Defiant Trump Addresses Nation After Surviving Third Assassination Attempt

President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a dramatic late-night press conference at the White House, just hours after surviving the third major assassination attempt against him in less than two years. The incident occurred during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the WashingtonHilton, where gunfire erupted near a security checkpoint around 8:40 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Opening his remarks, the President expressed gratitude to the security personnel who responded swiftly to neutralize the threat. "This was a very unexpected event, but the Secret Service and law enforcement acted incredibly," Trump stated. "This event was dedicated to free speech and was supposed to bring together friends from both parties along with members of the media. In a sense, it did happen, because the fact is that the event united us — the room was completely united, and that was a beautiful thing to see."

The President provided detailed information about the incident, explaining that authorities identified the suspect as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California. "We saw an individual who rushed a security checkpoint while armed with multiple weapons, and he was subdued quickly by brave members of the Secret Service," Trump noted. He announced that video footage of the incident would be released "for transparency and clarity."

Addressing the condition of the wounded officer, Trump emphasized the critical role of advanced protective equipment. "One officer was shot, but survived thanks to a quality bulletproof vest. He was shot from very close range with a powerful weapon, and the vest did its job," the President clarified. "I spoke with him and he's in good condition and high spirits. He's a proud Secret Service agent and we love and respect him." (Read More)

Trump unharmed after security incident at White House correspondents’ dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after an unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law-enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire.

Authorities said the incident occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated. The event was scrapped and will be rescheduled. "We will do this again,” said Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Crrespondents’ Association. Shortly afterward, staff began breaking down table settings and the presidential lectern.

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall at the Washington Hilton as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds. Audible gasps echoed through the ballroom as guests realized something was happening. Hundreds of journalists got on phones to call in information. “Out of the way, sir!” someone yelled. Others yelled to duck. From one corner, a “God Bless America” chant began as Trump was escorted off stage. He fell briefly — he apparently tripped — and was helped up by Secret Service agents.

A law enforcement official confirmed there was a shooter. A law enforcement officer was shot in the bullet-resistant vest but is expected to be OK, one law-enforcement officer told The Associated Press. Some in the crowd reported hearing what they believed to be five to eight shots fired. The banquet hall — where hundreds of prominent journalists, celebrities and national leaders were awaiting Trump’s remarks — was immediately evacuated.

Members of the National Guard took up position inside the building as people were allowed to leave but not immediately re-enter. Security outside was also extremely tight. Those in attendance included Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and many other leaders of the Trump administration. (Read More)

Unusual and concerning Egyptian military exercise near Israeli border

Residents of communities near the Israel-Egypt border and security officials in the area received an unusual and concerning message from the Paran Regional Brigade, warning of intense military activity by the Egyptian armed forces close to the border. According to the message, this week, between April 26th and 30th, the Egyptian military will hold live-fire exercises in extensive areas from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

The official notice stated: "For your information, between the dates April 26-30, there will be live fire by the 'red side' 100 meters west of the border. The announcement enraged residents, with the Israel Envelope Forum, which brings together communities near the country's borders, issuing a strongly worded statement. The forum claims that this is security negligence reminiscent of the eve of the October 7th attack.

"It can not be that they are allowing the Egyptian military to exercise so close to the fence," the forum stated. "This comes after many Egyptian pickup trucks drove near the fence a few weeks ago. This is a painful reminder of our enemy's methods of exercising near the fence before October 7th." (Source)

Saudi Arabia pushes back on US effort to broker Netanyahu-Aoun meeting

Despite White House efforts to arrange talks between the leaders, the Saudi envoy in Beirut conveyed reservations about the move and recommended making disarmament conditional on an IDF withdrawal. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun aligned: "I never intended to speak with Netanyahu."

The Lebanese newspaper Ad-Diyar reported that Saudi envoy to Lebanon Yazid bin Farhan expressed the kingdom's opposition to any direct contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his talks in the country. The report comes against the backdrop of the White House's desireto hold a call or meeting between Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. It was also noted that Aoun may visit Riyadh before his visit to Washington in the coming weeks, where he would meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

According to Lebanese media, bin Farhan conveyed a series of messages during his meetings in Beirut. At their center was the need to preserve Lebanese consensus and avoid internal division that could lead to violent clashes. In this context, he stressed that negotiations with Israel should be conducted cautiously, without haste, and that all positions should be unified before any move is made. The envoy also recommended maintaining the stability of the Lebanese government and suggested insisting, as a negotiating principle, that the disarmament process be made conditional on an IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Opposition to direct dialogue with Netanyahu is, of course, shared by Amal Hezbollah, alongside a series of parties and politicians who are among Aoun's political allies. They include Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, Christian politicians Gebran Bassil and Suleiman Frangieh, and others. This issue could make it harder for Aoun to hold a meeting or dialogue with Netanyahu, as he tends not to deviate too far from the Lebanese consensus. (Read more)

PM instructs IDF to strike Hezbollah targets ‘with force’ after repeated truce violations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to go after Hezbollah targets “with force” on Saturday, as the terror group and the Israeli military continued to trade fire in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, despite the extension of the tenuous ceasefire between the warring sides by several more weeks. The premier’s order to “strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon by force” was published in a terse statement by his office after two rockets and a drone were launched from Lebanon at northern Israel on Saturday afternoon, activating sirens in several towns.

The Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted the drone and one of the rockets, while a second rocket struck an open area. No injuries were caused. The military also said it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” over an area of southern Lebanon where Israeli troops are deployed. It said the target was suspected to be a Hezbollah drone. In another incident, Hezbollah launched several explosive-laden drones at Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon. The IDF said the drones exploded near the forces, but did not cause any injuries.

The terror group has made use of small first-person view (FPV) drones in its attacks on Israeli troops. Some of the drones are guided using a spool of fiber optic cable, which mitigates efforts to electronically jam their signal. “The Hezbollah terror organization has again blatantly violated the ceasefire agreement,” the military said in a statement. At the same time, the IDF said it struck and killed several Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon.

...The Israeli Air Force also struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon overnight, the military said. The launchers were struck in the towns of Deir ez-Zahrani, Kfar Reman, andThe Israeli Air Force also struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon overnight, the military said. The launchers were struck in the towns of Deir ez-Zahrani, Kfar Reman, and Sammaaiyeh, all north of the IDF-held security zone. The military said the launchers “posed a real threat to IDF troops and Israeli civilians.”, all north of the IDF-held security zone. The military said the launchers “posed a real threat to IDF troops and Israeli civilians.” (Ed note: The town of Sammaaiyeh is about 7 to 9 miles southeast of the city of TYRE. The town of Deir ez-Zahrani is about 14 miles south of the city of SIDON.)  (Read More)

Trump says he didn’t know about Lebanese law barring contact with Israel, calls for it to be scrapped

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump says Lebanon will have scrap legislation outlawing contact with Israel. Trump is asked about the Lebanese law while taking questions from reporters after presiding over the second round of ambassador-level negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Trump admits he’s never heard of the legislation before.

The US State Department has reportedly been leaning on Lebanon in recent days to annul the law. “I never heard of that, but… I’m pretty sure that’ll be ended very quickly,” Trump says before turning around to seek affirmation from Rubio. “Yup,” the secretary responds.

“I know Lebanon doesn’t want that… That’s crazy,” Trump adds. The Lebanese ambassador standing behind him isn’t given an opportunity to respond. (Ed note: Doesn't our US government realize that this is a "religious war" not a "political war"?) (Source)

Netanyahu says Hezbollah ‘dismantling’ ceasefire with Lebanon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hezbollah’s actions are threatening the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as he pledges to “vigorously” target the Iran-backed terror group. “It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” Netanyahu says during the weekly cabinet meeting.

Under the terms of the truce, which was extended last week, Israel reserves the right to respond to threats from the terror group. “We are acting vigorously in accordance with arrangements agreed with the United States and, incidentally, also with Lebanon,” Netanyahu says. “This means freedom of action not only to respond to attacks, which is obvious, but also to preempt immediate threats and even emerging threats.” (Source)

Pezeshkian says Iran won’t negotiate with US under threats

Iran’s president says Tehran will not enter talks with the US under pressure, demanding hostile actions and blockades end first.     

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday night that Tehran will not engage in “forced negotiations" with the United States while facing threats and pressure, according to Iran’s state broadcaster, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). During a phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian said current US policies were damaging trust and making any diplomatic progress more difficult.    

He said movement toward dialogue would remain unlikely unless “hostile actions and operational pressures" by Washington are brought to an end. Pezeshkian added that the United States must first remove “operational obstacles, including the blockade" of vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports in order to create conditions for resolving disputes. According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif told Pezeshkian that Islamabad “would continue its sincere and honest endeavors to promote regional peace and security."    

In a post on social media, Sharif also thanked Iran for sending a senior delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad for talks aimed at ending the war. The Iranian delegation departed Islamabad on Saturday and later arrived in Muscat, Oman, for additional regional discussions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner had been expected to travel to Islamabad on Saturday, but Trump canceled the visit at the last moment.      

...“They came to us, and they said, 'We will agree to open the Strait,' and all my people were happy. Everybody was happy-except me. I said, ‘Wait a minute. If we open this strait, that means they’re going to make 500 million dollars a day. I don’t want them to make 500 million dollars a day until they settle this thing, so I’m the one that kept it closed. We have total control of it. And it’ll open when they make a deal or something else happens," continued Trump. The President also said he could make a deal with Iran “right now," but he wants it to be “everlasting" rather than temporary.   (Read More)

What Tehran calls “humiliation" is the collapse of its playbook

The truth is that Iran's usual approach to managing pressure, raising tensions to extract concessions, no longer produces the same outcomes. Opinion.

A recent Bloomberg report suggests that officials in Tehran perceive renewed threats from Donald Trump as “humiliating," reducing their willingness to engage in negotiations. Yet framing the current moment in terms of humiliation obscures a more consequential reality. What the regime is experiencing is not primarily a matter of wounded pride, but the exposure of structural limits within a strategy that has defined its behavior for decades.

The Islamic Republic has long operated according to a calibrated model of confrontation that balances escalation with restraint. It raises tensions sufficiently to extract concessions, while avoiding direct risks that could threaten regime survival. This approach has been sustained through a combination of ideological positioning, proxy warfare, and controlled diplomatic engagement. It is not a reactive posture but an embedded governing logic, one that has enabled Tehran to convert pressure into leverage over time.

That logic, however, depends on a predictable environment-one in which external pressure remains incremental, negotiable, and ultimately reversible. When that environment shifts, the effectiveness of the model begins to erode. The current challenge facing Tehran is not the absence of dialogue, but the weakening of a framework in which dialogue could reliably be instrumentalized for strategic gain. When pressure is applied in more direct and material ways, particularly against economic infrastructure and coercive capacity, the regime’s room for maneuver becomes significantly constrained.

This helps explain why the language of “humiliation" has emerged in official discourse. For over four decades, the Islamic Republic has maintained a narrative of defiance, projecting strength through ideological slogans and regional posture. That narrative has remained sustainable largely because it has not been consistently tested under conditions that expose the gap between stated position and operational capability. When confronted with a negotiating environment defined by clearer demands and fewer opportunities for incremental concession, that gap becomes more difficult to manage. (Ed note: This is a very informative analysis of the situation with Iran.) (Read More)

Trump cancels Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Islamabad for ‘time-wasting’ Iran talks

US President Donald Trump canceled a trip to Islamabad by two envoys to meet Iran war mediator Pakistan on Saturday after Iran’s foreign minister flew out of the Pakistani capital following talks, dealing a new setback to peace prospects. Trump said in a social media post that he had called off the planned visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, citing what he said was tremendous confusion in the Iranian leadership.

“Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership,'” he wrote on Truth Social. “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!”Speaking to Fox News, Trump said: “I’ve told my people… ‘Nope, you’re not making an 18-hour flight to go there… We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing.”

Trump further told the Axios news site that this didn’t necessarily mean the war was restarting. “It doesn’t mean that,” he said in response to a question from the outlet. “We haven’t thought about it yet.” Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi laid out Iran’s demands and its reservations about US positions in Islamabad, as Pakistan made a new push to end a war that has killed thousands and shaken global energy markets.

After holding talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other top officials, Araghchi and his delegation departed Pakistan’s capital with a military jet escort, government sources said. Details of the talks were scant. Araghchi said it remained to be seen whether the United States was “truly serious” about diplomacy. In a post on X, he said he had “shared Iran’s position concerning [a] workable framework to permanently end the war.”  (Ed note: While Iran wants the US to get  “truly serious” about the negotiations, they will not give up their right to "peaceful nuclear technology"  which are "non-negotiable rights" to annihilate Israel.)  (Read More)

No meeting planned with US, Iran will talk to Pakistan, Iran's Foreign Ministry says

US President Donald Trump is sending special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in talks with Araghchi, two US officials told CNN.

"No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said in a post on X/Twitter early Saturday morning. "Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan," added Baqaei. The White House announced on Friday that Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be engaging in direct talks with Iranian negotiators this weekend.

US President Donald Trump is sending Witkoff and Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in talks with Araghchi, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later confirmed." I can confirm @SEPeaceMissions and @jaredkushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in talks," announces @PressSec.

The Iranians reached out, as the president called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation," she said. "We're hopeful that it will be a productive conversation that will hopefully move the ball forward to a deal." Trump, she said, "is always willing to give diplomacy a chance... We hope progress will be made." Leavitt later confirmed that VP JD Vance would be on standby in case the talks trended positively. (Read more)

Trump says Iran to make offer aimed at meeting US demands, as Iranian FM arrives in Pakistan

US President Donald Trump tells Reuters that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at resolving US demands, “They’re making an offer and we’ll have to see,” Trump says during a phone interview. His comments come as Pakistan’s foreign ministry says an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad.

Araghchi was received by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials upon arrival.

In a statement, it says that during the visit Araghchi is expected to meet Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to promote regional peace and stability. (Ed note: This should be fun. Didn't FM Araghchi say that both Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner stabbed him the back, and hasn't he been running those two around like a pack of chickens?)   (Source)

US envoys Witkoff, Kushner to depart Saturday for Iran talks in Pakistan — White House

US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will depart on Saturday for Pakistan where they will hold direct talks with Iranian negotiators, the White House announced on Friday. “Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks intermediated by the Pakistanis… with representatives from the Iranian delegation,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Fox interview.

“The Iranians reached out… and asked for this in-person conversation. The President is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they have to say, and we’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation and hopefully move the ball forward towards a deal,” Leavitt added. Leavitt didn’t specify with whom the US envoys would meet, but she appeared to be referring to Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Islamabad on Friday evening. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a post on X that there were no plans for a meeting, and that Tehran’s “observations” would be conveyed to Pakistani officials.

While US Vice President JD Vance headed the US negotiating team during the first round of talks with Iran in Pakistan earlier this month, he was not slated to join Witkoff and Kushner. Vance’s counterpart in the talks was Iran parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, who did not make the trip with Araghchi. CNN reported that Vance would be on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress. Araghchi was set to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the United States while in Islamabad.  (Ed note: Lets see, Iran reached out, but Araghchi won't be there, Steve and Jared arrive late Saturday night to pick up a note, and everyone's hoping for peace? Any guesses on what's going to happen?)      (Read More)

Israel, US believe Mojtaba Khamenei not functioning as leader, IRGC commanders make choices for him

Some Israeli and American officials believe Mojtaba Khamenei is not functioning as the Iranian supreme leader and is not in control, two people familiar with the matter have told The Jerusalem Post. One source said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its commander, Ahmad Vahidi, were essentially in control of Iran. Vahidi was appointed to replace Mohammad Pakpour, who was assassinated at the beginning of operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury.

“Members of the IRGC, and Vahidi in particular, are not figures who are willing to make concessions or be perceived as conceding,” Iran expert Nati Tuvian told the Post. “A week after the signing of the nuclear agreement with the Obama administration, the IRGC staged a show of force and launched ballistic missiles during a drill, writing on them in Hebrew that Israel should disappear from the face of the earth.”

US President Donald Trump has recently stopped referring to Khamenei. On Thursday, he told MS NOW: “Iran has no idea who its leader is. They are completely confused... We have effectively eliminated three levels of leadership, and anyone who was even close to the leadership, so it’s hard for them to understand who the hell can speak on behalf of the country. They simply don’t know.”

This contradicts the prevailing view that despite suffering serious wounds to his legs and face, Khamenei remains functional and continues to make decisions, including on negotiations with the US. Khamenei “remains sharp and involved in running the country, which is being managed like a board of directors, together with IRGC commanders,” The New York Times reported, citing Iranian sources. Despite these claims, however, Khamenei has not been seen publicly nor has he released any audio recording since ostensibly assuming the position of supreme leader after his father was assassinated at the start of the war. (Read More)

IDF strikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah ceasefire violation

Israel struck Hezbollah targets in two locales in Southern Lebanon hours after terrorists had fired rockets into Israel from the area in violation of the April 16 ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces said on Friday. The IDF strikes were on Hezbollah military structures in the areas of Kherbet Selem and Touline, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit wrote on X. On Thursday night, air-raid sirens sounded in Moshav Shtula following launches from Lebanon. The IDF intercepted the rockets and struck the launcher used to fire them, along with an additional ready-to-launch launcher, the IDF said. Three Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated after an unsuccessful attempt to launch a surface-to-air missile toward an IAF aircraft, the statement said.

In two separate incidents, Hezbollah terrorists launched rockets and an explosive UAV toward Israeli soldiers operating south of the IDF’s forward defense line in Southern Lebanon, the statement added. “These actions constitute blatant violations of the ceasefire understandings,” the IDF said. Also on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend the ceasefire between the two countries for three weeks. The announcement followed a meeting at the White House between Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

“The meeting went very well,” Trump wrote on social media. “The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah.” U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters in the Oval Office that the truce would be under the same terms as the 10-day ceasefire which the two countries agreed to on April 16. Hezbollah ended a previous ceasefire, reached in November 2024, on March 2, when it fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Iran. Israel and the U.S. launched a military operation in Iran on Feb. 28, which they suspended on April 8 pending talks between Iran and the U.S. (Ed note: The areas of Kherbet Selem and Touline are located about 15 to 19 miles east of the city of TYRE in southern Lebanon.) (Source)

Israeli 'violations' of Temple Mount spark backlash from Muslim, Arab states

Eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries condemned what they called Israel's "repeated violations" of the status quo of Jerusalem's holy sites in a joint statement on Thursday. The respective foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt expressed their condemnation of "repeated violations and legal status quo in Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli occupation authorities."

The eight ministers highlighted what they called "the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into al-Aqsa Mosque/al-Haram al-Sharif [Temple Mount] under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards." They also called these "provocative actions" a "flagrant violation of international law," adding that they represent "an unacceptable provocation to Muslims around the world, and a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holy city."

The ministers stressed the importance of "preserving the status quo," and "recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship in this regard."Additionally, the statement denounced the "accelerating illegal settlement activity, including Israel's decision to approve over 30 new settlements."

It also "condemned the continued and escalating settler violence against Palestinians." Earlier this week, most of the ministers were also signatories in a joint statement, along with other countries, reproaching Israel's announcement that it is set to send a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland. (Ed note: "provocative actions" and "flagrant violations?" But I thought that one King David took the city of Jerusalem from some Jebusites over 3000 years ago. Where were the Muslims at that time?) (Source)

Farm Association 2026

The Farm Initiative: Today’s Zionism safeguarding tomorrow’s land:

A new video about the Farm Initiative has recently been released, aiming to present to what is happening out there on the farms, day in and day out. While in Israel the story is more familiar and resonates through a natural cultural connection to the land, international audiences require a clearer framework: an explanation of how land is actively protected, and what sustained agricultural presence in open areas truly means. 

The video offers a vivid look into life on these farms: grazing livestock, cultivating fields, and raising families, while emphasizing a simple but powerful principle: *land is preserved through presence*. This distinction also shapes the campaign itself. In Hebrew, the message speaks from in a shared sense of belonging and lived experience; in English, it takes a step back to outline the fundamentals, present the broader picture, and invite viewers to connect with a mission that may be geographically distant, yet deeply aligned with their values. Behind the video lies a much broader reality.

More than 100 farms are spread across Judea and Samaria, collectively safeguarding approximately 250,000 acres of state land, an area five times larger than the total built-up footprint of all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria combined. These farms are not merely isolated outposts; they form a dynamic and continuous system of land stewardship, sustained through daily presence and agricultural work.

The work itself is straightforward but consistent: grazing cattle and sheep, cultivating crops, and maintaining the land. Through these ongoing activities, a tangible connection to the land is established, not only in principle, but in practice. Here, agriculture is not just a source of livelihood; it is a strategic and enduring means of preserving open spaces and securing the future of settlement. (Ed note: Do take the four minutes to watch this great video.)  (Read More)

The Great Exodus: Nations Issue Urgent "Leave Iran Now" Orders

From China to Germany, global powers are ordering an immediate evacuation of their citizens from Iran. With airspace closing and U.S. tensions exploding, the window to escape the 2026 Hormuz crisis is slamming shut. Several nations have issued urgent travel advisories and evacuation calls for their citizens in Iran, citing heightened security risks, potential disruptions, and regional instability linked to U.S.-Iran tensions. Countries including China, India, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Canada, Poland, and others have advised their nationals to depart “as soon as possible” or immediately via available commercial routes or land borders while options remain open. 

*  India strongly urged all citizens, including students and business travelers, to leave by any means. China called on its citizens to evacuate promptly and avoid non-essential travel.South Korea and several European nations echoed similar warnings, with some noting risks of sudden airspace closures.

The United States maintains its highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iran. U.S. citizens are urged to leave immediately, with recent alerts (as of April 21) noting partial reopening of Iranian airspace but continuing to recommend departure by commercial flights or land routes to neighboring countries like Türkiye, Armenia, or Turkmenistan. The U.S. State Department has also advised Americans to depart from more than a dozen other Middle Eastern countries due to broader risks. 

 No strict 24-hour deadlines have been formally imposed by most governments; advisories generally emphasize leaving “immediately” or “as soon as possible” while commercial options and land borders are still viable. The calls come against the backdrop of the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis and related escalations, which have caused flight disruptions and raised concerns over rapid deterioration in the region. Citizens are advised to monitor official embassy channels, register with their governments’ consular services, and prepare contingency plans. (Source)

Inflation spikes, basic goods slip out of reach for Iranians, citizens say

Food prices surged and basic goods slipped out of reach across Iran, citizens told Iran International in recent days, describing shortages and daily price jumps following a ceasefire that has coincided with worsening economic conditions. “Prices here have increased tenfold and rice and cooking oil are hard to find,” one resident wrote from Zahedan in southeastern Iran, pointing to worsening access to staple goods. Other citizens described the rapid erosion of purchasing power. “We go to sleep and wake up to everything being twice as expensive,” one message said, reflecting widespread concern over accelerating inflation.

Messages from multiple cities highlighted steep increases in the cost of everyday items. Citizens said even the most basic foods were becoming unaffordable, with eggs, rice and cooking oil among the hardest hit.“Eggs have become so expensive they are being removed from our tables,” one citizen wrote, describing the shrinking range of affordable protein options. Restaurant prices were also cited as an indicator of inflation. Citizens said a single serving of kebab now costs between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 rials (about $3.10 to $3.75), while a plate of chicken with rice ranges from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 rials (about $1.90 to $2.50). Soft drinks were reported to exceed 1,000,000 rials (about $0.60). 

Based on an exchange rate of around 1,600,000 rials per dollar, the new minimum monthly wage of 162,550,000 rials is equivalent to roughly $104. This comes as annual inflation had already exceeded 70 percent before the start war on February 28, reaching its highest level since World War II. As of late 2025/early 2026, average Iranian incomes have contracted to roughly $200 per month. Shortages compounded the problem. Messages described difficulty finding chicken in distribution centers and limits on purchasing cooking oil in shops.

Others pointed to disruptions in supply chains linked to industrial slowdowns and rising production costs. Economic journalist Arash Azarmi said the surge in food prices was hitting lower-income households hardest. “Eggs priced at 200,000 rials ($0.12) each are shocking. This is a basic food item, especially for lower-income households, and it is effectively being pushed out of their consumption basket,” Azarmi said. Official data, he added, already showed food inflation exceeding 112 percent, with some categories such as cooking oil rising by more than 200 percent. (Source)

Iranian FM expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight, enabling new round of peace talks, Pakistani source says

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight with a small team, and peace talks with US are likely to take place, a Pakistani government source says.

The United States logistics and security team is already in Islamabad for the talks, the source adds. (Source)

Regime in Shambles: Parliament Speaker Resigns as IRGC Tightens Its Grip

The Iranian government is grappling with a profound crisis as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announces his resignation from diplomatic roles, citing uncontrollable interference from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Iranian regime is currently embroiled in an internal crisis described by observers as the most severe in years, following the dramatic resignation of Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from his diplomatic duties. Ghalibaf, who had been the primary figure leading quiet negotiations with the United States and managing talks in Pakistan, officially withdrew from these roles on Thursday. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between the civilian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as high ranking generals like Ahmad Vahidi and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have increasingly obstructed decision-making processes. Ghalibaf reportedly concluded that he no longer possessed the necessary autonomy to conduct sensitive negotiations due to this military encroachment.

The catalyst for this collapse was the failure of a Qatari-mediated initiative, often referred to as the 20 for 20 deal. The proposal sought a compromise where the United States would allow the free passage of 20 Iranian merchant ships in exchange for Iran guaranteeing the safe transit of 20 vessels from Arab Gulf states through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the potential for regional de-escalation, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, previously a close ally of Ghalibaf, chose to align with the IRGC’s hardline stance, effectively torpedoing the initiative. This rejection has left the regime in a state of total paralysis, with no single authority capable of making binding decisions. While the regime's leadership, including Ghalibaf himself in later statements, publicly claims unity under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the reality on the ground points to a deeply divided and dysfunctional government struggling to maintain control amidst the ongoing war. (Source)

The HERE to ETERNITY 5 Book Bundle

Bill has done extensive prophetic research and worked tirelessly on a mission to understand what will happen between HERE to ETERNITY. As a result, he has completed an end times commentary series of five books. Today, you can put these 5 books in your library by purchasing them at a discount in a bundle offer below. This book bundle includes:

The NOW Prophecies: The prophecies lack preconditions and could happen at the present time.   

The NEXT Prophecies: These prophecies still have some preconditions.

The LAST Prophecies: The Prophecies in the First 3 ½ Years of the Tribulation Period.

The FINAL Prophecies: The Prophecies in the Last 3 ½ Years of the Tribulation Period.

The MILLENNIUM Prophecies and the NEW JERUSALEM: These prophecies happen after the Tribulation Period and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.   (CLICK HERE)

Trump says he ordered US Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ boats mining the Strait of Hormuz

US president claims Iran rudderless due to ‘infighting,’ as NYT report says IRGC in control and Khamenei ‘gravely injured’; Katz: Israel awaiting ‘green light’ from US to attack nuclear sites, new supreme leader.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the US Navy would “shoot and kill” any boat mining the Strait of Hormuz, and claimed “infighting” has hobbled Iran’s ability to respond to peace proposals, even as The New York Times reported that hard-line generals had consolidated power under the new supreme leader. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was ready to renew the fighting with Iran and was awaiting a “green light” from the US to target Iranian energy sites and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father and predecessor Ali Khamenei was killed at the start of the war.

Israel and the US launched the bombing campaign on Iran on February 28 in a bid to destabilize the regime and destroy its ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities. The fighting entered a truce on April 8. The ceasefire was originally conditioned on Iran reopening the Strait, and set to last two weeks, but Trump extended it hours before the early Wednesday deadline, while maintaining a US blockade that he imposed on Iran-linked shipping in the key waterway on April 13.

...The later Truth Social post also reveled in what Trump claimed were internal divisions that prevented Iran from submitting a response in ceasefire talks with the US. “Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!” he wrote. “The infighting is between the ‘hardliners’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!),” said Trump, calling the situation “CRAZY!”

...Amid Trump’s threats, Israel’s defense minister said in a security assessment that “Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran.”“The IDF is ready in defense and offense, and the targets are marked,” Katz said. He added that Israel was “awaiting a green light from the United States, first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty, the initiator of the extermination plan against Israel, and the successors of the successors of the leadership of the Iranian terror regime, and, in addition, to return Iran to the age of darkness and stone by blowing up central energy and electricity facilities and crushing national economic infrastructure.” (Read More)

Trump stresses Israel can strike Hezbollah in self-defense: ‘They’re going to do it carefully, and they’ll be surgical’

WASHINGTON — After extending the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks, US President Donald Trump says Israel reserves the right to strike Lebanese targets in self-defense.

“Israel is going to have to defend itself if they are shot at… but they’re going to do it carefully, and they’ll be surgical,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office after presiding over the second round of ambassador-level negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

The remarks indicate a softened approach from Trump after he declared last week that Israel was “PROHIBITED” from bombing Lebanon. The Truth Social warning was said to have sparked alarm in Washington, leading a White House official to clarify to reporters that the ceasefire still allows Israel to take action against perceived threats. (Source)

Blatant ceasefire violation: Rockets fired at the Galilee

Hezbollah violates the ceasefire by launching several rockets toward Shtula in the western Galilee. Launches intercepted, no injuries reported.

Hezbollah violated the ceasefire on Thursday evening by firing several rockets toward the area of Shtula in the western Galilee. All of the rockets were intercepted by air defense systems. No impacts were reported inside Israeli territory, and there were no casualties.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement, “Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Shtula a short while ago, several launches that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were identified." It added, “The Israeli Air Force intercepted the launches. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol." (Source)

Iran’s exiled crown prince splashed with red liquid after railing against ceasefire

A protester threw red liquid at Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Thursday after the son of the ousted the shah demanded European nations help Iranians fighting for democracy, and railed against the ceasefire in the US-Israeli bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The 65-year-old was splattered while leaving Germany’s federal news conference building, as he was greeted by some supporters but also bitter opponents. One activist was detained after splashing Pahlavi with what appeared to be tomato juice, according to police.

Pahlavi appeared unhurt by the liquid coating the back of his blazer and neck, and waved to his supporters before he got into a car that drove away. (Read More)

Ceasefire or Smokescreen? Rumors Swirl of US Ground Operation to Break Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Grip

While President Trump extends the US-Iran ceasefire to allow for Pakistani-led mediation, regional sources allege the move masks preparations for a major military escalation. With the US naval blockade tightening and Iran claiming its first shipping tolls, tension reaches a breaking point. While the Trump administration presents the latest extension of the US-Iran ceasefire as a diplomatic opportunity to reach a permanent deal, some Arab and Iranian sources are claiming it is merely a “smokescreen” for an impending large-scale US ground operation aimed at breaking Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

These unverified claims, which have circulated in regional media and statements from Iranian officials, allege that President Trump is using the current period of relative calm to complete the deployment of infantry and armored forces at bases near Iran. The sources further suggest the US is preparing for a physical takeover of strategic port cities or islands to permanently secure freedom of navigation in the strait if Tehran refuses the latest ultimatum.

President Trump has repeatedly expressed reluctance for major ground wars in the region, favoring air, naval, and economic pressure instead. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (April 21) that the US would extend the fragile ceasefire with Iran with no fixed expiration date. The extension was made at the request of Pakistani mediators and to allow Iran’s “seriously fractured” government time to submit a unified proposal for a permanent peace deal. (Read More)

Dr. Bill Salus Comment: If this happens, meaning if the US sends boots on the ground into SW Iran, which is the anicient territory of Elam, then it could lead to the prophtic fulfillment of Jeremiah 49:36-37, which declares;

""I will bring enemies from all directions, and I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. They will be exiled to countries around the world. I myself will go with Elam’s enemies to shatter it. In my fierce anger, I will bring great disaster upon the people of Elam,” says the Lord. “Their enemies will chase them with the sword  until I have destroyed them completely.""

Trump extends ceasefire with Iran

The president said he is maintaining a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and extending the ceasefire until the “fractured” government of Iran can submit a proposal. 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, while continuing the U.S. military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “Based on the fact that the government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump stated. 

The president said he has directed the military to continue the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and has extended the ceasefire “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” The ceasefire brokered on April 8 was set to end by Wednesday. (Source)

Military Alert: Hormuz Siege Leaves Iran with Its Back to the Wall

The Israeli defense establishment is bracing for extreme scenarios following an 80% collapse in Iranian oil exports. The U.S. siege on the Strait of Hormuz is creating a massive deficit in the Tehran regime’s budget. According to updated assessments:

Export Plummet: Iran has lost approximately 80% of its oil export capacity. A direct loss of over $1 billion every month. Roughly 100,000 workers in the oil, petrochemical, and defense industries have lost their jobs. Meanwhile the land-based "Goureh-Jask" pipeline allows for only 300,000 barrels per day, enough to keep the regime on "life support" but insufficient to prevent industrial collapse.

Despite President Trump’s claims regarding the destruction of the Iranian Navy, the situation on the water remains volatile. In the last 24 hours, Iranian "swarm" tactics, using small, fast boats armed with missiles, have been used to harass vessels in the Strait. The Israeli Navy and Military Intelligence (Aman) are providing the U.S. military with real-time intelligence to track smuggling routes and hostile movements.

Israeli security officials are worried that Iran may choose a "game-breaking" move to escape the pressure which may include a coordinated synchronized missile and drone attack which will involve Iran, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has already begun increasing friction in Southern Lebanon (launching rockets and a drone yesterday), claiming "ceasefire violations" by Israel to undermine ongoing negotiations.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is conducting twice-daily situational assessments to ensure the IDF can transition from "zero to sixty" across all fronts instantly. While Trump pushes for negotiations under the threat of bombardment, Israe understands that the intense economic pressure on Tehran could trigger a regional explosion, specifically during the upcoming Independence Day period. (Source)

Buried but not out, Iran’s ballistic missile threat weathers US-Israeli strikes intact

IDF says Tehran still has hundreds of launchers and 1,000 missiles, many of which are ‘plugged’ underground but not destroyed, as Tehran looks to rebuild weapons stockpile.

For six weeks, the United States and Israel pummeled Iran’s military infrastructure — with US Central Command saying it had struck over 13,000 targets, and Israel reporting some 4,000 of its own. Yet even in the final days before a two-week ceasefire was announced, ballistic missiles continued to be launched at Israel and other states in the region.

While Tehran’s rate of launches dropped sharply as the war progressed — from roughly 80 missiles fired at Israel on the first day to around 10-20 per day over the following weeks — the sustained attacks have raised questions about the extent of the damage inflicted in both the most recent war and an initial round of fighting in June.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently told reporters that the US-Israel bombing campaign had “functionally destroyed” Iran’s missile program and rendered its military “combat ineffective for years to come.” Yet the IDF says over the roughly six weeks of fighting, it managed to set back Iran’s missile project only partially, owing in part to the hardened nature of underground facilities, while slowing, but not significantly halting, the buildup of the Islamic Republic’s stockpile.

With ceasefire talks between the US and Iran set to resume Tuesday, Israel is concerned that the ballistic missile issue is not being included in the talks and that the sides may come to an agreement that allows Iran to continue building up its missile program, Army Radio reported Monday, citing a senior Israeli source. Speaking to Reuters Monday, a senior Iranian source said Tehran’s “defensive capabilities,” including its missile program, were not open to negotiation with the United States. (Read More)

Trump says he was 'surprised' by 'Chinese gift to Iran' found in seized tanker ship

"We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I was a little surprised," Trump said during an interview with CNBC.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday during an interview with CNBC that the US found "a gift from China" in one of the ships seized from the Iranian regime that was trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran, amid the American blockade of Iranian ports. "We caught a ship yesterday that had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I was a little surprised," Trump said during his interview with CNBC.

According to an additional Bloomberg report, the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Trump's interview. Additionally, the Chinese embassy in Washington told Bloomberg that China's exports of military products are handled "prudently and responsibly, with strict controls on the export of dual-use articles.” Bloomberg noted that both Russia and China aided Iran during the last war, with Moscow providing intelligence and targets while Beijing's role was not as clear.

A recent report from The Financial Times revealed that Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic Republic a new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war. The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by the Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China, the report said, citing leaked Iranian military documents. (Read more)

Intelligence document warns: Hamas rebuilding under cover of the ceasefire

A document circulated to a very limited group of senior political officials paints a troubling picture of the rehabilitation of Hamas’s military wing and an accelerated recruitment of terrorists.

An IDF intelligence document sent in recent days to a highly restricted group within Israel’s political leadership reveals that the Hamas terror organization is managing to take significant advantage of the current ceasefire to rebuild itself. According to information published by Channel 12 News, the organization is systematically working to restore and improve its force-building capabilities in the Gaza Strip while exploiting the complex political situation to buy time.

The document explicitly states that “Hamas is stalling for time while simultaneously organizing and improving its force-building in the Strip, including the rehabilitation of its military wing, accelerated recruitment of operatives, seizure of goods, and demonstrations of civil and governmental sovereignty in the territories it controls." Although the report notes that Hamas has not yet managed to achieve a “technological or operational leap forward," the gradual process of rebuilding its capabilities is advancing steadily and in a concerning manner.

Security officials familiar with the details claim that developments on other fronts-primarily the confrontations involving Iran and Lebanon-are serving Hamas’s interests. According to these officials, American attention is currently focused on other regional flashpoints, allowing Hamas to avoid meeting its obligations as outlined in President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

The organization is exploiting loopholes in the agreements to reestablish its civilian control on the ground and take control of humanitarian goods entering the Gaza Strip. Senior members of Israel’s security establishment expressed deep concern over the continuation of this trend, warning that the current reality could undermine the achievements of the war. (Source)

US hosts talks as Lebanon seeks ceasefire extension with Israel

The US will host a second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys on Thursday, with Beirut seeking the extension of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people, including a journalist. The US-mediated ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday, has yielded a significant reduction in violence, but attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone. Iran-backed Hezbollah says it has "the right to resist" occupying forces.

Wednesday marked Lebanon's deadliest day since the ceasefire took effect on April 16. Those killed by Israeli strikes included Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, according to a senior Lebanese military official and her employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel reignited on March 2, when the group opened fire in support of Tehran in the regional war. The ceasefire in Lebanon emerged separately from Washington’s efforts to resolve its conflict with Tehran, though Iran had called for Lebanon to be included in any broader truce. Hezbollah said it carried out four operations in south Lebanon on Wednesday, saying they were a response to Israeli strikes.

Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel went on the offensive in response to Hezbollah's March 2 attack, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel is occupying a belt of the south that extends 5 to 10 km (3 to 6 miles) into Lebanon, saying it aims to shield northern Israel from attacks by Hezbollah, which has fired hundreds of rockets during the war. The Lebanese government has opened direct contacts with Israel despite strong objections from Hezbollah, which was established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982. (Read More)