Trump says ‘decimation’ of Iran’s army ‘to be continued’ after he and China’s Xi discuss Hormuz

US President Donald Trump counted “the military decimation of Iran” among his administration’s accomplishments in a social media post on Thursday, adding, “to be continued!” The phrase, included in a lengthy Truth Social post, suggested he may resume the war against Iran after he returns from his trip to China on Friday. A ceasefire took effect in the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic in early April, though American-Iranian talks have yet to lead to an agreement. “I am not going to be much more patient,” Trump said in an interview aired on Thursday night on Fox News’ “Hannity” program. “They should make a deal.”

US Central Command head Admiral Brad Cooper said in testimony to a US Senate committee on Thursday that the war had significantly degraded Iran’s military capability but that it retained the ability to strike. Tensions also remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, the key pathway for the global oil supply that Iran has blocked since the war began in late February. On Thursday, a ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates was seized and was heading toward Iranian waters, the British military said, while India said a cargo ship was sunk amid the battle over the strait.

Trump said earlier that Chinese President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the strait, and pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in the war. “He said he’s not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump told the “Hannity” show, after the two leaders met in Beijing. “He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said, ‘If I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.'” After talks between Trump and Xi on Thursday, the White House said the leaders had agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China’s opposition to the militarization of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.

He also expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s future dependence on the strait, and the leaders agreed that Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons, the readout said. Tehran denies seeking such weapons, but it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. (Read More)

Iran’s FM Araghchi: Tehran has ‘no trust’ in US, will only negotiate if it’s serious

Tehran has “no trust” in the US and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is serious, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says, as talks on ending the war remain on hold. All vessels can pass through the Strait of Hormuz except those at war with Tehran, Araghchi tells reporters in New Delhi during a visit to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, adding that vessels wanting to transit should coordinate with its navy. The situation around the key conduit is “very complicated,” he says.

“Contradictory messages” have made Iran reluctant about the real intention of the Americans on negotiations, Araghchi says, adding that the mediation process by Pakistan has not failed but is in “difficulty.” Iran is trying to keep the ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance but is also prepared to go back to fighting, he says.

Araghchi’s statement on Friday comes hours after US President Donald Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and that he’d agreed in talks with Chinese President Xi ​Jinping that Tehran must reopen the strait. Araghchi says Iran would “appreciate any country who has the ability to help, particularly China.” (Source)

WATCH: 'All of Israel is ours': Smotrich calls to annex West Bank in Jerusalem Day speech

"The time has come for us to finally erase the lines that distinguish between Areas A, B, and C, the entire Land of Israel is ours," Smotrich said at the Religious Zionist Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called to annex the entirety of the West Bank during a speech at a Jerusalem Day rally on Thursday night. Smotrich was addressing students and faculty at the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem - a flagship institution of the Religious Zionist movement, established by the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook, in the 1920s. Smotrich studied at the institution when he was younger.

"We have organized all the new young settlements, and approved more than a hundred new settlements in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said. "In the last three years, we have approved 60,000 housing units in Judea and Samaria. The people of Israel are returning home, and this time forever!" he continued. "The time has come to finally erase the lines that separate Areas A, B, and C. I placed a detailed plan on the cabinet table this week, and I call on the prime minister to adopt it. All of the land of Israel is ours," he added.

Areas A, B, and C are categories for administrative divisions of the West Bank established under the Oslo Accords. "For two and a half years, we have been in the midst of a hard and long war - a war that also costs us heavily, but also with great achievements on all fronts," he said, naming several senior Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas leaders killed since the October 7 massacre. He also praised the passing of the controversial death penalty bill, saying that Nukhba force terrorists will "soon go to hell." (Read More)

IDF striking near Tyre after repeated launches towards Israel

Hezbollah explosive drones fall near the Israel-Lebanon border, forcing students in northern Israel to remain in school after final bell rings.

The IDF is striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon, following a Hezbollah attack on northern Israeli communities. On Friday afternoon, as the last bell of the day rang in schools around Israel, Hezbollah terrorists launched explosive drones towards Israeli territory, setting off sirens in Even Menachem, Shomera, and Zarit. Due to indications of a hostile aircraft infiltration, students in the Maaleh Yosef Regional Council remained in their schools after the bell rang, instead of setting out for home. 

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in northern Israel, a number of explosive drones fell inside Israeli territory, near the Israel-Lebanon border," the IDF said. "No injuries were reported." Two of the drones were reported as having detonated near Shomera.

Earlier on Friday, sirens sounded in the areas of Masad and Eilabun in northern Israel after one projectile that crossed from Lebanon toward Israeli territory was intercepted. "These incidents constitute an additional violation of the ceasefire understandings by the Hezbollah terrorist organization," the IDF added. (Source)

Chief of Staff on eastern border: Prepare for surprise attack

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visits General Staff exercise simulating widescale terrorist assault, says military must maintain constant readiness for surprise attacks on Israel’s borders.

IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir on Friday visited the surprise General Staff exercise, in the eastern border area. He was joined by the Head of the Operations Directorate, MG Itzik Cohen; the Commander of the Ground Forces, MG Nadav Lotan; the Commander of the Central Command, MG Avi Bluth; the Commander of the 80th Division, BG Israel Friedler; the Commander of the 96th Division, BG Oren Simcha; and additional commanders. During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff held a situational assessment, drilled the division’s troops who had been called up, and examined their preparedness for a variety of scenarios. 

"One of the main lessons taken from the October 7th massacre is the need for a high and constant level of readiness for a surprise attack on our borders, from the platoon level to the General Staff," Zamir said during the visit. "This is what we are practicing here today - a General Staff exercise simulating defense against a wide-scale terrorist attack with complex scenarios in a challenging sector, with the mission of defending our borders and the residents of the area as our top priority."

He added, "This exercise is an important and significant drill that reflects the lessons we have learned and implemented, as well as the great importance we place on these sectors. It is our duty to strengthen our preparedness and remain alert and vigilant in the face of a surprise attack scenario. A force capable of arriving quickly at a deadly scene can contain the incident in its initial stages and reduce its scope. We activated multi-domain reserve and standby troops, including aerial support and the deployment of special forces by air - all of this is what we are practicing today." (Ed note: "surprise attack on Israel’s borders." What about a scenario where all the countries that surround Israel, also called the 'inner circle,' attack Israel at one time? That scenario is called Psalm 83.) (Read More)

CENTCOM: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis have been cut off from Iran’s weapons support

Before a US Senate committee, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, stated that the Iranian threat had been "significantly reduced." Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbors and U.S. interests in the region has been “considerably reduced,” CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper told a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Cooper said the Iranian threat has been “greatly diminished,” adding that Tehran “no longer threatens regional partners or the United States as it could in the past,” in any domain. He attributed the shift to the effects of recent military pressure, saying Iran’s capabilities have been “significantly weakened.” He noted that, prior to the conflict, Iran’s regional proxy network carried out more than 350 attacks against U.S. forces and diplomatic personnel over a 30-month period, roughly one attack every three days, resulting in the deaths of four American service members.

“Today, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are all cut off from weapons supplies and support from Iran,” the CENTCOM chief said. Cooper also highlighted changes in U.S. air defense tactics, saying American forces have reduced reliance on expensive high-end interceptors to counter Iranian drones, shifting instead toward more cost-effective munitions due to concerns over limited stockpiles. He further claimed that Iran’s drone inventory has been reduced to roughly 10% of its previous capacity. Despite a fragile ceasefire lasting about a month, sporadic clashes between Iranian and U.S.-aligned forces are still being reported. (Source)

Egypt Under Pressure: Sisi Struggles to Balance Economic Ruin with Regional War

Struggling with a massive flight of foreign capital and a collapsing economy, Egypt is fighting to maintain its status as a regional power while the war with Iran threatens its internal stability. 

Egypt is currently trapped in a paradoxical position, according to analysis by Professor Uzi Rabi. While the nation remains a vital strategic player with control over the Suez Canal, its internal economic foundations are crumbling under the weight of regional wars. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is navigating a landscape where Egypt is no longer the undisputed leader of the Arab world, yet it remains the primary buffer against total regional collapse. The ongoing war between Israel and Iran, combined with the instability in Gaza, has placed Cairo in a defensive crouch, fearing that economic hardship could lead to domestic unrest.

The economic numbers are particularly grim. Since the start of the war with Iran, approximately $10 billion in short term foreign capital has fled the country. This exodus of wealth is a direct threat to Egypt's internal stability, impacting everything from energy prices to tourism. Furthermore, Egypt relies on Israel for 15 to 20 percent of its natural gas supply. When the Leviathan gas field was temporarily shut down due to fears of an Iranian strike, the flow of energy to Egypt stopped, highlighting just how vulnerable the country has become to external shocks.

In response to these pressures, Sisi recently hosted French President Emmanuel Macron to present a list of demands. Egypt is seeking European backing for its stance against the displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula, as well as financial credit and investment to keep its economyafloat. The message to Europe is clear: if the West wants Egypt to remain a "defense wall" against refugees and a protector of global trade through the Suez Canal, it must provide immediate and substantial economic and political support.

On the diplomatic front, Egypt is performing a delicate balancing act regarding Iran. While Cairo frequently condemns Tehran to please its allies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it has no interest in joining a military coalition against the Islamic Republic. Instead, Egypt is partnering with countries like Pakistan and Turkey to call for an immediate ceasefire. For Sisi, the war is not a distant geopolitical game, it is an immediate tax on his country’s survival, manifesting in rising insurance premiums for ships in the Suez and a sharp drop in export declarations. (Read More)

Report: US military considering switching name of Iran war to ‘Operation Sledgehammer’ if ceasefire collapses

The US military is considering switching the name of the conflict with Iran to “Operation Sledgehammer” if the ceasefire fully collapses and President Donald Trump orders a return to fighting, NBC reports. Two US officials tell the outlet that the Pentagon is considering renaming “Operation Epic Fury.”

The broadcaster says that the name change could allow Trump to argue that there is a reset on the 60-day clock that would require US Congress to authorize a war.

NBC says that the Trump administration declared an end to Operation Epic Fury with the implementation of the ceasefire, but notes that the Pentagon has continued to use the name. US officials tell the outlet that other names are also under consideration and that the discussions are a sign that Trump is seriously weighing a return to hostilities. (Source)

Operation Sledgehammer: The Pentagon Prepares for a Total Collapse of the Ceasefire

The Pentagon is reportedly planning to rename its military campaign against Iran to "Operation Sledgehammer" in a move that could allow President Trump to bypass legal limits on war powers.    

Signs are mounting that the United States is preparing for a return to active combat with Iran as ceasefire negotiations appear on the verge of total collapse. A report on Tuesday indicated that the Defense Department is considering rebranding its regional military effort from "Operation Epic Fury" to "Operation Sledgehammer." This change reflects a growing expectation within the Pentagon that the current pause in major combat operations will not last.

The proposed name change carries significant legal weight under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. This law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of starting combat, starting a 60-day clock for either withdrawal or congressional approval. Because "Operation Epic Fury" was paused at the 40-day mark, a new operation name could legally "reset" the clock, allowing the administration to continue the war without immediate legislative interference.

President Trump has become increasingly aggressive in his public comments regarding the ceasefire. On Truth Social, he labeled Iran’s recent proposals as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" and told reporters the current diplomatic efforts are on "massive life support." Trump officially rejected the latest offer from Tehran, calling it a "garbage" deal that failed to meet American security requirements. (Read More)

Bolton's Blunt Warning: Iran Talks Are "A Waste of Oxygen" - And the Plutonium Nobody Is Talking About

As Trump and Vance edge toward a historic nuclear framework with Tehran, John Bolton issues a bone-chilling warning: Negotiators are ignoring 210 tons of spent fuel at the Bushehr reactor, enough for over 200 nuclear weapons.

As US and Iranian negotiators inch toward a possible framework agreement, one of America's most hawkish former officials is sounding the alarm, not just about the talks themselves, but about a nuclear threat hiding in plain sight that almost nobody in the room is addressing. John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser during Trump's first term, didn't mince words in a recent interview. Negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran, he said flatly, is "a waste of oxygen."

His argument: in 47 years, Tehran has never once abandoned its strategic objective of acquiring nuclear weapons, not under sanctions, not under diplomatic pressure, not under military strikes. They have lied, cheated, and violated every agreement they ever signed, Bolton contends, including covertly building a replica of North Korea's Yongbyon reactor in the Syrian desert, a facility discovered and destroyed by Israel in September 2007.

...While US negotiators have laser-focused on Iran's uranium enrichment program, the 440 kilograms enriched to 60% purity, the centrifuge cascades at Natanz and Fordow, Bolton and a growing chorus of nonproliferation expertsRussiawarn that a second, potentially larger nuclear threat is sitting untouched in a n-built power plant on Iran's southern coast. Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom, which built and has operated the Bushehr reactor for 15 years, has confirmed that 210 tons of spent nuclear fuel are now stored at the site. Cross-referencing that figure with IAEA reactor performance logs, nuclear experts calculate the spent fuel contains enough plutonium to manufacture more than 200 nuclear weapons. That is not a typo. Two hundred bombs. From a civilian power plant. Sitting in a spent fuel pond with, until recently, inspectors visiting only once every 90 days. 

...The process of chemically stripping plutonium from spent fuel is not as technically forbidding as it sounds. A 1977 US government assessment found that a facility roughly the size of a basketball court, using technology little more advanced than dairy production, could accomplish the separation. Bolton's position is that all of it is theater. Iran made its strategic decision about nuclear weapons 47 years ago, he argues, and has never wavered, not in its words to diplomats, and certainly not in its actions. After Israel launched a major strike on Iran's nuclear facilities last year, Bolton told CNN: "There was never a chance, let me say that again, never a chance that Iran was going to agree to any kind of deal that we would find acceptable. Diplomacy had no chance, given Iran's objectives." (Read More)

No Strings Attached: Israel Rejects Any U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal That Limits Action

Energy Minister Eli Cohen has declared that Israel is not bound by any potential U.S.-Iran agreement and will act with full force to neutralize Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen, a key member of Israel's security cabinet, has stated that the country will act forcefully against Iran regardless of any agreements signed with the United States. In a recent interview, Cohen emphasized that Israel’s primary commitment is to its own security and that the government will not allow Tehran to renew its nuclear or ballistic missile programs under the cover of a diplomatic deal. Cohen highlighted the unprecedented partnership between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, noting that they are united in striking what he called the "Nazi tyrant of our time." He detailed the extensive damage already inflicted on Iran, including the destruction of its defense industries, critical damage to nuclear sites, and the elimination of key military leadership and scientists.

Regarding the ballistic missile threat, Cohen claimed a major achievement in the war has been the crippling of Iran’s manufacturing capabilities. "We prevented them from being able to manufacture hundreds of ballistic missiles each year," he said, warning that if Iran attempts to rebuild these programs, "we will be there" to stop them with or without an international agreement.  Israel Will Act Against Iran AloneNo Strings Attached: Israel Rejects Any U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal That Limits Action12:50•middle east to the northern front, Cohen dismissed current reports of a ceasefire in Lebanon as "fake." He clarified that the IDF has not retreated from the 7 to 8-kilometer zone it controls inside southern Lebanon and continues to actively flatten villages to prevent terrorist infiltrations and anti-tank missile threats. He suggested that a large-scale war in Lebanon is likely inevitable unless Hezbollah is disarmed.

The Minister also addressed the new Syrian government, suggesting that it is too early to consider any formal arrangements. Regarding European sanctions on right-wing organizations and activists in Israel, Cohen was defiant, stating that "bending the knee does not exist in our lexicon." He argued that Israel’s technological and military power provides enough leverage to resist international pressure. Cohen concluded by reinforcing that Israel is stronger than it was a year ago and remains fully prepared to take independent military action. He stated that anyone seeking to destroy the State of Israel will face total neutralization of their capabilities, regardless of the diplomatic environment or the actions of global powers. (Ed note: Remember, the Arab can fight and lose all day long, the Jew can only fight and lose once.)   (Read More)

Iranian FM threatens UAE, claims Tehran knew of Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi

Threatening the UAE, Iran says it knew of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ostensible visit to Abu Dhabi at the height of the now-suspended US-Israeli campaign against Tehran.

“Netanyahu has now publicly revealed what Iran’s security services long ago conveyed to our leadership,” writes Abbas Araghchi on X, without explaining why Iran didn’t go public weeks ago with the intelligence he claims it had.

“Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble,” continues Araghchi. “Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable.” “Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account.” (Source)

The Battle for Beirut: Hezbollah Plots a Violent Takeover of the Lebanese Capital

Desperate and facing financial collapse, Hezbollah has developed a detailed plan to seize control of Beirut and silence internal critics of the war with Israel. 

Intelligence reports emerging from the Lebanese capital suggest that Hezbollah is preparing for a domestic military takeover to shore up its crumbling authority. The terror organization has reportedly finalized a plan to occupy key sectors of Beirut in an effort to marginalize moderate political figures who have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of the group's actions. This move comes as the Lebanese public grows weary of a war that has brought the country to the brink of total ruin. 

The pressure on Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, has reached unprecedented levels. Qassem is currently being forced to split his dwindling military resources between three fronts: the active combat zones in South Lebanon, the logistical hubs in the Bekaa Valley, and the streets of Beirut. This fragmentation of his forces is a direct result of the relentless IDF campaign that has decimated the group’s infrastructure and killed a significant portion of its mid-level leadership.

A primary driver of this internal desperation is the total collapse of Hezbollah’s financial network. Israeli strikes have successfully targeted the group’s economic assets, including banks, currency exchanges, and even gas stations used to fund its operations. Compounding this crisis is the report that Iran has dramatically reduced its direct cash transfers to Lebanon, leaving the terror group unable to support the hundreds of thousands of displaced Shia civilians who traditionally form its base of support.

In the south, the situation for the terror group is even more dire. Major General Rafi Milo of the Northern Command recently presented evidence to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir showing significant progress in dismantling Hezbollah’s "terror villages." The IDF’s rapid destruction of tunnels and weapon depots has convinced the Hezbollah leadership that Israel is planning a permanent division of Lebanese territory, a fear that is driving Qassem to make increasingly erratic tactical decisions. (Ed note: This is getting interesting. If there is a battle for the city of Beirut, and Hezbollah loses and is driven out, to which cites would they run? The biblical cities of Sidon, Tyre, or Sarafand? Just a thought.) (Read More)

Board of Peace envoy: Hamas tightening its grip on Gaza, taxing those with nothing left

The Board of Peace’s Gaza envoy said Wednesday that Hamas is consolidating its power in the Strip, while dragging its feet in agreeing to a US-backed framework for handing over its weapons that has led to the stalling of plans to rebuild the war-damaged enclave. “Hamas is consolidating its grip on the population. It is taxing people in the street who have nothing left to give,” Nickolay Mladenov said during a briefing with foreign reporters in Jerusalem. Mladenov held the rare media engagement as the Board of Peace struggles to determine how best to proceed after Hamas again bucked its disarmament proposal at the start of May.

Since then, the Board of Peace’s high representative for the Gaza Strip has traveled twice for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials in Jerusalem, using the opportunities to press Israel to adhere to its own commitments in the October 2025 ceasefire deal, which established the Board of Peace to oversee the postwar management of Gaza.

Dismissing a questions about Israel resuming military operations to disarm Hamas, which it was unable to do through two-plus years of war sparked by the terror group’s attack on October 7, 2023, Mladenov asserted the only options on the table are continuing the status quo or for Hamas to accept the disarmament framework, which he asserted for the first time offers Gazans a future. (Read More)

Sources: Saudi Arabia struck Iran-backed militias in Iraq

Sources confirmed to the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait launched direct military strikes into Iraq to neutralize Tehran-backed Shiite proxies. The operations, which were conducted alongside the broader conflict involving US and Israeli actions against Iran, targeted the sophisticated drone and missile infrastructure used by militias to terrorize Gulf states. The Reuters report said that Saudi Air Force fighter jets struck militia targets near the Kingdom’s northern border, specifically focusing on sites used to launch projectiles at Saudi energy facilities. These strikes reportedly intensified around the time of the April 7 ceasefire, demonstrating Riyadh's resolve to eliminate threats emanating from its neighbor.

The report further indicated that the retaliation was not limited to the air. Iraqi military assessments suggest that rockets were launched from Kuwaiti territory on at least two occasions. One such operation in April successfully decimated a southern Iraqi facility belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah militia. The strike reportedly killed several terrorists and destroyed a vital hub for Iranian-led communications and drone sorties.

While it remains unclear if the rockets were fired by Kuwaiti forces or the US military stationed there, the actions follow months of escalating frustration. Kuwait summoned Iraq’s representative three times during the conflict to protest cross-border aggression, including the violent storming of the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra. The report comes a day after Reuters revealed that Saudi Arabia carried out a series of unpublicized military strikes against Iran during the height of the recent regional conflict.

According to Western and Iranian officials, the Saudi Air Force targeted Iranian territory in late March, marking the first time the Kingdom has engaged in direct military action on the soil of its chief regional adversary. The strikes were described as "tit-for-tat" retaliation following a series of Iranian-led drone and missile barrages that targeted Saudi civilian infrastructure, airports, and oil facilities. The report on the Saudi strikes came one day after The Wall Street Journal reported that the United Arab Emirates had also launched strikes against Iran during the current conflict. (Source)

Lockheed Martin Triples Missile Production as New Munitions Center Breaks Ground

Lockheed Martin recently broke ground on a new Munitions Acceleration Center in Camden, Arkansas. The mission: Give American workers the tools to build the world’s most advanced missile systems at a volume the world hasn’t seen. Built on a 2.2-million-square-foot campus spanning more than 2,400 acres, this new facility will integrate advanced manufacturing, robotics, and digital twin technologies to drive higher output with greater precision and reliability.

This is just the beginning. Over the next three years, Lockheed Martin will spend billions to build and modernize more than 20 facilities in Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas. This includes new production lines, upgrades to existing facilities, incorporation of advanced manufacturing techniques, and re‑engineered layouts designed to meet the urgent demand coming from the Pentagon and our allies. Collectively, these efforts will expand Lockheed Martin’s munitions acceleration footprint by more than 40 percent, adding more than 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space, with another one million square feet already planned to meet rising demand. In fact, since 2016, Lockheed Martin has increased deliveries of six critical munitions by more than 220 percent and will continue to invest and innovate and speed and scale.

These investments also translate to tens of thousands of specialized American jobs. Since 2016, Lockheed Martin’s production workforce alone has grown by more than 60 percent, with a projected additional 50 percent increase by 2030.Production volume is only as strong as the supply chain behind it. Lockheed Martin works with more than 13,000 suppliers and has implemented dual-source strategies, selective insourcing of critical components and real-time supply chain monitoring to identify potential bottlenecks before they affect output. Recently, more than 200 domestic and international suppliers gathered at an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) summit hosted by Lockheed Martin to align production priorities and strengthen collaboration across the industrial base.

The message was clear: capacity and coordination are essential to meeting today’s security demands. Lockheed Martin is making a direct investment in U.S. jobs, U.S. industry and U.S. security, creating tens of thousands of high-quality American jobs across manufacturing, engineering and skilled trades. These investments ensure America and its allies have the proven capabilities needed to protect people, infrastructure and freedom around the globe. (Source)

Analysis: Oil spill near Iran's Kharg Island still ongoing but may be shrinking

Satellite imagery analyzed by a Japanese company indicates that a likely oil spill spotted off Iran's Kharg Island may still be ongoing, though it appears to be shrinking. The island, located deep inside the Persian Gulf, hosts one of the world's largest oil export hubs. It handles ninety percent of Iran's crude oil exports. The Associated Press reported that, according to expert analysis of satellite imagery provided by the European Space Agency, the oil slick has been spreading off Kharg Island as of Friday. An estimated 80,000 barrels of oil was spilled.

Japanese data analysis firm Ridge-i analyzed satellite imagery taken from May 2 through May 12 using AI. The suspected spill appears in the images as a red formation. The analysis shows that as of last Wednesday, a massive oil spill had occurred off the western and southern coasts of the island. The slick appears to have drifted more than 30 kilometers to the south by Monday.

Satellite images taken on Monday and Tuesday also show what appears to be a fresh slick off the island's eastern coast. This suggests the oil spill may possibly be ongoing, although the overall scale is shrinking. The cause of the spill, which is currently unknown, may have been either an attack or a malfunction of an oil storage facility.

With the situation in Iran remaining tense, efforts to recover the oil are expected to be difficult, raising concerns over the impact on the environment. Ridge-i executive Hatakeyama Waku said oil spills are known to cause serious harm to ecosystems in the immediate vicinity. He added his company will continue to monitor the slick, which he believes is an important mission. (Source)

4.6 magnitude Earthquake jolts Tehran; no casualties, damage reported

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A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Tehran on Tuesday (May 12), with no casualties or major damage reported by Iranian authorities

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Tehran on Tuesday (May 12), according to Iranian state media citing the country’s seismological center. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles), the center said. Iran’s state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that the tremor hit the border region between Tehran and Mazandaran provinces. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant material damage following the quake. (Source)

Iran Rocked by Overnight Earthquakes

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that the tremors were recorded over a single night in eastern Tehran province, near the Mosha fault, one of the country’s most active seismic zones. State media said one of the earthquakes reached a magnitude of 4.6, but no casualties or material damage were reported. A series of nine small earthquakes struck the Pardis area east of Tehranovernight, renewing concerns that the Iranian capital remains highly vulnerable to a major seismic disaster.

Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that the tremors were recorded over a single night in eastern Tehran province, near the Mosha fault, one of the country’s most active seismic zones. State media said one of the earthquakes reached a magnitude of 4.6, but no casualties or material damage were reported. Small earthquakes are common in the region, but experts noted that several tremors occurring in sequence is less routine and has raised questions about whether deeper tectonic pressure is shifting beneath the capital area.

Semi-official Mehr cited seismologist Mehdi Zare as saying it remains unclear whether the activity reflects a release of built-up seismic energy, which could reduce pressure along the fault, or whether it may point to stronger activity ahead. He said the pattern requires close monitoring because of Tehran’s location near several major active faults. The capital sits close to the North Tehran, Mosha and Rey fault systems, all of which have long been identified by Iranian experts as serious hazards. Tehran’s risk is compounded by its size, dense construction, aging infrastructure and limited emergency preparedness.

Zare warned that even moderate earthquakes can cause significant disruption in the city because of congestion, fragile buildings and the difficulty of moving emergency crews through crowded neighborhoods. A larger earthquake near the capital could have catastrophic consequences. The greater Tehran metropolitan area is home to more than 14 million people, making any major seismic event a national crisis. Iranian seismologists have repeatedly warned that the city is not prepared for a powerful earthquake, despite years of public discussion about the danger. (Read More)

Iran retains access to majority of missile launch sites, US intelligence shows - report

The United States believes Iran has regained access to a majority of its missile sites, according to a New York Times report on Tuesday. The NYT cited senior US officials, who warned that Iran's active missile sites include 30 along the Strait of Hormuz, posing a threat to US naval ships in the area. According to the report, Iran can still use the missile stockpiles in non-operational sites by launching them with mobile launchers, with the country maintaining roughly 70% of its mobile launcher inventory.

The report additionally cited US military agencies, which claimed that 90% of Iranian underground missile facilities are at least partially operational. In addition, Iran's current missile stockpile still stands at around 70% of its prewar stockpile, according to the NYT report. On April 11, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran still retains thousands of short-range ballistic missiles and has the ability to reactivate their launchers, citing a US intelligence assessment. The report came amid statements by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran's arsenal has been "depleted and decimated."

According to the WSJ, Iran's short and medium-range missile stockpile remains in the thousands despite a massive depletion since the start of Operation Epic Fury, with such missiles possibly able to be dug out of bombed storage sites, such as those mentioned in the Tuesday NYT report. This suggests that Iran retains plenty of ammunition to hit its neighboring countries. Notably, The Jerusalem Postpreviously reported that Iran retains a maximum of 1,000 missiles that are capable of reaching Israel. (Ed note: "30 active missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz pose a threat to US naval ships in the area." Sounds like a job for the sea going Marines and the guys who jump out of helicopters. Don't wait too long, President Trump.)    (Source)

Work equipment shortages squeeze Iranian livelihoods

Rising fertilizer prices and shortages of basic work equipment are squeezing Iranian farmers, laborers and small business owners as inflation, unemployment and falling purchasing power deepen during the fragile ceasefire. Information received by Iran International points to growing financial pressure across sectors including agriculture, fishing, retail and manufacturing after weeks of disruption linked to conflict, internet shutdowns and trade uncertainty. The price of potassium fertilizer for a 50-kilogram sack has increased tenfold compared to last year, reaching about 70 million rials (around $40), one farmer told Iran International. Rice farmers typically require around six sacks of fertilizer per hectare, sharply increasing cultivation costs at a time when many already struggle with falling incomes.

The farmer added that urea fertilizer prices have also risen severalfold in recent months. Mehdi Hosseinizadeh, head of Iran’s Association of Pesticide and Fertilizer Importers, linked the increase in fertilizer prices on Thursday to damage suffered by some petrochemical facilities during the war and shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Hosseinizadeh also cited rising import costs, shortages in global fertilizer markets, difficulties securing supplies from China and India, and problems related to currency allocation and import registration. Another farmer had earlier told Iran International that the price of drip irrigation tape rose from 4 million rials ($2.25) to 30 million ($17), while fertilizer costs climbed from 8 million rials ($4.5) to more than 100 million ($57). Drip irrigation tape is a thin polymer tube used in irrigation systems to deliver water gradually to plant roots and reduce water consumption in row crops.

Workers report layoffs and business closures

Citizens from several provinces described worsening conditions for workers and tradespeople during the ceasefire period following the conflict. A fisherman from Qeshm island said he had been unemployed for several months and that falling prices for export fish had increased pressure on local fishermen. Another resident from Sarbandar, Khuzestan province, described rising unemployment among port workers and shrinking household incomes.Everything I earn goes toward rent, transportation and a small amount of food,” the resident said. Several citizens had previously told Iran International they were selling household goods, work tools and personal belongings to cover food and basic living expenses after losing jobs and income.

One former worker from Tehran said he had been unemployed for nearly three months after beginning work in the electrical equipment market. “My financial situation has deteriorated sharply and daily life has become difficult to endure,” he said. A florist from Arak said the prices of supplies including paper, glue, ribbons, boxes and floral foam had quadrupled over the past two months. Residents in Kashan also described carpet factories shutting down and laying off workers. Shopkeepers in several parts of Tehran, also reported widespread business closures. (Source)

Iranian Terror Commander Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad

Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani, commander of the foreign operations Quds Force unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), paid an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Sunday for meetings with Iran-controlled politicians and militia groups — a clear attempt by Iran to influence the new government that is taking shape in Iraq.

The National reported on Tuesday that Qaani gave some “red lines” to Iran’s puppets and proxies in Iraq, including “no concessions to Washington on disarming armed factions” and no “tilting too far towards the White House.” In addition to giving Iraqi Shiite politicians their marching orders, Qaani met with leaders of the notorious Shiite militia groups – bands of terrorists loyal to Tehran who were deputized by the desperate Iraqi government to fight the Islamic State a decade ago.

The militias, now collectively known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), have gained political and operational influence over the Iraqi military even as they sporadically launch attacks on U.S. and allied forces. According to The National’s sources, Qaani told PMF commanders that accepting U.S. demands to surrender their weapons would “weaken the factions’ leverage and undermine their role as a deterrent force within Iraq’s security architecture.”

The U.S. has never been happy with the violent and heavily armed Shiite militias, for obvious reasons, but it greatly increased pressure on the Iraqi government to disarm the PMF after war broke out with Iran, and the Iraqi militias launched rockets and drones at American positions. U.S. officials have reportedly threatened to withhold counterterrorism and security support from Iraq if the Shiite militias remain a threat. President Donald Trump has also threatened to cut all support for Iraq if the blatantly pro-Iranian Nuri al-Maliki returns as prime minister. (Ed note: These Sunni and Shiite militant factions will fight amongst themselves until it is time to come together to attack Israel. That may be what IRGC Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani is in Baghdad to get started.)  (Read More)

Qassem warns Israel: We will turn the battlefield into hell

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed continued attacks on Israel, rejected surrender, and called for indirect negotiations through Lebanon.

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem threatened that his organization would turn the battlefield into hell for Israel and said Hezbollah would continue confronting Israel and responding to what he described as aggression and violations. “We will not leave the battlefield, and we will turn it into hell for Israel. We will respond to the aggression and violations, and we will not return [the reality] before March 2nd," Qassem declared, referring to the date when Hezbollah joined Iran's war against Israel.

Qassem also warned that Hezbollah is facing what he described as “an Israeli-American aggression that seeks to subjugate our country, Lebanon, so that it becomes part of Greater Israel." He added, “We will not submit, and we will not surrender, and we will continue to defend Lebanon and its people no matter how long it takes and no matter how great the sacrifices." Qassem said that an Iranian-American agreement that includes ending what he described as aggression against Lebanon “could be the strongest card to stop the aggression."

According to the Hezbollah leader, responsibility for negotiations aimed at achieving Lebanon’s sovereign goals “remains the responsibility of the authority in Lebanon." He added that Hezbollah is prepared to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities to achieve what he described as five goals: “Lebanon’s sovereignty by stopping the Israeli aggression by sea, land and air, liberating its land through the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from our occupied territories and the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, freeing the prisoners, returning people to all their villages and towns, and reconstruction." (Ed note: Another trash talker whose  speeches primarily target the state of Israel and what he terms is "Zionist aggression.")  (Read More)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As Iran’s economy sinks, hardliners turn to conspiracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lebanon asks US to pressure Israel to halt attacks and operations

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

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

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

IDF reveals footage from covert mission north of the Litani

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

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

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

The Hormuz Crisis: A Looming Global Starvation Catastrophe

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

From the Strait of Hormuz to the Empty Refrigerator

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

Mediterranean Tensions and Diplomatic Deadlock

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

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

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

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

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