Puzzled by Iran’s ability to target F-35, Trump admin launches investigation | Janta Ka Reporter Janta Ka Reporter Mar 20, 2026
Iran's ability to successfully target America's mighty F-35 fighter jet has raises many questions on the invincibility of this stealth plane. The US military is now reported to be investigating the reasons and circumstances surrounding such a spectacular failure. Rifat Jawaid assesses the impact of Iran's retaliation on the US public and its media outlets.
Transcript
The Iranians unthinkable act of bringing down an F-jet has shocked American military generals. Remember, Sentcom had first tried to make light of the development by saying that the mighty fighter jet wasn't destroyed and it was only hit. But subsequent developments now show that Iran's action has had far more serious consequences than how it was originally projected by the US military bosses. The US military has now launched an official investigation to understand how on earth the Iranians who Donald Trump and his secretary of war Pete Texas said were decimated were able to bring down an American fighter plane which no other military in the world has been able to do so up until now. And that this happened on the th day of the conflict is even more humiliating for the US military. This would be the broad focus of my video tonight. Also in my video, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese facing humiliation and rightly so by worshippers after he visited a mosque to sell his fake liberal image. So please stay tuned. When Trump welcomed the Japanese Prime Minister Sai Takai at the Oval Office, he had used the opportunity to flaunt the power of his military and how it had destroyed the Iranian air force and navy in the last days. Let's first watch what this motormouth occupant of the White House had blabbered. Just about everything there is to obliterate, including leadership. Their Navy's gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft equipment is gone. We're flying wherever we want. Pete, we have no nobody even shooting at us. However, the Iranians had a different plan as they destroyed the myth of invincibility surrounding the F-jets. The IRGC released a video claiming to shoot down one of America's F-fighter planes. First, I thought Iran was trying to use this claim to gain a psychological advantage over its enemy. But the US military central command quickly confirmed the development even though it said the plane was not completely destroyed and it was forced to make an emergency landing. This became a topic of social media ridicule as users began to mock Trump for his fake bravado. Even Iranian foreign minister say the basakshi took to social media to take a dig at Trump and his minions. He wrote, and I quote, "Americans haven't forgotten how even as hundreds of US soldiers were dying in Vietnam and the outcome was already clear. General William West Morland was flown home to reassure everyone that the war was going well, that the US was winning. The media haven't forgotten either. Those briefings full of fantasy from the front lines became infamous as the five:follys. Fast forward to today. Same script, different stage. Hexath steps up and the message is still detached from reality. US government says one thing, reality says another. Right as US authorities claim Iran's air defenses are gone and F-gets hit. As they declare Iran's navy finished, USS Gerald Ford turns back and USS Abraham Lincoln drifts farther away. Different decade, same. We are winning. end quote. And this is not over yet. Going by the ABC news, the US military has now launched an investigation to find out how Iran was able to inflict such a humiliation on the world's most powerful army, even when Trump claimed to destroy the military infrastructure of the Islamic Republic. Hope this deranged occupant of the White House now does the course correction and starts praising the sheer bravery of the Iranians and acknowledges the phenomenon of Persian pride. For the first time in this war, an F-stealth fighter jet was struck during a combat mission over Iran. The pilot made an emergency landing at a US base in the region and is now in a stable condition. But there are serious questions over how a stealth plane nearly invisible to radar and costing roughly $million could have been hit after three weeks of relentless bombardment of the Iranian military. The Iranians haven't just given a fitting response to the Americans and Israeli terrorists in the last days or so by destroying their key air defense, but they have done something even more profound. It has now emerged that fearing the Iranian retaliation, the entire NATO mission had left Iraq, leaving the Americans to fend for themselves. This is the true power of Iran. This is something no one, no other country has been able to do to achieve since the invasion of Iraq in years ago. That was the Iranian bravery is now increasingly getting a legendary status in the American society. This CNN broadcast sums up the current mood about the Iranian military in the US. The F-is a hundmillion airplane. Um, and that's not the only thing that's been taken out. I mean, one of our what eight fad batteries around the world, as Seth was was laying out, had taken out. I mean, billions of dollars. I mean, that that there there has been a lot impacted. This is the future of this conflict. I think the damage that's been done over the course of the past three weeks is significant, but Iran still has a capacity through, as we've just just seen and just heard, these asymmetric applications of capabilities which will always have a level of effectiveness. Those will not alter the outcome of this engagement. It will simp it'll simply extend it and make it a little more difficult. But clearly, the overpowering capability that this alliance has is quite phenomenal. But we're all David in a sling. There's always a small individual, a small capability that can can achieve some damage. And when it comes to shutting down something like the straight of Hormuz, it matters so much, right? It doesn't m you don't you don't need to be an equal army. You just have to have enough to cause the fear to shut it down. Exactly correct. So So cream, I also just interested Prime Minister Netanyahu says, "Okay, we've been asked and we're going to stop." Now, the way he phrased it, he that was someone who had been chastised, okay, in a very serious way. However, I'm just thinking back because I have a memory to a couple weeks ago when the Israelis hit an energy um an oil facility in Thyron and the US administration was livid and said, "Don't hit that stuff anymore." And then I guess a few days later, memory is all forgotten. They went and did it again in a different area. And now again, they've been told not to do it. So, I guess what I'm asking is, do you think that this whole we're going to have restraint and not do this is going to hold? minutesI think the United States and Israel have really two different agendas here. If you listen to Secretary Heget's press conference this morning, he made it explicitly clear the US agenda here is not regime change. Uh, it's regime degradation. But the Trump administration and media outlets that support Trump are not liking the praise for Iran in the ongoing war. See this broadcast of Fox News. It's panicking now as it invokes anti-Americanism to discourage people from highlighting the incompetence of the US military against the Islamic Republic. It is profoundly disturbing that a growing segment of the far-left appears to be almost rooting for Hamas, Hezbollah, the Iranian regime, and other forces fundamentally opposed to the US and our allies. This seems to reflect a corrosive strain of anti-Americanism dressed up in postc colonial theory that risk blinding us to the moral realities of our world and the nature of our adversaries. Not just domestically, Trump has also failed to garner support for his illegal invasion of Iran globally. Not one NATO member has agreed to come to his rescue despite his repeated calls for help. Even former Irish President Mary Robinson has lashed out at the international fraternity for their double standard for not doing enough to condemn the illegal invasion of Iran. Watch this Sky News broadcast. How difficult is it going to be to get people to stand up to Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump and follow the advice set out by your group? It's really very important uh that other countries do speak up because we need to support the international rule of law. It's one of the great gains of humanity and we need to preserve it. Um therefore we don't want to have double standards. When Russia invaded um um attacked Ukraine, there was a lot of outspoken criticism rightly for that aggression. But we see aggression now by the United States and Israel on Iran which is not justified under the charter which is illegal and very few countries have spoken explicitly about it. Um they're trying to avoid and I'm I think this is right uh being being drawn into trying to open up the straight of hormones. That's a problem uh for those who started this war. Um but uh the double standards are very clear to the world and I I have to say you know the foreign minister of Oman has spoken very clearly because he knows that there was a new uh and substantive proposal on the table by the Iranians during the negotiations and instead of continuing with that um all of a sudden there is this military attack which is unjustified under international law and governments must be prepared to speak out about that. Then I came across this extraordinary clip of Hong Kong Legislative Council member Dominic Lee who left no stone unturned at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in calling out the West for using human rights to justify its illegal invasion of other countries. When Hong Kong's national security law was enacted in Western countries condemned us. They sanctioned us. They call it a violation to human rights. But here's what I want to say. Since enacting this law, Hong Kong's economy has recovered. Tourism has flourished. The people find finally feel safe again. And what's more important is that I really want to ask, what more authority does the United States, a country that's ruled by the abstens, have over my country, a country that has lifted over million people out of poverty? What moral authority does Britain, a country that arrested over of his own people for posting online, have to lecture us about civil liberties? And what moral authority do NATO countries that preach human rights in this very chamber while turning a blind eye on the scionist genocide in Gaza have to tell us what justice looks like? We will not be silenced by nations that treat human rights as bargaining chips, a tool of foreign policy. We will not accept lectures from governments that use human rights as weapons while their own hands are stained with the blood of Palestinians and Iranians they choose to forget. And we will not rest until every nation in this chamber is held to the same standard until hypocrisy crumbles, genocide is met with action and peace is no longer a word we speak but a world we build. Thank you, Mr. President. I will leave you with the clip of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese facing real humiliation from Muslim worshippers after he visited a mosque to sell his liberal credentials. This after he spent the last two years sucking up to the Israeli terrorists, supporting their genocide in Gaza, rolling out the red carpet for Israeli terrorist Isaac Herzok, and passing a law to ban the criticism of Israel. Albanesea thought that he could use some sellout Australian Muslims to push his agenda. But there were enough upright people within the congregation who said this was utterly unacceptable. What are you doing? Supporters. This is bad. genocide. Why is he here? Get him out of here. Australia, get him out of here. We as Australian Muslims need to have these deep intellectual discussions in regards to how we navigate the path of engaging political leadership, the media, and the watch. Respect the place you're in. Please, this is a respect. Please sit down. Sit down. Please sit down. All of you sit down. Sit down. Stop recording. Sit down. We invited politicians to make us feel good about ourselves, but never genuinely had a robust and effective communication with them about the issues affecting our community. You called him honorable. You called him honorable. He's he's responsible for the death of billion people. billion brothers. billion. billion. Why is protecting him? Why is protecting him? million. million. He supports it, brother. He supported what you here for. You know what? Please have done it. You don't represent us anymore. You don't represent us. That's it from me. Thank you very much for your support of this platform and our journalism. If you haven't subscribed to my channel, please do so because that's one of the many ways you can support independent journalism.
‘What Happened Paper Tiger…’: Iran LAUGHS At US Warship’s ‘Withdrawal’, Fires Missiles With Message Times Of India Mar 20, 2026 #iran #usa #ussgeraldrford
In a sharp escalation, Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, seizing on the repositioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford as a symbolic victory. Tehran’s rhetoric questions American military dominance, calling it a “paper tiger” while projecting strength. The warning, invoking Saddam Hussein, targets Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, amplifying tensions. As narrative warfare intensifies alongside military posturing, the confrontation raises fears of a broader, more dangerous conflict.
Transcript
The sudden withdrawal of the US Navy's Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier from the battlefield and its failure to provide military support to the exhausted and defeated American forces in the West Asia region along with their own internal struggles prove the hollowess of the material power of the arrogant global powers. FA says this military colossus and monster that you constantly boast about for Iran's armed forces is nothing but a paper and straw scarecrow. The words are sharp, the message unmistakable. In a chilling escalation, Iran has issued a direct warning to the United States and its allies after what it calls a series of humiliations on the battlefield. At the center of this storm, the mighty USS Gerald R. Ford, a $billion symbol of American naval supremacy. Now, it's reported repositioning is being seized upon by Thrron as proof of something far more explosive. Iran's military spokesman didn't hold back. The retreat of the USS Gerald Ford has proven the hollowess of the power of the arrogant. Why should a $billion warship fear small thousand speedboats? It's nothing but a paper tiger. A statement designed not just to provoke, but to project power. Because in modern warfare, perception is everything. From the narrow waters of the Gulf to the vast corridors of global power, this is no longer just about missiles and machines. It's about narrative, about dominance, about who blinks first. And then came the line that raised the stakes even higher. Saddam's fate awaits Trump and Netanyahu. A direct incendiary warning invoking the downfall of Saddam Hussein. A message aimed squarely at Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. The rhetoric is fierce, the tension palpable. As both sides trade not just firepower, but words that echo across continents, one question looms large. Is this brinkmanship where the prelude to something far more dangerous? Because in this highstakes confrontation, every [music] move, every message could tip the balance and the world is watching. The sudden withdrawal of the US Navy's Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier from the battlefield and its failure to provide military support to the exhausted and defeated American forces in the West Asia region along with their own internal struggles proved the hollowess of the material power of the arrogant global powers. Baba says this military colossus and monster that you constantly boast about for Iran's armed forces is nothing but a paper and straw scarecrow. The rrooting of this vessel towards the American base and its efforts to avoid traversing the Babal Mandabra has prompted a significant question for global and regional public opinion. Why should a$billion dollar American warship be so fearful and terrified of a few thousand dollar speedboats belonging to the resistance forces? However, such a precarious unstable situation has precisely in recent days occurred for another American aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean. Islamic forces eager to deliver a harsh slap to the American warship deep in the battle zone are waiting fully prepared to reveal naval surprises up close to the American Marines. Saddam's fate awaits Trump and the criminal Netanyahu. There is no defeat for us in this endeavor. God has closed the path of defeat before us. Do you see more than two paths ahead of us? Both paths are glorious for us. One is the path of martyrdom whose glory is eternal, constant, and everlasting. And the other is the path of victory. Both of which are considered a triumph for us. And victory comes from no other source than Allah, the Almighty, the all- wise. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Mkhtaba Kam struck a firm and defiant tone in his latest address. In a message marking Naruse, he declared that Iran was prevailing against its adversaries and had delivered a dizzying blow in the ongoing confrontation with the United States and Israel. The statement underscores Thrron's narrative of resilience and strength as tensions remain high and the conflict continues to intensify across the region. This war took shape after the enemy had lost hope of a significant popular movement in its favor and under the illusion that if it could eliminate the head of the system and a number of influential military figures, it would create fear and despair among you, our dear people, causing you to withdraw from the field and thereby enabling it to realize its dream of dominating Iran and subsequently fragmenting it. You had previously suppressed the coup on the nd of day and on the nd of Bahman once again demonstrated your opposition to global arrogance or oppression and your tireless resolve. And on the nd of Essond, which coincided with Kud's day, by delivering this blow, you made it understand that it is not dealing merely with missiles, drones, and military means. The front line of Iran is far greater than its narrow and insignificant perception. Finally, in this section, following the example of our great and martyed leader, I hereby declare this year's slogan to be a resistance economy under the shadow of national unity and national security. For [snorts] the occasion of the arrival of the solar year I have remarks to present which I will outline below. First, I will briefly review some of the important events of the past year. In the past year, our dear people experienced three military security wars. The second war was the Daymon coup in which the United States and the Zionist regime, assuming that the people of Iran would act in line with the enemy's aims due to the imposed economic difficulties, used their agents to create widespread catastrophe. They martyed an even greater number of our dear compatriots compared to the previous war and inflicted extensive damage. In contrast, Donald Trump has asserted that Washington's operations in Iran are progressing extremely well. I want to begin by just saying we're doing extremely well in Iran. Uh the difference between them and us is they had a navy two weeks ago. They have no navy anymore. It's all at the bottom of the sea. ships knocked down in two days. And we have the greatest navy anywhere in the world. It's not even close. So, but we are doing really well. We're not going to let them have nuclear weapons because if they had them, they'd use them. And we're not going to let that happen. Should have been done a long time ago by other presidents. Don't forget, we [snorts] had Venezuela. That was the beginning where people started to see the talent. I built I rebuilt the military and built it, frankly, including Space Force. But I rebuilt the military in my first term. I didn't think I'd be using it this much, but I'm glad I rebuilt it because we can't let these lunatics have nuclear weapons because they were going to use them. They'd use them fast. One of the ways, you know, that is when this whole thing started, they started shooting missiles all over the Middle East at countries that were basically not involved because they wanted to take over the Middle East and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it. The only question would have been the first hour of the first day. That's the only question. They would have used it. And if they can use a nuclear weapon, the world would have been in big trouble. We had to stop. It should have been done long ago.
US Nuclear Base Under Attack? ‘Waves Of Unauthorised Drones Storm…’: Shocker Amid Iran War Times Of India Mar 20, 2026 #barksdale #drones #b52
Between March 9 and 15, waves of 12 to 15 drones conducted a week-long, coordinated reconnaissance campaign over Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana one of only two US bases housing B-52H nuclear-capable bombers and the headquarters of Air Force Global Strike Command. The drones displayed non-commercial signals and resistance to jamming, used varied approach routes, and forced repeated shutdowns of the flight line degrading combat capability at a base actively supporting Operation Epic Fury. Separately, drones of unknown origin were spotted over Fort McNair, housing Defence Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of State Rubio. Their origin remains unknown. Watch
Transcript
What began as a single drone sighting over a US Air Force base has turned out to be something far more alarming. A week-long coordinated reconnaissance campaign over one of the most strategically sensitive military installations. As per reports, between March and security forces observed multiple waves of to drones operating over sensitive areas of the Barksdale Air Force Base. The drones displayed non-commercial signal characteristics and resistance to jamming. Reports suggest each incursion lasted around hours with the drones using varied routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering within restricted airspace, suggesting an organized, methodical effort rather than opportunistic trespassing. Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana is one of just two US bases that house B-H Stratfortress long range bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It also serves as headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the entire US Air Force nuclear enterprise. The drone incursions required the flight line to be shut down repeatedly while also putting manned aircraft already in flight in the area at risk. At a base actively supporting Operation Epic Fury operations against Iran, a repeatedly closed flight line is not an administrative inconvenience. It is a degradation of combat capability. Barksdale is not the only drone incident to emerge this week. Several drones of unknown origin were spotted over Fort Leslie J. McNair, which houses Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the United States war in the Middle East continues, inside its own borders over its own nuclear bomber base, different drones unknown in origin are doing precisely what Iran's drones do to US bases across the Gulf. And the difference is that in the Gulf, at least, the US knows who is flying them. The war in the Middle East is now taking a visible toll on US air power as aircraft losses mount amid an intense high tempmpo strike campaign against Iran. According to reports, at least US military aircraft have been destroyed since the conflict began. Among them, MQReaper Stripe drones shot down by Iranian fire during operations. But the most serious losses have not all come from combat. In a series of tragic incidents, three US F-fighter jets were downed by friendly fire in Kuwait. And in one of the deadliest accidents, a KCrefueling tanker was destroyed mid operation, killing all six crew members on board. Additional damage has also been reported on the ground. Five KCtankers were hit and damaged in an Iranian missile strike while parked at an airfield in Saudi Arabia. So far, only unmanned aircraft, the Reapers, have been confirmed shot down by Iranian defenses. At least nine were destroyed midair, while another was hit at an airfield in Jordan by a ballistic missile. Two more Reapers were lost in operational accidents. These drones are designed to be attritable, sent into high-risk zones because they carry no pilots and are far cheaper to replace than manned aircraft. Still, the scale of losses is drawing comparisons. During the US-led intervention in Libya, only three aircraft were lost over months. One of them was a drone. Military analysts say the difference lies in the intensity of this conflict. The US conducted more air strikes on the first day of the war than during the shock and awe phase of the Gulf War. A significantly higher operational tempo. More sordies, more missions, more risk. US Central Command has not yet shared a detailed report on air power losses as they site operational sensitivity and ongoing battle damage assessments. Despite early strikes targeting Iran's air defenses, achieving full air superiority has proven difficult. US military leadership now acknowledges that control of Iranian airspace remains limited to specific areas, not absolute dominance. In a recent incident, an advanced F-fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a US base in the Middle East after being struck reportedly by Iranian fire. The pilot survived and is in stable condition. The challenges extend beyond aerial combat. Efforts to secure critical waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are being complicated by active air defense systems which pose a constant threat to aircraft. Similar vulnerabilities were seen in when Houthi fighters in Yemen successfully shot down multiple Reaper drones. The US currently operates around Reaper drones according to defense estimates, but sustained losses, even of unmanned systems, highlight the risks of prolonged highintensity warfare. Experts say accidents are also an unfortunate reality of such operations. High pressure, high speed, and constant missions increase the likelihood of incidents even without enemy engagement. In fact, the US Navy shot down one of its own aircraft in the region as recently as As the war enters its third week, Iran continues to launch strikes across the region, though US defense secretary Pete Hegsth says the frequency of attacks has dropped by nearly % since the conflict began. Even so, Iran retains significant capability. Western and Israeli estimates suggest around % of its missile launchers have been destroyed, but that number has not significantly improved in recent days. And the conflict continues to expand. In its latest retaliation, Iran struck critical energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, responding to earlier attacks on its South Pars gas field. With mounting aircraft losses, contested skies, and expanding regional strikes, this war is proving to be not just intense, but increasingly complex with no clear end in sight. The Middle East conflict is spiraling further with Iran launching fresh retaliatory strikes deep inside Israel. Thran says it targeted three key locations. the Ministry of National Security in Jerusalem, the offices of Channel in Tel Aviv, and a military installation along the Syria Lebanon border. Iranian state media says the strikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of senior officials, including intelligence minister Ismael Katib, and crew members of the Iranian naval destroyer Dana. According to Iran's Fars news agency, the Israeli Ministry of National Security serves as a key crisis management center, while channel is one of the country's most prominent news broadcasters. Since this morning, as revenge for the blood of the brave soldiers of the frigot Dana and the martyr Ismael Katib, drones of the Iranian army have attacked the Ministry of National Security of the Zionist enemy in occupied Jerusalem as well as channel located in Tel Aviv. As the strikes unfolded, fresh visuals emerged from northern Israel. Smoke was seen rising from oil refineries in Haifa after a ballistic missile impact. Emergency services confirmed damage at the site, but said no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, the war is also taking a toll on journalists covering the conflict. Two media workers, RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and his cameraman were wounded in an Israeli air strike. The attack hit the Alcasmia bridge over the Latani River in southern Lebanon. The escalation comes after a series of high-profile assassinations. Iran has confirmed that intelligence minister Ismael Katib was killed in an Israeli strike, a move Iranian President Masud Peshkan described as a cowardly assassination. Just a day earlier, Israel said it had eliminated two of Iran's most powerful figures, top security official Ali Warani and Basie commander Golam Resa Solmani. These killings come amid a broader campaign targeting Iran's leadership structure following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Kam at the start of the war. Katib, a key figure in Iran's intelligence apparatus, was appointed by former President Ibrahim Rayi in He had long served in senior intelligence roles and worked closely with Iran's top leadership. The human cost of the war continues to climb. Iran says more than,people have been killed in US and Israeli strikes, including hundreds of women and children. But independent estimates from the human rights activists news agency suggest the toll is even higher reporting over civilians and more than,military personnel killed since the conflict began. Iran's retaliation has expanded far beyond Israel. Missile strikes and drone activity have now been reported across the region, including in Dubai, Kar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. In Israel, at least two people were killed in the latest round of strikes. The global impact is now being felt. Oil prices are surging amid disruptions linked to the straight of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy shipments. With targeted assassinations, retaliatory strikes, regional spillover, and mounting civilian casualties, this conflict is no longer confined to a single front. It is rapidly evolving into a wider war with global consequences.
Alastair Crooke: Iran Sets Conditions for Access to the Strait of Hormuz Glenn Diesen Mar 20, 2026
Alastair Crooke is a former British diplomat and the Founder of "Conflicts Forum" based in Beirut. He was formerly an advisor on Middle East issues to Javier Solana, the EU Foreign Policy Chief. Crooke outlines Iran's retaliation strategy, which entails conditional access to the Strait of Hormuz.
Transcript
Welcome back to the program. We are here today with Alistister Crook, a former British diplomat and negotiator who worked uh for decades on the different conflicts in the Middle East. Uh Alistister Crook is also the founder and director of Conflicts Forum and I've left a link to this uh his uh excellent uh substack that is Conflicts Forum in the description. So, thank you as always for coming back on the program. My pleasure to join you today. Um only over the past few days we've seen some u I guess dramatic developments. The US and Israel they attacked this South Paris which is the largest gas field in the world the Busher nuclear plant um and also assassinated Iranian leaders which is now triggering this massive retaliation from Iran. I was wondering uh how do you read this situation to to what extent is this uh uh you know escalating out of control or is this calculated? How how are you assessing uh yeah how where the direction this is going? Uh I think the wheels are coming off this whole thing. It's sort of spiraling uh really out of control. Um and it it it increased enormously with um if you like that attack on the Iranian end of the south gas field which was is important to Iran. It um underpins a lot of its electrical supplies and other things. Uh so that was a very big escalation. Um now uh of course Trump has said that it he did a true social just the other day saying oh no it was you know this was gaka had nothing to do with it. was the innocent in all of this and it's outrageous uh that in a response um Iran had attacked um the energy infrastructure of a number of Gulf states five in all the infrastructure not the tanks any longer not the storage which was um under attack before or the ports but this was the infrastructure and they attacked if you like um the infrastructure of Gata. Uh and and that has set it back caused huge damage to to that um uh the liquification um structures, the infrastructure uh set it back uh and damaged. and Gata is now um calling force measure on its long-term gas contracts for years and they estimate it's going to take at least years um uh to rebuild it. So what happened then? Um and the explanation that I have heard from someone talking to those in the circles of um Trump uh Mike Wolf and he says what happened was um Kushner Jared Kushner rang up his father-in-law and he said you know the gutteries are hopping mad. They're going crazy. They're already angry at what's happened and you know this is bad news because Garrett has huge sort of investments there. much of his um you know funds come or his um uh investment funds come from Gata and so he was said you know this is bad they're really angry and they're very upset about it and and Trump from said well look I look I'll take care of it I'll take care of it and so he produced this some uh response um this true social saying oh no you know I didn't even know about it and the gutteries didn't know about it. It was purely Israel. So he put it off onto the Israelis. The Israelis are pretty clear. I mean, you can read it. We been looking at the Hebrew press. I mean, this morning and they're very clear and they say, "Listen, um, on these things, we're joined at the head with the White House." Of course they agreed it. Of course they approved it. Um, and why? because Trump thought, you know, that pressure that there would be that would put pressure on Iran to abandon um the selective closure of Homos. He thought that this sudden sort of attack on the gas of Iran, the Iranian side of the uh the South P field that would the Iranians, oh my goodness, we better stop minutesand open a whole mos I mean delusional stuff really. That's why I say the wheels are coming off this thing because you're getting into complete delusion. And then then, you know, I watched a clip. I don't know exactly the date, but you know, Trump was sitting there with Susan Wilds, who turned out to be one of the the main advisor besides Jared and Steve Whit on on on the Middle East issues. Um, she of course is um closely connected to Israel. I think she was a campaign manager for Netanyahu at one stage. Um anyway, he's sitting there with her and he's saying that you know I I this is I don't understand these missiles these missiles the attack was intended for for for for Iran. No one expected that they would uh you know attack back. They would react and hit Gulf States. I mean who could have guessed that? I mean you know uh we are in Laan it's getting completely out of control and um the wheels are coming off because there's a lot of you know this is becoming quite desperate in terms of American politics and in terms of the economy. I mean the economy particularly for Euro I mean he doesn't care too much about that but even American what they call gas prices petrol prices to Europeans but the gas prices are are are going up and people are noticing it and uh are not happy about that. So it's really you know going out of control. It's serious the attack, this attack um by uh Israel on the Iranian gas facilities and the reaction of Israel to it is taking energy off the market for many years perhaps perhaps up to five years. the the gaties say, you know, you need special steel to replace it and it's not going to be very very quick. So, you know, of course, now panic is setting in and uh markets are still just about surviving because they survive centrally every time Trump tells them. I mean it's I don't know how they run these things but every time Trump says oh it's going to be a short short hall soon be over then the markets go back up again I mean it's infantile really you know they don't seem to do any sort of um due diligence to these things that they just go up and down according to you know um oh and then he says it'll be short it'll be short now and then we'll open and it'll be short and then prices will sink. Oil prices will go straight down. I I mean, you know, again, as I say, this thing is just sort of sparringly not out of just out of control, but out of rationality and, you know, a sense of what, you know, what is possible for the United States to do and what is not. I mean, now we we know they're talking about sending two and a half thousand Marines aboard amphibious ships to K Island or to to to the sort of open you know militarily open Hormuz and uh and now I believe I'm not sure I haven't confirmed it. So it may be uh you know there's so much misreporting at the moment and so much propaganda going around that you you can't tell but he said no you know he may have to send thousands and to to to uh o o open horos we may get into that in a while if you want but because that is delusional too absolutely delusional And um we uh Israel is putting out absolute propaganda you know Media's virtual um news um briefing conference you know the line that is coming out from from Israel is you know they are collapsing Iran is collapsing their command system their leadership and their command system is in chaos. They don't know who's in charge any longer. It's a complete chaos. They are breaking down. And you know, um we have destroyed we have destroyed utterly their nuclear capability, Netanyahu said, and we've destroyed their capability of um uh assembling and constructing new missile. hoping I suppose that people don't remember he said exactly the same thing after the June war that they destroyed um both the ballistic missile capacity and the nuclear prospect um so but it's quite clear um the interest of Israel at least the faction in circles around Metanyao because others in Israel are saying other things but Those that are in the Netanyahu circles are very clear that unless it can be presented as a great success, presented mainly for Trump's interest as a great success that everything is going then there is going to be a crisis in the United States for Israel and for Trump. So they have to keep the propaganda blowing full stake in order to say no, everything is going perfectly. There's no problems at all. Um this is a great success and of course it's Trump's success. Um and he needs that because there's big divisions opening up within the Republicans and indeed within in the Democrats. Um, and it's turning to be something that can be an increasing uh danger to Trump, to the Republicans, indeed to the sort of, I believe, the political fabric of the United States because people are getting more and more critical about, you know, who actually took us into this war, what were their interests, what is sort of barely visible. able um command structure above the political level that takes us in. We don't know who leads it, what their interests are, but nonetheless is this feeling in one section of the uh republic and the mega side that there is this invisible if you like super structure um that is if you like a control structure uh that is stands above what they can see, what they can touch and what they can understand. And they're saying we need to really understand what's going on. And of course, um the the the the resignation by the LA head of the counterterrorist um department uh has exacerbated this. Yeah. Well, well, you follow the Israeli media, especially the Hebrew language media quite carefully. Uh, how do the Israelis assess this development of the war? I mean, how is victory defined? victory I guess redefined and uh well overall had the assessment of how Israel is able to well you said they exaggerate a lot the pain they're dealing to the Iranians in terms of everything falling apart but also their ability to absorb pain um because uh yes it's quite it's it's quite difficult to give a direct answer because much of that he is based, you know, the sentiment that the support for the war in Israel is at % according to the post that there's huge support for it. minutesBut much of that is based on on sort of a game I you can call it or delusion whatever you want but uh is the expectation which has been fueled not only by Netanyahu but also by Trump's statements about obliteration. We've obliterated their navy. We've obliterated their missiles. We've obliterated everything. we and we bomb and we bomb. So there is a lot of expectation that um Iran's state is about to collapse and fall and that this will be a miracle a miracle that is often framed in religious terms by Nemi Apple and others that this is you know something that is almost a divine providence coming um led by um Trump that is going to um bring about a sort of pro- Western um completely dradicalized um disarmed um Iran um from from the war. And so there's a lot of that and people plead to that a great deal. And you I have to say that because you know they are not immune to the propaganda that's been coming out about this from from America and being followed up. I mean the propaganda is all over the west. I mean European newspapers are full of the same sort of propaganda that suggesting that Iran is about to collapse and will fall into uh Israel's lap any time and it will be completely um dradicalized in uh in a in a sense where the whole cycle has been seared by the defeat so much that it will emerge you know from this war uh like at the end of the World War, Germany or Japan emerged, they're slightly seared vibrant defeat that they experienced. Um so, so there's that side of it and there's still that I mean euphoria in parts of the Hebrew press. There's also people who say and senior military officers and others who who say very clearly well look you know Trump actually should just declare literally can get out and you know the sooner he does that the better and you know they are very careful not to say anything too much about you know the damages that are inflicted in Israel because the propaganda inside Israel is very strong minutestoo. The censorship is um huge. There is a year prison sentence for photographing incoming Iranian missile. There is a -year prison sentence for photographing the afternoon. Yes, I know you probably seen videos um of you know the remains of bonds and so on. Um but as the um Israeli news um magazine uh they have reported that these videos that we see are being run by the authorities in Israel by their public relations departments deliberately to show almost you know banal um images as slightly damaged park debris in the street accompanied by messages only light injuries have been experienced and they're mostly almost all they are sort of an Indian or a Sri Lankan has been injured by by by by these uh missiles. So they are deliberately showing a little glimpse of the the debris and in one case they they you know the they they were attacked by a locals who said no no what are you filming this this is nothing film what really has happened here and you know the camera crew just ignored them and continued. So, I'm just trying to paint a picture that for Israelis, do they know how damaging um the miss Iranian attacks are? Do they have a sense of the balance in this war? I don't think they do really have a proper sense to it for those reasons because of the endless sort of good news propaganda and also because you know nothing is allowed to be shown. However, I mean you know uh last night uh it was reported um after the Iranian bar million people were in shelters for the whole night. Well, um my understanding is that equates almost exactly to the population of Israel at and a half mill. Um but so I mean there must be a greater sense of something wrong. But I guess a lot of people just cross their fingers and hope that, you know, this is all going to turn out to be, you know, a divine victory for for for for Israel. So um that's on the Israeli side. On on the um Iranian side, I mean, you it's minutesmuch easier to see because we've seen the photographs of, you know, afterar and people. I mean quite clearly Iran is now more together, more um engaged um than since the since the um the revolution in I mean they are fully behind um this the state and fully supporting it and they are resilient and it's tough. I mean, you know, when a when you see when a missile comes and lands nearby, they just stand. They don't run, you know, they don't run for the shelters. They just stay out in the squares at night when this happens. I mean, of course, occasionally if if I mean, people do. And of of course, you know, a lot of the attacks strikes have been on, I think Iran says they've had hospitals attacked um in the spirit. That's from the Iranian sources that they say the head of the medical service sayly hospitals have been attacked, schools have been attacked, residential blocks have been attacked. Of course, people have to run uh when that that sort of attack is taking place. But by and large, the resilience is strong. Well, I I thought in in this war if the purpose is to exhaust each other, that is to uh measured by the ability to cause pain and absorb pain, it makes sense in the propaganda to exaggerate the pain caused on the adversary and the the limited pain caused on one's own. Uh I guess Iran is different in this regard because it was attacked. So if it shows the destruction to itself, it becomes also yet evidence of what the aggressor has done and it also helps to unify the country because this is not the cost of military opportunism as it would then be seen by the populations of of Israel. Uh but uh how do you make sense of the wider Iranian uh retaliation strategy? because uh as you said before uh Trump claimed that no one could have foreseen that they would hit the US military bases across the Middle East which uh I which is an incredible statement but uh uh but it's interesting that they apparently wasn't well prepared for attack that there would be attacks on these bases the attacks on on the energy facilities in the region the closure of the straight or moose is this essentially a economic strategy solely or how Were you assessing the the objective here of the Iranians? Well, there's a fundamental objective that people often overlook um because it's becoming pretty clear that the West was not prepared for a conflict. They were prepared for a very short, you know, -day bombing exercise. Their logistics were for a short bombing process and those logistics are now expiring running out very clearly. Interceptors are not I mean there's clearly Israel does have almost zero intercept capacity especially through the new missiles that Iran is using. The the latest one being the PARhypersonic missile. um and also in Gulf you know logistics have not been attempted. So there was no pro there was no preparation for it was not thought through the planning for this. But on the other hand, Iran has been planning this for years against the possibility that at one time or another they would have to fight a war with the United States because of years of hostility effective to to Iran. And there was it seemed to be there was no way out because otherwise you got into this cycle which Galibah has said you know you have war then you have the truce then the war comes back three years later for truce you heard all this from you know Russia too about the danger of ceasefires and um what they lead to so they they're very clear that it's along so what this means is that they have been where they have a plan, if you like, uh, a sort of paradigm of how they will sort of increase the pressure on Israel and they will judge that to, if you like, the depletion of the capacities of the West and of Israel and to reach a peak probably just after they judge that those capacities are are waning. minutesso that they can have the maximum effect on on on on Israel. So, um for for Iran really it's only just getting started. I mean, they knew it would be, you know, two to three weeks and then they calculated. I mean I don't I'm not privy to their to their actual collision but I do know that they were thinking that it would be two or or so weeks and then then the depletion will become evident and then they could use the main force that they had been keeping. So it is both a very phased and planned structure that they have for a long war that would reach its peak at a point where they saw the maximum military advantage to it. And so they've been keeping missiles back um and husbanding um if you like the more sophisticated missiles. They've been keeping those back, metering their use out for a long war and for the moment that they wanted to rise to a peak and that I think is a psych psychological issue as much as it's a military one. you know, when is it going to be the most effective of collapsing the psyche of Israelis? When is the moment when it's going to cause a rethink and an undermining of the confidence and the arrogance in parts of the West, if you go too soon, you don't affect it. So it's psychological as well as a military calculus I believe that is underpinning Penny that so you know it's a prepared force carefully prepared wellthought out asymmetrical warfare against illought out illprepared poor logistically supplied alternative coming from New the United States and from Israel. They haven't got the missiles. They haven't got the interceptors. They need for anything other than a short war. They bet on a short war. They clearly already wrong on that calculus. They're wrong on the calculus that the state was about to crumble because they were assassinating people. I mean, you know, for all, you know, the hype about Israeli intelligence and how wonderful they are, they've made really some strategic intelligence misjudgments. They still consider they still some of not all of them I emphasize there are some that see you know the idea that after Larijani was killed that's the one it was like Kasani now it's going to collapse the state so they thought they had they were convinced of that and now they're saying well it didn't happen there's no sign of it hasn't happened and the command still carries on. So a lot of Israelis are looking at it with clear eyes, but they haven't come to the conclusion of what that means. I mean, you know what that that leaves them confused and, unsure, you know, so what's next? Where do we go from here? And I don't think there, you know, they have an answer to that. So that's the element of it in terms of how Iran is thinking about this war.
And the other part of the the war, apart from the kinetic part, and this is really important, it's so significant, Lloyds of London have come out -- I said it yesterday or the day before -- but Lloyds have now confirmed, Lloyds who are the main insurance agents for shipping worldwide, the IRGC has now completed a system for allowing the passage of approved vessels through, and this is very important, because It's through a special channel which runs, if you look at the map you'll see the island of Keshing, which is quite close to the Musenban, if you like, peninsula there, but between Kam, and a small Iranian island called Lar, is the new channel; not the main channel, the channel which is for big ships, if you like, it's a slightly smaller channel. It's very close to Kessan. So there can be a visual inspection of the vessels passing through, and checking that they have the license, the permission to pass through. Whereas the main route, I don't know if they're going to mine it, or if they're going to just simply attack any attempt at an escort, or a naval vessels, American naval vessels going in that. I don't think that it's understood that in fact, over that entire Hormuz's passage, main channel, which is the one that the Americans would have to use, because their naval vessels have a deeper drop. And the fact that they've created this small channel, what is so interesting about it is I think they've given nine countries access. India; they include vessels from Pakistan; Malaysia; I can't remember the full list, but those four countries' vessels, and what they are required to do is to show that their cargoes are bought with Yuan, and not with dollars.
And this is going to reset the whole global energy paradigm. You will not get passage for any cargo that is traded in US dollars. This is going to be the case for the Gulf states, which will be a shock to them. And it will be the case for Europe. And I think, I can't confirm it, but I think there are some European states who are toying with opening negotiations. So Lloyds of London is saying that the IRGC are about to make it a regulated system of passage through the special emitted channel. And they will check at CASM that they have the papers, who bought in Yuan, and that this will be negotiated, and regulated, and become the way in which the energy supply can be served. But only by those states that have not taken or provided military support to the attack on Iran, and which are leaving the US dollar structure and buying only in yuan.
And I think ultimately everyone was going to have to choose. It puts people on the spot/ You know, it may be awkward but the Gulf states will have to choose, because it's not just oil and gas that go down the Strait of Hormuz. UAE imports nearly all its food through Hormuz, and I believe they have about __ days of reserves of food at the moment. And then there are other things like fertilizer through the Hormuz.
So they have a chokehold, the IRGC has a chokehold on this, and they can regulate the amount of energy passing through, possibly just to be sufficient to avoid a major economic collapse, but not enough not to cause a certain amount of pain, or to minimize their chokehold over energy.
And this if you like the leverage over western state very interesting and of course China vessels are passing through without problem they have been from the start Chinese festivals in fact you know I think some America keep saying well you know they're going to try and stop it for China but the Chinese vessels pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass through and whereas China does take % as of um the uh oil energy that passes through horos crucial to China because it's only % of their total uh energy imports into China because they've many other sorts of energy. So yes, it's significant but it is not existential China even if it were shut but it's not going to be shut. And so it's really you know we've heard a lot about um freedom of navigation of the seas which America seems to take it to be their prerogative. Well actually they are just losing that because a new freedom of navigation um of the area ra and horm and babal mandan babal mand is coming into effect. So this is a complete inversion of the geopolitical para. Um and and I just just add you know what it does is it affects this basic strategy that we saw in the national security statement the NSS um uh that um was drawn up by I was giddy's main colby not ever anyway the assistant secretary who wrote did a book about it earlier, but his book was essentially saying we cannot allow China um to if you like consume as little as they are. They have to consume more because we have to stop them exporting more. So we have to restrict their exports and make them and coers them to be more to be a more of a consumption an internally consumption nation. Uh and so that we can leave so the export market is now more open for America to compete in this area and we can do that of one of two ways. the NSS suggest either through tariffs and sanctions or alternatively by blockades and squeezes on the sea passages the naval if you like corridors the choke points um that affect China uh Russia and um Iran and so we've clearly see from Venezuela the neighbor blockade, Cuba, naval blockade, seizure of vessels, seizure of Russian so-called um you know their their their fleet um of tankers. uh and so both Russia and China see you know this American strategy of trying to squeeze in China's case that energy supply in Russia's case the energy exports by um either blockades or tightening the the the screws on on the choke points or by just seizing declaring all the all their vessels all their vessels to a sanction. Well, um it was a good point you make that um the the great powers uh the great maritime powers they always extract a lot of power out of controlling these um well key maritime corridors uh the British and then later the United States and this this is indeed if you look at the uh Alfred Mound the strategy when the for the US to become a great power. A lot of this happened after the Spanish uh American war of After that you saw the US controlling all these key corridors. Hawaii gave them control over you know the Pacific. Uh you have the Panama Canal connecting these oceans. Again the US under Trump uh reasserted this control over the Panama Canal. Is it Greenland would be good for Atlantic and also the Arctic where the Russians are setting up a corridor. the as you mentioned the blockade on Venezuela, Cuba, we're really back in this uh well the freedom of navigation it's something large powers can strip as well away and again this campaign against the Russian ships something that also is you know enhanced ability to do especially with NATO expanding in the in the Baltic Sea but against the Chinese the Americans always have the straight of Mala so you always have this key point which you go after but this is why it's so unique as and I'm glad you mentioned you know straight of moose but they can also with the cooperation with Yemen start to tighten up the Babel um Mand the that that other straight accessing the Red Sea so there's a lot of things in the planure that is certainly in the opinion plan be absolutely sure but as I said all of this is you know toughly meeted and planned you know the Hezbollah have been activated. The Hashad in Iraq have been activated at the right time. And I don't know when that is. Of course, the Houthies are all primed and ready to to shut down the um the pipeline um that Saudi Arabia has that connects to to the Red Sea, the um the um loading um port where they can load uh petroleum from Saudi Arabia. It's only about million barrels I think it is total um a day but they'll shut that down at the right moment. It's all about getting, you know, the balance of these things uh just right. But I was going to say, you know, when did all this start in weight? It's quite interesting. I think you know in the late th century was crucial because Churchill made this dramatic decision that he was going to stop having the navy, the Royal Navy of Britain fueled by coal and change it to oil um uh oil engines. And so the whole navy was converted away from coal which had been that and to oil. And of course most of that all had to come from Iran. And so much of that thinking has stayed in the process that they have to keep you know oil even from that distant period you know um Iranian oil and the idea of the allowing the Iranians to nationalize their oil um and keep it out of the western naval hands has been an even if you know nowadays we have nuclear ships and everything like this you know these old um these old ideas linger on something. Yeah. Well, um uh yeah, I assumed I saw some uh uh US Marines leaving America's west coast and I assume that perhaps they might be heading for Yemen to to yeah to to possibly preempt the shutting down of the Red Sea. Again, I don't know what the Americans are thinking, what what they're going for, but uh but the the Iranians, they did say uh or indicated that uh things with the straight of moose can't go back to the way things were. So, I I saw that you mentioned this um uh yeah, this creating the selective access to straight moose and the safe shipping corridors on your uh substack as well. And I I was wondering if if this is a possibility that this could also be used as a form of extracting reparations in terms of taxing those that go through because uh um I I've heard this comment as well that the Gulf States at some point will have to yeah pay pay compensation for the destruction they allowed the US to inflict on on Iran. I understand I can't be absolutely sure but I understand that the fee for Pakistan's passage through this on this channel was two million uh dollars equivalent in one but it was million I think it was to to uh uh to to to use it. So yes the IRGC are building a sort of thrust. So all right the the Marines what are they going to achieve? I mean I don't think again I mean I can't see that this is going to the the idea of boots on the ground is has I mean it just seems absurd the as you pass around the Musandon Peninsula um in hormood um the very narrow straight there um from the landside the Iranians have a degree um fire control over that over the o over over over the that point behind on the Iranian side all up the horos is a mountain range and so at the moment they control um if you like hormos it's under fire control from artillery not on the coast way back in you know from even from mountain I mean kilometer uh for an artillery is is okay. The straits at that point uh when you go through it is only by kilometers wide when it passes through Larak and Kirsten. Um so they can control it simply by far artillery fire. Um but also they have all these other means. They have things we haven't seen yet. that um submerged submersible drones which you could think of as high-speed torpedoes, you know, um which um are directable, scarable, you can target them. They travel underwater and then hit a vessel. Then they have surface drones, dude boats with explosives that are can be directed and they are in underwater tunnels and they can emerge from tunnels that have been mined into the into the sea, come out and they're very fast and they can attack the vessel. And then they have man drones or at least man speeders. I think they are supposed to have at least um of these and of the unmanned var varieties and they are uh equipped with anti-ship missile and then you have many submarines which could maneuver into the uh homeless because they are uh small and do not need a great depth and they and far anti-ship missiles um whilst submerged. So you know when we hear you know oh the Iranian Navy has been disabled it's on the floor of the ocean. I mean they just obliterated it. They haven't obliterated one jot the um ability of the Iranians to control this passage and indeed being passed straight. And so where are these amphibious ships going to go with these marines to take control back of uh of Homos? I mean we hear talk of K Island. C Island's at the other end of the Homo stakes. It's not by the straits at all. I I I've been to C Island and you know and that's under control of artillery and ballistic missiles and this whole coastline of Mos which is Iranian is minuteskm long. I mean so what do you get? You put marines into this. I mean that equates to one marine for every kilometer of the coastline. I mean, and then what do you do? Who's going to keep supplying them? How are they going to be reinforced? How are they going to be supported? All a mystery. No one says, no one sort of spells it out. I suspect because they can't. And that's why I I wonder if it'll really happen because I mean I can't think of, you know, a a better recipe for disaster than to try and land a lot of, you know, Americans who are completely unfamiliar with the Middle East into a country which is mountainous, has forests, has tunnels, um, and has an army of a million men. You know, it doesn't make any sense really. I I keep wondering if some of these talks about opening the straight of muses, as you suggested before, efforts by Trump merely to talk down the oil prices even temp even even temporarily just to yeah try to mitigate some of the worst of this situation. Um I think I think you're probably very right. But you know how you know you can you know you can fool fool me once, fool me twice. I mean how many times can they fool will they be able to fool the markets by saying oh no no no we're going to close you know we're going to close almost you know there's a certain shelf life to this tactic. That's the last brief question. What what do you think are the wider risks to Israel here? because you said uh that that a lot of the damages uh inflicted on Israel are under reportported um because they seem to have bet more or less everything on this and even the US partnership with Israel is now uh challenged by many key voices in the United States especially some f factions of the America first crowd at least what it was supposed to mean are now very worried about this do you see this possibly becoming even an existential threat for Israel because uh that seems like something even Iran should be very worried about given that this is a nuclear armed country which tends to link its security to the concept of regional dominance. Oh yes, I think I think that's exactly what we are going to see. that as I say um you know the big what we seeing from Iran has been a carefully unfolding plan which has been thought through carefully over years and so we're at the early stages and we only just in the last day or so he you know the the the hypersonic batter missile that is steerable being released so that it has an extra motor uh attached to it, a rocket motor, so that when it comes back into the atmosphere from going out into orbit at Mac Um then they can steer it around air defense missiles and land with great access. And some of these missiles are starting to have warheads of Um, according to Israel, there are still only two real casualties and breast or light injuries and nothing to be concerned about. But I mean the I think this is going to Yes. The question is when when does the psychology change? When does the psyche suddenly think oh my god you know this is I mean a crisis this is a catastrophe the wheels have come off you know what's next and and it's interesting because you mentioned America it's exactly the same in the sense that America is actually arriving there perhaps before Israelis are arriving at the same point because it is becoming a a crisis in America between those that are um America first in opposition to the Israeli first, the hardline neocons, you know, the Rubio's and uh you know all all those voices on on on the neocon front, Lindsey Grahams and others leave him. Um, so it's becoming a a real division and with the closeness between the United States and Israel, I mean, you know, in many many ways more than just closeness. I mean, a sort of integration. I mean, I think that is going to feed back into Israel, too. I mean the the the the fracture that is taking place in America on this war I think is feeding back into Israel as the moment Israel is just sticking as I said to you earlier in this beginning thing is quite clear from what we have read um even today in the Hebrew press they are saying very clearly it is so important keep alive the sense Victory is imminent. Victory is in our hands. It's going to happen. The war is progressing perfectly in order to if you like um keep Trump engaged in the war and to keep America and to get American boots on the ground. That is the objective. Get American boots on the ground. However, my own view with this personal view, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe, but my personal view is, you know, if there is an absolute red line for the mega people, it will be boots on the ground in the Middle East. I just think it will be politically catastrophic. Yet, I have to say it's quite possible. I mean everything Trump says suggests that you know he is contemplating this. I think it is you know in terms of strategy military strategy sir but he does it I think it's possible that will happen. I think it will be catastrophic and therefore it'll be catastrophic for Israel too. Uh and in Israel, I mean both, you know, Trump and Netanyahu have elections coming up. They have to be winners. They need to be sure that they are strong, that they've taken these, you know, Trump said the other day, he gave the statement saying, you know, I'm the only, you know, we've had this problem for years and I'm the only president and a president, a former president came to me and he said, you know, I envy what you've done because you're the only one that could do it. I mean, it's a lie because I mean, all the past presidents have denied they ever said that to Trump. um the the the three or four presidents said no no we we had said that to him but you know it's part of Trump's persona you know only I had the nerve only I had the courage to do this and you know something had been begging to be done these people are evil they're horrible we have to get rid of them all together so we're going to obliterate them I mean you know this all may come apart I mean this is much more serious than the other predictions he's got himself for America, for the Republicans, for the West, for Europe. Um, it's going to have a huge impact. I believe you put it. Well, Trump also said that the Iranians told Witco that they would uh continue develop nuclear weapons no matter what, which sounds like a weirdness. Again, the de lies are getting ridiculous. But I I I very much agree with this assessment of Trump though because all his premise behind the America make America great again is that America is in relative decline. It's weakening and he has he kind of blames the reasons for this oversimplifying it as being simply weak leaders. So the return of America's greatness does require strength and he embodies more or less this strength which is why he's indispensable for the revival of America. about uh this narrative still that we're winning, all is going well. We listened to this for four years now in Ukraine and it was obvious nonsense from day one. So it's uh you know it just suggests that they can spin it nonetheless because reality doesn't always have a chance against narratives. But there is something weak about the narrative control in this one. At least in Ukraine they control the narrative to a great extent. Now it's a bit all over the place I feel. But and you can understand it with his mindset. He can't understand. I mean, you know, he says, you know, I mean, you know, here I am. I've done what everyone said. You know, these awful people. I'm obliterating them. I'm bombing them. I'm bombing their, you know, their military. I'm bombing their nuclear. I'm bombing their um missile capacities. What's there not to like about it? Why are people questioning it or quering it? Well, Mr. President, it might be because you've actually made a big mistake and have messed up. You've gone into a war without any preparations, unprepared, without the logistics to last longer than a very short time based on your presumption that your intelligence was faulty, that the Israelis probably gave you that that the Han was a house of cards ready to collapse at the first little shock. Uh, and you will face the concept. Well, Iraq was years ago supposed to finish off in a few weeks. Now, they also dealt a lot of death and destruction. And now, of course, uh the US uh embassy in Baghdad is under fire. Iraq overall is leaning much heavier towards Iran. It would otherwise have done if they would have let Saddam in power. So, uh yeah, killing a lot of people doesn't necessarily translate into victory. So I guess how one assess victory is quite important but uh yeah everything is oversimplified I think. Anyways uh as always thank you very much for being so generous generous with your time. Well thank you thank you for allowing me to speak on your program. Um anyway thank you
Iran Just Did Something so out of this world…Israel's entire Dimona nuclear site obliterated - OPTM OPTM Mar 21, 2026
Transcript
In the last few hours, emergency sirens have not just sounded, they have screamed across the occupied territories, specifically targeting the southern Negev desert. We are now able to confirm through Iranian military sources and corroborated by international nuclear watchd dogs that precision strikes have successfully impacted the perimeter of the Deona nuclear facility. Iran allegedly targeted Deona and Negev nuclear research center. Tensions in the Middle East have reached a dangerous new threshold as Iran's latest missile attack reportedly triggers sirens near one of Israel's most sensitive and secretive sites. War just crossed the line. Everyone was praying it wouldn't. Nuclear facilities under fire on both sides. Iran's Busher plant struck. Israel's Deona targeted in return. This is the heart of Israel's undeclared atomic weapons program. A site shrouded in more secrecy than almost any other on the planet. And for the first time in its history, it has been directly hit by a retaliatory barrage. The Iranian military has stated unequivocally that this is not a warning. It is a direct response. It comes after the joint USIsrael strikes on Iranian soil, strikes that experts have warned for weeks, risked catastrophic radiation leaks. Now the chickens have come home to roost and the entire Middle East is bracing for a fallout. Literally, the World Health Organization has activated its highest alert level for a nuclear incident, distributing potassium iodide and conducting emergency drills across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE. Officials are terrified that the Deona facility, which houses decades worth of weaponsgrade plutonium and aging, poorly maintained reactors, could be spewing toxic material into the atmosphere as we speak. We are looking at a potential environmental and humanitarian catastrophe. And as always, it is the civilians of the region, the ordinary families in Palestine, in Jordan, in Egypt, and beyond, who will bear the brunt of this madness cooked up by the wararmongers in Washington and Tel Aviv. Before we go any further, I need to talk directly to you. This is the kind of journalism that gets suppressed, that gets labeled as dangerous because we are telling you the truth that the corporate media is too afraid to touch. If you believe that the public has a right to know the full scope of this disaster, I am asking you to do three things right now. Hit the like button. It tells the algorithm that this information needs to be seen. Share this video with everyone you know. We are a firewall against the propaganda. And for the love of truth, drop a comment. Even if it is just a single dot or a flag in the comments, let them know we are here, we are watching, and we are not silent. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to this channel. We are one of the last bastions of honest journalism left, and we cannot do this without your support. Now, let's get into the depths of what is actually happening because the mainstream narrative is already trying to bury the lead. Let's talk specifics because understanding the geography of this nightmare tells you everything about the intent. The Deona facility, officially known as the Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Center, is located deep in the Negev Desert about km south of Jerusalem. It is a sprawling fortress-like compound that was built in absolute secrecy with French assistance back in the late s. For years, they tried to hide it, even calling it a textile factory to dupe the Americans. But we know what it is. It is the clandestine hub where Israel reprocesses spent reactor rods to extract plutonium for its nuclear warheads. And here is the crucial detail that every Western media outlet is conveniently glossing over. The Iranian military did not stop at Deona. This barrage was comprehensive. According to intelligence we are pulling from Iranian state news and open- source satellite imagery. The target pool today included not just Deona but also the Sorc Nuclear Research Center near Tel Aviv, which is involved in the development of nuclear weapons components and various military installations housing the delivery systems for the estimated to nuclear warheads that Israel has illegally stockpiled. The Iranian army has made it clear that they are targeting the infrastructure of war. The infrastructure that has been threatening the entire region for decades. This is not about self-defense on Israel's part. This is about the inevitable consequence of poking a bear that they thought was helpless. Now, we need to talk about the emergency on the ground because the silence from Tel Aviv is deafening. The World Health Organization is not waiting for the propaganda machine to spin this. Reports coming out of Geneva confirm that the WH is actively training staff and distributing guidance on how to survive a nuclear event across priority countries in the region. They are worried about the worstc case scenario, a full-scale nuclear accident. And why wouldn't they be? This is the same Deona facility that has a dark, murky history of accidents and cover-ups. But the fear isn't just about what happens if the reactors there are damaged. This is a major escalation because the Iranian strikes are a direct response to the USIsrael aggression against Iran's own nuclear infrastructure. Let's be very clear about what happened a few days ago. A coordinated USIsraeli attack struck the Busher nuclear power plant. The Bush Air plant located on the Persian Gulf Coast is a civilian facility, a legitimate IAEA monitored power station that was built with Russian assistance. It is a lightwater reactor designed purely for energy, a facility that the West has tried to sabotage for years under the guise of non-prololiferation. Experts warned at the time that attacking a live nuclear reactor, even one that is not weapons grade, risks a massive release of radiation. The Iranians warned that if they hit their civilian plants, they would hit Israel's military nuclear sites. They kept their word. We are now in a cycle of escalation where the Western allies and the Israeli regime have proven they care more about regime change than they do about the radioactive cloud that is now threatening to drift over the Middle East. Let's take a moment to really understand the hypocrisy here because we have to go back to the history books to see how we got to this precipice. Contrast Bushire with Deona. Bushire is open. It is inspected. It is a civilian site that Iran invited the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit repeatedly. Deona, on the other hand, is a black hole. It has never been subject to comprehensive international monitoring. Israel is the only country in the Middle East with a nuclear arsenal. Yet, it refuses to sign the non-prololiferation treaty. And when you dig into the history, you realize just how deep the rot goes. There is a wellocumented chilling history that connects the refusal to monitor Dimona directly to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This is not conspiracy theory. This is documented history that has been suppressed. In the early s, President Kennedy was furious. He he had discovered the secret Israeli nuclear project at Deona and he demanded that inspectors be allowed in. He threatened to cut off all US aid to Israel if they didn't open the doors. He wanted to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. He saw it as an existential threat to world peace. But within a year of his ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister David Bengurion, John F. Kennedy was dead in Dallas. After that, the pressure vanished. Lynden Johnson took over and the inspection stopped. Israel got the bomb. And ever since then, the special relationship between the US and Israel has been forged in the blood of that crime. They killed a president to protect their nuclear opacity, and now that same opacity is endangering millions of lives today. This brings us to the grotesque spectacle we are seeing on Western television right now. You have the Israeli government with mouthpieces like a man named Jonathan Krikus who we have seen on shows like Piers Morgan going on and on about the existential threat of Iran's civilian nuclear program. They shout from the rooftops about how Iran must be destroyed to prevent them from getting the bomb. The sheer audacity, the sheer hypocrisy is staggering. They are demanding that Iran obey rules that Israel has never ever followed to war. So now let's quickly answer to the question that Pierce asked. Brilliant. Okay. He asked if Israel has the right to defend itself and you called Israel of genocidal. Could you please tell your other speaker to let me speak? Well, yeah, but I do think I did nice if you answer the question of I did ask question. So now let's get to the question. Let's get to the question. By all means, Pierce. Number one, there has always been an option to significantly diminish the threat to Israel. There has always been an option. It's to create a weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle East. We have one in Latin America, a weapons of mass destruction free zone. We have one in Africa. We have one in the South Pacific. What's the obstacle? There is one obstacle to eliminating all nuclear weapons in the Middle East. All nuclear weapons in the Middle East to significantly diminish the threat to Israel. We have that option. Who's blocked it? Who has refused? Iran has gone along with it. All the other Middle Eastern states have gone along with it. only one state, the one who pretends to be for peace and for security, which has opposed the weapons of mass destruction free zone in the Middle East. That's Israel. Iran is a signatory to the non-prololiferation treaty. Is Israel a signatory to the non-prololiferation treaty? In fact, don't answer questions or just free will all day long. Like is I mean I answer your questions. I don't sit here and just pontificate. You ask me a question, I answer it. Is this going to carry on? I do I do think I do think uh Norman that I did just ask a simple question. Isra is Israel not entitled to defend itself from Iran? Israel has the right to defend itself under article of the UN charter if it faces an imminent irreversible threat to its national and now the people of the Middle East are paying the price. We are already seeing reports of panic buying of iodine tablets in Aman and Dubai. Schools are being closed in southern Palestine due to fears of airborne contamination. The very civilians that Netanyahu and Trump claim to be protecting are the ones being sacrificed on the altar of their political survival. If there is a leak from Deona, it doesn't care about borders. It will drift over Jordan, over Saudi Arabia, over the West Bank, and into Gaza. The people there have already endured genocide and now they are facing a slow invisible death from radiation because of a nuclear program that their occupier refused to let the world monitor for years. We are watching a crime against humanity unfold in real time. We are going to stay on top of this story as the updates come in. We are hearing reports of additional missile movements from the Iranian military and the US is scrambling to reposition its naval assets in the Persian Gulf, which is a recipe for a direct confrontation. One thing is clear, the era of Israeli nuclear monopoly is over. The retaliation is here. The hypocrisy of the West is laid bare. And as the radiation drills continue across the Middle East, we must ask, how many more times will the American and Israeli governments gamble with the lives of millions just to hold on to their illegal weapons and their failing policies of intimidation? We will have more for you on the casualty reports and the IAEA's emergency meeting in just a moment. Stay with us.
16 US aircraft down as Iran cluster missile shakes Diego Garcia airbase; shocking footage – OPTM OPTM Mar 21, 2026
Transcript
I want you to take a deep breath, settle in, and let the reality of what just happened wash over you. Because the mainstream media, the Pentagon spin machine, and the washed up generals on cable news are trying to hide the truth. But you are here, and you deserve the facts. Just days ago, the world changed. km. That's how far Iran just reached. Ballistic missiles fired at Diego Garcia. as Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, the joint USUK military base located over kilometers from Tehran. the drastic and unprecedented escalation of West Asia war. The Iranian regime has launched multiple long-range ballistic missiles directly targeting the highly strategic US and UK joint military base at Diego Garcia in the not with a whimper but with the roar of a Horamshar missile launching from Iranian territory flying over km across the open ocean and slamming into the consciousness of the United States military in a way that nothing has since Vietnam. We are witnessing the complete and utter collapse of American strategic dominance in West Asia. And the man holding the bag, Donald Trump, has just performed the most humiliating U-turn in the history of the American presidency. Let's set the stage. For weeks, the propaganda machine in Washington and Tel Aviv has been running at full throttle. We were told Iran was isolated, that its military was degraded, that its leadership was cowering in bunkers. Donald Trump stood at podiums, his chest puffed out, declaring that he was obliterating Iran's military-industrial complex. What did you mean by that? You said the war was militarily won in Iran. What did you mean by that? Oh, I think we've won. We've knocked out their navy, their air force. We've knocked out their anti-aircraft. We've knocked out everything. We're roaming free. From a military standpoint, all they're doing is clogging up the straight. But from a milit military standpoint, they're finished. Kier Starmer, the British prime minister, played the loyal lap dog, finally giving permission for the US to use the strategic Indian Ocean base at Diego Garcia to launch strikes against Iran. Thinking that this little rock thousands of miles away was a sanctuary, a safe haven from which the Empire could project power without consequence. They thought they were safe. They thought the rules of the game were fixed. But they forgot one crucial detail. Iran has been playing a much longer game, a game of patience, mathematics, and sheer ballistic ingenuity. And on the day that Starmer gave the green light, Iran responded not with a diplomatic note, but with two intermediate range ballistic missiles aimed directly at Diego Garcia. The message was clear. There is no sanctuary for you. Not anywhere. Before we dive into the technical brilliance of this strike, the sheer audacity of it, I need to ask you something. If you are tired of the lies, tired of the narrative that the most powerful military in the world is invincible, I need you to do something for me right now. Hit the like button. Smash it. Share this video with everyone you know who is tired of the propaganda. Drop a comment, even if it's just a dot. Or better yet, tell me what you think about Donald Trump running away with his pants down. And if you haven't already, subscribe to this channel. We are one of the last bastions of honest journalism left and we don't take a dime from defense contractors. We rely on you. Do it now. All right, let's get into the details because the technical specifications of this missile launch are going to make your jaw drop. The target was Diego Garcia. This is not some little outpost. This is the crown jewel of the US UK military alliance in the Indian Ocean. It's a base that hosts B-bombers, nuclear submarines, and serves as a refueling hub for the entire region. The distance from Iran's coastline to this base is roughly to km. Let me put that into perspective. For decades, the American military-industrial complex operated under the comfortable assumption that Iran's missile range was capped at km. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, even said last month that they had deliberately limited the range to km as a matter of policy. That was yesterday. That was the old Iran. Let me ask you because you have said that this was a war of choice. President Trump said one of the reasons for launching this war was that Iran quote already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases and would soon have missiles capable of reaching America. Was Iran planning to directly attack the United States? Well, this this is not true. Uh this is in fact misinformation. Uh uh you know we have capability uh to produce missiles but we have intentionally limited ourselves to below km of range because we don't want to be felt as a threat by anybody else in the world. Uh we have not started any plan to increase the range of our missiles more than what it is right now. However, what we saw was the unveiling of a capability that the Pentagon's top war planners insisted was years away. These weren't just any missiles. Reports indicate that Iran utilized the Cororumshar missile, a liquidfueled medium-range ballistic missile that has been upgraded to the point of being a strategic gamecher. This missile is a marvel of engineering. It's designed to carry a massive payload. And in this instance, it is believed to have been armed with a cluster munition warhead. Think about that. A cluster warhead designed to saturate an airfield. The purpose wasn't just to hit the base. It was to make the air base unusable, to crater the runways, to destroy the fuel depots, to scatter bomblets across the tarmac so that no F-could take off or land. It was a direct surgical threat to the US Air Force's ability to project power from that region. One of the missiles reportedly failed mid-flight and a US Navy destroyer managed to fire an SMinterceptor at the second. But here's the part they don't want you to focus on. The fact that the interception happened at all and the uncertainty surrounding it proves that the missile came terrifyingly close to completing its mission. Even the attempt, the sheer act of launching a ballistic missile over km into the Indian Ocean shattered the illusion of American invincibility. Now, let's talk about the trajectory and how Iran achieved this. To reach a target km away, the missile didn't fly a straight flat line. It utilized a highly lofted trajectory, essentially throwing the warhead high into the upper atmosphere, almost to the edge of space, before letting gravity and guidance systems do the rest. This isn't just about fuel. It's about guidance, heat shielding, and the ability to command a missile over the horizon. For years, the West has been funding think tanks that insisted Iran couldn't master this. But they forgot the legacy of Hassan Tani Moadam. They assassinated him in thinking they could kill the program. They thought that bombing his research facilities and killing the father of Iran's missile program would set them back decades. But the student has surpassed the teacher. The Iranian military industrial complex has done what the Americans said was impossible. They miniaturaturized the guidance systems. They perfected the solid fuel boosters. And they created a weapon that can reach deep into the Indian Ocean. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! nd then came the statements from Tehran that must have made the walls of the Pentagon shake. Ali Kam, the late Supreme Leader, had previously limited the range of Iranian missiles out of strategic restraint. Hello. But the Americans and the Israelis mistook that restraint for weakness. They pushed, they assassinated, they bombed, and now the leash is off. Recent reports confirm that Kamina has lifted all limits on missile range. All limits. The implication is terrifying for the West. If Iran can hit Diego Garcia at km, what's stopping them from hitting Eastern Europe? What's stopping them from hitting the British Isles? The American narrative that they can wage a war of attrition against Iran from a safe distance is dead. It was buried in the Indian Ocean the moment that missile cleared its silo. This brings us to the extraordinary, and I mean truly pathetic, U-turn by Donald Trump. Just weeks ago, he was beating the war drum harder than anyone. He was promising to police the straight of Hormuz, threatening to blockade Kar Island, and promising to degrade Iran's military to the point of collapse. He was so confident that he had Iran cornered. But look at him now. Days after Iran demonstrated the ability to hit Diego Garcia, Trump is backpedaling so fast he's leaving skid marks on the White House lawn. In a stunning reversal, he announced that the United States will no longer be responsible for policing the Strait of Hormuz. He said, and I quote, "The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed as necessary by other nations who use it. The United States does not." Let me translate that for you. We tried to bully Iran. They called our bluff and fired a missile at our fortress in the middle of the ocean. And now I'm taking my ball and going home because I'm scared. This is the same man who promised he would obliterate Iran. This is the same administration that sent aircraft carriers, bombers, and thousands of Marines to the region, boasting about how they were going to force Iran to its knees. But after days of bombing, let's look at the results. Iran's air defense network, it's not degraded, it's functioning. Iranian leadership intact. Despite a history of assassinations targeting their commanders and nuclear scientists, the Iranian government is running better than ever. In fact, they are exporting more oil today than they were before this war started. They are making more money. Their economy is still standing. And the straight of Hormuz, it's effectively closed. The most powerful military in the world is sitting there watching tankers get stopped, watching drone attacks on refineries in Kuwait, and they are too scared to send a frigot to force it open. Why? Because they know that if they send a ship, it will be met with a swarm of missiles and drones that the Pentagon has no answer for. So this leaves us watching Donald Trump running away with his pants down, washing his hands of the straight of Hormuz and pretending that he achieved his objectives. It leaves the British government scrambling to figure out why they volunteered their territory to be a target. And it leaves the world with a stark reality. Iran is now a recognized missile power with intercontinental reach. They have the Cororamshar. They have the technology and they have the will to use it. The farce is over. The lies about degrading Iran are exposed as the highest order of nonsense. The only thing that was degraded in this conflict was the credibility of the American military threat. And now, as we watch Trump signal a withdrawal, a full-scale retreat, we have to ask, who is going to police the waters? Now, the answer is no one, because no one is foolish enough to test Iran's new red lines. The rules have changed. The empire is in retreat. And the world is witnessing in real time the birth of a new strategic reality. Stay tuned because this story is far from over. We are just seeing the opening salvos of a new era, one where the US can no longer dictate terms from across the ocean. As we wrap up, remember to like, share, and subscribe. Keep your eyes on the horizon and never forget the truth.
Trump’s Big Iran U-Turn Shocker: US Scraps Tehran Sanctions In 30-Day Hail Mary To Save Economy |War Hindustan Times Mar 21, 2026 #IranOil #Trump #USIranWar
Trump’s first major U‑turn on Iran has stunned Washington, as the White House moves from “maximum pressure” to temporarily unlocking Iranian oil stranded at sea to contain a war‑driven energy shock. The administration has approved a 30‑day pause on some sanctions, allowing the sale of roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian crude stuck on tankers until April 19, 2026, in a bid to calm prices that remain above 100 dollars a barrel. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insists this is a “narrow, short‑term” authorization aimed at stabilizing global supply, not rewarding Tehran, arguing the U.S. is using “Iran’s barrels against Iran” while keeping financial pressure intact.
Transcript
Trump's first U-turn shocks US as questions swirl over whether Majaba's playbook is even more dangerous than his father's. The same US that demonized Iran is now desperately dumping million barrels of its oil to stop a price spiral it helped unleash. In a -day Hail Mary, Washington scraps its own sanctions to shield the warhit economy from the blowback of its Iran gamble. From maximum pressure to maximum panic, America's Iran strategy looks less like a plan and more like a freef fall on fast forward. US is now unlocking Iran's once forbidden barrels. A move that lays bare how Trump's war gamble has left America's own economy short of breath. Washington is scrambling to ease oil pressures as Middle East fighting send shock waves through global energy markets and keeps prices painfully high worldwide. In Washington, officials have signed off on a temporary pause of sanctions for Iranian oil stuck on tankers at sea until April th, According to Reuters and other outlets, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the decision could unleash roughly million barrels of crude into the system, buying the world a brief window of relief. Scott Bassent's post on XR Red, and I quote, "Iran is the head of the snake for global terrorism, and through President Trump's Operation Epic Fury, we are winning this critical fight at an even faster pace than anticipated. In response to Iran's terrorist attacks against global energy infrastructure, the Trump administration will continue to deploy America's economic and military might to maximize the flow of energy to the world, strengthen global supply, and seek to ensure market stability. Today, the Department of the Treasury is issuing a narrowly tailored short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea. At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap. By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy, and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran. In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against Thran to keep the price down as we continue Operation Epic Fury. This temporary short-term authorization is strictly limited to oil that is already in transit and does not allow new purchases or production. Further, Iran will have difficulty accessing any revenue generated and the United States will continue to maintain maximum pressure on Iran and its ability to access the international financial system. So far, the Trump administration has been working to bring around million additional barrels of oil to the global market, undercutting Iran's ability to leverage its disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump's pro-energy agenda has driven US oil and gas production to record levels, strengthening energy security and lowering fuel costs. Any short-term disruption now will ultimately translate into longerterm economic gains for Americans because there is no prosperity without security." Washington says this move is about slamming the brakes on soaring oil prices after wardroven disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz choked global supply. Officials estimate that unleashing these stranded barrels would only steady the market for roughly to days, a short breathing space in a much longer crisis. Oil prices are still sitting above $a barrel as the regional war grinds on, keeping pressure high on governments, markets, and consumers worldwide. To cope with earlier shocks, Washington quietly allowed limited sales of Russian oil stuck at sea, a one-off move that briefly pumped about million barrels into the system. Now, officials are eyeing a similar waiver system for Iranian crude parked offshore, permitting tightly controlled sales without formally lifting sanctions on Tehran. These timebound waivers are designed to open the tap just a little, boosting supply for a few weeks while keeping legal pressure on Iran intact. Analysts say this could reroute cargos that were originally headed for China back into wider global markets, easing the crunch but potentially sharpening USChina friction over energy. Washington's latest shift is designed to chip away at Iran's grip over shipping routes through the straight of Hormuz by keeping tankers moving despite the war. The US Treasury stresses that its priority is to boost actual oil supply, not to micromanage markets as it tries to cushion the blow from disrupted flows. Officials are also weighing fresh draw downs from the strategic petroleum reserve to shore up supply on top of the emergency barrels already released. By Washington's own estimates, the conflict has torn open a supply gap of up to million barrels a day, a staggering hole for the global system to absorb. Trump has publicly hailed allies backing measures to secure vital sea lanes and help steady global markets as the Iran war drags on. Japan's Prime Minister Sonai Tea has signaled she's ready to assist, focusing on keeping regional energy shipments moving safely. Tokyo is considering sending advanced naval mine clearing units and escorts to protect tankers from threats along key Gulf routes. Japan is also expected to dip into its own petroleum reserves, adding barrels to the system to help ease emerging shortages. US officials, meanwhile, are criticizing China for cutting fuel exports, portraying Beijing as an unreliable supplier at a moment of crisis. The picture that emerges is one of urgent highstakes coordination as government scramble to safeguard energy security amid intensifying tensions. Even so, Trump has ruled out any ceasefire with Iran, insisting the Strait of Hormuz will open itself eventually as US firepower and pressure continue. for the good of our nation. Let's work together and let's truly make America great again. The fastest news breaks requested PM saying the will have to speak to Putin and to Zalinski. The biggest news makers. The relationship with India is probably the most important bilateral relationship the US will have for the rest of this century. The capital delivered quite an election result today. Expert analysis. The milliondoll question today is how to stop this dance of death. Ground reports. I'm standing at the crossroad of the ka. Behind me are more than intrigue hearts. Long form interviews. Exclusionary politics is reflected in Manipur case as well. You don't border because this is a small estate. Deep dive into burning issues. It's often said DRC could be the richest country in the whole world. It's because of what sits underneath. Why exactly did the US topple the shakers in our government? HD videos. We don't just break news, we break it down. for the good of our nation. Let's work together and let's truly make America great again. The fastest news breaks requested PM saying the will have to speak to Putin and to Zalinski. The biggest news makers. The relationship with India is probably the most important bilateral relationship the US will have for the rest of this century. The capital delivered quite an election result today. Expert analysis. The milliondoll question today is how to stop this dance of death. Ground reports. I'm standing at the crossroad of the Kuma. Behind me are more than intrigue hearts. Long form interviews. Exclusionary politics is reflected in Manipur case as well. You don't border because this is a small estate. Deep dive into burning issues. It's often said DRC could be the richest country in the whole world. It's because of what sits underneath. Why exactly did the US topple the shakers in our government? HD videos. We don't just break news, we break it down.
Double blow for Trump as Iran launches 4,000-km missiles; US lifts oil sanction | Janta Ka Reporter Janta Ka Reporter Mar 21, 2026
Iran has surprised its adversaries by firing two Intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the UK and US base in the Diego Garcia island in the Indian ocean. This is the first time the world has come to know about the Iranian capability of such long-range missiles. On the other hand, the US administration has been forced to reward Tehran with billions of dollars by allowing the Islamic Republic to sell its oil. Rifat Jawaid unpacks these two massive developments.
Transcript two massive developments that have sent shock waves across the world, particularly the western world. Both these developments have reinforced Iran's status as the new superpower in West Asia. First, despite Donald Trump's fake bravado, his administration has been forced to eat humble pie and lift the sanction on Iranian oil, thereby making the Islamic Republic richer by billions of US dollars. And Iran has just stunned its enemies by unveiling a ballistic missile whose range was never known to the world. America's Wall Street Journal has just reported that Iran fired not one but two missiles targeting the American and British military bases in Diego Garcia Island. Now, if it's true, then this is the first time we have learned about Iran possessing a stockpile of missiles that is capable of hitting most European countries. This would be the broad focus of my video today. So, please stay tuned. Last week, I reported on how US Treasury Secretary had hinted at unsanctioning Iranian oil to deal with the oil shortage in the global market as a result of the blockade of the state of Hormuz. Last night, after I posted my video, Scott Besson took to Twitter to make a massive announcement. Let's first read what he wrote on Twitter. It's pretty long, so please be patient. He wrote, and I quote, "Iran is the head of the snake for global terrorism, and through President Trump's Operation Epic Fury, we are winning this critical fight at an even faster pace than anticipated. In response to Iran's terrorist attacks against global energy infrastructure, the Trump administration will continue to deploy America's economic and military might to maximize the flow of energy to the world, strengthen global supply, and seek to ensure market stability. Today, the Department of the Treasury is issuing a narrowly tailored short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea. At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap. By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran. In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against Thran to keep the price down as we continue operation Epic Fury. This temporary short-term authorization is strictly limited to oil that is already in transit and does not allow new purchases or production. Further, Iran will have difficulty accessing any revenue generated and the United States will continue to maintain maximum pressure on Iran and its ability to access the international financial system. So far, the Trump administration has been working to bring around million additional barrels of oil to the glo global market, undercutting Iran's ability to leverage its disruptions in the state of Hormuz. President Trump's pro-energy agenda has driven US oil and gas production to record levels, strengthening energy security and lowering fuel costs. Any short-term disruption now will ultimately translate into long-term economic gains for Americans because there is no prosperity without security. End quote. Then this happened. An Israeli journalist who has direct contact with the top names in the Israeli government and also in the Trump administration revealed that Trump and Netanyahu had effectively capitulated to the Islamic Republic. He wrote and I quote, "US to allow Iran to get $billion in oil revenue. This is a huge financial concession to Iran by the US. It is the first time US is buying Iranian oil since It's all happening in the middle of a war against Iran. End quote. Now you tell me, how did it help two maniacs, namely Trump and war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu? Iran had made a huge concession to agree to pretty much everything Trump wanted on the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambition. But Trump betrayed Thran by bombing and murdering innocent civilians, including school children. And now the same administration has agreed to concede a lot more than it could have ever imagined. Remember this same bessent chap in the World Economic Forum only in January this year how he was bragging about choking the Iranians through currency manipulation. What do you want to say about sanctions? Something else you've been working on of of course uh what are you planning there in terms of Iran and the impact there? Do sanctions actually work? and and the same question with regard to % secondary sanctions or tariffs on countries who purchase energy products from Russia. Okay, so two two things there. There are Treasury sanctions and if you look at a speech that I gave at the Economic Club of New York last March, I said that I believe the Iranian currency was on the verge of collapse. That if if I were an Iranian citizen, I would take my money out. President Trump ordered Treasury and our OFFAC division, Office of Foreign Asset Control to put maximum pressure on Iran and it's worked because in December their economy collapsed. We saw a major bank go under. The central bank has started to print money. There is a dollar shortage. They are not able to get imports and this is why the people took to the street. So this is economic state crap. no shots fired and um things are moving in a very positive way here. He did everything to ensure that the Iranians didn't get hold of American dollars. Now he's offering them $ billion in exchange for the precious oil. Only a week ago, Trump himself was bragging about his ability to deprive the Iranians of their earning potential in billions through this very oil sale. If I didn't terminate the Iran nuclear deal given to us, one of the worst deals ever made by Barack Hussein Obama. Remember when they sent Boeing s over there loaded with cash, hundreds of millions of dollars? You would have been very happy. This was a wonderful They said hundreds of million. People forget that. Does anybody remember? Right. You remember hundreds of millions of dollars in a Boeing I think there two of them loaded. They took the seats out and they put cash and it was so much that there wasn't a bank in Virginia, Maryland or DC that had any money left. They stripped them of all their money, put it into place, sent it to Iran almost as ransom. That's not going to happen with Trump. Mike Walls, the US ambassador to the United Nations, was asked about this humiliation. And watch how he reacted. He said, "Oh, well, this is only a temporary arrangement." to ask about something that just happened tonight. The US lifted sanctions on million barrels of Iranian oil. The US lifted sanctions on Iran. So, just to be clear, the administration is now allowing Iran, the country that it is at war with, to sell its oil, make money, and almost certainly use that money in its war against the US. H why? Dan, I think you have to tell the rest of that story. That's a that's a that's a little bit misleading. Um the the measure is targeted towards oil that's already out there on ships, already out there in storage and to uh the previous question is very temporary. But Iranians are never tired of trolling the US administration. You only have to look at the tweet posted by the Iranian parliament speaker. It's hilarious. This is how the Iranians have brought the mighty Americans to their knees. And this happened after days of sustained and indiscriminate bombing is even more excruciating for the deranged occupant of the White House. And if choking the straight of Hormuz is the new norm, then expect the world to offer tens of billions of more US dollars to the Iranians to earn the right to take their ships through this crucial waterway. Why am I saying this? That's because Iran has just surprised its adversaries what it's capable of even after a third week of joint military aggression by the Americans and Israeli terrorists. Going by the Wall Street Journal, Iran has now revealed a kilometer range ballistic missile by targeting the US and UK military bases in the Diego Garcia Island. Now, this is truly sensational. No one, not even the hardcore critics of Iran in the US and across the Atlantic ever expected Iran to possess this mighty weaponry in its arsenal. The Wall Street Journal report claimed that Iran fired two intermediate range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint US UK military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean. According to multiple US officials, neither of the missiles hit the base, but the move marked Iran's first operational use of IRBMs and a significant attempt to reach far beyond the Middle East and threaten US interests. One of the missiles failed in flight and a US warship fired an SM interceptor at the other. According to two of the people, it couldn't be determined if an interception was made according to one of the officials. But the fact that Iran has IRBM missiles in its arsenal will have the West worried. They would be right to think what else is Iran hiding. Has Iran also acquired nuclear weapons but hasn't gone public about its nuclear capabilities? Were people right when they linked unexplained tremors in recent past close to Iran's nuclear facilities to the Islamic Republic conducting nuclear tests? These are the questions that would be giving the likes of Trump, Netanyahu and whole of Europe sleepless nights. I wonder what Kmer the British PM would be thinking right now. Yesterday he allowed the use of his country's bases to attack Iran. Now Iran has told him that the UK was within the range of its missiles. I will leave you with this fascinating exchange of economist magazines editorinchief Zani Minton Bedos and Tucker Carlson. Watch how Tucker destroys her pro-Israeli propaganda in his own ineitable way. Anybody who criticizes Israel is vulnerable to being called anti-ionist or anti-semitic. and there's conflation by the exact people you've just been talking about by the in the in the kind of firmament of political good faith response or a tactic. I'm about to ask you that question. Clearly, I think you and I agree. We have both been critical of the Israeli government. I just want to kind of clarify terms a bit here. Well, I've really been critical of the Israeli government. I've been plenty critical of the Israeli government. I've told you at the beginning that we were against What do you think of Gaza? What do I think of Gaza? Yeah. I think the war in Gaza to start with was a perfectly reasonable response in response to the horrors of October th. I think now the places I mean I've been there. Have you been to Gaza? I've been to Gaza since since the war started. They would not catastrophic. Trust me, very few journalists get into Yeah. No, I I went with the IDF. It's the only way that you can go in. But nonetheless, you go in and you see a flattened place. I think it is a disaster. A disaster for the future of Israel. Disaster for the Palestinian people. A horror. people dead. Why would you describe it first as a disaster for the future of Israel? You got tens of thousands of civilians murdered, but it's foremost a disaster for the future of Israel. No, it's almost a disaster for the families of the dead kids. I made absolutely I made three points. Everybody sucks up to Israel in this way that suggests they're afraid. And everyone is afraid and you know that everyone's like the real problem is calling people anti-semites allows real anti-semites to flourish. She's like, "No, actually the real problem with calling people anti-semites who aren't is accusing the innocent of a crime they didn't commit. And the real crime in Gazi is killing people who did nothing wrong." So those are the real problems, I would say. But no one can say it because you have to be like, "Oh, no." But really, October, I don't know what you're talking about. We're having we're having a Everyone watching this knows what I'm talking about. Well, let's get on to that right now because you are critical of the government of Israel. Do you believe in the Israel's right to exist? Would you consider yourself a Zionist in that narrow definition? What does that mean? a right to exist the existence of the political state of Israel as but it has a right what does that mean that you don't you think it should continue in its existence as a state right now so you you are the you do not agree with Iran for example let me just ask since you asked me the question it's fair for me to get you to define the term so I can answer it you've asked two questions the first was do you believe Israel has a right to exist and the second question was do you believe Israel should continue to go on as a nation state and those are very different questions So I often hear the having been created as a political entity in does it right to exist. Is that what you're asking? We I don't want to get hung up on the right. Should it should it continue to exist? That's what that's how I define narrowly because because the phrase you used was devised by the Israeli government of course. Does it have a right to exist? And so my question to you would be what does that mean? Why don't you answer my question? It's a very I don't know what your question is. So you're in no sense a Zionist if that's in no sense a Zionist. I don't even know what that means. Why don't you ask define the the term and then I'll tell you whether I just defined it and you said that that a Zionist in my narrow term this definition is that the state of Israel the political state of Israel has the right to continue existing. The right? Where does that right come from? What what do you mean? These are like I'm not being a lawyer about it. I just want to know what you're asking. Why did you answer the question? It's because I don't know what you're asking. Let's go to the the You don't want to define your question and I don't know why. I don't know what you're asking me. I've already said I don't want anyone to be killed and you've said does Israel have a right to exist. Does it have a and I my question is what right are you talking about? Does Britain have a right to exist? Does the United States have a right to exist? That there there was a world order built up after which suggested that aggression should not be condoned into countries and that countries with borders have the right to totally agree with that. if that's which is why the first thing that Israel did within two weeks of this war starting which is supposedly existential for them was take southern Lebanon take someone else's country as they have done repeatedly and no one even mentions that and so I guess I would be opposed to that because I guess I think Lebanon has a right to exist I thought Gaza had a right to exist but I noticed that as soon as we started portioning rights only one country gets them no I did not say that you're you're absolutely putting words because I believe here's what I do believe since you asked, I believe in universally applicable standards. And if they're not universally applicable, they're not standards, they're preferences. That's why I believe in human rights, not ethnic rights. I don't think Jews have more rights or less rights than anyone else. I don't think Christians have more rights or less rights, blacks, Filipinos. I believe in human rights that derive from the creation of people by God. That's it for me. Thank you very much for your support of this platform and our journalism. If you haven't subscribed to my channel, please do so because that's one of the many ways you can support independent journalism.
Mojtaba’s Proxy Unleashes Fury: Hezbollah Missiles Pound Israeli Base Near Filon Region | War, Iran Hindustan Times Mar 21, 2026 #Hezbollah #Israel #LebanonWar
Hezbollah has opened a fierce new front against Israel, claiming a direct missile strike on an Israeli military base near Filon in the occupied north, just south of Rosh Pinna. In a single day of escalated operations, the Iran‑backed group says it carried out 55 attacks on Israeli targets, hitting positions in Jebel Warde and multiple frontline areas, while a drone strike reportedly destroyed a naval radar installation at Raa’s al‑Naqoura on the Mediterranean coast. Additional missile salvos were fired toward Al‑Taybeh, Al‑Marj and Al‑Adisa near the border, and rockets were launched at Kiryat Shmona for the seventh time, underlining the sustained pressure on Israel’s northern communities.
Transcript
A proxy war is intensifying in the Middle East as Iran linked forces open a new front against Israel. In a shock development, an Israeli military base has come under direct missile attack in the north. The strike has put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firmly in the crosshairs as Hezbollah escalates its retaliation from Lebanon. With a single missile, Hezbollah is sending a clear message. It will not stand by as Israel continues its bombardment of Lebanese territory. This is no longer just about Iran's threats. Israel is now facing sustained and deadly attacks from Hezbollah on multiple fronts. Hezbollah has launched a series of missiles targeting an Israeli military base near Phylon in what it calls occupied territory. According to the group, the base is located south of Rash Pina in the disputed northern region. The Iranbacked outfit claims it carried out as many as attacks on Israeli targets on March th alone. Hezbollah says it struck Israeli positions in Jebel Ward and other frontline areas as part of coordinated operations. In a significant escalation, a drone attack reportedly destroyed a naval radar installation at the Ras Al- Nakura base. Missile strikes were also directed at areas including Alabi, Almarge, and Aladisa, all close to the volatile border zone. The group intensified its warnings by launching rockets toward Kirit Shmona for the seventh time. Hezbollah maintains these operations are in direct response to Israeli military actions inside southern Lebanon. These attacks came even as Israel carried out fresh air strikes across southern Lebanon. Towns such as Beflea and Hanim were among the latest targets in the Israeli offensive. Since early March, the escalation has led to heavy civilian casualties across Lebanon. Lebanon's health ministry reports hundreds killed and thousands wounded amid relentless air strikes. Hezbollah has released a video showing what it claims are attacks carried out on March th. The footage appears to show fighters launching missiles toward Israeli positions. It also reportedly captures multiple impacts inside Israel following the latest strikes. The group has backed its claims with a series of statements releasing as many as military communicates. Meanwhile, in the United States, Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the reported $billion cost of a potential Iran war could rise even further.
Iran Strikes US-Israeli Bases In Deadliest Wave Of ‘True Promise 4’ Attack To Avenge 'Martyrs' | War Hindustan Times
Iran’s military has claimed a new wave of strikes under “Operation Promise of the Faithful 4,” targeting sites in Israel and US-linked bases across the region. Spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said advanced missiles and drones hit locations including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and key military infrastructure. The statement also referenced attacks on US facilities and criticized American naval presence, citing movements of aircraft carriers. The claims, delivered during the final days of Ramadan, reflect escalating rhetoric and tensions in the Middle East. The situation remains highly volatile, with competing narratives and rising fears of broader regional conflict.
In this wave, advanced solid and liquid fuel precision guided systems and multiple warheads including Koramshshire and Kaibar Breaker, medium-range Cham and Zulfacar and destruction drones were used. Following this wave, attacks on West Jerusalem, Hifer and the Alzafra base of the American terrorist army in the region were successfully executed. The sudden withdrawal of the USS Gerald Ford, the US Navy's aircraft carrier, from the battlefield, and the failure to provide military support to the tired and defeated American forces in West Asia exposed the hollowess of arrogant material power. In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. Wave of Operation Promise of the Faithful Four. With the blessed code, Yzura, peace be upon her. Targeted objectives in the heart and south of the occupied territories, Tel Aviv and American terrorist army bases in the region were successfully executed with God's grace. In this wave, advanced solid and liquid fuel precision guided systems and multiple warheads including coramreer and kaibar breaker, medium-range chi and zulfacar and destruction drones were used. Following this wave, attacks on West Jerusalem, Hifur and the Alzafrabase of the American terrorist army in the region were successfully executed with God's grace. During the time of awaiting the arrival of Imam Mai, may God hasten his arrival on the final morning of the blessed month of Ramadan with the help of God Almighty and with the prayers of you the faithful people. The th wave of the next operation promise of the faithful four with the blessed code Sahib Zaman, Lord of the time was dedicated to the late esteemed Brigadier General Ali Muhammad Nani. the spokesperson of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his martyed brother. We opened the gates of fire and pain upon the hidden nests of American soldiers and their radar equipment in the region and the military infrastructure of the occupied Palestinian territories with a train of heavy missiles and a rain of drones. In this operational wave, the Ali Salem base, the aerospace drone command, aircraft maintenance and repair hangers, helicopter equipment and support facilities, and the operation center of the US-led coalition forces, early warning radar systems and missile defense, and the US gathering point at base were precisely targeted with longrange and medium-range solid and liquid fuel systems with God's grace. Furthermore, satellite, radar, and air defense centers of the Zionist regime in the center, south, and north of the occupied territories were effectively targeted. Today, in addition to the physical dismantling of the enemy, they have also become a symbol of internal collapse. The sudden withdrawal of the USS Gerald Ford, the US Navy's aircraft carrier, from the battlefield, and the failure to provide military support to the tired and defeated American forces in West Asia exposed the hollowess of arrogant material power. This military giant that you boast about is nothing more than a paper and hollow facade for the Iranian armed forces. The change in the carrier's course towards the US base and the attempt to avoid passing through the Babel Mandab Straight have raised the question in public opinion worldwide and in the region. Why should a billion US billion euro warship be afraid of a few thousand speedboats from the resistance forces? However, such a shaky and unstable situation has recently been created for another US Navy ship, the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Indian Ocean. The soldiers of Islam are eagerly awaiting delivering a hard slap to the American warship in the depths of the battlefield and are fully prepared to show the American Marines the naval surprises firsthand. The fate of Saddam awaits Trump and Netanyahu, the criminals. Our entry into the field is not a defeat. God has closed the path of defeat for us. Do you see more than two paths before us? Both paths are glorious for us. One is the path of martyrdom whose glory is eternal, fixed, and immutable. And the other is the path of victory which is a victory for us both. There is no power except with God, the exalted, the wise.