Iran War. . . USA Up 2-0 in the First Period

[Ron in Regina]

START WARS EP V: THE GOYIM STRIKES BACK #comedy #funny #fyp #shorts #viralvideo #southpark #viral

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

Iranian and US officials last week held indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Tehran saying it presented seven conditions for reopening the strait.

Iran has demanded, among other things, a ceasefire across the Middle East, the unfreezing of its assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade.

Trump, however, rejected the proposal, while leaving the door open both to further talks or renewed military operations.

Iran tells US there is no military solution to Middle East war — AFP News

Iran's top diplomat insisted on Sunday that there would be no military solution to the United States' war against the Islamic republic, with talks on ending the conflict apparently at an impasse.

apple.news

The United States has not struck Iran since September 1, but it has recently pursued a fresh military buildup in the region.

Mohamed Fahmy: Iran rains terror on Yemen to cut off Saudi oil shipments — National Post

Saudi Arabia finds itself alone in its battle to defend global trade and fight a terrorist insurrection

apple.news

Yemen leader announces major military operations against Iran-backed Houthis — Reuters

The leader of Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced the beginning of a major military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis on Sunday, aimed at seizing the ‌territory under their control.

apple.news

On Friday, Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, pushed back against President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran is close to surrendering, accusing the U.S. president of confusing declarations of victory with reality after the U.S. president said Iran was "ready to fold up" and that the U.S. could win the war shortly after the November midterm elections.

 

[petros]

View attachment 35851
View attachment 35852
Iranian and US officials last week held indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Tehran saying it presented seven conditions for reopening the strait.

Iran has demanded, among other things, a ceasefire across the Middle East, the unfreezing of its assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade.

Trump, however, rejected the proposal, while leaving the door open both to further talks or renewed military operations.

Iran tells US there is no military solution to Middle East war — AFP News

Iran's top diplomat insisted on Sunday that there would be no military solution to the United States' war against the Islamic republic, with talks on ending the conflict apparently at an impasse.

apple.news

The United States has not struck Iran since September 1, but it has recently pursued a fresh military buildup in the region.
View attachment 35853

Mohamed Fahmy: Iran rains terror on Yemen to cut off Saudi oil shipments — National Post

Saudi Arabia finds itself alone in its battle to defend global trade and fight a terrorist insurrection

apple.news

Yemen leader announces major military operations against Iran-backed Houthis — Reuters

The leader of Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced the beginning of a major military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis on Sunday, aimed at seizing the ‌territory under their control.

apple.news

On Friday, Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, pushed back against President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran is close to surrendering, accusing the U.S. president of confusing declarations of victory with reality after the U.S. president said Iran was "ready to fold up" and that the U.S. could win the war shortly after the November midterm elections.

There is no way out.

 

[Ron in Regina]

There is no way out.

America got out of Afghanistan by just taking their ball and going home. Of coarse the Taliban didn’t have its foot on the throat of 20% to 40% of the world’s oil traffic, but they (America) did get out of Afghanistan after 20-ish years.

2020–2021 US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Can you picture something like that? Freeing up American forces to focus on Panama and Cuba and so on and so forth?

The purpose of US President Donald Trump sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East/Indian Ocean region is to expand US military options for a potential post-midterm escalation against Iran and to project a firm national security stance ahead of the November 2026 elections.

The deployment of the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group places roughly 10,000 additional personnel in the theater. This buildup serves several key strategic and political objectives as the administration navigates a stalled, eight-month-old conflict and a tight electoral landscape.

President Trump has indicated that a ramped-up bombing campaign or post-midterm escalation remains "possible" if diplomatic progress fails. Assembling three carrier groups gives the Pentagon a wider menu of tactical, defensive, and surveillance options while appearing to have not lost control of the situation leading up to the midterm election.

While the ongoing war has drawn public unpopularity and threatens the Republican majorities in Congress and the Senate, Trump has sought to leverage the hardline stance politically. He stated that keeping the focus on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon "should help" (?) the GOP at the polls, arguing that a strong deterrent message resonates broadly with his voters.

The move follows Trump's rejection of Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal, which included a temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The increased naval presence signals that the US intends to keep military leverage firmly on the table to potential GOP leaning voters at this point.

President Trump has publicly stated that the war with Iran “could” end "immediately after the election". According to a report by Foreign Policy In Focus, U.S. and Iranian negotiators have explored phased agreements involving the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions relief, which Trump claims Iran is waiting to finalize until election results are clear, but he says a lot of things and many of them directly contradict each other.

Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump

The president also said oil prices won't come down until after the November races, claiming without evidence that Iran wants to impact the election.

www.bbc.com

In October 2026, the State Department redirected $52 million in Foreign Military Financing away from traditional partners in the Middle East and Eastern Europe toward Latin American nations like Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Panama. Reports carried by Newsmax outline this as a deliberate shift to prioritize “countering drug cartels and illegal migration” strategic resources and minerals closer to home owned by nations that aren’t America.

The Trump administration has revived a modified version of the Monroe Doctrine. According to an analysis in Foreign Affairs, this strategy has involved heavy-handed tactics, including the removal of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro earlier in 2026, to exploit natural resources and push Chinese and Russian influence out of the region attempting to force the other 34 sovereign nations (and Greenland, and I guess Puerto Rico?) in the western hemisphere to predominantly deal with the U.S.

Or….or facing a Democratic Congress (& potentially a Democrat majority Senate also) eager to restrict his war powers, Trump’s most likely path is to launch a massive, decisive wave of strikes immediately after the election—during the "lame duck" period or just as the new Congress takes office. The goal would be to force a total Iranian capitulation before a Democratic majority can successfully draft, pass, or legally enforce funding cuts or War Powers Resolution challenges?

Or…or Trump has also framed his post-midterm strategy as a binary choice for Tehran: a total deal on U.S. terms which isn’t going to happen or its complete destruction which probably isn’t going to happen. If a Democratic Congress makes a prolonged war politically untenable, Trump could use the threat of crimes against humanity and total destruction to try to force a swift, legacy-defining agreement?

According to reports from the BBC and The New Republic, Trump's messaging comes amid plummeting approval ratings for his handling of the war and widespread voter frustration over inflation and high living costs ahead of the midterms. Analysts and independent observers note that there is little evidence Iran is timing its military posture around the U.S. electoral calendar, and point instead to the strategic closure of critical shipping lanes and prolonged supply shocks as the primary drivers of global price increases.

 

[petros]

America got out of Afghanistan by just taking their ball and going home. Of coarse the Taliban didn’t have its foot on the throat of 20% to 40% of the world’s oil traffic, but they (America) did get out of Afghanistan after 20-ish years.

2020–2021 US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Can you picture something like that? Freeing up American forces to focus on Panama and Cuba and so on and so forth?

The purpose of US President Donald Trump sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East/Indian Ocean region is to expand US military options for a potential post-midterm escalation against Iran and to project a firm national security stance ahead of the November 2026 elections.

The deployment of the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group places roughly 10,000 additional personnel in the theater. This buildup serves several key strategic and political objectives as the administration navigates a stalled, eight-month-old conflict and a tight electoral landscape.

President Trump has indicated that a ramped-up bombing campaign or post-midterm escalation remains "possible" if diplomatic progress fails. Assembling three carrier groups gives the Pentagon a wider menu of tactical, defensive, and surveillance options while appearing to have not lost control of the situation leading up to the midterm election.

While the ongoing war has drawn public unpopularity and threatens the Republican majorities in Congress and the Senate, Trump has sought to leverage the hardline stance politically. He stated that keeping the focus on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon "should help" (?) the GOP at the polls, arguing that a strong deterrent message resonates broadly with his voters.

The move follows Trump's rejection of Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal, which included a temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The increased naval presence signals that the US intends to keep military leverage firmly on the table to potential GOP leaning voters at this point.

President Trump has publicly stated that the war with Iran “could” end "immediately after the election". According to a report by Foreign Policy In Focus, U.S. and Iranian negotiators have explored phased agreements involving the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions relief, which Trump claims Iran is waiting to finalize until election results are clear, but he says a lot of things and many of them directly contradict each other.

Iran war won't end until after US midterm elections, says Trump

The president also said oil prices won't come down until after the November races, claiming without evidence that Iran wants to impact the election.

www.bbc.com

In October 2026, the State Department redirected $52 million in Foreign Military Financing away from traditional partners in the Middle East and Eastern Europe toward Latin American nations like Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Panama. Reports carried by Newsmax outline this as a deliberate shift to prioritize “countering drug cartels and illegal migration” strategic resources and minerals closer to home owned by nations that aren’t America.

The Trump administration has revived a modified version of the Monroe Doctrine. According to an analysis in Foreign Affairs, this strategy has involved heavy-handed tactics, including the removal of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro earlier in 2026, to exploit natural resources and push Chinese and Russian influence out of the region attempting to force the other 34 sovereign nations (and Greenland, and I guess Puerto Rico?) in the western hemisphere to predominantly deal with the U.S.
View attachment 35861
Or….or facing a Democratic Congress (& potentially a Democrat majority Senate also) eager to restrict his war powers, Trump’s most likely path is to launch a massive, decisive wave of strikes immediately after the election—during the "lame duck" period or just as the new Congress takes office. The goal would be to force a total Iranian capitulation before a Democratic majority can successfully draft, pass, or legally enforce funding cuts or War Powers Resolution challenges?

Or…or Trump has also framed his post-midterm strategy as a binary choice for Tehran: a total deal on U.S. terms which isn’t going to happen or its complete destruction which probably isn’t going to happen. If a Democratic Congress makes a prolonged war politically untenable, Trump could use the threat of crimes against humanity and total destruction to try to force a swift, legacy-defining agreement?

According to reports from the BBC and The New Republic, Trump's messaging comes amid plummeting approval ratings for his handling of the war and widespread voter frustration over inflation and high living costs ahead of the midterms. Analysts and independent observers note that there is little evidence Iran is timing its military posture around the U.S. electoral calendar, and point instead to the strategic closure of critical shipping lanes and prolonged supply shocks as the primary drivers of global price increases.

They left as losers. Iraq ended on Sept 30. They'll leave this as losers too.

 

[Ron in Regina]

They left as losers. Iraq ended on Sept 30. They'll leave this as losers too.

So who are they gonna bring freedom to next? Will it be before or after the new year?

 

[petros]

So who are they gonna bring freedom to next? Will it be before or after the new year?

Esquimaux

 

[Ron in Regina]

Esquimaux

That’s started with Greenland, and Trumps obsession and emphasis on icebreakers lately? I’m guessing Cuba but maybe they’ll be left to sit and stew and starve for another couple months beyond Christmas (?) to soften them up further?

There’s still us (Canada) being made an example of for other countries for standing up to Trumps ego. Mexico has been “offered” military assistance to have American military invade its territory while negotiating bilateral trade as opposed to the trilateral agreement that’s still in place when not being ignored by America. Depending on how compliant Mexico is to Trumps “non-trade” demands in the bilateral trade agreement, Mexico ‘might’ get off comparatively better than others at this point depending on its level of capitulation.

(Other contenders I’m guessing are of course Panama because Canal that Trump wants control over, with a side of Columbia & Nicaragua & Ecuador to go with the Venezuela trading set because geography and minerals but blamed on immigrants or communism or drugs or whatever like Trump tried with Canada, etc…)

Anyway, back to Esquimaux, that chunk of “real estate” sitting between Greenland and Alaska is us. Good times.

 

[spaminator]

Debate over Trump's comments about Iran nuking California cities
'Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,' U.S. president said at Nebraska rally Monday evening

Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 06, 2026 • Last updated 14 hours ago • 2 minute read
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Neb., Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Neb., Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP /Getty Images

Debate is swirling online after Donald Trump suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear bombs during a speech Monday evening at a campaign rally in Nebraska.


The U.S. president was speaking to a crowd in Grand Island about getting out the vote for Republicans for the mid-term elections next month.

He assured attendees that higher gas and diesel prices, which have been hurting Americans since he launched attacks against Iran earlier this year, will be lower after he ends the ongoing war.

“With the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said.

Could bear brunt of attack
He then pivoted his message to the audience by naming two major California cities that could bear the brunt of an Iranian attack.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”



California Governor Gavin Newsom called out Trump’s comments in a statement shared to social media following his speech.

“After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego,” Newsom wrote on his X account.

“He is deranged and dangerous.”

Comments ‘not normal’
Newsom’s press office account also chimed in, saying what Trump said was “not normal.”

“Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Trump’s statements “irresponsible threats” while the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, said his city is not “collateral damage” and not “expendable.”

However, the Trump administration pushed back on the criticisms.

Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications and assistant to the president, suggested on X that the freak out over Trump’s comments “is not rooted in reality.”


“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung wrote. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”


The administration’s rapid response account on X called the Los Angeles Times “buffoons” for its report on Trump’s comments.

“He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance,” they wrote.

Trump has yet to comment on the reaction to his speech.

According to AAA, the national average for gasoline is $4.3685. Gas prices were in the $2.80 to $2.90 price range per gallon in January and February before the war was launched, says investment website Macrotrends.

http://macrotrends.net/3126/us-gas-prices

AAA Fuel Prices

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107456748353368076

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107449747002810417

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107295637058494706

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107315868493557945

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107308699509555244

 

[spaminator]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107288831112466787

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107255686094623001

Debate over Trump's comments about Iran nuking California cities

Debate is swirling online after Donald Trump suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear bombs. Read more.

torontosun.com

 

[Ron in Regina]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107288831112466787

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107255686094623001

Debate over Trump's comments about Iran nuking California cities

Debate is swirling online after Donald Trump suggested Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear bombs. Read more.

torontosun.com

According to the White House, Trump was saying that American cities would have been threatened by Iran had he not launched a war there earlier this year.

President Trump made his controversial remarks on Monday as part of a speech he gave at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Trump, 80, Claims Iran War Ended Eight Months Before He Started It — The New Republic

Donald Trump made the bonkers claim in front of a dead silent crowd.

apple.news

Given Trump’s shifting justifications and promises concerning the war with Iran and his hostility toward Democratic-led cities, many people are unwilling to give him the benefit of the doubt concerning his comments. Regardless of how Trump intended his remarks to land, his words and the cheers from his audience have set off alarm bells and outrage over his comments and the war that he continues to pursue.

The world has nearly burned through its oil stockpile buffer, executives say — Reuters

The amount of oil in storage that is accessible to the global market is running low, ‌industry executives said at a forum in London this week, making the market more fragile and putting upward pressure on prices.

apple.news

Why Trump's Iran War Comments On Los Angeles And San Diego Are Drawing Alarm Across Party Lines — Blavity

President Trump is yet again drawing outrage and condemnation, this time over a comment he made about the hypothetical destruction of two Democratic cities.

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Tanker attacked off Qatar as Iran claims route transporting oil through strait of Hormuz will be ‘closed’ — Guardian US

Oil rises above $100 as attacks on ships hit new high, amid reports Trump is discussing launching strikes before the US midterms

apple.news

 

[petros]

Debate over Trump's comments about Iran nuking California cities
'Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego,' U.S. president said at Nebraska rally Monday evening

Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 06, 2026 • Last updated 14 hours ago • 2 minute read
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Neb., Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Neb., Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP /Getty Images

Debate is swirling online after Donald Trump suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego with nuclear bombs during a speech Monday evening at a campaign rally in Nebraska.


The U.S. president was speaking to a crowd in Grand Island about getting out the vote for Republicans for the mid-term elections next month.

He assured attendees that higher gas and diesel prices, which have been hurting Americans since he launched attacks against Iran earlier this year, will be lower after he ends the ongoing war.

“With the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said.

Could bear brunt of attack
He then pivoted his message to the audience by naming two major California cities that could bear the brunt of an Iranian attack.

“They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”



California Governor Gavin Newsom called out Trump’s comments in a statement shared to social media following his speech.

“After sending the National Guard and Marines to occupy California, Donald Trump is now saying our foreign enemies should ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego,” Newsom wrote on his X account.

“He is deranged and dangerous.”

Comments ‘not normal’
Newsom’s press office account also chimed in, saying what Trump said was “not normal.”

“Let’s be clear: The President is advocating for an attack on 10+ million U.S. residents in two of America’s largest cities.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Trump’s statements “irresponsible threats” while the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, said his city is not “collateral damage” and not “expendable.”

However, the Trump administration pushed back on the criticisms.

Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications and assistant to the president, suggested on X that the freak out over Trump’s comments “is not rooted in reality.”


“He was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped,” Cheung wrote. “America is safer because of the President. Iran has no nuclear, no navy, no air force, and no money.”


The administration’s rapid response account on X called the Los Angeles Times “buffoons” for its report on Trump’s comments.

“He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance,” they wrote.

Trump has yet to comment on the reaction to his speech.

According to AAA, the national average for gasoline is $4.3685. Gas prices were in the $2.80 to $2.90 price range per gallon in January and February before the war was launched, says investment website Macrotrends.

http://macrotrends.net/3126/us-gas-prices

AAA Fuel Prices

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107456748353368076

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107449747002810417

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107295637058494706

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107315868493557945

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2107308699509555244

Oh good Lord.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen delivered a one-two punch against Persian Gulf oil producers in separate attacks on Wednesday night and Thursday morning that sent oil prices sharply higher and further shattered the sense of security in Saudi Arabia’s capital city.

An oil and chemical tanker near Qatar was struck by several projectiles late Wednesday, causing casualties, according to maritime intelligence firm Vanguard and the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency. No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials in the region said Iran was likely behind it.

Trump says US won’t strike Iran until after the midterms — POLITICO

Trump pledged to keep the blockade in place, while ruling out attacks ahead of Nov. 3.

apple.news

The ship attack was followed by Houthi strikes Thursday in Riyadh, damaging aircraft at the international airport and forcing residents to take cover in the third straight day of attacks on the city.

Trump and Tehran are boxed in until the midterms because Iran wants to keep U.S. gas prices high and the president can’t accept ‘surrender’ — FORTUNE

September 30, 2026, 5:55 AM ET President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on September 27, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Good morning. On Fortune’s radar today: The war with Iran won’t end until after the midterms. Markets: Room to breathe. Americans are convinced the job market is...

apple.news

On Friday, Saudi Arabia said the attacks on the airport Thursday killed three people, including a pilot for the country’s flag carrier, Saudia, and wounded others. The attacks targeted an aircraft and facilities, the statement added, without elaborating.

Saudi firms pull IPO plans — Semafor

Three companies abandoned listing plans as investors weigh the impact of the Iran war.

apple.news

Saudi Arabia faces its toughest moment of war — Semafor

Houthi attacks threaten Saudi Arabia’s efforts to project stability ahead of two major global business conferences.

apple.news

By increasing attacks on shipping, Tehran is seeking to break the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz and increase pressure on Washington to reach a diplomatic settlement, analysts say. The limited military moves could raise oil prices and pressure President Trump before the midterm elections, while stopping short of another full-scale military confrontation that even Tehran doubts it can win.

Trump says he will wait until after midterms to attack Iran — The Independent

Donald Trump stated that the United States is engaged in productive discussions with Iran and will not launch an attack prior to the November midterm elections. Trump noted that the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place while oil continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz.

apple.news

The clashes underscored the region’s volatility and the difficulty that Trump faces keeping a lid on its conflicts at least until after midterm elections in the U.S. next month. Trump said Thursday that the U.S. won’t attack Iran before the election, citing “productive” talks with Tehran?

Iran and Houthis Try to Regain Upper Hand in Hormuz With Spate of New Attacks — The Wall Street Journal

Crude prices rose sharply as Tehran targeted shipping traffic and Yemeni militants rained missiles on Riyadh

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Saudi Arabia's energy minister has vowed a "serious" response to the deadly attacks on the kingdom's airports and oil and gas facilities by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement. "The events of recent weeks are serious. Our response must be equally serious," Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman told the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.
Where’s the Trump administration on this one? Currently threatening Ukraine but not Russia, but where does it currently stand on the Houthi’s attacking Saudi Arabian oil and gas facilities? This could have a bearing on diesel prices before the midterms if that’s the real motivation behind threatening Ukraine. Last month, the Houthis launched a surprise offensive along Yemen's south-western Red Sea coast and ousted pro-government forces from areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, at the southern end of the Red Sea.

They said they posed no threat to international shipping passing through the waterway but that they would continue to target vessels from Saudi Arabia. However, the seizure of the strait contributed to a surge in global oil prices because Saudi Arabia had been relying on the Red Sea for oil exports after the US and Israel's war with Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.

http://apple.news/A8MZ3HSRERcys-grRveT6_Q

Regarding the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthis, an Iranian ally, Baghaei reiterated Tehran's ⁠openness to help resolve the crisis through dialogue. "The issue of Yemen should have been resolved a long time ago with the (UN) roadmap ⁠and we had said we would support any agreement reached by Yemenis and Saudis ... Our request is that this situation be resolved through dialogue."

Iran says it will reply to US response on Hormuz proposal once review over — Reuters

Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to ‌Washington via intermediaries when the review is over, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Iranian officials have warned publicly and in private conversations with regional officials that the Islamic Republic will respond with further escalation across the Middle East if the U.S. launches new strikes. Iran is fortifying its defenses, rallying loyalists and threatening a wider, harsher response against the U.S. and its Gulf allies as it prepares for potential American attacks after the midterms and seeks to deter them.

Iran Fortifying Nuclear Sites and Rallying Its People for Return to Fighting — The Wall Street Journal

Regime, convinced the U.S. is ready to attack again, sees preparations as deterrent

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Two Emirati cargo ships have sunk in the past 24 hours after being struck in the Strait of Hormuz, an escalation with little precedent as Iran ramps up attacks to levels not seen since the war started.

The sinkings came as the U.S. military has been successfully shepherding more Gulf oil through the strait while bottling up Iranian oil exports with a naval blockade and sanctions. Iran has repeatedly ramped up attacks over the course of the war to try to disrupt the U.S. operation, but it is rare that its attacks result in ships being sunk.
Two other containerships and a tanker were also attacked on Tuesday as they crossed the strait, according to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, which is affiliated with the British Navy. Most of the ships attacked recently were transiting through a southern route under U.S. protection near Oman.

Two Cargo Ships Sink Near Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian Attacks Increase — The Wall Street Journal

Strikes come as U.S. military is successfully shepherding more oil through the strait

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Iran's offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media ‌outlets on Sunday. Iran's conditions include, among other demands, the lifting of the US blockade on its ports, ‌the ⁠lifting of US sanctions on its oil exports as well as ending hostilities on all regional fronts. If Washington accepts Tehran's conditions, the strait could reopen within six days, with talks resuming the following day, Araqchi said.

In his speech, Trump claimed that the conflict would “end very soon,” a promise he has made more than 60 times before, according to a tracker by nonprofits Home of the Brave and VoteVets.

Trump’s Iran apology? President says he ‘probably went a little too far. I’m sorry’ — The Independent

Trump’s deeply unpopular war is one of the most pressing concerns for Americans ahead of the midterms

apple.news

Tehran says negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of ⁠Hormuz, which before the war carried about a fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and restoring security in the waterway.
President Donald Trump said the US may have to target Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to Iran's nuclear ‌program, as he aims to ensure Tehran does not get a nuclear weapon. In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday night, Trump also said he would not use a nuclear weapon in the war on Iran, which began ⁠in February with US-Israeli strikes.

US military weighs use of ‘mother of all bombs’ in potential future strikes on Iran, CNN says — Reuters

The US military has developed strike plans that could include using ‌the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs", against Iranian energy ⁠infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations, CNN reported on...

apple.news

Iran urges US to accept proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz — Reuters

Iran's offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media ‌outlets on Sunday.

apple.news

So yeah, sounds about right for a war crime, but not so much for this Pickaxe Mountain.Donald Trump and his advisers have reportedly discussed options for a definitive strike to end the conflict (?) as voter support wanes ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Proposed strike packages target key Iranian energy infrastructure like he’s telling Ukraine not to hit in Russia, but not telling Russia not to hit in the Ukraine.

 

[Ron in Regina]

The Houthi-Saudi conflagration is the latest illustration of Trump’s decision to attack Iran spiraling into an unpredictable regional conflict, as Middle East experts and some US intelligence officials warned would happen. It also reveals that Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf countries can’t rely on the Trump administration to protect them, even after they have spent tens of billions of dollars to buy American weapons and build US bases – some of which were decimated by Iranian attacks over the past seven months.
Trump’s resistance to ordering US attacks on the Houthis has been particularly embarrassing for Prince Mohammed. Billions of dollars in Saudi investments have been directed into Kushner’s private equity firm and the president’s family business, the Trump Organization. Now Saudi Arabia is being rewarded with lukewarm US support against Yemeni rebels.
Days after Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Prince Mohammed pledged to expand investment and trade with the US by $600bn over four years. He later promised to increase that investment to nearly $1tn, although it wasn’t entirely clear how Saudi Arabia would manage to plough a sum close to the kingdom’s entire annual GDP into a foreign economy over a few years.
On a visit to Washington last November, Prince Mohammed sealed a defense cooperation agreement with the US and signed a deal for the monarchy to buy dozens of F-35 stealth fighter jets, America’s most advanced warplane. President Donald Trump formally designated Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally on November 19, 2025. This status grants the kingdom privileged access to U.S. defense equipment, training, and military cooperation.

Opinion | Saudi Arabia is learning the hard way: they can’t count on Trump for protection — Guardian US

After Houthis escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, the US turned down calls from MBS for help

apple.news

Behind this flurry of deal-making, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler expected the US to defend the kingdom if it was attacked, as Washington has done in the past. But Prince Mohammed, like the leaders of other Arab petrostates who have invested billions of dollars to appease Trump, is learning a hard lesson. The two nations signed a strategic defense agreement to deepen military ties and regional deterrence, though the designation does not include an automatic mutual defense treaty like NATO.

Egypt says ready to back Saudi Arabia in war against Iran-allied Houthis — Reuters

Regional military power Egypt is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with the support it needs to defend its security and stability, the presidency said on Sunday, potentially raising the stakes in the Middle East war as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis intensify their attacks on the kingdom.

apple.news

Iran support for Houthis probed as Yemen war re-erupts and Saudi cities hit — Al Jazeera

There have been new reports of Iranian support for the Houthis in Yemen amid a wave of attacks on Saudi cities.

apple.news

Turkey and Pakistan to send troops to Saudi Arabia under defence pact — Euronews

The three signatories of the August Mecca Joint Defence Agreement met in emergency session in Riyadh and agreed to move immediately to "rapid deployment" of military forces, uniting NATO's second-largest army, the Islamic world's only nuclear state and the largest Gulf power.

apple.news

Turkey to send Mecca agreement to parliament soon, Erdogan says — Reuters

Turkey will send the Mecca Joint ‌Defence Agreement, a defence pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and ⁠Turkey, to parliament to be ratified in the coming days, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

apple.news

 

[Ron in Regina]

Iran and its proxy forces have carried out and backed direct and indirect attacks against Saudi Arabia over the last year, notably through Iran-backed Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi cities, airports, and oil refineries, alongside direct regional exchanges during the wider 2026 conflict, and yet…

…and yet Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis ‌to its offer to help broker talks to end the fighting between them, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday?

Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen—supported by Iranian intelligence, targeting data, and training from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—have launched multiple waves of ballistic missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and yet…

…and yet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi offered to ⁠help facilitate dialogue as the Iran-aligned Houthis intensified strikes on Saudi Arabia earlier this month…’cuz he’s a humanitarian that deserves Trump‘s Nobel Peace Prize…or at least María Corina Machado’s…

Early in the escalation, direct Iranian missile and drone strikes also targeted Saudi-hosted locations and air bases, drawing counter-actions from Royal Saudi Air Force and allied air defences and yet…while now offering the broker peace between Houthis and Saudi Arabia…

…in the interview with Iraq's Al Ekhbariya TV, Araqchi also responded to the possibility of Egypt joining Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis.
"Any foreign intervention would complicate matters," he said, adding ‌Cairo ⁠has previously told Tehran that it would "not directly" interfere in the Yemeni conflict.

Egypt has said it is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with the ⁠support it needs to defend its security, potentially raising the stakes in the Middle East. A vote in ⁠the Egyptian parliament on a possible move against the Houthi fighters by the country's ⁠military, one of the Arab world's largest, was delayed until October 26. Saudi ⁠Arabia has a $5.3 billion deposit at Egypt's central bank due this month, plus $267.39 million in interest, central bank data showed.

Iran says Saudi Arabia, Houthis have not answered mediation offer — Reuters

Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis ‌to its offer to help broker talks to end the fighting between them, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday.

apple.news

 

[petros]

Iran and its proxy forces have carried out and backed direct and indirect attacks against Saudi Arabia over the last year, notably through Iran-backed Houthi missile and drone strikes on Saudi cities, airports, and oil refineries, alongside direct regional exchanges during the wider 2026 conflict, and yet…

…and yet Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis ‌to its offer to help broker talks to end the fighting between them, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday?

Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen—supported by Iranian intelligence, targeting data, and training from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—have launched multiple waves of ballistic missile and drone strikes into Saudi Arabia and yet…

…and yet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi offered to ⁠help facilitate dialogue as the Iran-aligned Houthis intensified strikes on Saudi Arabia earlier this month…’cuz he’s a humanitarian that deserves Trump‘s Nobel Peace Prize…or at least María Corina Machado’s…

Early in the escalation, direct Iranian missile and drone strikes also targeted Saudi-hosted locations and air bases, drawing counter-actions from Royal Saudi Air Force and allied air defences and yet…while now offering the broker peace between Houthis and Saudi Arabia…

…in the interview with Iraq's Al Ekhbariya TV, Araqchi also responded to the possibility of Egypt joining Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis.
View attachment 36007"Any foreign intervention would complicate matters," he said, adding ‌Cairo ⁠has previously told Tehran that it would "not directly" interfere in the Yemeni conflict.

Egypt has said it is ready to provide Saudi Arabia with the ⁠support it needs to defend its security, potentially raising the stakes in the Middle East. A vote in ⁠the Egyptian parliament on a possible move against the Houthi fighters by the country's ⁠military, one of the Arab world's largest, was delayed until October 26. Saudi ⁠Arabia has a $5.3 billion deposit at Egypt's central bank due this month, plus $267.39 million in interest, central bank data showed.

Iran says Saudi Arabia, Houthis have not answered mediation offer — Reuters

Iran has not received a response from Saudi Arabia or Yemen's Houthis ‌to its offer to help broker talks to end the fighting between them, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a television interview aired on Tuesday.

apple.news

Egypt...the 4th Amigo. Jordan will come around soon.