IDF has been targeting Basij positions deployed across Tehran in recent hours.

Israel is publicly urging Iranians to revolt, but privately admits protesters would likely be “slaughtered.”

Israeli officials say Iran’s regime is “not cracking” and will “fight to the end”

If protests erupt, the IRGC “has the upper hand” and would crush them.

Despite this, Israel still hopes for an uprising and wants the U.S. ready to support it.

U.S. officials now also acknowledge protesters face extreme risk from armed security forces.

Source: WaPo

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan:

Since Mark Carney became Prime Minister, Canada has been making extremely positive changes in both its foreign policy and economic policies.

We are following this with appreciation.

Senator Graham on Trump:

Just spoke to Trump about European allies’ unwillingness to provide assets to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning, which benefits Europe more than America.

I’ve never heard him so angry, and I share that anger.

The arrogance of allies suggesting Iran with a nuclear weapon is not their problem is beyond offensive. Europe’s approach has been a failure.

The repercussions of not helping will be wide and deep for both Europe and America.

I support alliances, but moments like this make me question their value—and I’m not the only senator who feels this way.

INTERESTING: UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell attended US–Iran talks and believed a deal was “surprising” and could prevent war.

Further talks were planned, but two days later the US and Israel attacked Iran.

One diplomat said Witkoff and Kushner were seen as “Israeli assets” pushing Trump into war.

Source: The Guardian

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan:

Israel’s ground operation against Lebanon is already causing severe consequences for the civilian population.

This step by Israel must not be allowed to turn into an occupation.

The US pushed Syria to consider sending forces into Lebanon to counter Hezbollah.

Syria is hesitant, fearing escalation, Iranian retaliation, and sectarian unrest.

Damascus and Arab allies agreed to stay out of the war for now.

The option of intervention is still on the table if conflict escalates.

Source: Reuters

Trump on The Strait of Hormuz:

Well, we don’t need too much help, and we don’t need any help, actually.

Trump on Ali Larijani:

Their top person was actually killed yesterday.

He was responsible for the killing of protesters.

Trump on NATO countries:

They don’t want to help us, which is amazing. I mean, amazing.

Trump on NATO:

NATO is making a very foolish mistake... This was a great test.

They should have been there.

Trump on Macron:

He’ll be out of office very soon.

Trump:

Qatar has been great. The UAE has been absolutely great. Saudi Arabia has been terrific. Bahrain has been very good.

The Middle Eastern countries have been very strong in their support, and of course, Israel.

Trump on Joe Kent’s resignation over Iran War:

I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security—very weak on security. I didn’t know him well, but he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

But when I read his statement, I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat—every country realized that.

Trump on Joe Kent’s resignation over Iran War:

When somebody is working with us and says they didn’t think Iran was a threat—uh, we don’t want those people, because there are some people, I guess, that would say that—but they’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people.

Iran was a tremendous threat.

Trump on Ukraine and NATO:

Biden gave them between 350 and 400 billion dollars in equipment and cash. Somebody has to find out about the cash.

You could say that wasn’t a threat—you know, we’re helping them. So we helped them, and they didn’t help us.

And I think that’s a very bad thing for NATO.

Trump on Iran War:

I’m really not afraid of anything.

Trump on NATO:

We help other countries. And when they don’t help us, I mean, it’s certainly something that we should think about.

I don’t need Congress for that decision. As you probably know, I can make that decision myself.

Trump on Iran:

We could take out their electric capacity in one hour. There’s nothing they can do right now because everything is knocked out. They have no radar, no anti-aircraft. They have nothing.

We can knock out their electricity in a matter of minutes if we wanted to. There’s nothing they can do about it.

Trump on Ukraine:

Ukraine would have been over in one day if we didn’t help.

Frankly, Ukraine would have been over in the first day.

Trump on Cuba:

Cuba right now is in very bad shape. They’re talking to Marco. And we’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon.