States has run current-account deficits for decades, financed largely by foreign purchases of U.S. assets, including Treasury securities, corporate bonds, and equities. This doesn’t mean the deficit disappears. Rather, it is financialized. Critics argue that because the accounts balance by definition, a balance-of-payments deficit cannot exist in a floating exchange-rate system. Economists generally use the term more loosely to describe sustained external imbalances that require ongoing financing or adjustment rather than a literal mismatch in the accounting totals.

Section 122 uses the terminology common in policy debates at the time the law was enacted. Whether current U.S. conditions meet the statute’s standard is a matter of legal interpretation and presidential judgment. (Ed note: The amount of US Treasury Bonds sold to foreign countries is also directly linked to the US balance of payments. This is considered a budget deficit, and its amount is over 9.1 TRILLION DOLLARS as of June 2025.) (Read More)

US strikes on Iran could target individual leaders, officials say

United States military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage with options including targeting individuals as part of an attack and even pursuing regime change in Tehran, if ordered by US President Donald Trump, two US officials told Reuters. The military options are the latest signs that the US is preparing for a serious conflict with Iran should diplomatic efforts fail. Reuters first reported last week that the US military is preparing for a sustained, weeks-long operation against Iran that could include striking Iranian security facilities as well as nuclear infrastructure.

The latest revelations suggest more granular, ambitious planning ahead of a decision by Trump, who has in recent days publicly floated the idea of regime change in the Islamic Republic. The US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, did not offer further details on which individuals could be targeted or how the US military could attempt to carry out regime change without a large ground force.

Pursuing regime change would mark another shift away from Trump's vows during the presidential campaign to abandon what he has called the failed policies of past administrations, which included military efforts to topple governments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trump has assembled a massive amount of firepower in the Middle East, but most of the combat capabilities are aboard warships and fighter aircraft. Any major bombing campaign could also count on support from US-based bombers. (Read More)

Israeli officials believe US, Iran at unbridgeable impasse as they near open conflict

Iran and the United States continued to slide rapidly toward military conflict at the weekend, as hopes faded for a diplomatic solution to their standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program and regional actions, officials on both sides and diplomats across the Gulf and Europe said. Israel and Iran’s Gulf neighbors now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement, the sources said, with Washington building up one of its biggest military deployments in the region since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Israel’s government believes Tehran and Washington are at an impasse and is making preparations for possible joint military action with the United States, though no decision has been made yet on whether to carry out such an operation, said a source familiar with the planning. It would be the second time the US and Israel have attacked Iran in less than a year, following US and Israeli airstrikes against military and nuclear facilities last June.

Regional officials say oil-producing Gulf countries are preparing for a possible military confrontation that they fear could spin out of control and destabilize the Middle East. Two Israeli officials told Reuters they believe the gaps between Washington and Tehran are unbridgeable and that the chances of a near‑term military escalation are high. Some regional officials said Tehran was dangerously miscalculating by holding out for concessions, with US President Donald Trump boxed in by his own military buildup — unable to scale it back without losing face if there is no firm commitment from Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

“Both sides are sticking to their guns,” said Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat and Iran specialist, adding that nothing meaningful can emerge “unless the US and Iran walk back from their red lines — which I don’t think they will.  “What Trump can’t do is assemble all this military, and then come back with a ‘so‑so’ deal and pull out the military. I think he thinks he’ll lose face,” he said. “If he attacks, it’s going to get ugly quickly.” Two rounds of Iran-US talks have stalled on core issues, from uranium enrichment to missiles and sanctions relief. (Read More)

US moves dozens of F-35, F-15 fighter jets to Jordanian airbase - report

The United States military has moved dozens of fighter jets to a Jordanian air force base, according to satellite imagery and flight tracking data analysed by the New York Times on Friday. More than 60 jets were pictured parked on the Muwaffaq Salti base in central Jordan, which is three times more than the usual number of US attack aircraft present on the base, according to the Times.

According to the Times report, at least 68 cargo planes have additionally landed on the base since Sunday, and several US drones and helicopters were seen in the area. Soldiers were spotted installing new air defenses, systems that the Times theorized would be used to protect the base from potential Iranian strikes.

A live map of US Central Command (CENTCOM) movements, created by Tel Aviv University-affiliated think tank the Institute for National Security Studies, showed that as of Saturday afternoon, 30 F-35 fighter jets and 36 F-15 fighter jets were present at the Muwaffaq Salti base.
Jordanian officials, speaking to the Times on the condition of anonymity, stated that the deployment of US aircraft and equipment is a part of a larger defense agreement with the US.

The officials additionally shared that they hoped negotiations between the US and Iran would lead to a deal and prevent war in the region, as tensions between the two nations intensify. According to an additional Times report on Friday, US troops across the Middle East have been shuffled aroundas the possibility of US strikes on the Iranian regime looms. (Read More)