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Organized terrorism: Iran condemns killing of its diplomats in Lebanon

Al Mayadeen | March 27, 2026

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned on Friday the killing of several Iranian diplomats in Lebanon, holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the “heinous crime” targeting their place of residence.

The Ministry stated that the incident forms part of an “aggressive policy” pursued by “Israel” against the Iranian people, adding that it constitutes a flagrant violation of international legal and humanitarian norms, particularly the principle of diplomatic immunity and the obligation to respect the sovereignty of states.

‘Organized terrorism’

In this context, the Foreign Ministry stressed that the killing of diplomats constitutes a clear example of “organized terrorism” and a direct breach of international law, affirming Iran’s determination to pursue all available legal and international channels to hold those responsible accountable.

The Ministry also extended condolences to the families of the martyrs and to the Iranian people, reaffirming its commitment to continue their path in safeguarding Iran’s security and national interests.

It identified the martyrs as: Sayyed Mohammad Reza Mousavi, Alireza Bi-Azar, Majid Hosseini Kandsar, Hossein Ahmadlou, Ahmad Rasouli, and Amir Moradi.

Iran urges UN to condemn US-Israeli assassination plots

Earlier today, Iran formally called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn active US-Israeli plans to assassinate senior Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Sayyed Abbas Araghchi. The US and “Israel” have been on an assassination spree that has now claimed the lives of Iran’s Leader and dozens of other officials since the start of the US-Israeli aggression on Iran on February 28.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the Security Council on Thursday, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative Amir Saeid Iravani warned that media reports had exposed an operational framework explicitly targeting Iran’s highest political figures. The alleged suspension of those plans, Iravani stressed, offered no reassurance, as its “conditional nature” confirms that “the threat remains real, deliberate, and ongoing.”

The ambassador condemned the practice as a product of “criminal mindsets” that have publicly dismissed the rules of engagement as “foolish”, the same forces, he wrote, that have bombed students, targeted hospitals, and destroyed cultural heritage sites in an open campaign of state terrorism.

The promotion of the term “kill lists”, the letter stated, is “another manifestation of the same terrorist acts” that initiated a criminal war and have so far led to the martyrdom of more than 3,000 civilians.

Iravani further invoked the protections afforded to officials at the level of foreign minister under customary international law, protections repeatedly affirmed by the International Court of Justice, warning that any attack on their lives “would undermine the foundations of peaceful international relations.”

A record built on killing

By documented count, the Israeli entity has conducted approximately 2,300 assassination operations since 1948, a record that dwarfs any other state in the Western world and one so institutionalized that the occupation entity was likely the first government to formally acknowledge a policy of assassination, which they dub “targeted killing”, as far back as 2000.

Since the onset of the genocide in Gaza, the killing machine accelerated dramatically, targeting dozens of senior officials in the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance, and ultimately the Iranian Leader himself, martyred in a joint US-Israeli operation on February 28, 2026.

The campaign has never been confined by borders. Operations in Dubai, Tehran, Beirut, Damascus, and European capitals have established, as a matter of practice, that the occupation recognizes no other country’s territorial sovereignty.

March 27, 2026 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes, Wars for Israel | , , , | Comments Off on Organized terrorism: Iran condemns killing of its diplomats in Lebanon

Why could Gaza enter the regional war?

By Robert Inlakesh | Al Mayadeen | March 27, 2026

As the Israeli-US war on the Islamic Republic of Iran continues, so too does its seemingly never-ending assault on the people of Gaza. Which may end up resulting in one of the most extreme forms of blowback that the Zionist regime has ever faced.

The so-called Gaza ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, 2025, has proven to be precisely the opposite of a cessation of hostilities. Instead, just like with the way in which the Israelis dealt with the Lebanon ceasefire, they decided that the deal only applies to one side and that because they have the military edge, they can simply bomb wherever at will.

In the case of the Lebanese ceasefire, over 15,400 total violations were tallied by the time that Hezbollah chose to respond. Gaza’s official violation count is steadily on the way to the 3,000 mark, with the Zionist entity having murdered around 700 people during the “ceasefire” period.

Just as this strategy of arrogance backfired with Hezbollah, of believing that they can simply assert dominance and commit atrocities whenever they choose without any response, so too is it likely to blow up in their faces with the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza. In fact, it was this kind of mentality and arrogance that led to the humiliating defeat of their southern command on October 7, 2023.

Gaza had already been declared unlivable by 2020, as per calculations provided by United Nations experts, with a water supply that was 97% unfit for human consumption, one of the highest unemployment rates on earth, and who could forget the frequent series of massacres visited on the population there? Now, the situation on the ground is beyond comprehension.

Month after month, the sadistic Zionist administration of US President Donald Trump toyed with the Palestinian civilian population by claiming that a “Phase 2” to the ceasefire agreement was within reach. This evidently never materialised, the people were left in around 40% of the Gaza Strip with little shelter and supplies, living amongst the sewage and bombed out buildings surrounding them.

Meanwhile, the five Israeli created ISIS-linked collaborator gangs in Gaza, composed of Wahhabis and common criminals, have been granted round the clock protection and limitless supplies in order to further the goals of destroying the Palestinian people.

The “International Community?” and “International Legal System?” Nowhere to be seen, or totally ineffective where any efforts are made. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) even passed resolution 2803, birthing Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” (BoP) last November. All the Arab regimes came grovelling at the US President’s feet, as they congratulated the resolution that burned down decades of international law and precedents.

In the end, what was the BoP? Well, its charter didn’t mention Gaza, or even Palestine, once. It was instead an attempt to create a UN replacement, filled with the most repellent of spineless creatures, like Tony Blair, and billionaire friends of the US President.

Under the current conditions being faced by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, with their civilians who are continuing to be murdered, kidnapped and injured, there will eventually come a time that the opportunity will present itself for the Palestinian national resistance to take action.

If the Israeli military continues to commit to its ground offensive inside Lebanon, forcing it to get bogged down, while the Iranian missile and drone waves continue to take out strategic targets, there may be an opportunity for the Palestinians to finally take matters into their own hands.

It is not likely that any major moves will be made at this stage of the regional war, yet if this reaches a phase where the Israeli military is being severely battered and it no longer possesses many capabilities it entered the war with, it may be in for dealing with the final flood. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation proved what happens when the Zionist entity refuses to compromise and allow the people of Gaza to breathe.

As long as the Israelis refuse to admit defeat in this war, things will certainly continue to get worse and worse for them as the months go on. The reason for this is simple, they are so hell bent on conquering more territory and spilling the blood of the region’s peoples, that there is only one solution available, to force them to face a total strategic military defeat.

Although these are all broadly considered to be low likelihood possibilities, their regional aggression could easily trigger various fronts in ways that may spin out of control. Take for example the occupied West Bank and Al-Quds, although they have so far refrained from standing up for themselves in any large-scale uprising, if they were to simply revolt, they would cause an earthquake for the Israeli military and society at large.

The Israelis know well the potential consequences of a West Bank uprising, but instead of taking measures to minimize this possibility, they choose to increase the pressure on the population there. Since October 7, 2023, they have indeed fallen silent – with the exception of the Resistance groups primarily situated in the north’s refugee camps – but in no way is it certain they will continue to take this kind of punishment.

Even the way the Zionist entity handles its predicament inside Syria, it uses nothing but brute force and refuses to behave in a strategic manner. It may be an unlikely scenario, seeing that the current President of Syria is only one step away from a normalization agreement, yet how could the Israeli military deal with being roped into a quagmire inside Syrian territory, where an abundance of groups could end up attacking them?

Which brings us back to the question of Gaza. Considering that the opportunity presents itself, the Resistance could certainly act down the line in this conflict. If it does happen, it will be out of necessity and because the Zionist entity refused to end its genocide. In anticipation of any such action, it should be noted on record that it will be entirely the fault of the Israelis and the regime in Washington.

March 27, 2026 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Wars for Israel | , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why could Gaza enter the regional war?

Two Primary Elections for the Soul of ‘America First’

By Alan Mosley | The Libertarian Institute | March 27, 2026

Political slogans are cheap. Governing is not. “America First” is not a bumper-sticker philosophy. It is a testable claim about priorities: How much debt will we pile up, how many wars will we drift into, and how often will elected officials treat Congress as a ceremonial prop rather than a constitutional branch.

Midterm elections are where slogans go to trial. Primaries, especially, are where interests that cannot reliably win a general election try to win the nomination. They do it with money, with media saturation, and with the oldest trick in politics: framing obedience as unity.

This year, two Republican races show the fork in the road. In northern Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie is fighting a primary that has become a national vendetta project. In South Carolina, Senator Lindsey Graham is seeking a fifth term while publicly linking his political identity to a foreign-policy crusade, and treating dissent at home as a moral failing.

If Massie survives and Graham falls, it signals that Republican voters still have room for independence, constitutional friction, and skepticism toward overseas commitments. If Massie loses and Graham wins, it signals the reverse: the slogan becomes a mascot for power, not a restraint on it.

Thomas Massie’s case is straightforward: he acts like Congress matters.

That is not a rhetorical compliment. It is a job description. Legislators are not hired to be studio analysts for executive decision-making after the fact. They are elected to vote, to demand records, and to treat spending as something more than a press release. Above all, they are meant to represent the voters of their district.

Massie has built a voting record that major conservative scorekeepers rate highly. Conservative Review’s Liberty Score gives Massie a 96% A-rating for his consistent conservative record. Club for Growth rates him at 92 for 2024 and 93 lifetime, and labels him a “Defender of Economic Freedom.” These scorecards are not holy writ, but they are a consistent signal: Massie votes against the spending reflex that has turned the federal government into a debt machine.

Recent actions match that pattern. Federal records show Massie raised about $2.45 million in 2025, with roughly $840,000 coming in unitemized contributions, the classic signature of small-dollar fundraising rather than a donor class writing checks in neat, report-friendly chunks. He also voted against President Donald Trump’s marquee tax-and-spending package, a bill that passed the House by a single vote, 215–214.

Then there is the achievement that infuriates people who prefer secrecy to law. Massie used a discharge petition process to force a House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed 427–1. He and Senate partners later pressed the Justice Department to brief lawmakers on implementation of that law. In plain English, he pushed Congress to demand documents from the executive branch. That is not radical. That is what should come standard for any elected official: constitutional oversight.

Massie’s opponent is Ed Gallrein, a Trump-endorsed challenger who leans into being the president’s chosen foil for Massie and says he is fighting for “the America First agenda.”

The Trump factor is not ambiguous. Reuters reported that Trump endorsed Gallrein as Massie continued pressing for release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and as Massie criticized the administration’s handling of that issue. CBS reported Trump has crusaded against Massie and predicted he would be remembered as the “WORST Republican Congressman” in history.

But the most important part of the Gallrein candidacy is not biography. It is the machinery behind him.

By March 11, outside groups had already spent more than $5 million aiming to unseat Massie in the May primary. A super PAC linked to the Republican Jewish Coalition directed more than $2.8 million into the contest since late February, with the group “MAGA KY” spending around $2.7 million this cycle. Those numbers matter because they establish what this contest is: a safe-seat nomination being nationalized by outside spenders.

What is the glue holding this coalition together? Foreign policy, especially Israel-related aid and posture.

Much like the antiwar congressional hero Dr. Ron Paul before him, Massie has taken lonely stands, including voting against funding tied to Israel’s Iron Dome system. That is not a minor detail. It explains why “America First” branding is being used to sell a campaign that is bankrolled by groups whose defining priority is unwavering support for Israel-focused policy.

Long before the current burst of spending, reporting showed that pro-Israel megadonors were flowing money toward the anti-Massie effort. Donors backing Israel were funneling money to denounce Massie with ad buys in his district, and identified major donors associated with that effort. Senior Republicans expected the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to target Massie ahead of the 2026 primary, as they had done the same in prior spending runs against him.

The result is a familiar Washington pattern where a member votes against the foreign-policy consensus, and the donor class tries to end his career in a low-turnout election where ads can substitute for local affection.

A movement that cannot tolerate this kind of internal dissent is not a movement. It is a hierarchy.

Where Massie’s story is conflict with the foreign-policy consensus, Lindsey Graham’s story is partnership with it.

Graham filed for reelection in March with a campaign operation that looks financially impregnable. Federal Election Commission data show $19.6 million in total receipts through the end of 2025 and $13.4 million cash on hand. In a state where incumbency already carries heavy weight, that kind of bankroll makes a primary challenger’s job close to impossible.

But money is not the core issue. The issue is what Graham says he is for.

In an Associated Press report from March 16, 2026, Graham described the war posture toward Iran with blunt certainty: “We’re crushing them.” Graham was also quoted making an Israel-centered argument in which he said Iran would “kill all the Jews, and we’re next,” and then added that he would put his efforts to ensure the military has what it needs to win “ahead of anybody in the United States Senate.” That is not a senator describing prudence. That is a senator describing priority.

The rhetorical line that detonated online came from cable news. In remarks reported by Newsweek, Graham said, “I’m not with you, I’m with Israel,” and pledged to be with Israel “to our dying day.” In the same reported segment, he said he was going back to South Carolina to ask people to “send their sons and daughters into the Mid East.”

When a senator tells his own state, in effect, that the dissenters are beneath contempt, and the sacrifice is owed, he is not practicing representation. He is brazenly announcing to the world that his true constituency lies in a foreign nation.

That posture is consistent with Graham’s official communications. On his Senate website in January 2026, Graham praised Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “duo” for the security and prosperity of both countries, described enhanced weapons cooperation with Israel as a potential “21st century ‘Manhattan Project,’” and insisted “failure is not an option.” That is language designed for permanent emergency, not constitutional restraint.

Even AP’s reporting framed Graham as having “everything he could ever want,” including Trump’s ear and the war he has long advocated, while critics compared his posture to a child on Christmas morning. His energy for more war would make even the late John McCain blush.

None of this requires conspiracy theories. American campaign-finance law makes the incentives plain.

Now place AIPAC and allied pro-Israel groups into that structure. FEC data show AIPAC has raised $34.3 million in receipts from January 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026, and disbursed $32.3 million in that period, including over $30.5 million in contributions to other committees. That is not marginal money. It is an industrial operation.

Major outlets have documented how Israel-related outside spending has surged in the 2026 cycle, including efforts in key primaries where advertising often avoids overt mention of Israel while targeting candidates critical of Israel policy. The Washington Post described AIPAC’s role in super PAC spending this cycle and the use of affiliated committees with benign names. When accounting for other associated organizations, upwards of $200 million has been spent on 361 congressional candidates who pledge to support a pro-Israel agenda.

Against that backdrop, the contrast between Massie and Graham becomes obvious.

Massie is punished for crossing the line against an imperial presidency. Graham is rewarded for enforcing it, in public, with contempt for “isolationists,” and with calls for deeper military involvement.

This is why the “America First” label is now contested terrain. A slogan that can be used to sell both constitutional restraint and open-ended war is not a philosophy. It is a marketing asset, and marketing assets are purchased.

Massie’s primary is not simply a question of whether he will hold a House seat. His district is reliably Republican and not expected to be competitive in the general election. The real decision is whether a Republican electorate will allow an independent lawmaker to keep office when national money and presidential ego demand submission.

Graham’s race is not simply a question of whether he will win reelection. It is whether South Carolina Republicans will ratify a posture that treats foreign conflict as a defining purpose, and treats constituents as a manpower pool, rather than citizens with rights and limits on what government may demand.

If “America First” means anything beyond applause, it means the country is not obligated to bankrupt itself, or bleed itself, to prove its virtue to donors, allies, or television audiences. It means wars are debated and authorized by Congress, and that military force is not a lifestyle. It means elected officials remember that “ally” is not a synonym for “master,” and that patriotism is not measured by willingness to sign blank checks.

That is why these two primaries matter as a pair. One man is being targeted for saying no. The other is being rewarded for never saying no, and for mocking those who do.

A party can choose restraint, or it can choose appetite. It cannot choose both and keep its soul intact.

March 27, 2026 Posted by | Militarism, Wars for Israel | , , , , | Comments Off on Two Primary Elections for the Soul of ‘America First’

Iran mobilizing one million soldiers to ‘create hell’ for any US ground assault: Report

The Cradle | March 27, 2026

Iran is mobilizing one million soldiers to repel any potential ground invasion launched by the US army against the Islamic Republic, an Iranian military source told Tasnim News Agency on 26 March.

“With the growing speculation about the possibility of a historical folly by the US in launching a ground invasion on the southern front of Iran, a wave of enthusiasm has emerged among Iranian ground fighters to create a historical hell for the Americans on Iranian soil,” the source said.

The source added that “in addition to organizing more than one million fighters for ground combat, in recent days there has been a massive influx of requests from Iranian youth directed towards the centers of Basij, the IRGC, and the Army to also participate in this battle.”

“The US wants to open the Strait of Hormuz with suicide and self-destructive tactics; that’s fine. We are ready for both their suicide strategy to be executed and for the Strait to remain closed,” the source went on to say.

On the same day, Axios reported – citing US officials – that Washington was preparing options for a “final blow” in the Iran war, involving ground forces and massive bombing.

The options include invading Kharg Island, where the majority of Iran’s oil exports are processed.

Others include seizing the island of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb (controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE), as well as blocking or seizing ships exporting Iranian oil on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Pentagon is considering sending another 10,000 troops to the region.

“We’re waiting for them,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a western news show host earlier this month after being asked if Tehran was “afraid” of a ground invasion.

The foreign minister added that Iran has prepared a “disaster” for US ground troops who enter the country.

Sources familiar with US intelligence told CNN on 25 March that Iranian forces have been fortifying Kharg Island and “laying traps” in anticipation of a US decision to launch a ground assault.

“Iran has been laying traps and moving additional military personnel and air defenses to Kharg Island in recent weeks in preparation for a possible US operation to take control of the island,” the sources said.

“There would be significant risks involved in such a ground operation,” the sources added, including “a large number of US casualties.”

March 27, 2026 Posted by | Militarism, Wars for Israel | , , , | Comments Off on Iran mobilizing one million soldiers to ‘create hell’ for any US ground assault: Report

More Iran War fallout: Maritime insurance industry shifts from London to China

Inside China Business | March 26, 2026

China and Hong Kong comprise the most valuable fleets of commercial ships in the world, and the largest numbers of bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers. Japan, Korea, and Singapore also have huge investments in global shipping. But European and American insurance brokers underwrite 90% of maritime insurance in the world, and on the first day of the war against Iran canceled insurance coverage on vessels already in contested waters. Hong Kong now writes insurance coverage for ships from Mainland China and Hong Kong, even those transiting the Persian Gulf. What’s more, Iranian authorities are clearing China-flagged vessels to pass safely. 

Resources and links:

Top 10 shipowner countries/regions in the world https://vesselslink.com/blogs/news/to…

Hong Kong marine insurers gain edge over London with cheaper war-risk cover for Chinese ships https://www.scmp.com/business/banking…

Insurance Clubs to Halt Ship War-Risk Cover in Persian Gulf https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/na…

Insurance Clubs to Halt Ship War-Risk Cover in Persian Gulf https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl…

Traffic is trickling through Strait of Hormuz: Who’s moving and who’s stranded https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/hormu…

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Wars for Israel | , | Comments Off on More Iran War fallout: Maritime insurance industry shifts from London to China

US-Israeli aggression on Iran triggers review of GCC countries’ investment pledges to Washington

Press TV – March 26, 2026

As the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran enters its fifth week, the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are reassessing massive overseas investment commitments, particularly those directed toward the United States, amid severe economic fallout from Iran’s retaliatory strikes against US bases in the region and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The war was initiated by Washington and Tel Aviv’s unprovoked aerial aggression against Iran late last month. The conflict has sent shockwaves through the Persian Gulf region, choking off vital oil and gas revenues that underpin GCC economies and forcing sovereign wealth funds to prioritize domestic needs over foreign pledges.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted eye-popping investment deals with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — totaling trillions of dollars — as the cornerstone of his economic vision for the United States.

These pledges, secured during high-profile trips and announcements, were meant to fuel American tech startups, investment firms, defense contractors, and major businesses.

However, sources familiar with internal discussions indicate growing alarm in the Trump administration that GCC allies may be unable to deliver on these promises as the war exacts a heavy toll, Politico reported on Thursday.

“What has really concerned observers is that Persian Gulf states have signaled they are only weeks away from potentially repatriating tens of billions of dollars in US-based investments to address urgent domestic and defensive requirements,” one source noted.

Such moves would prove highly destabilizing to Washington’s plans, limiting capital flows at a time when US markets are already facing uncertainty.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has drastically curtailed revenue for GCC financial institutions, while Iran’s precision strikes on critical infrastructure, energy facilities, and high-profile sites in places like Dubai and Doha have halted tourism and disrupted economic activity.

The Persian Gulf’s role as a hub for global capital has been severely compromised by the US and Israeli war of aggression that began on February 28, which included the assassinations of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials and military commanders, as well as hundreds of civilians.

The Iranian armed forces have responded by launching almost daily missile and drone operations targeting locations in the Israeli-occupied territories as well as US military bases and assets across the Persian Gulf region.

They have also blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them.

A senior executive at an asset management firm with substantial Persian Gulf backing stated that companies are now seeking capital alternatives outside the region due to the ongoing disruptions.

Economists and analysts, including Adnan Mazarei, a former deputy director at the International Monetary Fund, have long questioned the realism of these Arab pledges to the US.

“Those pledges are now becoming harder to deliver on,” he observed, especially as countries must allocate resources to restore missile defenses and repair war-damaged sites.

Iran’s legitimate defensive responses to the unprovoked aggression, including strikes on US-linked targets and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, have compounded challenges for Persian Gulf economies already strained by prior spending sprees.

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Wars for Israel | , , , | Comments Off on US-Israeli aggression on Iran triggers review of GCC countries’ investment pledges to Washington

Pakistan ramps up food exports to Persian Gulf nations as war deepens food insecurity

The Cradle | March 26, 2026

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed authorities to speed up exports of surplus food to Persian Gulf states on 26 March, as disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran and Tehran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz strain regional supply routes and increase food security concerns.

“It is our duty to take care of the needs of food in the Gulf countries amid the current regional situation where global supply lines are affected,” Sharif said, according to a Prime Minister’s Office handout.

Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review export plans, instructing officials to ensure domestic supply remains stable while scaling shipments abroad, and calling for expanded flight operations and improved port efficiency to respond to what officials described as an evolving regional situation.

Authorities approved 40 food items for export, including rice, edible oil, sugar, meat, poultry, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.

Open sea and air routes are being used, with reduced transport costs and no additional export charges on key food categories.

Iran has taken de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz following the start of the US-Israeli war on the nation, severely restricting maritime traffic and allowing only coordinated or approved vessels to pass.

Under this system, Tehran grants access to “friendly” states such as Pakistan, China, India, Russia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Thailand, and Japan, while blocking US- and Israeli-linked vessels, and in some cases imposing transit fees reaching $2 million to some, while granting waivers to allied or negotiated ships.

Pakistan is treated as a “non-hostile” partner, with its vessels granted passage through coordination and security clearance rather than fees imposed.

Thailand recently secured free passage for an oil tanker after direct coordination with Tehran. The Islamic Republic stated that “non-hostile vessels” may transit and affirmed that “Friends have a special place.”

Gulf states heavily reliant on the waterway, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, face mounting risks of supply shortages and price increases.

Pakistan has emerged as one of the few countries able to navigate the strait, recently sending a Pakistan-flagged vessel carrying crude through the corridor, elevating Islamabad’s role as both a supplier and a potential intermediary in the war.

Pakistan is facing its own internal strain, with fuel shortages triggering austerity measures aimed at easing pressure on domestic supplies, including reduced work schedules and temporary school closures.

Officials said coordination with Gulf countries is ongoing, with exporter databases established and business-to-business engagements underway.

Sharif warned that delays in execution would not be tolerated, stressing continuous monitoring of domestic supply and demand.

Pakistan’s approach reflects a balancing act between domestic stability, regional demand, and its ties with both Iran and Gulf partners as supply chains remain under pressure.

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Wars for Israel | , | Comments Off on Pakistan ramps up food exports to Persian Gulf nations as war deepens food insecurity

Iran submits response to US plan, sets terms for war’s end: Tasnim

Al Mayadeen | March 26, 2026

An informed source told Tasnim on Thursday that Iran has delivered its response to a 15-point proposal put forward by the United States, transmitting its position through intermediaries on Wednesday night. Tehran is now awaiting a reply.

According to the source, Iran’s response sets out a series of conditions tied to any potential end to the war. These include an immediate halt to assassination operations, the establishment of binding guarantees to prevent a renewed aggression, and the provision of clearly defined compensation and reparations. The response also calls for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities across all fronts, extending to all resistance groups involved in the confrontation throughout the region.

The source further stressed that Iran considers its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz to be a natural and legal right that will remain in place. This control, the source indicated, is viewed as a mechanism to ensure the implementation of any commitments made by the other side and must be formally acknowledged.

These positions, the source added, are separate from the demands previously raised during the second round of nuclear negotiations held in Geneva shortly before the US-Israeli war that began in February.

The source also cast doubt on Washington’s stated intentions regarding negotiations, describing them as part of a “third deception” effort. According to the source, the United States is pursuing multiple objectives under the cover of diplomacy: presenting a peaceful image to the international community, maintaining lower global oil prices, and gaining time to prepare for further military aggressions, including a potential ground operation in southern Iran.

Reflecting on previous engagements, the source said Iran now holds “complete doubts” about the United States’ willingness to negotiate in good faith. The source argued that both during the 12-day war in June 2025 and the current war, the United States initiated hostilities while talks were ongoing, suggesting that renewed diplomatic efforts may similarly serve as a pretext for further escalation. Analysts suggest that there is no need to call on Iran to admit a certain reality, if, as suggested, it was already a reality in the first place.

War exposes US limits

Iran’s response comes as the war on the country enters its fourth week, after the United States and “Israel” launched coordinated attacks targeting the country’s leadership, civilian infrastructure, and military capabilities, prompting sustained Iranian retaliatory operations across the region.

The consequences of this aggression have extended far beyond the battlefield. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery through which roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG supplies pass, have not only sent shockwaves through energy markets but also exposed the limits of US power in the region.

Despite its military presence, Washington has struggled to secure a chokepoint central to the global economy following its aggression, while Iran has shown it can impose costs that reverberate through oil prices, inflation, financial markets, and allied capitals, undermining the image of a US-led order able to guarantee stability.

Amid these developments, the United States has been working at countering Iran’s retaliation following the aggression and shaping the war’s outcome on terms favorable to Washington to no avail.

Tehran has categorically rejected negotiating under such conditions. Iranian officials say recent US proposals, including a reported multi-point plan conveyed through intermediaries, are unrealistic and designed to force strategic concessions while the war continues.

According to Tehran officials, Washington and “Israel”, having initiated the aggression, have no standing to dictate its conclusion. Authorities insist the war will end only on Iran’s terms, including a full cessation of aggression, guarantees against renewed attacks, and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty.

Trump threatens Iran

On Wednesday, the White House openly threatened further escalation against Iran, warning that the US is prepared to intensify its attacks unless Tehran accepts Washington’s terms.

“The President’s preference is always peace. There does not need to be any more death and destruction. But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily … President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” Leavitt told reporters.

Iran’s continued retaliatory strikes, however, contradicts Washington’s claim of “defeat,” with officials announcing the 82nd wave of retaliatory strikes targeting US and Israeli assets across the region, thus indicating that Tehran’s operational capacity remains intact.

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Militarism, Wars for Israel | , , , | Comments Off on Iran submits response to US plan, sets terms for war’s end: Tasnim

US vs Iran: Kharg Island Talk — Bluff or Escalation? Ex-Military Officer Weighs In

Yellow sulphur, a byproduct of petrochemical refinement, contrasts with the blue sea at Kharg Island, Iran.
Sputnik – 26.03.2026

“An operation towards Kharg Island might happen, but it might as well be a smokescreen or a way for the US to put pressure on Iran,” ex-Swedish army officer and defense politician Mikael Valtersson tells Sputnik, commenting on reports about a possible US ground operation against the Islamic Republic.

News outlets earlier reported that the Pentagon was preparing to send about 2,000 soldiers from the US army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

“This might be an attempt to pressure Iran towards negotiations,” Valtersson points out.

“The problem with such a strategy is that Iran knows that Trump is desperate to get lower oil prices and a better world, especially the US economy,” Valtersson says, adding that “therefore such an attack is unlikely, since the loss of Iranian oil export and a potential long-term loss of oil production in the Gulf States after retaliatory strikes from Iran would worsen the energy crisis both in the short and long term.”

He notes that all talk about an attack on Kharg Island might also be a smokescreen and an attempt to divert Iranian defensive capabilities from the Strait of Hormuz, which is also very hard to achieve, since Iran has the capacity to defend both areas simultaneously. “And at the same time, it is also very hard to move Iranian military assets without getting them destroyed by US or Israeli air power,” he pointed out.

“One thing is sure, it wouldn’t do anything to open the Hormuz strait. It would of course hit Iranian oil exports if US forces took control of Kharg, but that would also increase oil prices even more,” the former Swedish army officer points out.

In conclusion, he suggests that the most likely scenario is the United States attempting to ramp up pressure on Iran. In doing so, it underestimates Iranian capabilities and, in effect, prepares for a highly risky military operation—one that could ultimately result in both a military and a media defeat for the US. “Even a tactical victory on the ground would probably result in a strategic failure for the United States,” Valterson maintains.

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Militarism, Wars for Israel | , | Comments Off on US vs Iran: Kharg Island Talk — Bluff or Escalation? Ex-Military Officer Weighs In

Former Head Of MI6 Admits That The U.S. And Israel Are Losing The Iran War

The Dissident | March 25, 2026

In an interview with the Economist, Alex Younger, the head of Britain’s MI6 from 2014 to 2020, admitted that Iran has the upper hand against the U.S. and Israel.

When asked, “Who has the upper hand right now, who is in a stronger position?”, Younger replied, “Iran”.

He went on to say “The reality is that the US underestimated the task and I think, as of about two weeks ago, lost the initiative to Iran”.

He added, “The Iranian regime has been more resilient than I think anyone would have expected. They took some good decisions actually as early as last June about dispersing their military capability and delegating the authority for the use of those weapons which has given them significant extra resilience against this incredibly powerful air campaign.”

Younger went on to say, Iran has “embarked on what’s technically called horizontal escalation i.e., firing rockets at anybody within range,” adding that this has “been a very good way of putting indirect price on the US” and has “sort of worked”.

He also said that Iran, “understood the significance of the energy war and held the Strait (of Hormuz) at threat,” which he noted, “globalized the conflict in a way that gives them some weapons.”

He also added that Iran is fighting “a war of existence” while the U.S. is fighting “a war of choice,” noting that this “imbues them (Iran) with more staying power than their US counterparts and they know that now and I think that really is giving them the whip hand”.

Along with this he noted that, “Even with just 10% of its initial drone stocks”, Iran can, “hold the straits at threat because these are not military people, it’s not a military audience you have to satisfy, it is people who own oil tankers and captains of oil tankers and that really does give them the whip hand.”

He concluded that “the options for the US and Israel are pretty limited and not great”.

March 25, 2026 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Wars for Israel | , , , , | Comments Off on Former Head Of MI6 Admits That The U.S. And Israel Are Losing The Iran War

Scattered Thoughts on War and Peace

By William Schryver | March 25, 2026

Gentlemen cry peace, peace. But there is no peace. The war has barely begun.

Though its position is untenable, the empire cannot slink away now.

As things stand, Iran et al. have won an overwhelming strategic victory. One that cannot be undone.

And everyone that matters in the world knows this to be true.

That said, a great many people have persuaded themselves that it is the mighty United States military that has achieved an overwhelming victory, and that the Iranians are an utterly “obliterated” foe.

And yet the Iranian missiles and drones keep their schedule, with only a fraction of the opposition they encountered in early March.

Israel — that vulnerable speck of a country — is getting pounded. Hard.

US/Israel air defenses have been reduced to a skeleton shambles.

The impressive Iranian defeat of US/Israeli radar capabilities is arguably the single most notable development so far in this war.

Meanwhile, the count of American manned aircraft downed by “technical problems” continues to grow, and Iran is shooting down more cruise missiles than they did early on.

Speaking of skeleton shambles, all the US bases in the region have been systematically degraded — some more than most.

The US Fifth Fleet has been effectively evicted from the Persian Gulf, and they won’t be coming back.

The USS Poopy Gerry, flagship of the US Navy, has now managed to limp back to Souda Bay to tally the damages, and determine whether or not she can make it all the way back to Norfolk without some tug boats standing by.

Watch and see: they’ll boldly claim they will have her “ready for action” in 18 months or so. But they won’t. And sometime in about 2030, an obscure Pentagon press release will announce that the star-crossed USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN-78, will be decommissioned, purchased by Baron Trump, and turned into a dockside casino.

Anyway, the Americans are convinced the Iranians are an easy mark to fall yet again for the “negotiation sneak attack” gambit.

I think it’s more likely the Iranians are worried the Americans will “chicken out” of their proclaimed intention to use “boots on the ground” to subdue Iran and achieve full control over the Strait of Hormuz.

I think the Iranians would like nothing more than for the US military to attempt a 10k soldier amphibious / airborne attack somewhere along the Iranian coastline — probably in conjunction with a half-dozen special forces raids at various “high-value” targets.

In any case, as two amphibious ready groups (4400 Marines) and an 82nd Airborne brigade combat team (3000 light infantry) continue to advance on the theater of battle, Washington is apparently going to send the mythically competent erstwhile invisible Vice President, the redoubtable young Achilles, JD Vance.

My sense is that Vance’s mission is an inherently disingenuous token gesture.

Vance will state the inherently unacceptable American terms; the Iranians will state theirs. Both sides will glare menacingly at each other, and fly back home.

The Iranians will continue to control Hormuz and launch drones and missiles throughout the region.

US troops will arrive on the scene, and barring some unlikely epiphany of reason, the Pentagon will launch an amphibious / airborne attack that will end in blood and ashes.

At least this is the trajectory of events as I currently perceive them to be.

Things could still go from bad to worse.

March 25, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Militarism, Wars for Israel | , , , , | Comments Off on Scattered Thoughts on War and Peace

Iran Threatens to Close Red Sea to Shipping in Response to Invasion

By Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute | March 25, 2026

If the US invades Iran, Tehran will act through its allies in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

“If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of ​​Oman,” an Iranian military official told the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. “We will open other fronts for them as a surprise so that their action will not only be of no benefit to them but will also double their costs.”

“The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered one of the world’s strategic straits, and Iran has both the will and the ability to create a completely credible threat against it.” The official continued, “Therefore, if the Americans want to think of a solution for the Strait of Hormuz with stupid measures, they should be careful not to add another strait to their problems and predicaments.”

Northern Yemen is controlled by Ansar Allah, who are allied with Iran. So far, Sanaa has not intervened in the war that is raging across the Middle East.

Ansar Allah has proven the military capability to close the Red Sea to shipping and also to fight the American military. In response to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza, Sanaa closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait to US and Israeli-linked shipping.

Both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump attempted to break the blockade with massive bombing campaigns in Yemen. However, Ansar Allad was able to maintain the blockade while attacking Israel and US warships in the region with missiles and drones.

If Ansar Allah elects to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, it will add to the global economic crisis that was caused by the US and Israeli war against Iran. Since the surprise attack by the US and Israel on February 28, Tehran has significantly limited shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian threat comes as the US is moving forces to the Middle East that could be involved in ground operations inside Iran.

March 25, 2026 Posted by | Economics, Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Militarism, Wars for Israel | , , , , | Comments Off on Iran Threatens to Close Red Sea to Shipping in Response to Invasion

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