[RE]

CSMONITOR.COM 2026-04-17

What Trump’s handling of the Iran war has done to perceptions of US power

For decades, perceptions of U.S. power did not rely on the use of America’s unrivaled military might. In the Iran war, a militarily inferior adversary used asymmetric warfare to resist that might, and allies whom President Donald Trump did not consult are voicing concern over the state of U.S. strategic thinking and planning.

When Marxist.com & the CS Monitor are in agreement, you can say for certain that EVERYBODY KNOWS.

RE

[K-Dog]

A summary of what is happening in the Mid East.  Demetri explains that he thinks war is inevitable.  It is not what he wants, it is what the circumstances show.  The US is using the cease-fire to move troops.  Trump has seriously lost his shit.  Trumps grandiosity is now full-blown psychosis.

Trump has learned that he likes bombing people.

• EXCLUSIVE: Strait of Hormuz Closure - War Escalation in West Asia
  Reporter: Demetri Lceras | Outlet: Reason to Resist
  Date: April 18th, 2026 | Location: Kamata, Greece
  
  1. INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT
  
  • Iran's foreign minister announced the Strait of Hormuz would be completely open for a remaining period of ceasefire on April 17th.
  • However, less than 24 hours later, Iran's military closed the Strait of Hormuz citing US naval blockade.
  • Key players: Abbas Adanchi (Iranian Foreign Minister), Donald Trump (US President), Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister).
  
  2. TIMELINE OF EVENTS
  
  • April 17th, 2026 - Iran's foreign minister declared Strait of Hormuz open for commercial vessels.
  • April 18th, 2026 - US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
  • April 18th, 2026 - Iran's military closed the Strait of Hormuz, stating it was in response to US naval blockade.
  
  3. KEY STATEMENTS & DIRECT QUOTES
  
  • "The passage for all commercial vessels through the straight of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire on the coordinated route as already announced." - Abbas Adanchi, Iranian Foreign Minister.
  • "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are prohibited from doing so by the USA." - Donald Trump, US President.
  • "The president of the US made seven claims within one hour, every single one of them is false." - Muhammad Bagger Galibah, Speaker of Iran's Parliament.
  
  4. SPECIFIC DATA & FIGURES
  
  • 350 civilians killed in one day by Israeli bombing in Lebanon (April 18th, 2026).
  • 500 US Air Force aircraft on airfields in the Middle East.
  • Over 220 US Navy ships deployed near Iran.
  • $98 to $88 drop in Brent crude oil price after reopening of Strait of Hormuz announcement (April 18th, 2026).
  • Pakistan's oil imports account for 40% through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • 350 ships left Iran but only three returned due to US warnings (April 18th, 2026).
  
  5. ANALYSIS & PREDICTIONS
  
  • The reopening and closing of the Strait of Hormuz indicate a volatile situation.
  • Trump's record suggests he is committed to war rather than peace.
  • Israel continues ceasefire violations despite agreement.
  • US military buildup in West Asia indicates potential for renewed conflict.
  • Pakistan, highly dependent on oil imports through Hormuz, is actively mediating the conflict.
  
  End of Extraction
  

Planet Earth is fucked.  Trump fucks everyone over and continues to do so.  It is what he wants to do.  Troops are being moved into position.

[K-Dog]

TASNIMNEWS.IR 2026-04-18

Iranian Official Warns Talks May Collapse over Trump’s Bluffs

A senior Iranian official told CNN that some of Trump’s assertions are “alternative facts.”

"While Iran is committed to a result-oriented diplomatic process," the US could be "using diplomacy to exhaust diplomacy and planning a new aggression, which Iran is ready to forcefully respond."

[K-Dog]

INDIATODAY.IN 2026-04-12

US warships fled Hormuz after IRGC's warning? Iran releases footage of standoff

The episode, captured in footage aired by Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, claimed to show a radio exchange between Iranian naval forces and a US Navy destroyer.

APNEWS.COM 2026-04-18

Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over US blockade and fires on ships

The strait is closed until the U.S. blockade is lifted, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy said Saturday night.

Backlash.

That is something everyone can understand.You move a leaver or turn a wheel and nothing happens if things are loose, if parts don't fit right. 

So it is with oil tankers which only move as fast as a bicycle moves.  The straight of Hormuz was closed over a month ago, but the tankers that were in motion continued to move.  Only now are they not arriving in Europe.

The mathematical models describing this can result in bifurcations and chaotic behavior.

[K-Dog]

Counting on a fool(s) to make America great again was not smart.




Pepe Escobar on US-Iran Ceasefire, Yemen, and Geopolitics (April 20, 2026)

The Ceasefire is "Hanging by a Thread"

Following a US naval attack on an Iranian cargo ship in international waters, the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran is hanging by a thread. Pepe Escobar, the renowned Brazilian geopolitical analyst, assesses that the Trump regime has no strategy whatsoever. He characterizes the US leadership as being directed by "a psychopathic sociopath with acute dementia, and a drunken former platoon commander in Iraq."

An Act of War with No Justification

Escobar argues that the attack on the Iranian cargo ship is unequivocally an act of war and a clear violation of the ceasefire. Crucially, he notes there is no justification for this attack, because even if the ship had been carrying arms or jet fuel, it would not violate international law. As the victim of aggression, Iran retains the full legal right to seek help from friendly states for its defense.

The Red Sea & Yemen's Role

In response to rising tensions, Iran's government has threatened to call on its Yemeni ally, Ansarallah (the Houthis), to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait—a crucial chokepoint for global maritime commerce. Escobar, who visited Yemen in 2022, was deeply impressed by the Ansarallah leadership, noting their strong moral, ethical, and spiritual commitment to defending Gaza. While Ansarallah forces have been relatively quiet for the past six weeks, they remain a potent potential factor in the conflict.

China's Calculated Stance

China has officially expressed concern over the renewed instability around the Bab el-Mandeb, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and insisting the waterway remain open for normal passage. However, Escobar notes that China is a "master of understatement." While they maintain good relations with both Iran and Saudi Arabia (their primary oil supplier), China is not dependent on the Bab el-Mandeb or Strait of Hormuz, thanks to alternative pipelines from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Myanmar, plus extensive domestic production.

China's Primary Interest: Keeping the Strait Open

Despite projecting an image of impartiality in public, China's primary, concrete concern is ensuring the Bab el-Mandeb strait remains open for international maritime commerce. Any disruption to shipping through that strategic waterway would negatively impact China's economic interests, even if their energy supplies are diversified.

[K-Dog]

TASNIMNEWS.IR 2026-04-21

So far, no decision has been made to attend Islamabad talks

The invasion of Iranian ships and trade in the high seas is a gross violation of international law, maritime tyrannim and state terrorism

[K-Dog]

https://tasnimnews.ir/ is now blocked.  Trump continues to be cuked by Israel.

PALESTINECHRONICLE.COM 2026-04-23

Israel Kills Children in Beit Lahia, Journalist Slain in Lebanon

Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed on Wednesday, and others were injured in an Israeli attack targeting the Beit Lahia project in northern Gaza.

If anybody in the White House bothered to check with Iran they would know including Lebanon in the cease fire is non-negotiable.

But Trump is a cuk.

[K-Dog]

TASNIMNEWS.IR 2026-04-25

US Warned of Iran’s Severe Response to Piracy

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran warned that continued acts of blockade and maritime piracy by the United States will trigger a strong response from the Iranian Armed Forces.

[RE]

TASNIMNEWS.IR 2026-04-25

US Warned of Iran’s Severe Response to Piracy

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran warned that continued acts of blockade and maritime piracy by the United States will trigger a strong response from the Iranian Armed Forces.

The link doesn't load on my computer.

One wonders what a "strong" response to the blockade & piracy would be?  Will they attempt an attack on an FSoA Navy boat?  That would seem to be pretty hard to succeed at, given they are hanging out well outside the straight in International Waters in the Gulf of Oman.  Failing at the attack would make them look weak & give Trumpolini opportunity to boast about his powerful navy and Poseidon like omnipotence over the sea.

So, either they have to be pretty certain they can succeed with such an attack, or choose something pretty  substantial that at least makes impressive video to substitute.    Blowing up a major Saudi or Kuwaiti refinery or storage facility would make pretty spectacular video if they could manage that, but also pretty tough I imagine.  Maybe the Houthis could manage an attack on an LNG transport of their coast?  One of those blowing up would really make good video.

How about a big terror bombing in Europe or in the FSoA?  That could backfire with negative PR if a lot of civilians get waxed.  It needs to be something that attacks infrastructure, not people.  A cyber attack on the FSoA electrical grid or the banking system could work, if they have hackers good enough to pull it off.

Just have to wait & see I guess.

RE

[K-Dog]

Yes, the Iranian websites can be hard to get to.  Do we have to wonder why?


Today the wind fills my sails, and this is the content.  Since they can't be everywhere at once (yet.)

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran warned that continued acts of blockade and maritime piracy by the United States will trigger a strong response from the Iranian Armed Forces.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters stressed that if the US aggressive military continues naval blockade, banditry, and piracy in the region, it will face a response from Iran's powerful Armed Forces.

The statement said the US should be aware that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran possess greater might and readiness than before to defend the country's sovereignty, territory, and national interests. It added that the US military had already experienced part of Iran's offensive capabilities during the "third imposed war".

The headquarters further stated that Iranian forces remain prepared and determined to monitor the behavior and movements of their enemies in the region, while continuing to manage and control the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

It warned that in the event of renewed aggression by the US and the Zionist regime, they would face even heavier losses.

On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran, during which then Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials were martyred.

Iranian Armed Forces responded with weeks of missile and drone strikes targeting American and Israeli military positions in the occupied territories and the Persian Gulf region, inflicting heavy damages in 100 waves of counterattacks over a period of 40 days.

A Pakistani-mediated ceasefire lasting two weeks was reached on April 8, paving the way for talks in Islamabad. During those negotiations, Iran put forward a ten-point proposal that included the withdrawal of US forces and the removal of sanctions.

However, after 21 hours of negotiations on April 11 and 12, the sides failed to reach a deal, with Iranian representatives pointing to deep mistrust regarding Washington's willingness to honor its commitments.

Iran has made clear that any return to ceasefire negotiations depends on the lifting of the US naval blockade. Officials have argued that the continued blockade constitutes a violation of the truce.

[K-Dog]

TASNIMNEWS.IR 2026-05-04

Iranian Navy Fires Warning Shots at US Destroyers near Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian Navy fired warning shots near hostile vessels after US destroyers attempted to approach the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any such move would be regarded as a violation of the ceasefire.

The peace president's war is back on.  Why?  Because Trump is a thief who has no intention of making peace.

At this point Trump has come to the conclusion that his grip on the throne is stronger with a war.
The history of "war presidents" in the United States is defined by the "Rally 'round the flag" effect. A major international crisis or war triggers a massive, short-term spike in presidential approval ratings as the public views the president as a symbol of national unity rather than a partisan figure.

This does not apply when the president starts the war.  Making the crisis won't work for Trump this time.  Trump is toast.  The coils are hot.  Trump's bread is white.  He will turn brown and pop, or he will smoke and blacken.  The coils are hot, it has to happen.  The Rubicon is crossed.