Tehran has no deal or ceasefire with Trump as Pentagon Withdraws Forces from American Bases in Bahrain, Kuwait due to intensified Iranian Strikes

The Islamic Republic of Iran has directly rejected President Trump's new claim that Tehran agreed to end its nuclear program and open the Strait of Hormuz as a "complete lie," saying it is a "desperate attempt to manipulate the market," per Iranian military officials to Mehr News.

Iran adds that it has not requested any halt to the planned attacks, and that it was purely Donald Trump who chose to stop them with false claims of a deal.

US president Donald Trump announced cancellation of the further military actions against Iranian Oil, electricity, nuclear sites and nation-wide strikes. 

US president claims that a deal with Iran has been agreed that's US-Iran has considered a new Ceasefire proposal in MoU.

Meanwhile, US CENTCOM warned Trump that US army unable to defend Israel and Middle East from Iranian large-wave of missiles and drones.

Every US threat will strengthen our military — Iranian MoD

Iran will use every threat from the United States to bolster its military preparedness, deterrence, and overall capabilities, Defense Minister Majid Ebn-e-Reza said on Sunday.

"Although the enemy's recent statements are part of psychological and cognitive warfare, we consider every threat real and take it seriously," he wrote on X

His comments followed US President Donald Trump's renewed threats of further strikes on Iran amid Washington's push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Informed Iranian Military Source states that the Strait of Hormuz remains Closed as long as the US continues its hostile Actions

Iran is still Reviewing the Proposal made by the US. There is no Final Deal yet for the Strait of Hormuz

 A sign that the Strait of Hormuz will Open will be when the US lifts its Naval Blockade of Iran.

To confirm shortage of interceptors as one of the major reason behind the so called ceasefire and the just called off planned US/Israel strikes against Iran, Pentagon has Withdrawn American Forces from their Bases in Bahrain and Kuwait due to intensified Iranian Strikes - FT

American Troops are Transferred to Israel and Europe

Coffins became part of US forces’ equipment — top Iranian commander

 “The Americans and their mercenaries have today realized deep in their souls that their coffins are part of their equipment in the region,” Major General Ali Abdollahi stated, emphasizing that attacks on Iran won’t go unanswered.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that the presence of US forces in the region would prompt retaliatory actions by the IRGC and the Axis of Resistance against host states.

During the US-Israeli war on Iran, the IRGC successfully targeted US military bases across the region, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and Kuwait’s Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base, severely limiting Washington’s regional capabilities.

Saudi Arabia hosts Chiefs of Staff from 43 countries, EU to discuss Riyadh’s initiative to establish a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance

Do not involve your countries in a war that is not yours — Yemeni Armed Forces issues warning to the Saudi Coalition members 

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday hosted a meeting of Chiefs of Staff and representatives from 43 countries and the European Union to discuss Riyadh’s initiative to establish a Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance.

The Saudi initiative aims to protect international maritime routes and counter threats targeting global commercial shipping and navigation.

The meeting discussed the alliance’s founding arrangements, including Saudi Arabia serving as the founding and leading nation.

Fourteen participating countries, including Egypt and Turkey, expressed support for the Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance initiative

Yemeni Armed Forces issues warning to the Saudi Coalition members 

To the countries that have declared their alliance with the Saudi enemy and whose names were mentioned within the coalition and aggression against Yemen:

We clarify that the decision to impose a transit ban only included Saudi ships, in response to the brutal aggression that targeted our country.

Accordingly, we warn these countries against engaging in or participating in protecting Saudi ships or supporting their operations, and against dragging their countries into a confrontation that has nothing to do with them.

Any direct participation in protecting or supporting Saudi ships, as stated in the statement, will render the ships of those countries subject to the expansion of the ban decision to include them.

This is a final warning and a clear message: Do not involve your countries in a war that is not yours.

The Red Sea is not an open arena for those who wish to escalate, and any new step will be met with corresponding steps.

US and France help Ukraine target facilities in Russia — report

Russia has authority that the United States and France are directly helping Ukraine to target facilities in Russia federation.

' The assets in the crosshairs include Russia’s oil refineries, depots, and plants of the military-industrial complex, FT admits.

The new Western plot is to try attacking the facilities in such a way so as to keep them damaged for as long as possible, in hopes to make the conflict "more costly" for Russia.

The campaign reportedly has two objectives: limit Russia’s oil trade and reduce its ability to supply troops with weapons.

Another new aspect pointed out by the outlet is that Ukrainian drone units get advice from energy Ukraine’s specialists "on which components are indispensable to refinery operations and which would take the longest to replace" — using the fact both Russia and Ukraine have similar Soviet-designed energy systems.

On June 5, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that deep strikes against Russian facilities are impossible for Ukraine to conduct on its own. Thus, such attacks transform the West into direct belligerents in the conflict.

 "If we see that these countries are being drawn into a war against us, and this is precisely their direct participation in the war against the Russian Federation, then we reserve the right to act in a similar manner," Putin said.

The war against Russia in Ukraine hg as long been sustained by NATO and EU.

Russian response:

Russia Strikes on Ukraine’s military-industrial facilities to severely degrading the Ukrainian military’s ability to carry out deep strikes inside Russia, military experts tell Sputnik.

 It is quite possible that the strikes were deliberately aimed at dismantling the production chain behind Ukraine's missile programs – Flamingo, Neptune, FP and Grom-2, notes retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin

 Degrading Ukraine’s production infrastructure has become a primary objective, as it cripples Ukraine's ability to target Russia's rear areas, military-political observer Mikhail Onufrienko says

 The strikes will continue — and the heavier they become, the greater the Russian gains along the front line

Source: Sputnik 

Board of Peace: Hamas has Agreed to relinquishing all its weapons for Israel to withdraw from Gaza

The report of the board of Peace for Gaza confirmed that Hamas has Agreed to relinquish all of its weapons and for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza.

The Reports: 

The Board of Peace and the mediating countries of Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States today are pleased to announce that Hamas has agreed to a detailed Roadmap for implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire.

The agreement concludes months of intensive, good faith negotiations to advance President Donald J. Trump's vision for establishing new governance, security, humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and economic recovery in Gaza as set out in the Comprehensive Peace Plan and U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803.

The Roadmap represents a historic breakthrough. For the first time, Hamas officially has committed to an actionable plan for relinquishing all its weapons, which will be followed by Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

It holds the promise of delivering significant benefits to the people of Gaza, who have waited for too long for a better future, and security to the people of Israel.

Our focus now turns to implementation. The Board of Peace has worked closely with the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). It will soon begin a phased transition toward full authority, backed by the International Stabilization Force (ISF), and will accelerate implementation of the rule of law, security, and humanitarian improvement in Gaza

 

A Roadmap for Completing the Implementation of President Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan in Gaza




Principles:




1. All parties reaffirm their commitment to President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to achieve peace in Gaza, which constitutes, together with the UN Security Council Resolution no. 2803 (2025), the agreed upon international framework guiding the implementation of this process. Through this process, the parties aim at ending the cycle of destruction, securing the complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip, restoring normal life, enabling Palestinian governance, reconstruction, security, recovery and economic development, rehabilitating damaged sectors and facilitate launching a credible political path that achieves self-determination and Statehood.




2. Israel shall fully complete, without delay, all remaining commitments under Sharm Sheikh Protocol, particularly the cessation of military operations as detailed in annex (1). Hamas and the Palestinian factions shall complete the cessation of all military operations in accordance with Sharm Sheikh Protocol and the Peace Plan. In parallel, the timetable and implementation mechanisms of this Roadmap (“Implementation of Phase 2”) shall be prepared within 14 days after all parties approve the Roadmap, which could be extended by a decision by the International Verification Committee (IVC). Upon the completion of the timetable and implementation mechanisms, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) shall enter the Strip and start to assume its responsibilities. The IVC, that shall be established by the Board of Peace (BoP), comprising representatives from the guarantors, BoP and the International Stabilization Force (ISF), shall certify that both parties fulfill their commitments under the Roadmap before proceeding to the implementation of Phase 2.




3. Progression from one phase to the following one shall be contingent on the verified completion of the commitments of the previous phase. This verification shall be done by the IVC, which shall also observe any violations by either party through an enhanced monitoring mechanism.




4. Hamas and other factions agree that all civilian governance and security functions in Gaza shall be handed over to NCAG in accordance with President Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan in Gaza. They also assert that NCAG shall enjoy full independence in carrying out its responsibilities and that the factions shall not interfere in NCAG affairs during the transitional period, in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2803 (2025).




5. Upon fully assuming its responsibilities in Gaza, NCAG shall maintain the continuity of civilian institutions and public services.




All civil servants shall be treated lawfully, fairly and with dignity with respect to their rights. Those whose services are terminated or who are retired during the transitional period shall receive their rights in accordance with the Palestinian law.




With international support, NCAG shall carry out a comprehensive audit of the financial and administrative affairs in Gaza, and protect, recover and administer public assets and resources.




NCAG shall seek to assess the legitimate commitments to suppliers, contractors and other parties – up to a total amount of no more than $400M USD - and address them.




The implementation of these measures will be undertaken gradually, within three years, in accordance with priorities determined by the NCAG.




Any unresolved financial rights, liabilities or claims shall be addressed within the context of a wider national process later, and in accordance with the relevant Palestinian law

Iran's IRGC claims they destroyed three F-35 jets, Donald Trump becomes agitated, lost his temper

In response to the attack on two residential homes on Qeshm Island, IRGC Aerospace Force fighters attacked the deployment ramp and maintenance hangar of the American enemy's F-35 fighter jets at Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan with several ballistic missiles.

Three F-35 aircraft were completely destroyed, significant damage was inflicted on three others, and several enemy officers along with technical and maintenance personnel were also killed. US Military denied it.

It also claimed to have struck the US Ali al-Salem airbase in Kuwait, destroying 2 drone hangars and a fuel tank serving military aircraft and helicopters.

IRGC confirmed that three members of Islamic forces were killed during US operation.

Tehran has consistently maintained that Iran neither request nor required ceasefire with the United States.

US President Donald Trump reportedly lost his temper during a security meeting, shouting and cursing out of frustration over the military options presented to him and the lack of progress toward a deal with Iran – NBC.

Iran may not send negotiators to Pakistan or Qatar, sources closed the Iranian Supreme leader said.

Citing a US official and people familiar with the matter, NBC News reported on Wednesday that Trump “exploded” during a recent meeting with his top national security officials “yelling expletives” to express his frustration over the lack of progress in the war.

The official said that despite public displays of satisfaction with how the military assault is going, neither the US president nor his aides are pleased with the status quo in the war.

Trump’s aides cannot agree on a path forward, the official added. “After all this time, there is no unity.”

Meanwhile, two other people familiar with the White House discussions said that Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Tehran-Washington negotiations.

“The president is exasperated,” a Trump ally who has spoken with Trump in recent weeks said.

“I don’t think he believed it was going to be this difficult to get the Iranians to agree to a deal. There was not a real strategy for how long or what they should do to get to the endpoint,” the Trump ally noted. “He did not intend this to be a long, drawn-out war.”

However, Iran intensifies diplomacy with other countries within and outside the Gulf region to deny United States of military use of their bases for aggression against Tehran.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Cypriot counterpart Constantinos Kombos held a phone call on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.

Araghchi stressed the need to prevent any misuse of foreign bases in Cyprus for acts of aggression against Iran, citing the UN General Assembly's Definition of Aggression (Resolution 3314), which classifies providing territory for aggression against a third state as an act of aggression itself .

The Cypriot FM reaffirmed his country's commitment to the UN Charter and international law, stating that Cyprus has secured assurances from the UK that its bases on the island will not be used against any country, including Iran .

Iran promised retaliatory attacks against any military base used to attack Tehran in any country. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Jordan are all witnessing Iranian ballistic missiles in the US military bases in their countries .

According to the Iran's foreign ministry,  Araghchi had also protested to his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, over what Tehran described as Bulgaria's decision to allow the United States to station military aircraft at Bezmer Air Base in support of operations against Iran.

 Araghchi told Bulgarian FM that the reported decision was "condemnable, unacceptable and contrary to the traditional friendly relations between the two countries," and urged Sofia to reconsider it.

China sends a large number of missiles to Iran As Trump Promises full response to Iran's ballistic missiles attack against US military base in Jordan

 

China sends a large number of missiles to Iran, according to a report by China Times on X claiming that China supports Iran under all circumstances.

Other source indicated that up to 16 Chinese military cargo planes landed in Iran in just 56 hours, marking the largest transfer ever recorded in such a short timeframe.

China states that the United States is the biggest source of chaos in the world and the greatest threat to international stability and peace.

Reuters reveals that Iran will soon secure its inaugural consignment of up to 400 China-manufactured shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, backed by a multi-million-dollar bilateral arms deal.

This Chinese supplies of weapons are suggesting of a planned coalition campaigns by American and NATO allies against Iran including a possible ground invasion.

Following the Iran's ballistic missiles operation targeting the US military base in Jordan, President Donald Trump told the reporters on Wednesday that the US will respond with full force.

US will “beat the fucking shit out of” Iran

“We’ll be hitting them hard,” Trump said

 Trump described Iran-backed militias in Iraq as a “cancer on the world”

The U.S. is also sanctioning Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and Hormuz Safe, two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps linked entities extorting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. will continue intensify pressure on Iran for threatening and attacking commercial vessels in the Strait.

U.S. intelligence has reportedly assessed that Iran’s latest attack on American positions in Jordan was intended to draw Washington back into a limited, low-intensity conflict rather than launch a surprise escalation.

The assessment suggests Tehran was seeking to recreate the pattern of controlled exchanges seen in recent weeks instead of triggering a broader regional war.

U.S. officials reportedly believe the attack was calibrated to provoke a measured American response while avoiding a full-scale confrontation.

Mosquito fleet: "Iran's asymmetric naval warfare earns Putin's praise

The Iran‑style "mosquito fleet" has been "quite efficient" in the Middle East conflict zone, Russia's President Vladimir Putin noted during a meeting with Russian Navy officers on July 26.

"It is a matter of new technologies," Putin explained.

He added that Russia has been developing similar capabilities — small ships equipped with advanced weapons such as Kalibr missiles that could deliver precise and painful strikes to any enemy.

Iran's so‑called mosquito fleet consists of about 20 Ghadir‑class midget submarines and several thousand fast missile and assault boats.

Light and nimble, these vessels can be hidden in tunnels carved into Iran's rocky coastline, making them difficult for the US to destroy with long‑range weaponry

Source: Sputnik 

Realities Forced Donald Trump not to expand strikes on Iran

A limited US ground invasion against IRAN is coming

Trump 

All have presumably been sets for further military escalations with Iran in the middle east by the US force, even for a possible group invasion of the Persian but reportedly suspended after 13days attacks and retaliatory attacks by the US CENTCOM and the Iran's IRGC forces .

The report says American President Donald Trump has ordered a halt to attack’s on Iran based on negotiations between Oman and Tehran. Citing American sources, Axios reports there is progress in the negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday night, the US appeared to pause its bombing campaign on Iran after nearly two weeks of consecutive nights of strikes. Operations are "on a hold," a Department of Defense source told CNN on Saturday


US Vice President JD Vance and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine both raised concerns about escalating the war in Iran as President Donald Trump weighed the possibility during a White House meeting on Friday, a source familiar with the matter and a US official told CNN.

Many of Mr. Trump’s advisers, including Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, say there is a plausible alternative pathway with less risk, e.i continuing negotiations and economic pressure on Iran over a longer period of time."

The US has proposed a temporary ceasefire with Iran to revive the suspended Memorandum of Understanding, possibly including Yemen and the Houthis.

Iran is reportedly unlikely to accept, having rejected all talks this week, while Trump has simultaneously warned of a massive upcoming US attack on Iran.

But what seemed to be of more truth is that Trump decided not to escalate the conflict with Iran, fearing that an extended war could deplete interceptor stockpiles, US officials said.

Already, during the last two weeks of attacks and retaliations, Iran’s IRGC claimed it destroyed 11 U.S. fighter jets and helicopters at regional military bases over the past 15 days. Ammunition depots of the US army in the middle east were targeted and destroyed with ballistic missiles by the Iran's IRGC 

Tehran also said additional aircraft, including an F-15, P-8, C-17 and refuelling planes, were destroyed, and claimed U.S. fatalities exceeded 200. These claims have not been independently verified.

Unfortunately for US leaders, Iran recenty unveiled Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles . A catastrophe in waiting for the US and allies beyond the Persian Gulf region into the European territories where the American Army are allowed bases for operations against Iran.

Therefore, The U.S. concerns are that escalating the war could lead to a serious depletion of the Pentagon’s already declining stockpile of Patriot missiles and other air defense munitions in the Middle East which may result in more casualties and fatalities for the American soldiers.

Specifically, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine raised concerns about US munitions stockpiles during a White House meeting on Friday as President Donald Trump considered escalating the war with Iran, CNN reported on Saturday, citing a US official.

General Dan Caine, warns Trump that a widespread escalation of operations against Iran could dangerously deplete the capabilities of the U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, and the President still prefers a diplomatic solution.


The New York Times reported on Saturday that Gen. Caine privately warned that resuming major combat operations against Iran is possible but could dangerously deplete US air defense supplies in the Middle East.

Expanded operations could reduce the availability of Patriot missile interceptors and other air defense systems used by US Central Command. The concerns were among factors considered by President Donald Trump and senior advisers as they weighed further escalation.


Military operations are currently "on hold," and the weapons shortages can only be attributed as the main reason behind the pause in strikes.


Trump said after the meeting that US officials continuing negotiations with Iran but warned that the military could resume or intensify its bombing campaign, while some Persian Gulf countries urged restraint as the administration weighed its options, the report added.


Diplomatic efforts between Iran and Oman aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz are reportedly making progress, although negotiators say more time is needed before any agreement can be finalized, according to two regional sources cited by CBS News.


The discussions are focused on restoring maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding territorial waters, a critical route for global energy exports. The report also says the current pause in U.S. military operations is intended to avoid undermining the ongoing diplomatic process as regional mediators continue working toward a breakthrough.


The repeated Ceasefire request by the US in the war initiated by American is a short of strategy for re- equipments of weapons as continuous and further escalations mean fatalities and real blows to the northern hemisphere forces.

Iran’s recent strikes on three Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain show a shift in Tehran’s targeting strategy, Fars News reported.

According to Sputnik, the strikes hit AWS nodes in northern, eastern and western Bahrain, placing data-processing infrastructure alongside military bases, ammunition depots and logistics hubs as strategic targets.

Such facilities can support the processing of satellite imagery, drone footage, signals intelligence, radar outputs and other operational data before it reaches US commanders, according to the report.

Even if distributed cloud architecture prevents a full shutdown, damage to these hubs can force rerouting, slow response times, increase costs and reduce operational efficiency during a crisis.

On the much taunted talk with Tehran as regards the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said "there has been no change in the status of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz."

"Progress has been made in our talks with the Omani delegation."

 "We held several rounds of talks with the Sultanate of Oman on Friday and Saturday at the level of deputy foreign ministers."

The Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that they had forced six vessels to stop in the Strait of Hormuz after issuing what they described as firm warnings, saying they had established "full control" over the strategic waterway.

The Guards' navy said vessels that violated its instructions were ordered to anchor after ignoring initial warnings.

An Iranian General, Abolfazl Shekarchi who is the spokesman for Iran’s army said on Sunday, the US has failed to achieve its goals “in the Strait of Hormuz and in weakening Iran”, adding that “the situation is chaotic and undesirable for America.”

Meanwhile, President Trump has rejected the reports that the US is running low on munitions in its campaign against Tehran. "We have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need," he told The Wall Street Journal.

However, the impact of military offensive of the CENTCOM against Iran have reached its limit unless a broader and new offensive to set boots on the Iranian ground which are not likely to be fruitful for the US.

US imposes new tariffs of up to 12.5% on 60 trading partners over force labour

By directives of President Donald Trump, the United States is imposing new Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies over what it calls failures to ban and enforce restrictions on imports of goods produced with forced labor, the US Trade Representative said.

The new duties will generally range from 10% to 12.5%, depending on whether the targeted economy has adopted or committed to adopt forced-labor import restrictions.

The measure applies to major US trading partners and is being introduced at President Donald Trump’s direction.

The additional duties are set to take effect on goods entering the US from July 24, 2026, with limited exemptions and a short transit exception for products alredy shipped.

UK's Designation of IRGC as a Terrorists Organization and Preemptive Departure of British Diplomat from Tehran

Tehran Times released an exclusive conversations between the European Ambassadors in Tehran before the departure of the British diplomats from Iranian Capital as part of the US psychological warfare against the Persian 

European countries' ambassadors in Tehran remain in a highly volatile diplomatic state, with personnel deployments frequently shifting due to escalating regional conflicts and diplomatic disputes with Iran. 

The departure of British diplomats from Tehran was part of a U.S. psychological warfare campaign and was coordinated directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone call with the British Foreign Secretary.

 On Monday evening, July 20, European ambassadors stationed in Tehran gathered at the residence of the French ambassador at his invitation. The meeting was also attended by the deputy head of the South Korean embassy, a senior New Zealand diplomat, and the Japanese ambassador. During the session, the French ambassador criticized Iran’s several-hour detention of two French diplomats and called for the diplomatic community to support the French Embassy.

 The British chargé d’affaires, while expressing support for the French ambassador, stated that he intended to leave Iran within the coming days. He emphasized that the United States expects its partners to cooperate in exerting political pressure on Iran. Nevertheless, several ambassadors openly opposed the idea.

 In a joking remark, the French ambassador said: “Apparently our British friends suspect that the Iranians are preparing a strong reaction to the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, and therefore they want to stay out of the Iranians’ sight for a while in a dignified manner—especially since it is now August, when most embassy staff normally go on summer vacation anyway.”

 The French ambassador also added: “What I can do is make the departure of the two diplomats whom the Iranians detained a news story, and in any case they were already scheduled to leave Iran. Two other diplomats were supposed to go on vacation on July 29, so we can simply say they are leaving a little earlier.”

The German ambassador said: “I am scheduled to present my credentials to the President of Iran on Wednesday, so our departure at this time would not be in our interest.”

 On the sidelines of the gathering, the German ambassador told one of the ambassadors from Eastern Europe that he was dissatisfied with the British ambassador’s “overbearing” proposal and called the move “childish.” According to him, Britain was acting preemptively because it was aware of Iran’s plan to expel several British diplomats in response to Britain’s designation of the IRGC as a national security threat.

Iran FM to France: Your diplomats' behavior in Tehran is unacceptable, UK PM approves use of British military bases for defensive strikes against Tehran by the US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly protested the "unconventional and undiplomatic" actions of two French diplomats in Tehran during a phone call with French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot.

According to reports by Tehran Times, Araghchi stressed that compliance with host country laws and adherence to diplomatic norms are not optional—they are prerequisites for any foreign mission. He urged Paris to take immediate measures to prevent such behavior from recurring.

The Iranian minister also placed full responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz closure on Washington, calling it a direct result of US violations of the Islamabad MoU.

"The party that deviated from agreements and jeopardized diplomacy must bear the consequences," Araghchi warned.

Strait of Hormuz remained closed and deserted by the vessels. Compounding the woes of the Hormuz, several tankers carrying Saudi crude oil reportedly reversed course on Tuesday after Tehran-backed Houthis declared a blockade on shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, raising fears that the US-Iran war could disrupt a second major energy chokepoint.

Reports has it that multiple U.S. B-1 bombers have taken off from RAF Fairford in the UK after Donald Trump announced the U.S. would strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified nuclear site near Natanz.

Trump said, "We're going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready," later adding, "We'll be hitting that area very probably pretty soon. There's not a thing they can do about it."

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into tunnels beneath Pickaxe Mountain following the June 2025 war. The site is estimated to lie 300–450 feet beneath solid rock, and military experts say even the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator may be unable to destroy the underground complex.

The U.S. has struck Iran for 10 straight nights, but Pickaxe remains untouched. Trump has called it a "nice big fat shot" target. The strategic problem is stark: the U.S. may be able to strike the mountain — but not the nuclear infrastructure buried beneath it. Iran in retaliations struck many targets in the middle east.

Consequently, New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has approved the use of British military bases by the US for what the UK calls defensive strikes against Iran, Bloomberg reports.

According CNN, the Pentagon has identified a fourth U.S. soldier believed to have been killed in last week's attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan as U.S. forces launch their 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran.

The Defense Department identified the soldier as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, whose status was updated from missing to believed deceased. The incident remains under investigation.

CENTCOM said Tuesday's strikes are intended to continue degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya HQ has vehemently reiterated that any US attack on its nuclear facilities would expand the war, Iranian media reports.

Earlier, Trump threatened to strike Pickaxe Mountain, where new nuclear facilities are reportedly located.

Iran has launched missiles at Jordan. At least 4 waves targeted Jordan on Tuesday. However, since Iran started attacking Kuwait and Bahrain from the beginning, the US has moved most of its planes, refuelers, and other military assets to Qatar and Jordan. Iran claimed to have destroyed several drones, helicopters, and aircraft in the attack on Uday in Qatar. The aim is to remove these assets from here as well. 

After gathering most of its planes and assets in Jordan on a temporary basis, Iran has attacked every base in Jordan. The latest was Tower 22. 

 The main may be that the bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait were essential for the number of refueling planes and other aircraft that the US needs to deploy in the Middle East for the Iran operation. Now, the assets removed from these bases could create a space crisis. 

If the US also removes some planes from Jordan and sends them to Ben Gurion or other bases in Israel, then Ben Gurion should be Iran's only target. 

Now that the  UK is on board with the US, Britain may soon be the nearest operational centre for Washington war against Tehran.

Iran Rejects US backed 10-day ceasefire As IRGC Target Military Facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait with missiles and drones

Iran's Supreme Leaders 

Iran has rejected a U.S.-backed 10-day Qatari ceasefire proposal, with senior Iranian analyst and close adviser to Iran's negotiating team Mohammad Marandi dismissing the offer with a blunt message: "Don't even think about it."


The proposal reportedly called for a 10-day truce that would reopen two shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. Marandi has previously said Iran has "no plans" to resume negotiations, citing a "fundamental lack of seriousness" from the Trump administration, while Iranian officials have repeatedly said talks will not resume until the threat against Iran has ended.


Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a sharp warning to the United States, dismissing Washington’s military buildup in the region as contradictory to its public calls for de-escalation.


Ghalibaf said the United States continues to move additional military equipment into the Middle East while claiming it is seeking to stop the war, adding that Washington has “bet on our intelligence being as brief as their own IQ.” He stated that Iran has reached a stage where it fully understands what he described as American tactics and has prepared accordingly, stressing that “actions must confirm claims, not contradict them.”


Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Monday they had targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones, including Al-Sakhir Air Base and Bin Salman Port in Bahrain and Arifjan Base in Kuwait.


In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said its navy strikes formed part of what it called the 23rd wave of "Nasr 2" operations and included attacks on facilities it said were used to maintain US drones, prepare naval vessels and support special operations forces.


The Guards said the attacks inflicted heavy damage and that operations against what they described as US military targets in the region would continue.


The statement also rejected comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting Iran was running low on missiles and drones, saying it would continue launching such weapons for as long as any conflict lasted.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says negotiations with the US could be pursued based on national interests

Baghaei says intermediaries have shared messages with Tehran over recent days.

IRGC said they would deliver what they described as a "memorable lesson" to the United States if it carried out further attacks, reaffirming their support for Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.


The Guards said they would not rely on US pledges, arguing that past experience had reinforced their distrust of Washington.


"If the criminal United States once again chooses the path of aggression, we remain committed to delivering the 'memorable lesson' promised by the Leader," the statement said.

Iranian President has said on Monday Iran is fighting a "full-scale war" with the United States, adding that managing the home fronts is very necessary to ensure that the Iranians didn't suffer as Washington expanded its strikes across the Islamic republic including a city hosting a nuclear power plant.

Iran's Military spokesperson Brigadier General Akraminia said the war will go on until Iran achieves full deterrence, stressing this is based on rationality and experience—not emotion. Without it, he warned, the enemy would miscalculate and attack again.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late on Sunday that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the war, adding that other countries need to "step up" pressure to protect global shipping. Iranian Times reported.

While rejecting the ceasefire, Tehran still dept open, diplomatic doors as Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, traveled to Pakistan on July 20, at the invitation of Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, heading a high-level delegation.

The delegation accompanying the minister includes representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Roads and Urban Development, and Agriculture, as well as officials from the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) and the Customs Administration.

Beijing Urges Washington to Take Responsibility for the Middle East Situation

US must it's blockade, repression, and coercive policies against Cuba

China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Sun Lei, said Washington should take responsibility for rising tensions in the Middle East, arguing that U.S. policies have undermined efforts to resolve regional conflicts.

Speaking at the UN, Sun called on the U.S. to abandon policies that Beijing says fuel instability. He also stated that Washington blocked UN Security Council efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, contributing to further escalation, and said China sees a similar pattern emerging over Iran.

Sun urged the U.S. to assess the consequences of its actions, take steps to reduce tensions, and help promote long-term stability in the region.

Donald Trump's led US administration activities in the gulf region remains a destabilizing force for both the global peace and economic stability.

In another related development, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs  has said the blockade and illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on Cuba for over 60 years have caused great suffering to the Cuban people.

The United States must immediately end its blockade, repression, and coercive policies against Cuba.

China resolutely supports Cuba's defense of its national sovereignty and its resistance to foreign interference.

The United States has consistently threatened a 100% tariff on China if it purchases Iranian oil. China has also maintained a consistent response that the country can trade with any other country with the us approval."We buy from whichever country we choose. No one decides this for us."

The US aggression in the middle east against Iran continue, according to a report, US forces began a new wave of strikes against Iran at 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday, targeting military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said.

“At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” it added.

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed and at least two ships were stopped over the past 24 hours after warning shots by Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy, an Iranian state television reporter stationed in the waterway said on Wednesday.

The reporter gave no details on the vessels, their flags or destinations.

The IRGC states that the United States should expect the Closure of other Gas and Oil Routes in the coming Days 

IRGC Issued and urgent warning to all civilians that they must leave the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait immediately.

All sailors in the Arabian Gulf should prepare to evacuate their ships — especially those near the Strait of Hormuz, which will be the first to be destroyed.

This is a final warning. Leave now

Oil and Gas Prices are going to Skyrocke

Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abass Araghchi has also stated that US will never be allowed in the management of the strait of Hormuz. " We will not, under any circumstances, allow the United States to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz not now, and not at any other time."

An Iran's Army chief declares that nuclear technology and the path to nuclear weapons cannot be dismantled under U.S. or international pressure.

He confirms that if the U.S. strikes Tehran, the IRGC will test its first nuclear capabilities during wartime.

Trump is threatening to drop bombs on all of Iran’s power plants, bridges, and energy infrastructure. Not military targets.

The systems millions of civilians depend on to keep the lights on, travel, and survive.

Trump's deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure is a war crime and a crime against humanity.

THE TOLL-KEEPER OF HORMUZ: HOW AMERICA JUST BURIED ITS OWN DOCTRINE

The most important response to Trump’s Hormuz announcement did not come from Beijing, Brussels or the United Nations. It came from Tehran, and it was four words long. “POTUS is absolutely right.”




That was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, replying to the President’s declaration that the United States will henceforth be “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” and will be “reimbursed” at the rate of 20% on all cargo transiting the waterway. Araghchi agreed that whoever secures the Strait deserves compensation — adding only that Iran has always been its true guardian, and that 20% was too much. Iran, he said, “will be fair.”

Understand what just happened. The two states now fighting for control of the world’s most important oil artery are no longer arguing about whether ships must pay tribute to pass. They are haggling over the rate.




For seventy-five years, the entire edifice of the “freedom of the seas” rested on the opposite principle. Yesterday, its chief architect demolished it in a single post.




I. WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY SAYS




I practised shipping law for over three decades, and I want readers to grasp how radical this announcement is in legal terms.




The regime governing straits like Hormuz is called transit passage, codified in Part III of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Its roots go back further, to the International Court of Justice’s very first case — Corfu Channel (1949) — where the Court held that warships and merchant vessels alike enjoy a right of passage through international straits that coastal states may not obstruct in peacetime.




Two pillars hold up this regime:




First, transit passage cannot be suspended. Not by the coastal state, not by anyone. Article 44 of UNCLOS is explicit.




Second — and this is the provision every reader should remember — passage cannot be taxed. Article 26 permits charges upon foreign ships only for specific services rendered to that ship, such as pilotage or towage. A general levy for the privilege of passing is flatly prohibited. Even for coastal states.




Now consider the American position. The United States has no coastline on the Strait of Hormuz. It is not even a party to UNCLOS — for four decades Washington has insisted that transit passage binds Iran as customary international law, enforced by the US Navy on behalf of all nations.




Oman and Iran, the actual littoral states, could not lawfully charge a single dollar for mere passage. The United States now proposes to charge twenty percent of cargo value — from ten thousand kilometres away — as a matter of what the President calls “FAIRNESS.”




That is not the enforcement of the international waterway doctrine. It is its replacement by tribute.




II. THE TRAP TEHRAN SPRANG




Here is where Araghchi’s four words become lethal.




Customary international law — the only legal basis America has ever had in Hormuz, since it never ratified UNCLOS — is formed by two elements: the consistent practice of states, and the belief that such practice is legally required (opinio juris).




When Iran instituted its permit-and-fee regime for the Strait earlier this year, Washington’s legal position was simple: no state may condition or charge for transit passage. Iran’s regime was unlawful per se.




That position is now dead. Killed not by Iranian missiles, but by an American post. If the “guardian” of the Strait may lawfully charge 20% for security services, then a fortiori the coastal state — with genuine sovereignty over the waters in question — may charge for the same service. Araghchi grasped this instantly. His reply conceded nothing and captured everything: you have adopted our legal theory; we now dispute only the price.




The United States has spent decades building the customary law of the sea through its own state practice. It is now dismantling that law by the same mechanism. Every future tribunal, every future crisis, every future power that wishes to tax a chokepoint — the Bosphorus, Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Panama approaches — will cite July 2026 as the moment the precedent was set by Washington itself.




III. A BLOCKADE WITHOUT A WAR: THE UNDERWRITER’S NIGHTMARE




There is a second legal absurdity buried in the announcement that only those of us from the maritime world will fully appreciate.




The President declared the reinstatement of “THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE” — stopping not only Iran’s ships but Iran’s customers. Blockade, in the law of naval warfare, is a belligerent right. It exists only in a state of armed conflict, it must be formally declared and notified, and it must be effective and impartial. The San Remo Manual sets out these requirements precisely.




Yet Washington simultaneously insists it is not at war with Iran.




Consider the position of a shipowner, a P&I club, or a war risk underwriter this morning. A “blockade” that is not a blockade, imposed by a state that is not a belligerent, targeting “customers” of Iran — an undefined class that could sweep in any tanker that has ever lifted Iranian crude. Meanwhile, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority has declared passage “currently unfeasible” and maintains that its own permit system is the sole lawful route through the Strait.




Two sovereigns. Two permitting regimes. One body of water. Every vessel in the Gulf now sails under competing assertions of authority, each of which the other deems an act of war. War risk premiums do not price legal theory — they price uncertainty. And there has never been uncertainty like this.




IV. THE GUARDIAN AND THE PROTECTION RACKET




Readers of this page know my argument: the “rules-based international order” has not been destroyed by its challengers. It is being liquidated by its author — sold off, asset by asset, for cash.




The freedom of the seas was the crown jewel of that order. It was the one rule America enforced with genuine consistency, because it was the rule from which American power flowed. The Royal Navy built the doctrine in the nineteenth century; the US Navy inherited it in the twentieth. Its moral force rested on a single proposition: the guardian takes nothing for itself. The seas were policed disinterestedly, and that disinterest was the legitimacy.




“Guardian” is an old word. In the waters I have worked in for thirty years, everyone understands what it means when an armed party offers you “safety and security” in exchange for a percentage of your cargo. It is the oldest business model on the sea. We did not used to call its practitioners guardians.




The Strait of Hormuz will remain open or it will close; the ceasefire will be rebuilt or it will collapse. But the doctrine — the idea that the world’s waterways belong to the community of nations and may not be farmed for revenue — died this week. Not because Iran closed the Strait.




Because America opened a toll booth.




The rules were never the order. Power was the order. The rules were its receipts.




— LIM TEAN

.

NATO Submit: Trump in Turkey declared an end to U.S. Sanctions on Ankara (Photos)

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Ankara, declared the end of U.S. sanctions on Turkey. “We don’t sanction friends.”

Turkish President @RTErdogan officially welcomed Predident Trump to the country.

President Trump said the US will consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, saying Ankara “has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries.”

President Trump again confirms that Turkey could have joined the war and likely would have sided against Israel. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly opposed the sale of F-35s to Turkey, warning that Turkey remains a major long-term challenge to Israel's security.

American President is paying an official visit to Türkiye ahead of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit, with an official ceremony at the Turkish Presidential Complex.

Photos:

Tehran claims victory over Washington, Tel Aviv as Iran Prepares a retaliatory strikes against Israel over ceasefire violation

A statement by the Prime Minister of Pakistan reads: With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. 

I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes. 

Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!

US Vice President JD Vance warned the truce between Washington and Tehran remained "fragile" on Wednesday as several Gulf nations endured fresh attacks just hours after the rivals agreed a two-week ceasefire.

Al Jazeera reports that: Israeli air attacks have hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health tells Al Jazeera that at least 87 people have been killed and more than 700 others wounded in Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, according to an initial toll.

Pakistan's Prime Minister issues a statement regarding violations of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement:

"Violations of ceasefire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process. I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict."

The ceasefire is on the verge of collapse, Iran is preparing to exclude Israel from the negotiation process due to the massive attack on Lebanon

Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, which was partially open for around 10 minutes this morning, until further notice due to Israel’s attack on Lebanon – Fars

A source also tells Tasnim that Iran is preparing a retaliatory response to the Israeli attacks on Lebanon today, and that if ceasefire violations ‘persist’, Iran will cancel the 2-week agreement and not attend the planned talks in Islamabad.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will work closely with Iran.

He said tariff and sanctions relief are being discussed, and that many of the 15 points have already been agreed upon.

He also stated that there will be no uranium enrichment, and that the US working with Iran will remove deeply buried nuclear material under satellite surveillance.

French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the US but warned the situation in Lebanon remains critical and urged that Lebanon be included in the deal, Reuters reports.

My U.S. government sources confirm that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and JD Vance are expected to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan tomorrow.

Trump administration officials believe this could be a historic meeting, as the Islamic regime may potentially become a key Middle Eastern ally of the United States. 

They say Ghalibaf is someone they trust to work with and believe he could help position Iran as a key U.S. ally!

Israel, which wasn’t formally part of the Iran negotiations, wasn’t happy that it got word that a deal was finalized at a late stage and wasn’t consulted, according to mediators and a person familiar with the matter.

Iranian security official noted the continuous violation of the ceasefire and may take appropriate measure.

“Following the continued violation of the temporary ceasefire by Israel against Lebanon, Iran is in the process of summarizing to carry out deterrent operations against Israeli military positions.”

AFP reports: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised "ceasefire violations" by Israel with Pakistani mediators on Wednesday, an Iranian ministry statement said, as reports citing senior officials warned that Tehran could pull out of the truce over attacks on Lebanon.

Iran will withdraw from the US ceasefire agreement if Israel continues to violate it by attacking Lebanon. 

Iranian parliament on Israeli aggression against Lebanon on national security said:  "All plans to open the Strait of Hormuz must be stopped immediately until Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. Either there will be a ceasefire on all fronts, or there will be no ceasefire anywhere.

Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

While US and Israel claimed victory, Iran also claimed victory.

Tehran Stated that Iran’s Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya said Iranian armed forces gained the upper hand over the #US and "Israel" after 40 days of operations, forcing the United States and "Israel" to surrender.

It asserted that coordinated defensive and offensive operations shifted the balance in #Tehran’s favor, as the armed forces acted under directives from martyr Sayyed Ali Khamenei, where "swift and overwhelming" strikes on US and Israeli targets were launched from the very first day, inflicting heavy losses and exposing their"weakness".

The statement added, "With no trust in the American and Israeli enemies, we in the armed forces are monitoring all their movements in the region, and if they commit any new mistake, we will confront them more destructively and lethally than before."

#Iran also emphasized its control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, asserting that it is managed "through our own initiative and smart command."

Iran just reshaped global power dynamics — and dealt a major blow to  US dominance

Before: Strait of Hormuz was freely open

Now: Iran contr0ls the flow — charging up to $2M per ship, potentially generating $100B annually 

Before: Crushing US sanctions on Iran

Now: Sanctions lifted after 47 years 

Before: Iran’s uranium program heavily restricted

Now: No meaningful limits remain 

Before: Global oil trade dominated by the US dollar

Now: Strait of Hormuz trade shifting to the Chinese yuan — a strategic setback for Washington 

Before: Iran isolated from Gulf states (GCC)

Now: Iran emerging as a dominant force in the region 

Before: Iran constantly under threat of US military action

Now: Direct confrontation with the US appears off the table 

Donald Trump walks away weakened, while Iran’s foreign minister rises as a strategic power player on the global stage.

US, Iran, and Regional Mediators Discussing Possible 45-day Ceasefire, Permanent End To The War

IRGC claimed it has captured a
US military pilot 

The United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran and regional mediators are discussing a possible 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, Axiom reported.

Chance of a partial deal in the next 48 hours is slim; seen as a last attempt to prevent escalation and strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran and gulf countries.

US President Donald Trump extended the original deadline to Tuesday 8:00 pm et; he warned of strikes if no deal is reached.

US-Israel military plan on Iranian energy facilities is ready; diplomacy given one last window.

Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and direct messages between envoys are ongoing.

plan: phase one – 45-day ceasefire, phase two – final agreement.

Iran refuses to fully concede on strait of hormuz or enriched uranium for a temporary ceasefire.

Mediators warn retaliation could severely impact gulf oil and water infrastructure; next 48 hours are critical.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC issued a stern warning against striking any civilian target and infrastructure by the US and Israel military in Iran that such will have immediate retaliatory consequences and responses against Israel and other Arab countries hosting US military bases.

Seeking Contact with Iran, American Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts to end the ongoing conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss efforts to end the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. 

During the call, Putin presented proposals aimed at reaching a quick political and diplomatic settlement to the war.

The development comes as Russia has also maintained close contact with Iran. Putin recently congratulated Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader and expressed Russia’s support for Iran in the face of military pressure from the U.S. and Israel.

Hormuz is closed by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) . Markets are reacting with great panicking. 

US envoy reportedly seeks contact with Iran on ceasefire but Tehran blatantly refused any ceasefire or negotiations with United States.

The Al Jazeera bureau chief in Tehran, Noureddine El-Dghir, reports from reliable sources that US President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, has attempted to reach Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, aiming to test Tehran’s willingness for a ceasefire.

However, according to the sources, there is currently no Iranian interest in engaging, with another source confirming that Iran’s National Security Council has no discussion at this time regarding halting the war.

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi told PBS News that talking or negotiating with the US is no longer on the agenda. He says that despite making progress during previous rounds of negotiations, the US still chose to attack Iran.

14 million barrels/day—one-third of global seaborne oil—flow through Hormuz. Traffic is down 80% in one week as Oil past $100. Prices up 30% in a week. Inflation rising. Industry slowing already.

Schumer calls on Trump as oil price surges

Senate minority leader is urging the President to tap the nation’s reserve — 415.4 million barrels

 "Oil production dependent on the strait risks fully stopping in the coming month. We are entering a new price reality—inevitable."

Oil prices above $100 per barrel “increase pressure on consumer prices through transport, logistics, and business costs,” Russian expert Alexey Primak told Sputnik. 

“If these levels persist for several months, central banks will have to maintain tight monetary policy longer than the market expects. This adds to the risk of a global economic slowdown," he stressed.

Washington started this war. Now the US is quietly easing Russian oil sanctions to stabilize markets—while Europe scrambles.

- Russian intelligence reports indicate Israel has suffered catastrophic losses in the initial 72 hours of Iran's retaliation, far exceeding public admissions by Netanyahu.

- Key findings from the leaked assessment include:

  - Complete operational loss of the Dimona nuclear reactor, Israel's critical nuclear site.

  - Death of 11 top nuclear scientists due to Iranian strikes on Dimona and related facilities.

  - Elimination of 6 senior IDF generals through targeted assassinations and missile attacks.

  - Loss of 198 air force officers, including senior pilots and command staff.

  - 462 soldiers killed in ground operations and base attacks.

  - 32 Mossad agents killed in failed covert operations.

- Total elite casualties exceed 700 personnel, potentially crippling Israel's military and nuclear capabilities for years.

 widespread panic on social media, with comments highlighting the severity of the losses and the implications for Israeli military supremacy.

 Netanyahu has not publicly addressed the loss of Dimona, but emergency war cabinet meetings are reportedly taking place.

- Iran's IRGC has publicly celebrated the developments, framing them as "divine justice."

- The situation marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the Middle East.

Iran launched drones and missiles toward Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in the early hours of Tuesday, authorities in the three Persian Gulf states said.

Saudi defense ministry said it destroyed two drones over the country’s oil-rich Eastern Province.

Kuwait said it shot down six drones that were attacking northern and southern parts of the country.

The United Arab Emirates’ defense ministry also said air defenses were confronting missile threats and drones coming from Iran.

Russian Foreign Ministry calls US and Israeli attack on Iran an 'IRRESPONSIBLE MOVE'

 The Foreign Ministry of Russia Federation has called US and Israeli attack on Iran an 'IRRESPONSIBLE MOVE'

The ministry described the US and Israeli bombing of Iran as a premeditated and unprovoked act of armed aggression

According to the statement, the responsibility for the negative consequences of this man-made crisis lies entirely with the US and Israel. The motives behind the US and Israeli attacks on Iran have nothing to do with the preservation of non-proliferation

"The US and Israel cannot fail to understand that their actions in escalating the situation in the Middle East push the region towards acquiring new weapons."

Moscow expresses concern over the serial nature of destabilizing US strikes on the international legal foundations of the global order.

Russia demands the immediate return of the situation around Iran to a diplomatic resolution.

Moscow is ready to assist in finding peaceful solutions in the Middle East based on international law and mutual respect. The statement said.

U.S, Israeli joint military strikes against Iran have been met with immediate retaliatory strikes on US military bases in the middle east including the headquarters in Bahrain.

Source: Sputnik 

No Regime Change in Iran — Kremlin warns US as Russian Warships Hold Position in Strait of Hormuz with IRAN

Russia Federation on warned the United States that there won't be a regime change in Iran especially the external induced change in Tehran will not be allowed.

On February 20, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation.


The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the current situation regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, including in light of the recent indirect US-Iran contacts held in Geneva.

The Russian Side reaffirmed its support for a negotiation process aimed at finding fair political and diplomatic solutions while fully respecting Iran’s legitimate rights in accordance with the principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The Ministers also touched upon certain issues on the bilateral agenda of mutual interest.


In another related development, Russia"No Regime Change as We monitor an unprecedented escalation around IRAN" Russian Warships Hold Position in Strait of Hormuz with IRAN.

Dimitry Peskov who is the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin noted the escalation is "singular" or historic in scale but expressed hope for negotiations. This aligns with Moscow's broader stance of supporting Iran while avoiding direct entanglement.

As Iran's close partner, Russia reaffirmed ongoing ties (including the drills) but positioned itself as favoring diplomacy.

Russia opposes external efforts at regime change in Iran, viewing them as violations of sovereignty and destabilizing. For instance, Russian officials have criticized US approaches that could lead to overthrowing the Iranian government, framing such actions as incitement or unlawful interference.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other Russian officials and diplomats have explicitly condemned Western "plots" for regime change in Iran.

The United States and Iran concluded a second round of indirect negotiations mediated by Oman on Tuesday, with both sides acknowledging progress amid a growing American military buildup in the region.

Shortly after the Geneva talks, US Vice President JD Vance described the process as productive "in some ways," but said Tehran was "not yet willing" to engage on some of Trump's "red lines."

Araghchi said talks showed progress, describing the atmosphere as "more constructive."

US President Donald Trump has significantly stepped up American military presence in the region, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier on its way to the region, along with additional fighter jets.

The Geneva meeting was the second round of negotiations since US President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day Iran-Israel war last June. The first round was held in Muscat, Oman, on Feb. 6.

On Thursday, Trump said it will be clear if it is possible to make a deal with Iran "over the next probably 10 days," warning that Washington "may have to take it a step further" if negotiations fall short.

Earlier, the Kremlin called on Iran and all regional partners to "exercise restraint and caution," describing the tensions as "unprecedented."