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)

Full Text of U.S.-Iran MOU Released — And It's Worse Than Advertised

The official 14-point U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding grants Tehran oil revenues, frozen assets, and a ceasefire in Lebanon, before Iran makes a single nuclear concession. The official text of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran was released to journalists Wednesday evening by a senior White House official, after days of conflicting reports about its contents — and a close reading of the 14-point document reveals concessions that go further than even the most critical early assessments suggested.

The memorandum is due to be formally signed Friday in Switzerland, triggering a 60-day window to negotiate the final terms of a deal. On Sunday, the two sides electronically signed the agreement, which Pakistan helped broker, with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance signing for the United States and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf signing for Iran. The White House had spent days dismissing leaked versions of the text as "fake news." The official document released Wednesday is, in key respects, harder on the United States than what had been reported.

The agreement declares the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," with both sides committing not to initiate any war or military operation against each other, and to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The implications for Israel are stark. A commitment to Lebanon's "territorial integrity" is a direct demand that IDF forces withdraw from southern Lebanon. Targeted operations against Hezbollah operatives would also fall under the ceasefire's scope. Trump has, in effect, signed off on a full Israeli withdrawal, and a full halt to military pressure on Hezbollah. (Read More)

US-Iran MoU will leave enriched uranium in Iran to be diluted, leaked text reveals

Iran and the United States agreed in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Iran's enriched nuclear material will not be removed from the country, with it being diluted inside Iran under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The MoU also states that, upon signing, "a mechanism will be agreed upon under which the United States will make available to Iran the funds and assets that have been frozen." Apparently, according to the leaked text, the agreement will not require significant steps before those funds are released.

This is mentioned in articles 8 to 14 of the memorandum, which establishes limits on US forces in the region and states that negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program will be conducted during the period following the signing of the agreement. It also determines that the “US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and derivatives,” and it will release the frozen or restricted Iranian funds. 

 
What does the MoU say? 

  

The first article of the MoU, as revealed on Tuesday, states that signing the agreement will stop “military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Articles 2 and 3 establish an understanding between the US and Iran over each other’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” while it gives a 60-day timeframe, which is extendable with mutual consent," to make a final deal.

Articles 4 and 5 address the Strait of Hormuz issue, determining the immediate lift of the US blockade and an Iranian compromise to “make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge.” Article 6 focuses on economic relief and the lifting of sanctions, and it states that the US will implement a $300 billion plan to support the reconstruction and economic development of Iran. The agreement text also determines that the final resolution will be endorsed by a binding United Nations Security Council resolution. (Source)

Trump Signs Iran Deal, Tehran Immediately Says Enriched Uranium Will Stay in Iran

The U.S. and Iran have signed a digital memorandum of understanding to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran is already drawing a red line on the most sensitive issue: its enriched nuclear material. The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the current war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launching a 60-day track toward a final nuclear agreement, according to U.S. officials and regional reports. The agreement was reportedly signed electronically by both sides, with President Donald Trump signing from France and the document then transferred through mediators to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

But almost immediately after the signing, Tehran made clear that it has no intention of surrendering its enriched uranium. Iran’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the enriched nuclear material will remain inside Iran and will not be transferred abroad, a position that could become the central point of confrontation in the next stage of negotiations. The memorandum, according to the reported text, declares an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. It also commits both sides to avoid further military action, respect sovereignty, and begin negotiations toward a final agreement within 60 days. One of the most urgent parts of the deal concerns the Strait of Hormuz. Under the memorandum, Iran is expected to restore safe commercial passage through the strait, while the United States begins removing its naval blockade and related restrictions. 

The deal also provides for the gradual return of maritime traffic and technical steps, including mine-clearing, within 30 days The economic side of the agreement is no less dramatic. The memorandum reportedly includes a U.S.-led reconstruction and development plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion, along with a framework for sanctions relief, oil-export permissions, and access to frozen Iranian assets. The nuclear section is the most politically explosive. Iran reaffirms that it will not produce or acquire nuclear weapons, but the agreement does not require Tehran to ship its enriched uranium out of the country. Instead, the reported framework speaks of handling the material through an agreed mechanism, with downblending inside Iran under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision. (Read More)

Report: Trump said Netanyahu unhandleable, 'wants to blow up everyone'

According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump privately clashed with Benjamin Netanyahu over Iran, Lebanon, and further military action.

US President Donald Trump voiced frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a series of private phone calls in recent weeks, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Thursday. The report said the conversations became increasingly tense as Trump pushed for a diplomatic arrangement with Iran while Netanyahu repeatedly argued for a tougher approach and warned against trusting Iranian commitments.

According to the report, one point of contention involved Israeli military activity in Lebanon. During one conversation, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, “Stop targeting buildings," reflecting growing irritation over Israeli actions despite a ceasefire. In other calls, Trump expressed concern that the conflict with Iran could have economic repercussions for the United States. The report said he became increasingly focused on the potential costs of a prolonged confrontation and was less receptive to arguments for additional military action.

According to the report, Trump told advisers thatNetanyahu frequently pressed for further operations. According to a person who heard the remarks, Trump complained that no one could handle Netanyahu and said that the Israeli leader “wants to bomb everyone." A senior administration official quoted in the report said many of their discussions followed a similar pattern, with Netanyahu presenting reasons for additional action and Trump listening to those arguments. (Ed note: Hey, President Trump! It is well known that both Hezbollah and Hamas like to hide in civilian BUILDINGS such as hospitals, schools or apartment buildings.)    (Read More)

Why on Earth would Trump endorse Iran's ballistic missile program - comment

Trump’s comments backing Iran’s ballistic missile program have sparked concern, with critics warning they could undermine key security gains from recent regional conflict.

There is an ongoing heated debate about the positives and negatives of US President Donald Trump's new deal with Iran - a debate that will likely be resolved by whether a few major nuclear issues are properly resolved in the next several months. But on Wednesday, Trump thrust himself into a major and unnecessary unforced error, actually proactively endorsing Iran keeping its ballistic missile program.

To understand why this statement was so much worse than anything else which has happened to date related to the deal, one needs to understand that the main reason Israel went to war in February of this year was not because of regime change (which was long shot), and not even because of the nuclear threat (which was already hammered in June 2025), but to get Tehran to back off an existential ballistic missile threat.

To clarify further, if the problem were just Iran having one or two missiles, as Trump seemed to be implying, there would be no problem. Iran had 2,500-3,000 missiles for decades, and Israel was ready and able to defend against such an arsenal. But in late 2024/early 2025, Iran learned how to hyper-speed up its ballistic missile production pace to 200-300 per month, something which could have gotten it to 4,000-6,000 missiles in 2026 and 8,000-10,000 missiles in 2027-2028.

Long before 2027, it appears that Iran would have hit a volume of missiles that Israel could not have defended sufficiently. When Trump said that missiles can hit one target, but cannot destroy the world, he is either showing shocking ignorance or is trying to aggressively pull the curtain down over the public's eyes. Israelis saw up close that one Iranian ballistic missile - as opposed to a weak Hamas or Hezbollah rocket - can destroy eight homes at once, wound dozens of people, and damage hundreds of nearby residences with the shock wave. (Read More)

Facts on the ground: IDF publishes map of Lebanon Security Zone

The IDF on Thursday published an official map portraying the Security Zone in which IDF troops are operating. The IDF noted that due to operational requirements, it is deployed in the Security Zone, approximately 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory. The map shows that the IDF has not recently withdrawn from any territory in southern Lebanon. The IDF Spokesperson Unit emphasized that “the maritime security zone is a continuation of the land security zone and extends out to sea on a bearing of 280 degrees, in accordance with the decision of the political leadership."

The statement implies that the IDF has the freedom of action to remove threats even beyond the security zone if necessary. However, the current assessment is that the military will avoid carrying out strikes deep inside Lebanon or in the capital, Beirut.

The military added that soldiers are stationed in the designated area of operation in southern Lebanon, and will continue to remove threats and strengthen the defense of Israel’s northern residents. (Source)

Five soldiers wounded, one severely, in Hezbollah drone attack

Explosive drone hits Givati force operating in southern Lebanon, injuring four. Additional drone strikes evacuation crew, injuring an additional soldier.

An IDF soldier was severely injured, two IDF soldiers were moderately injured, and two additional soldiers were lightly injured on Wednesday as a result of an explosive drone impact in southern Lebanon. The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and their families have been notified.

An inquiry into the incident found that at around 6:00 a.m., an explosive drone detonated near a Givati Brigade Combat Team tank in the Kfar Tebnit area of southern Lebanon. Shrapnel from the explosion injured four soldiers, who were airlifted to receive medical treatment at a hospital.

Several minutes later, an additional drone exploded on the evacuation vehicle. As a result, another soldier was injured. He, too, was evacuated by helicopter. During the incident, a total of five soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment. IDF forces responded with artillery fire at terrorist infrastructure in the area. This is the first incident since the signing of the deal between the United States and Iran in which IDF soldiers were injured in a Hezbollah attack. (Ed note: Hezbollah has fired drones at IDF troops, and they are expected not to strike back? What is Trump and Iran thinking?) (Source)

Hezbollah expecting major cash injection from Iran once deal sealed with US — sources

Iran’s interim deal with the US looks set to bolster Hezbollah’s political and financial hand in Lebanon, with Tehran promising more funding for its ally once cash starts to flow, according to four sources familiar with ties between Tehran and the terror group. A cash infusion to Hezbollah could help it recover from heavy wartime losses and deliver a setback to Israel, which dealt the Iran-backed terror group crushing blows in a 2024 war and has campaigned against sanctions relief for Tehran.

The US-Iranian memorandum of understanding (MOU), due to be signed on Friday, is expected to halt hostilities across all fronts, mediator Pakistan has said, although its terms have not been made public. The halt to fighting — at Iran’s insistence — includes Lebanon, where Hezbollah fired at Israel in solidarity with Tehran on March 2, igniting an Israeli offensive into southern Lebanon, in a conflict that has unfolded in parallel to the wider US-Iran confrontation.

The situation in southern Lebanon remains volatile. Iran warned Israel on Tuesday to expect an Iranian military response if it did not stop attacks in the south, where Israel has said it will keep troops, and violence, albeit much reduced, has continued. The ceasefire in Lebanon leaves Hezbollah politically emboldened after two years of setbacks, including the fall of Hezbollah’s Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. It also corners Lebanon’s US-backed government, which failed in its own efforts to secure a broader ceasefire in face-to-face talks with Israeli officials in Washington over the past two months as a pathway to curbing Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. (Read More)

The Trump-Bibi Dynamic Is Starting to Look Abusive

Trump curses Netanyahu publicly, says "without me there'd be no Israel" - and Bibi keeps smiling. Something is wrong with this picture.

There is a dynamic playing out at the highest levels of global diplomacy that, if you strip away the suits and summits, looks uncomfortably familiar. One party screams, humiliates, and betrays. The other apologizes, flatters, and comes back for more.This week at the G7 summit in Évian, Donald Trump told reporters that without him, "there'd be no Israel." He said Israel "would have been blown off the face of the earth." He said every smart Israeli knows this. Then, in almost the same breath, he called his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu "unbelievable."

Hours earlier, he had told Axios something rather different. "Why did Bibi have to do a f---ing attack? I was so p***ed off. I let him know. He has no f---ing judgment. I let him know that," Trump said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. That is the American president. Speaking about the leader of America's closest ally in the Middle East. In those words. And Netanyahu? He said the relationship was strong. He expressed gratitude. He praised Trump's contribution to Israel's security. He did not push back publicly. He never does. 

This has been the pattern for years, and it is worth naming clearly.

Trump froze Netanyahu out entirely after Netanyahu congratulated Biden on winning the 2020 election, doing what any head of state would do in acknowledging the incoming president of the United States. Trump was furious. "Nobody did more for Bibi. And I liked Bibi," he said. "But I also like loyalty." He reportedly told an Israeli journalist: "F--- him," and said he hadn't spoken to Netanyahu since. Netanyahu, for his part, spent the next several years trying to win his way back into Trump's good graces.

He succeeded. And then this week happened.

Trump's phone call with Netanyahu over Lebanon became heated, with Trump using expletives to convey his disapproval of Israel's military plans, which threatened to derail negotiations with Iran. Publicly, Trump said Israel was "fighting Hezbollah for too long and too many people are being killed," and added, "I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible." Then came the line that should have landed harder than it did in Jerusalem's political circles: "Without me, there'd be no Israel," Trump said at the G7. "Because no other president was willing to do what I did." (Ed note: Without God, there would be no America or Trump. Be very careful with our future, Mr. President.)  (Read More)

‘Without me, there would be no Israel,’ Netanyahu ‘has to be more responsible’ with Lebanon, Trump says at G7

The U.S. president told reporters that he intends to read his agreement with the Iranian regime “word by word” publicly to set the record straight.

Amid extensive controversy and speculation about the contents of a memorandum of understanding with the Iranian regime, which U.S. President Donald Trump announced without providing much detail, the president said on Tuesday that he is likely to hold a press conference and read the “word by word, so that the press covers it accurately.” “We just signed a deal with Iran,” he told reporters at the G7 summit in France during a meeting with United Arab Emirates President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “Ships are starting to move now,” he said. “Oil is starting to go up, and prices are coming down rapidly.”

“Most importantly, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he claimed. The president was asked why he might wait until Friday to release the text of the agreement. “I would like to get a formal setting first,” he said. “I will go over the document with the media in a couple of days.” Trump said that he “never cared about regime change.” “But I guess you have regime change,” he said, of Iran. “The first group—they are all dead. The second group—-they are dead. A part of the third group is gone, and we are dealing with people I think are rational people.”

“I think smarter than the first and second group. They are not radicalized and looking to help their country,” he said. “I have watched regime change for years. They never worked.” Experts refuted that assertion. “If the current Iranian regime leadership wasn’t radicalized, they would never be in the positions they hold today,” stated Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran. “These individuals were all tested and trusted by the late Ali Khamenei, promoted by him and have marinated for years in the Islamic Republic’s ideology,” he stated. “There’s literally an Interpol red notice out for the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

At the press conference, Trump was asked about Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump called the terror organization “that little pin prick out there that constantly rears its head.” He said that he wasn’t pleased with Israel for conducting a strike against Hezbollah a few hours before the agreement was signed. “If Israel can’t do the job without killing everyone else,” Syria would take on the task, he said. “Without the United States, there would be no Israel,” Trump said. “Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did. I have had a great relationship with Bibi. Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.” Trump also praised the Emirati President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for being “early” to enter the Abraham Accords. (Read More)

Dr. Bill Salus comments:

God or Trump, Who Sustains Israel’s Existence?

            On June 16, 2026, US President Donald Trump arrogantly put himself on par with the God Jehovah of the Bible! Quoted in a JNS article entitled, ‘‘Without me, there would be no Israel,’ Netanyahu ‘has to be more responsible’ with Lebanon, Trump says at G7,” Trump boldly declared, “Without me, there would be no Israel.”

            Keep in mind that according to the passage below, there is only one possible prescription for there to “be no Israel.”

“Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name: If these ordinances depart from before me, saith Jehovah, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever. Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.” (Jerremiah 31:35-37, ASV)

              Granted Trump has been doing a decent job of making America great again (MAGA), but there is no way he can claim that “Without me, there would be no Israel!” He is incapable of thwarting the above requirements that sustain Israel as a nation.  

              Egotistical declarations like the one above and erroneous decisions like signing the   Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran won’t put Trump on par with God, but rather, will likely pin Trump against God. 

Iran has fired drones at commercial ships in Hormuz strait since MoU's signing, source tells 'Post'

Iran has fired multiple drones toward commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz since the signing of the US-Iranmemorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday, a source told The Jerusalem Post. The source added that all of the drones had been intercepted by the US military before they pose a threat to commercial or US military ships and personnel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is launching the drones, a US official told NBC, adding that the US military continues to coordinate with shipping companies to support ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump confirmed that a peace deal between the US and Iran has been completed in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” Trump stated.

In a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump clarified that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened to allow the transit of commercial vessels on Friday after the agreement is signed. (Source)

US denied Israel's request to view Iran deal prior to signing ceremony, source tells 'Post'

Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he would read the deal "word for word," though he did not specify when.

The United States denied Israel's request to view the newly agreed-upon Memorandum of Understanding before the signing ceremony, expected to be held in Switzerland later this week, a source confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he would read the deal "word for word," though he did not specify when. As of now, the details of the deal have not been published, which reportedly has 14 separate clauses, including the withdrawal of the IDF from southern Lebanon, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and releasing some $24 billion dollars in sanctioned funds.

Despite Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement that the peace deal includes Lebanon, Israeli officials have not confirmed if the IDF will pull back from the area. On Monday, an IDF source confirmed to the Post that if Hezbollah respects the ceasefire, there will be no attacks anywhere in Lebanon. Separately, Hezbollah on Tuesday told Reuters it received assurances from Iran that it would demand a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon in its next phase of talks with the United States. The group told Reuters that there would be "no nuclear deal between Iran and the United States unless the Israelis withdraw" from Lebanon. (Ed note: Now why wouldn't the US let Israel see the MoU now? Was President Trump afraid Israel would see their part about being cast under the bus?)    (Source)

Major Escalation: Tehran Issues Aggressive Warnings Just Hours After Reaching United States Accord

Sovereign authorities in Tehran have rapidly revived their aggressive rhetoric merely twenty four hours after finalizing a comprehensive interim accord with Washington, vowing a decisive military response to any structural deviations from the treaty.

The diplomatic optimism surrounding the newly formulated memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran has been sharply undermined by a sequence of aggressive military warnings issued by senior legislative and defense figures within the Islamic Republic. Merely one day after global negotiators finalized the preliminary terms of the sweeping international accord, prominent political executives in Iran have publicly shifted their posture back toward severe geopolitical intimidation. The aggressive declarations, broadcast across regional networks on Tuesday evening, targeted the upcoming formal signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Switzerland this Friday, sending a clear signal to Western defense planners that the clerical regime views the pact as an administrative vehicle to assert strategic dominance over its international adversaries.

The opening salvo of this renewed rhetorical campaign was executed by the head of the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Ebrahim Azizi, who utilized prominent public communications networks to outline Tehran's rigid expectations for American compliance. The senior legislative official asserted that the current framework materialized strictly because Western resolve crumbled under domestic pressure, forcing international intermediaries to accept the core security demands dictated by the Ayatollah regime. Azizi explicitly declared that Iranian resilience led to a strategic change of direction, when the United States arrived at the negotiation table on Iran's terms, further instructing that now, Washington must prove its commitment by ending the war in Lebanon and complying with every section of the memorandum of understanding.

The parliamentary security chief issued an explicit ultimatum regarding any potential adjustments or enforcement mechanisms introduced by Western diplomats during the upcoming sixty day implementation phase, warning that the regional balance of power has fundamentally changed. Azizi threatened that any violation of the agreement will be met with a firm and decisive response, while forcefully adding that the era of unilateral demands and the imposition of conditions against Iran has ended. This unyielding stance indicates that the clerical leadership intends to utilize the interim period to aggressively restrict Western diplomatic maneuvers, framing any subsequent defensive oversight or compliance inquiries as a direct breach of the foundational treaty text. (Read More)

Iran accuses Israel of '84 violations,' threatens harsh response

The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters claims that Israel is continuing military activity in southern Lebanon and warns of a response from the Iranian armed forces.

Iran escalated its threats against Israel this evening (Tuesday), accusing it of violating the ceasefire in southern Lebanon “84 times over the past two days." The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the operational headquarters of Iran's military forces, issued a statement claiming that Israel has violated the ceasefire in southern Lebanon dozens of times since the American announcement declaring the end of the war.

The Iranian statement claimed: “The army of the terrorist Zionist entity has violated the ceasefire in southern Lebanon 84 times over the past two days, after the American president announced the end of the war, and it continues to commit crimes and massacres against the oppressed Lebanese people." It further stated: “If the army of the Zionist entity does not cease its actions in southern Lebanon, it should expect a harsh response from the powerful Iranian armed forces."

The threat comes after the IDF reported earlier today that the Israeli Air Force intercepted several rockets launched by Hezbollah toward the area where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon, and later struck and destroyed the launcher from which some of the rockets had been fired. Israeli officials assess that behind the Iranian statements is an attempt to pressure the American administration into demanding that Israel reduce its activity in southern Lebanon and even advance a withdrawal of forces from the area.

The tensions surrounding the Lebanese front come alongside diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran and the continued discussions regarding the understandings reached between the sides. (Ed note: 84 violations? And how many rockets and drones has the terrorist Hezbollah fired into northern Israel? Iran is once again working the Deal Maker. Let's see who wins this one.) (Source)

The Secret Tripartite Friction: Why Damascus Rejects Donald Trump's Grand Strategy to Crush Hezbollah

Syrian President Ahmad al Shara has forcefully rejected a public proposal by US President Donald Trump to militarily intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon, citing severe fears of losing political credibility across the Arab world and appearing as a strategic protector of Israel.

The sweeping diplomatic architecture currently being formulated by the United States to stabilize the Levant has faced a major structural setback following a decisive policy rejection from the newly established leadership in Damascus. According to comprehensive political dispatches broadcast by Kan News on Tuesday evening, Syrian President Ahmad al Shara has flatly dismissed a highly publicized strategic proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump to utilize Syria's reconstituted armed forces to dismantle Hezbollah inside Lebanon. High level intelligence sources closely embedded within the sovereign decision making apparatus in Damascus reveal that the new leadership is prioritizing its fragile diplomatic status among neighboring Arab states, refusing to deploy its forces in any capacity that could be perceived as serving Western or Israeli security interests.

The definitive insider reporting clarifies that the Syrian president harbors profound concerns that any direct military intervention against the Shiite organization would destroy his administration's political standing, making him appear as if he is taking action strictly to protect Israel, an outcome that would erode his carefully managed credibility within regional Arab coalitions. A prominent Syrian political official familiar with the internal governing mindset explicitly stated that there is no feasibility for a Syrian military intervention against Hezbollah in Lebanon without Israel responding to Syria's demands, adding that the absolute foremost of these requirements is a complete and total withdrawal from the geographic sectors occupied by the Israel Defense Forces in southern Syria following the definitive collapse of the Bashar al Assad regime.

This diplomatic cooling comes directly after President Trump publicly asserted that al Shara's Syria would handle Hezbollah instead of Israel, a strategic concept that has been quietly circulated by White House planners over the past several months as a potential alternative to indefinite Israeli border deployments. Al Shara himself has personally moved to temper these international expectations, issuing public statements confirming that Syria will not engage in any foreign military adventures inside Lebanese territory, and that current Syrian defensive efforts are focusing strictly on securing a more hermetic seal along the immediate international border while systematically neutralizing cross border weapon smuggling rings. This isolationist posture was heavily reinforced by regional intelligence partners, with recent diplomatic logs revealing that Turkish political advisers explicitly instructed al Shara to avoid any military entanglement against Hezbollah in Lebanon out of intense fear that such a campaign would ultimately strengthen Israel's geopolitical leverage. (Ed note: Did you notice how fast President al Shara stepped up to say no to President Trump? Such an effort would help Israel, and that's just not going to happen. Always keep one eye on the state of Syria.)    (Read More)

Iran’s military command warns it will respond if Israel keeps up southern Lebanon offensive

Iran’s Top Joint Military Command, ​Khatam al-Anbiya Central ‌Headquarters, says that Israel should expect a hard response from the Iranian armed forces if it does not stop its attacks on southern Lebanon, days after Tehran and Washington announced a deal to end the regional war.

Tehran has insisted that the memorandum of understanding requires Israel to halt its offensive against Hezbollah — a claim that both Jerusalem and Washington have disputed.  (Source)

Trump on Lebanon: 'If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone, Syria should do it'

"If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone else, Syria should do the job," said US President Donald Trumpin a bilateral meeting with the Emir of the State of Qatar on Tuesday. Trump says he considers the Lebanon war a minor one, and an arena in which Syria can take on Hezbollah in partnership with the United States if Israel under Netanyahu cannot be reigned in.

"Israel's fighting Hezbollah for too long, and too many people are being killed. You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody because there's a lot of people in those apartment houses and they're not all Hezbollah, that I can tell you," the president said. "I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job of doing it."

Trump then praised the President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying, "he has pulled that country together very quickly, he's very capable, and he's very good for me. He's protected everything that I've asked for." When asked if he was frustrated with Netanyahu, he responded, "No, we have a great relationship." The president continued, saying, "I didn't like that he did an attack [over] a very minor little thing with some drones. I saw that attack, I saw where that bomb went. That was a vicious... that was too much. You can do too much also. But we've had a very effective relationship.

"Without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel - because no other president was willing to do what I did. I had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon."  (Ed note: Comments anyone?)     (Source)

Dr. Bill Salus comments:

“Trump says he considers the Lebanon war a minor one, and an arena in which Syria can take on Hezbollah in partnership with the United States if Israel under Netanyahu cannot be reigned in. "I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job of doing it."

Trump then praised Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying, "he has pulled that country together very quickly, he's very capable, and he's very good for me. He's protected everything that I've asked for." (Jerusalem Post (JP) – 6/16/26)

              Trump believes the terrorist in a suit Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who had no part in the Iran war and essentially has no significant national army, can do a better job of dismantling and disarming Hezbollah than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who led his country as America’s only ally in the Iran war.

              Hezbollah has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US state department since 1997 and Israel has been doing a masterful job of decapitating these terrorists and their leaders since October 8, 2023. However because Ahmed al-Sharaa, “He’s very good for me (Trump). He's protected everything that I've asked for,” and Netanyahu is not following Trump’s marching orders, Trump is betraying Netanyahu and Israel.

              Syria has been at war with Israel since 1948 and is calling for Israel to withdraw from former Syrian territory seized when Sharaa took control, as well as return the Golan Heights to Syria, which in 2019 Trump recognized as Israeli territory. Will Iran’s peace deal condition on Lebanon influence Trump to reverse his decision about Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights?

Iran says permanent end to war in Lebanon is inseparable from US peace deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declares that an immediate end to the war and Israeli occupation in Lebanon is an inseparable component of the newly minted US-Iran memorandum.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that halting the war across all fronts, including Lebanon, is “the most important” component of the newly announced peace deal with the United States. Speaking to foreign diplomats, Araghchi emphasised that the memorandum involves two primary sides: the United States and Israel on one hand, and Iran and Hezbollah on the other. Araghchi declared that the memorandum calls for an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts. He stressed that stopping the conflict in Lebanon is an inseparable part of achieving a complete cessation of hostilities.

"The important point I want to emphasise here is that in our view, there are two parties to this memorandum -- one side is America and Israel, and the other side is Iran and Hezbollah," said Araghchi during a briefing with foreign diplomats broadcast on state television and as quoted by news agency AFP. Furthermore, he noted that the war would not truly end without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied during the conflict. According to Araghchi, any subsequent military attacks by Israel on Lebanon or the continued occupation of Lebanese lands will be viewed by Iran as a violation of the agreement.

The remarks followed the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington aimed at halting the West Asia conflict, which began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Lebanon entered the conflict in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, triggering Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. (Read More)

BREAKING: Trump May Fire Hegseth and Ratcliffe for Opposing Iran Deal

CIA Director Ratcliffe warned Trump that U.S. intelligence doubts Iran's intentions. Now Trump is reportedly considering firing him and Defense Secretary Hegseth for opposing the MOU.

President Donald Trump is considering firing War Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John

Ratcliffe over their internal opposition to the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran, a senior U.S. official told Israel Hayom, in what would represent a dramatic purge of two of his most senior national security officials. The possible firings reflect a deepening fault line inside the Trump administration over the Iran deal, one that pits the president's own intelligence and defense chiefs against the diplomatic team that negotiated the agreement.

According to Axios, which independently confirmed the internal divisions, Ratcliffe told Trump and senior officials that intelligence gathered by U.S. agencies raised serious doubts about Iran's willingness to make the nuclear concessions Washington is seeking in any final deal. The intelligence showed that Iranian officials were discussing the agreement among themselves in ways that were inconsistent with what they were telling American mediators, a red flag that, according to sources, Ratcliffe described in stark terms to the president.

Ratcliffe was not alone. Hegseth also raised concerns and questions about the MOU in internal meetings, as did Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.On the other side of the table: Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, all of whom advocated for the deal. According to the Israel Hayom report, Vance has developed particularly close ties with Qatar's leadership, and Gulf state pressure, led by Doha, has been a significant factor pushing the negotiations forward. (Ed note: This is unusual. Most of the time, President Trump lets his people have their say in matters.) (Read More)

Hezbollah praises Iran deal, urges Beirut to help confront ‘Israeli enemy’

Lebanon’s Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization on Monday praised the Islamic Republic for completing the peace agreement with the United States. In a statement carried by Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar daily, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, the terror group celebrated the deal as a “great achievement,” calling it “the fruit of the legendary steadfastness, exollah, in the statement, offered a “salute and appreciation” to the Iranian leadership for what it described as Tehran’s “steadfast support for Lebanon, its people and its resistance, and for their insistence that Lebanon be included in any understanding that leads to an end to the war and safeguards its rights.”

“They endured the burdens of the siege and aggression, once again proving that the Islamic Republic is indeed a true supporter and a strong, loyal ally,” it continued. The Hezbollah statement also hailed “all the countries that participated, contributed, assisted and supported efforts to remove obstacles in order to bring about this agreement.” Turning to the Lebanese government, the terror group called on Beirut’s official government “to return to a unified national position in order to achieve the goals on which the Lebanese agree” and confront “the ambitions of the Israeli enemy.” “It is wise to review all the calculations and paths pursued by the authorities,” Hezbollah warned, “and to acknowledge that a unified Lebanese position and reliance on true friends are the best means of safeguarding national interests.”

The Jewish state “must understand that there can be no return to the situation that existed before March 2, and that the resistance—which has always been and remains the vigilant guardian protecting the homeland and its people—will not accept any aggression that violates its nation’s sovereignty and the blood of its people,” it stated. The Iranian terrorist army vowed to continue fighting the Israel Defense Forces “until full withdrawal is achieved and the prisoners are returned.” Hezbollah renewed its rocket and drone attacks on Israel on March 2, following the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of “Operation Roaring Lion” on Feb. 28. (Read More)

Amid US-Iran deal, IDF says Hezbollah continues attacking troops in south Lebanon

Beirut says 1 dead in Israeli strike on car; no injuries reported after terror group fires anti-tank missile and mortars at Israeli soldiers; UNIFIL observes decrease in violence, says UN.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon eased but did not halt entirely on Monday after the US signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran, as Israeli leaders vowed that the agreement did not prevent it from continuing to operate in south Lebanon. The IDF said Monday evening that Hezbollah had fired several rockets at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, one of several attacks carried out by the terror group throughout the day. The IDF also confirmed striking Hezbollah operatives who “posed a threat” to forces in southern Lebanon on Monday.

According to the military, the rockets fired at Israeli forces were intercepted by air defenses. No sirens sounded in any towns in Israel. Additionally, Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile and several mortars at troops in southern Lebanon, in several separate attacks Monday, with no injuries caused, the IDF said.

Also, in four separate incidents throughout Monday, the IDF said, troops spotted “several terrorists traveling in vehicles and approaching IDF soldiers, in a manner that posed an immediate threat to them.” The Israeli Air Force then struck “all of the threats in a precise manner,” the military added Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that a car was targeted in Kfar Tebnit, resulting in the death of the driver. (Read More)

Ben Gvir to Arutz Sheva: Israel must operate in Lebanon even against Trump's wishes

Responding to a question from Arutz Sheva-Israel National News during a faction meeting, Itamar Ben Gvir asserts that the demolition of infrastructure in Lebanon must continue, even if it runs counter to the stance of the US administration.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday called for Israeli operations in southern Lebanon to continue even in the event of a dispute with the United States, emphasizing that Israel's first and foremost commitment is to its own security. Responding to a question from Arutz Sheva-Israel National News during a press briefing at his faction meeting, Ben Gvir stated, "We are an independent country, and we cannot stop demolishing houses in southern Lebanon."

He urged the government "to continue acting even against the position of the United States," adding, "We cannot stop preventing the population in southern Lebanon from returning. It endangers our soldiers; it endangers our residents. We must not allow them to return to the borders, to return to the status quo before October 7." Ben Gvir added that Israel must maintain its hold on the territory even if it conflicts with the position of the US administration. "We must retain control of the territory, even against the wishes of President Trump," he said.

Ben Gvir continued, "Faced with existential threats, we must not act out of external pressure, but rather out of our national conscience. Just as an individual is obligated to do whatever it takes to defend their home, the State of Israel is obligated to do what Israel must do. "History teaches us a painful lesson: every time we chose the path of containment, deferred a decisive outcome, or relied on a false quiet, we paid the heaviest price. Let me be unequivocally clear: the era of endless rounds of fighting is over. Not in Gaza, not in Lebanon, and not against Iran. I demand that the Prime Minister allow IDF soldiers to continue the critical work of demolishing homes, eliminating Hezbollah terrorists, and keeping residents away from their houses - we must not operate according to understandings reached between Trump and Khamenei," Ben Gvir added. (Read More)

Gulf states could be left in the lurch and exposed by the US-Iran deal

After being caught in the crossfire of a war they didn’t want, wealthy Arab states are now ‘subjected to what amounts to blackmail’ from both Iran and the US, experts say.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — After bearing the brunt of Iran’s attacks in a war they never wanted, the US-Iran deal has left Gulf states feeling exposed to proxies and missiles and frustrated with an unreliable US ally, analysts said. Tehran’s aerial salvoes and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have posed an existential threat to the Gulf countries and their economic model. The memorandum of understanding due to be signed this week will not permanently end the war. It buys negotiators another 60 days, extending a state of uncertainty that is bad for business.

The agreement shies away from key Gulf security concerns, forcing countries in the region to seek their own channels with Iran to protect their interests as they face an emboldened neighbor while US President Donald Trump is eager to end the war quickly, experts have said. Everything suggests that the memorandum “will almost certainly fail to address the Gulf states’ core security concerns over Iran’s offensive military capabilities, notably its missiles, drones, and regional militia networks,” said Hasan Alhasan of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Gulf leaders have long had close ties to Trump. They showered him with praise, pledged to invest billions in the American economy, and courted his entourage. But as the US security umbrella faltered, they were “left to fend for themselves,” according to Andreas Krieg, a security expert at King’s College London. When Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, Gulf states supported that move. They had long complained the deal failed to involve them and address Iran’s missile program and proxies. (Read More)

Iran's greatest nuclear deception

For months, Iran dragged out the talks, delayed responses, modified positions, and repeatedly postponed decisions. The conventional explanation was that Tehran was bargaining for a better deal. Perhaps it was. But there may be another explanation. Iran may have been buying time to prepare a deception. Suppose that Iran's objective was to remove enriched uranium from its known locations before any agreement was signed. Such an operation would require planning, transportation, concealment, and coordination. Time would be essential.

Viewed through that lens, the subsequent burial or inaccessibility of the original site takes on a different meaning. The visible destruction attracts attention, while the more important question remains unanswered: Was the uranium still there when the site became inaccessible? If the material had already been removed, the deception becomes remarkably simple. First, move the uranium. Second, make the original site inaccessible so inspectors cannot verify whether the uranium is still there. Third, convince the world that the uranium remains at that location, so nobody looks for it anywhere else. The result is predictable. Scrutiny declines. Pressure declines. The search stops.

Meanwhile, the uranium remains hidden, inspectors are looking in the wrong place-if they are looking at all-and the nuclear program can continue out of sight. This is the magician's trick. The objective is not to hide the uranium. The objective is to hide its absence. But there may be a second layer to the strategy. While negotiations were dragging on, Hezbollah continued violating the ceasefire and attacking Israel. Every such attack increased the probability of an Israeli response. Tehran understands this perfectly. Once Israel retaliates, attention shifts. Instead of discussing Iranian conduct, the discussion becomes focused on Israeli conduct. Iran gains additional time, additional diplomatic cover, and another reason to delay.

More importantly, Israel becomes the obstacle to peace in the public narrative. An eager American administration seeking an agreement may then find itself blaming Israel for standing between diplomacy and stability rather than blaming Iran for creating the crisis in the first place. This raises a troubling question. If retaliation is considered legitimate when American forces or interests are attacked, why is Israeli retaliation treated differently when Hezbollah attacks Israeli civilians and communities? The principle should be the same. The party that initiates the aggression should bear responsibility for the consequences. Instead, the burden increasingly falls on the party responding to the aggression. (Read More)

"The nuclear issue, they did not deal with it. Regime change, obviously not. Missiles, obviously not. The proxies, obviously not. They are not included in the agreement," Vilan said.

It's too early to know what will come out of the agreement between the US and Iran, said Avner Vilan, a former senior security official and expert on Iran's nuclear program, on Monday. "Will we see tricks and gimmicks?" he asked, "The Iranians have no problem lying." "The nuclear issue, let's see what is included in the final agreement. I think we will be surprised, with an asterisk. For that matter, there is a draft that was published yesterday by the Iranians. The draft says that Iran will completely stop its enrichment."

"I have not yet seen this draft agreement; there have been many leaks, but we need to see what is written there. If what was published is what they actually signed, then this agreement is basically a general statement of intent in exchange for immediate relief from pressure," Vilan explained." Opening the Strait of Hormuz in both directions, a halt to the fighting, and then there will be a mechanism through which the Iranians will start receiving money, sanctions will be lifted, they will start giving up their nuclear project," he said.

Vilan then spoke about what the Iranians would receive immediately after signing the agreement: 'The immediate money they will get is the lifting of sanctions on oil exports. Iran has not exported oil since the start of the war, and that is a significant loss for them. Exports become legal, and sanctions on Iran will be removed. "What exactly does that mean? The devil is going to be in the details, and those details are being dodged right now," Vilan warned. He then explained that certain key and complex issueswould need more attention than this draft agreement seemed to provide. (Read More)

THE TELEGRAPH: Trump is turning victory in Iran into an American humiliation

What was the point? On the upside, Iran has sustained the mother of all military and economic batterings. On the downside, it appears to be rapidly rebuilding its strength. And under the terms of a new "peace" deal, will it soon be aided by many billions of dollars of sanctions relief from the very president who condemned Barack Obama for doing just that? Before the war, America's deterrent was fearsome; Donald Trump was able to press Hamas into a hostage deal in Gaza with apocalyptic rhetoric alone. Who will take him seriously now? We were told "a whole civilisation would die", but with Trump at the helm, it is Western civilisation that finds itself in decline.

On February 28, the mightiest military power in history was mobilised against the evillest regime on Earth. Four months later, we have no answer to the nuclear question; no containment of Iran's proxies; no curbs on its ballistic missiles; no guarantees on Hormuz; no regime change in Tehran. This is not just a humiliation for Washington but, with China and Russia taking notes, an extremely dangerous one. The buck stops with Trump. There was a plan, we now know, to unleash Kurdish fighters from Iraq, which – despite concerns about their allegiances, numbers and effectiveness, not to mention the effect on Arab neighbours – may have made the difference.

Yet, reportedly after lobbying from Turkey's dangerous Islamist leader, the president cancelled it, leaving his weapon to go off half-cocked. He also ignored Israeli advice to continue strikes during the talks, needlessly handing the enemy breathing space. Then there was Hormuz. According to Elliott Abrams, formerly Trump's envoy on both Iran and Venezuela, whom I recently interviewed on The Brink, the president ignored his military experts and ran the war based on his gut. Thus he ignored the central concern of wargames since time immemorial and, well, hoped for the best. He got the worst. But who cares, right? He has staged a UFC fight on the White House lawn. The mullahs must be loving it.

Not only did Trump apparently disdain his advisors, he disdained his allies, too. Europe, which already jumps at its own shadow, was not brought on board – the Ayatollah's London office remains open and his ambassador in place – the Gulf states were riven with disunity and Turkey and Pakistan were handed outsized influence. This was not leadership. It was incompetence. Worst of all, those with the most to lose were the most severely betrayed. Most poignantly, the Iranian people. In January, Trump posted "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! ... HELP IS ON ITS WAY". Some might well have sacrificed their lives in response. Yesterday, the president remarked that he "never cared about regime change". Thanks for that.

Secondly, Israel. The Jewish state has suffered greatly from the pernicious narrative that Benjamin Netanyahu led Trump into this war by the nose. The Iranian regime has masterfully exploited this.
At the most sensitive moments in the talks, their proxy, Hezbollah, has provoked Israel into military responses, infuriating the gullible Trump, who has lambasted Netanyahu as a "difficult guy" who has "no f---ing judgment". Tehran is driving a wedge between the allies and the president can't see it. So they continue. Overnight, Hezbollah fired on Israeli civilians. How will Trump react when Jerusalem retaliates? Increasingly, by pinning the blame on Bibi and taking the side of Iran. (Source)

'We are all shocked’ by deal, worry that regime will feel it ‘won,' Iranian source tells 'Post'

Iranians who oppose the regime are “shocked” by the emerging details of an agreement between the US and Iran, an Iranian source told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. The source, who is in touch with Iranians inside Iran and is knowledgeable about the situation on the ground nationwide, discussed how the emerging agreement is being received in Iran. The source said that friends say “everything was going on organically to the advantage of the Iranian people and the world since the first war in June 2025 started against the Islamic Republic.”

The source discussed the 12-day war and how that conflict, which began with Israeli strikes on Iran, was successful. However, the source said that dissidents in Iran have been surprised by the outcome of the Trump administration’s involvement. “He came to harvest what Israelis had planted while the tree was still a sapling, and he ruined the seeding.” The source said that one surprising comment among opponents of the regime is talk about how hardliners could stage a military coup inside Iran. This is because there is opposition to an emerging deal within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “There’s numbers [sic] of hardliners in the regime body yet,” the source said, then claimed that “reformists in the IRGC” have been doing “a purge in recent months. They isolated the hardliners.”

The concern is that within Iran, the regime perceives an emerging deal, apparently mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, as a win for Tehran.“ On Iranian state TV, they described it as the victory of the axis of resistance against the US,” the source notes. “We are all shocked. I was talking with a friend in Iran a few hours ago. They can’t believe they made the deal.” The concern among those who oppose the regime in Iran is that the US has been convinced to make this deal. (Read More)

Trump Stabbed Israel in the Back

Trump gave Iran $12 billion, a lifted blockade, and a nuclear deferral, while screaming at Netanyahu and cutting Israel out entirely. This isn't a deal. It's a surrender. Donald Trump, the man who spent years thundering that Barack Obama's Iran deal was the worst agreement in the history of diplomacy, has just handed Tehran a package that makes the JCPOA look like maximum pressure. He has rewarded Iran with $12 billion in unfrozen assets before negotiations even begin, a lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, an end to oil sanctions, and the implicit international legitimacy the regime has craved for decades. And in exchange? Iran has "committed" not to build a nuclear bomb. A verbal commitment. From the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Where have we heard that before? Obama at least got centrifuges dismantled, enriched uranium shipped out of the country, and IAEA inspectors on the ground. Trump got a memorandum of understanding, a signing ceremony in Switzerland, and a thumbs-up from Putin and Xi Jinping, whom he effusively thanked for their help. He is proud of this. He said so. Meanwhile, Iran's military issued a triumphant statement declaring that it had "humiliated" the United States and Israel. The ayatollahs are dancing in the streets of Tehran, and why wouldn't they be? They closed the Strait of Hormuz, bled the global economy, survived U.S. and Israeli strikes on their nuclear sites, and emerged from the wreckage with their regime intact, their enrichment program unresolved, $24 billion coming their way, and the promise of more.

And Israel? Israel wasn't even in the room.

Not consulted. Not included. Not warned. The country most existentially threatened by an Iranian bomb was simply handed a ceasefire framework it didn't ask for, told to stop hitting Hezbollah targets in Beirut, and informed by the President of the United States that its Prime Minister is "a very difficult guy" who "should be very thankful." On another call, according to multiple sourced reports, Trump reportedly screamed at Netanyahu: "You're f---ing crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. Everybody hates Israel because of you." That is how America's closest ally in the Middle East was treated while Trump was busy cutting deals with the people who chant "Death to Israel" at Friday prayers.  (Ed note: WOW. Don't sugar coat it, tell it like it is!)      (Read More)