U.S. and Israeli officials increasingly view securing the Strait of Hormuz as the most realistic endgame of the conflict, shifting away from earlier ambitions like regime change and fully stopping Iran’s nuclear program, which they now consider unlikely to succeed.

Source: WaPo

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf:

Iran is fighting for humanity.

The world is either with Gaza and against this colonial terror regime, or it stands with the Epstein class and child torturers. There is no middle ground.

Thousands of U.S. Marines are set to enter the Middle East on Friday—the same day as Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

About 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with the USS Tripoli and USS New Orleans, will move into Central Command, though it will take a few more days to reach the strait.

Source: WSJ

Eight people were killed and 83 others were injured in the crash, according to local authorities.

Source: AFP

The Trump administration will pay about $1 billion to French energy company TotalEnergies to cancel planned offshore wind farms off the U.S. East Coast.

In return, the company will shift investment toward oil and gas projects, including LNG exports.

Trump administration is quietly considering Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a potential negotiating partner—or even future leader.

But officials are still “testing” options, and many insiders are skeptical Iran would cooperate or accept U.S. influence.

“He’s a hot option… one of the highest. But we got to test them.”

“It’s all about installing someone… you’re going to give us a good deal on the oil.”

Source: Politico

Stephen Miller sighs as Trump talks about his war against Iran.

Kim Jong Un:

North Korea’s status as a nuclear power is irreversible.

Traders placed about $580 million in oil bets roughly 15 minutes before Trump posted about “productive” Iran talks.

Around 6,200 Brent and WTI contracts were traded just before the announcement, after which oil prices fell sharply and stock markets jumped.

The timing has raised suspicions of possible insider knowledge, though there’s no proof and officials deny wrongdoing.

Source: FT

BIG: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are edging closer to joining the fight against Iran after repeated attacks on their energy infrastructure and cities.

Saudi Arabia has begun allowing U.S. forces to use its bases, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now eager to re-establish deterrence and is close to deciding to join the attacks—meaning it may be only a matter of time before the kingdom enters the war.

Source: WSJ

READ MORE

US-Israeli strikes reportedly hit energy facilities in Iran’s Isfahan and Khorramshahr, according to Iranian media.

Targets included a gas administration building, a pressure station, and a pipeline, with no reported casualties.

The attacks came despite Trump saying he had postponed strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days following talks with Tehran.

A fire broke out Monday at a diesel hydrotreater unit at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery in Texas, causing severe damage and a partial shutdown.

A few minor injuries were reported, and nearby highways were closed as a precaution.

The refinery, one of the largest in the US, may face further shutdown decisions.

Fragments from an Iranian missile fell in seven locations across Tel Aviv, with one directly striking a building.

The U.S. has sent Iran a message through mediators, and Iran says it is currently reviewing the proposals.

Source: CBS News

Bahrain has submitted a draft UN Security Council resolution allowing countries to use “all necessary means” to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The proposal, backed by Gulf states and the U.S., accuses Iran of threatening international peace by attacking vessels and disrupting navigation.

However, the resolution is unlikely to pass, as Russia and China are expected to veto it.

Iranian Minister of Energy:

We generate electricity in a decentralized (distributed) manner across the country.

However, in the countries along the Persian Gulf and in the Zionist regime, electricity generation is centralized and therefore highly vulnerable.

Iranian Minister of Energy:

If power plants are hit, they will be rebuilt and renovated quickly.

China is mapping vast stretches of the ocean floor with dozens of research vessels, a move that naval experts say could support submarine warfare against the United States. According to Reuters, the scale of the operation reveals both scientific and military ambitions.

READ MORE

U.S. President Donald Trump approved a military operation against Iran following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid intelligence about a potential opportunity to target Iran’s leadership.

READ MORE