Russia Says Attack on Iran Bushehr Plant Could Trigger Nuclear Disaster

Rosatom chief confirms readiness to evacuate Russian personnel from Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Alexei Likhachev warns attack on facility could trigger nuclear catastrophe as diplomatic efforts collapse.

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has confirmed it is ready to evacuate its personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant “if necessary,” amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, made the statement today, as reported by Russian news agency TASS, emphasizing preparedness while noting ongoing cooperation at the site.

The Bushehr plant, Iran’s only operational nuclear power facility, was built with Russian assistance and remains under joint management, with Russian specialists involved in its operations and the construction of additional units. Likhachev also warned that any attack on the plant could trigger a nuclear catastrophe, highlighting the risks amid U.S. military buildup in the region. This announcement comes as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate U.S.-Iran tensions falter. (Ed note: Did Alexei Likhachev read Dr. Bill Salus' very interesting book, "Nuclear Showdown in Iran," have you?) (Source)

Trump confirms talks with Tehran, is reportedly mulling raids by troops on Iranian facilities

NYT says options under consideration aimed at causing further damage to nuclear and missile programs, weakening Khamenei; report notes ‘unclear’ who would run Iran if supreme leader fell.

US President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed he has had dialogue with Iran, as The New York Times reported he was considering potential raids by American troops on facilities within the Islamic Republic. “We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn’t have to use them,” Trump told reporters, referring to the US military assets moving to the region.

Asked if he has any conversations with Iran in the last few days or if he is planning to, Trump responded, “I have had, and I am planning on it.” Trump has threatened strikes over Iran’s deadly crackdown on mass anti-regime protests this month. Rights groups have verified thousands of deaths, but estimates of the total number of people killed range into the tens of thousands. Trump has also warned the US will strike Iran unless it agrees to a deal halting its contentious nuclear program, which the US and Israel targeted in June during the 12-day war.

Amid the tensions, Trump has been presented with additional military options for attacking Iran, to cause further damage to the regime’s nuclear and missile programs as well as weaken Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, The New York Times reported. Citing US officials, the newspaper said among the options being considered are potential raids by US troops, such as sending commandos to nuclear facilities that were not damaged during the 12-day war in June, though Trump has yet to make a decision on whether to attack the country. (Read More)

The Point of No Return: Why Israel Believes the American Armada is Now Unstoppable

Israeli officials believe President Trump is set to order a limited military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic missiles, recognizing that regime change through air power alone is unrealistic. Heightened US deployments signal the point of no return has passed, raising fears of Iranian retaliation directly against Israel. Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Israeli leaders anticipate a possible US military operation against Iran, though assessments indicate any action will be limited in scope and unlikely to result in the fall of the Islamic Republic regime.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a narrow security consultation Thursday evening, where discussions centered on the potential for American strikes amid ongoing buildup of US forces in the region. Israeli officials assess that President Donald Trump has shifted away from pursuing full regime change, concluding that no feasible military operation at this stage could achieve that outcome, particularly given the regime's success in suppressing widespread protests. A Trump post on Truth Social, combined with other indicators, reinforces this view in Jerusalem, where senior figures note that the president initially signaled interest in regime replacement but now appears convinced that current conditions prevent such a drastic result.

Israeli experts concur that a restricted, non-comprehensive, and possibly short-duration military action would fail to dismantle the regime. Consequently, they expect Trump, if he greenlights an operation, to concentrate on tangible physical targets, such as nuclear sites and potentially ballistic missile infrastructure, priorities that align with Israel's long-standing security concerns in any strike scenario. Should the United States proceed with these objectives, assessments suggest Iran would likely respond by launching attacks toward Israel, dramatically intensifying the situation, as Jerusalem would then counter with significant force. (Read More)

U.S.-Iran Mediation Efforts Collapse as Military Confrontation Looms

Mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman to broker U.S.-Iran negotiations have failed. Washington demands halt to uranium enrichment and missile limits while Tehran refuses compromise, raising fears of imminent military escalation in the Middle East as Trump warns time is running out.

Recent reports from U.S. media, including The Wall Street Journal, confirm that several Middle Eastern governments, such as Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, have attempted to mediate indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran in early to mid-January 2026 to avert a potential military conflict. These efforts, driven by fears of regional instability, oil market disruptions, and broader escalation, have so far failed to gain traction, with no breakthroughs reported.

The diplomatic impasse stems from irreconcilable differences in core demands. U.S. officials, under President Donald Trump, have insisted on minimum conditions for any deal: a complete halt to Iran's uranium enrichment, strict limitations on its ballistic missile arsenal, and an end to Tehran's support for proxy militias across the Middle East, including groups like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas.

Iranian leaders, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have publicly rejected these terms, refusing to compromise on nuclear enrichment rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or curb their missile program, which they describe as essential for national defense. (Read More)

Netanyahu holds security consultation; Israel said to expect Iran attack even if US strike is limited

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a security consultation in Jerusalem with top advisers and defense officials on a “classified topic,” the office of one of the attendees tells The Times of Israel. According to Channel 12, the discussion is focusing on Iran and the possibility of a US strike.

Israeli officials do not believe that a limited strike will bring down the regime, and that US President Donald Trump shares their assessment, according to the outlet. Therefore, they assess that Trump will focus a potential attack on physical assets, especially the nuclear and missile programs. Even in the case of a limited strike, the channel reports, Israel believes that there will be a significant Iranian attack on Israel, to which Jerusalem will respond in force.

Israel also has identified massive pressure from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Oman on the White House to allow them to mediate between Washington and Tehran to find a diplomatic solution, says Channel 12. A directive from Trump on a potential strike on Iran is expected in the coming days, once all of the US military assets heading to the region are in place, a senior US official tells Channel 12. (Source)

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi to visit Turkey on Friday for high-stakes talks as fear of war looms

Sources in the Turkish foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will reiterate Turkey’s opposition to any military intervention against Iran, warning that such a move could generate serious regional and global risks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Turkey on Friday for talks with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, as the two neighbours seek to deepen cooperation on security, trade and a host of regional crises, said media reports, citing Turkish Foreign Ministry sources. The Turkish foreign minister is expected to convey that Ankara is closely monitoring recent developments in Iran and considers Iran’s security, peace, and stability to be of significant importance for Turkey, said a report by TRT World. (Ed note: But I thought that President Trump really liked the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump thought that he is a really great guy.) (Source)

Trump says Hamas was 'big factor' in return of hostages, 'looks like Hamas will disarm'

Hamas was a "big factor in the return of hostages from Gaza," US President Donald Trump said during a cabinet meeting on Thursday. Trump also said that it "looked like Hamas would disarm." Phase II of the US-backed plan to end the Israel-Hamas War was underway, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff added at the meeting, noting that the US has "stood up, for the first time, a technocratic, all-Arab government.

"We got the terrorists out of there, and they're going to demilitarize," Witkoff continued, echoing Trump's earlier sentiment. "They will, because they have no choice." Earlier in the day, the IDF conducted a precise strike against a Hamas terrorist planning an "imminent terror attack" on soldiers operating in the southern Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement.

"The terrorist posed a threat to the troops and was therefore targeted in a precise strike, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement," the IDF said. According to the statement, the IDF took steps to mitigate civilian harm ahead of the strike, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence. On Thursday night, the IDF said it struck a second terrorist in the Gaza Strip, who crossed the Yellow Line and "approached forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat." (Source)

Senior Hamas official: We never agreed to disarm, no one’s raised it with us directly

Moussa Abu Marzouk says, despite White House claims, that the group didn’t talk ‘for a single moment’ about giving up its weapons, stresses Hamas regime still in control in Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said Wednesday that Hamas never agreed to disarm, casting doubt on whether the terror group will fulfil a key US and Israeli demand included in the American-backed plan for postwar Gaza. Abu Marzouk’s statement runs contrary to the insistence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump that the terror group give up its weapons in the near future as part of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Hamas “promised” to lay down its arms, and has threatened the group over the issue.

Abu Marzouk also suggested Hamas has a de facto veto on any appointment to the new technocratic committee set up to run the Gaza Strip, and stressed that Hamas still rules over the part of the enclave that, in accordance with the ceasefire, is not under IDF control.

The comments came during an interview with Al Jazeera amid efforts to execute phase two of the US’s plan for the Strip, which envisions seeing Hamas disarmed and replaced as a governing force. The terror group has previously rejected disarmament. “We haven’t discussed the weapons yet; no one has spoken to us directly about it. We haven’t spoken with the American side or the mediators on this issue, so we can’t talk about what it means or what the goal is,” Abu Marzouk told the Qatari outlet. (Read More)

A New Axis? Saudi Arabia Sides with Qatar and Turkey as Tensions with UAE Explode

Major Jewish organizations are set to meet with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman in Washington to deliver a stern warning against the Kingdom's recent embrace of anti-Israel rhetoric and hostile regional alliances. 

A pivotal meeting is scheduled for Friday in Washington, D.C., where prominent American Jewish organizations will sit down with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This diplomatic encounter comes at a moment of extreme friction, as Riyadh appears to have pivoted away from the hope of joining the Abraham Accords and toward a new strategic alignment with countries traditionally hostile to Israel, such as Qatar and Turkey. While the Trump administration continues to push for a normalization deal, Jewish leaders are increasingly alarmed by a surge in antisemitic and Islamist rhetoric emerging from the Kingdom in recent months. The meeting serves as a high-stakes arena for these groups to address whether Saudi Arabia remains a moderating force or if the October 7 massacre by Hamas terrorists has permanently pushed the Arab powerhouse into a radical new direction.

The list of invited organizations includes the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the American Jewish Committee, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Republican Jewish Coalition. For many of these groups, the invitation presents a difficult choice. On one hand, they wish to maintain the long-standing effort to bring Saudi Arabia into a formal peace treaty with Israel. On the other, they are witnessing a Saudi leadership that is drawing closer to Pakistan and Turkey while demanding the United Arab Emirates withdraw from strategic areas in Yemen. Analysts suggest this meeting may be "complete window dressing" intended to rationalize the Kingdom's new alliances.

The Saudi defense minister's visit coincides with urgent talks involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Experts believe the Saudis want to send an unmistakable message that they will not join the Abraham Accords without the immediate establishment of a Palestinian state, especially with rumors circulating of an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington. There is a growing consensus that if Jewish organizations attend, they must deliver a "stern message" that promoting antisemitism and forming alliances with destructive regional actors is a barrier to any future cooperation. (Read More)

The Hormuz Trap: Why Iran Prefers Fighting the US Navy from Land

As the USS Abraham Lincoln enters the Persian Gulf, military experts warn that Iran may leverage its coastline and land based missiles to level the playing field against the superior American navy.

The maritime arena has emerged as the most volatile theater in the current standoff between the United States and Iran, with President Donald Trump repeatedly highlighting the presence of a massive American armada positioned off the Iranian coast. As the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group takes its station, Tehran has responded by placing its naval forces on the highest possible alert level. While the United States possesses overwhelming technological and numerical superiority, military analysts warn that the geographical reality of the Persian Gulf provides Iran with unique opportunities to inflict significant damage. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), notes that this war may see the maritime dimension play a far more central role than in previous encounters, as Iran prepares to utilize land based assets to target American ships in the narrow waters of the Middle East.

According to Citrinowicz, the primary threat to the American fleet does not actually come from the Iranian navy itself, which remains in a state of significant inferiority, but from the Iranian landmass. Iran possesses an extensive arsenal of land based ballistic missiles and long range suicide drones specifically designed to target moving naval vessels. By launching these from the safety of their 3,000 kilometer coastline, the Iranians can force the American fleet to stay further out at sea, complicating air operations and missile defense. This land based strategy is a deliberate attempt to negate the American advantage in traditional ship to ship combat.

...The most drastic card in Tehran's hand remains the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Citrinowicz explains that Iran has the capability to mine the narrow passage or use scuttled ships as physical barriers to block the flow of global energy. This was a significant concern during the "12 Day War" in June and remains the ultimate leverage for the regime. "Hormuz is perhaps the most important story," Citrinowicz explains, noting that the threat of a global economic meltdown is Iran's primary deterrent against a sustained American campaign. (Ed note: The sinking of a big old oil tanker filled with sand in the shallow parts of the Strait of Hormutz would block maritime traffic, and become a world concern. And we haven't even talked about the missile fortifications along the coast of Iran. Some areas of which will definitely be the ancient area which was once called Elam. Could a delay in a US Navy attack be due to the fact that they are surveying the land fortifications in order to helicopter in the Marines?)  (Read More)

Iran’s hidden military locations and bunkers that USS Abraham Lincoln could target in case of war

The USS Abraham Lincoln carries stealth jets capable of breaching Iran’s buried defences. US forces would likely prioritise striking these fortified underground missile bases and nuclear sites. 

Buried deep within the mountains, this tactical airbase houses fighters and drones protected by reinforced concrete. The facility reportedly features underground hangars and command centres, allowing aircraft to survive initial bombardments before launching counter-attacks. 

 
Satellite imagery reveals a massive new tunnel complex being excavated in the Zagros mountains near the Natanz nuclear site. This "Pickaxe Mountain" facility is designed to replace vulnerable surface structures, making it a priority target for penetrating munitions.

Situated in the rocky terrain of Hormozgan province, the Khorgo base features underground silos and launch positions. US naval aviators would likely target the hardened vertical shafts and tunnel adits to prevent ballistic missiles from firing at regional assets. Natanz Complex New Deep Tunnels 

 
The Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operates a sprawling underground complex near Shiraz, often showcased in propaganda videos. This "missile city" stores vast quantities of projectiles and drones, which could be targeted by precision strikes on its logistical access points. imagery reveals a massive new tunnel complex being excavated in the Zagros mountains near the Natanz nuclear site. 

This "Pickaxe Mountain" facility is designed to replace vulnerable surface structures, making it a priority target for penetrating munitions. New Deep Tunnels. 

Parchin is a critical site for military research and high-explosive testing, suspected of having links to nuclear trigger development. The complex includes extensive tunnel systems where sensitive equipment is stored, making it a likely target for suppression operations. Complex New Deep Tunnels.

Along the Persian Gulf coast, Iran has built hidden anti-ship missile batteries dug into the rock faces near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm. The USS Abraham Lincoln’s air wing would prioritise these bunkers to secure the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping. re veals a massive new tunnel complex being excavated in the Zagros mountains near the Nata (Re (nz nuclear site. This "Pickaxe Mountain" facility is designed to replace vulnerable surface structures, making it a priority target for penetrating munitions. imagery reveals a massive new tunnel complex being excavated in the Zagros mountains near the Natanz nuclear site. This "Pickaxe Mountain" facility is designed to replace vulnerable surface structures, making it a priority target for penetrating munitions.Natanz Complex New Deep Tunnels

Satellite imagery reveals a massive new tunnel complex being excavated in the Zagros mountains near the Natanz nuclear site. This "Pickaxe Mountain" facility is designed to replace vulnerable surface structures, making it a priority target for penetrating munitions. (Ed note: This is a weird article to follow, but the information is well worth the dig.)   (Read More)

Israeli officials: 'Trump wants to overthrow the Iranian regime'

Israeli sources believe that US President Donald Trump is indicating that he is considering a broad move regarding Iran that includes regime change.

Sources in Israel believe that US President Donald Trump is signaling that he is considering a broad move regarding Iran, which includes regime change, according to a report by Kan News. President Trump hinted at this today when he wrote on his Truth Social platform, "As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again."

Tomorrow (Thursday), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security discussion that is expected to address both Gaza and Iran. While the U.S. military continues to build up additional forces in the Middle East, there is a desire in the U.S. to see an end to the rule of the ayatollahs in Iran. While President Trump offers a diplomatic route to the Iranians, he also tweeted that "time is running out" for a deal.

On the other hand, Iran's delegation to the United Nations responded to the U.S. president's threat, saying, "The last time the U.S. got involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it wasted 7 trillion dollars and lost over 7,000 American soldiers. Iran is ready for dialogue based on respect and mutual interests - but if tested, it will defend itself and respond in a way it never has before."

Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote in Hebrew on his X account that "Any military action by the United States will be considered an act of war, and its response will be immediate, comprehensive, unprecedented, and directed at the aggressor, at the heart of Tel Aviv and all supporters of the aggression." (Source)

Iran sees US demands as costlier than war, prepares for confrontation - report

“If forced to choose between the agreement proposed by Trump and war, Iran will choose the latter," a source told Al-Akhbar.

Iran believes that coming to an agreement that meets the demands put forth by the US would be more costly than war, and consequently, the Islamic Republic has prepared for a military confrontation, informed sources in Tehran told the Hezbollah-aligned Al-Akhbar on Thursday. Separately on Thursday, the semi-official Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported that "one thousand strategic drones" had entered the country's military arsenal that day.

A source in Iran’s Foreign Ministry further asserted to Al-Akhbar that the US’s claims that Iran had reached out to Washington in order to come to an agreement were untrue. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said Iran had requested a return to negotiations. “I think they’re tired of being beaten up by the United States,” Trump said at the time. “Iran wants to negotiate.” “The American claims regarding Iran’s request to negotiate and reach an agreement are baseless and aimed at waging psychological warfare and exerting pressure on Tehran, coinciding with the strengthening of the American military presence,” Al-Akhbar quoted the source as saying.

The source went on to say that the United States was not seeking genuine negotiations, but instead trying to impose an agreement that Iran would be forced to accept without discussion. The foreign ministry official added that the US wants Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, limit its defense capabilities, and recognize Israel. “This has nothing to do with a balanced agreement; it would mean Iran’s surrender,” the source told the Lebanese outlet. (Read More)

Trump urges Iran to make nuclear deal or next attack will be 'far worse'

US President Donald Trump urged Iran on Wednesday to come to the table and make a deal on nuclear weapons or the next US attack would be far worse, but Tehran said that if that happened it would fight back as never before.  "Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!" Trump wrote in a social media post.

The US president, who pulled out of world powers' 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran during his first White House term, noted that his last warning to Iran was followed by a military strike in June. "The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again," Trump wrote. He also said another "armada" is floating toward Iran. Iran's mission to the United Nations responded in kind.

"Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives," it said in an X post quoting Trump's statement. "Iran stands ready for dialog based on mutual respect and interests—BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!" Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he had not been in contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days or requesting negotiations, state media reported earlier on Wednesday. (Read More)

IDF intelligence chief, Saudi defense minister in Washington for talks with US on potential Iran strikes

Senior Saudi and Israeli defense and intelligence officials are in Washington, DC, this week for talks with the Trump administration over potential US strikes on Iran, Axios reports, citing two US officials and two other sources with knowledge. According to the outlet, Israeli officials including IDF Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder are sharing intelligence on potential targets in Iran, whereas the Saudis are trying to head off a war through diplomatic means.

Binder met senior Pentagon, CIA and White House officials on Tuesday and Wednesday, say the two US officials. Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman — younger brother of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — is meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and Friday.

The Saudi crown prince has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran, state news agency SPA reported earlier this week. Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters, sources have told Reuters. According to CNN, talks between Washington and Iran failed to make inroads on a deal to end the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and that has increased Trump’s openness to major intervention. (Source)

Sources: Airstrikes unlikely to topple IRGC

Ahead of potential US strike, Israeli official tells Reuters that toppling IRGC regime will require combination of external pressure and organized internal opposition.

Sources in Israel and the Arab world have expressed doubt about the ability of a limited US strike to bring about the collapse of the IRGC's regime, Kan News reported Thursday. An Israeli official familiar with the planning between Israel and the US told Reuters Thursday that Israel does not believe airstrikes alone will lead to this outcome, stressing, "If you're going to topple the regime, you have to put boots on the ground."

Even if the US were to eliminate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a new leader would need to be found, the official noted to Reuters, and real change in Iran would only be possible through a combination of heavy external pressure along with organized internal opposition activity; the IRGC, although weakened, still remains in control. On Wednesday night, Kan News reported that Israel believes US President Donald Trump is considering a broad move regarding Iran, including a regime change. In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump warned, "As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again."

While the US military continues to build up additional forces in the Middle East, there is a desire in the U.S. to see an end to the rule of the ayatollahs in Iran. While President Trump offers a diplomatic route to the Iranians, he also tweeted that "time is running out" for a deal. On the other hand, Iran's delegation to the United Nations responded to the US president's threat, saying, "The last time the US got involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it wasted 7 trillion dollars and lost over 7,000 American soldiers. Iran is ready for dialogue based on respect and mutual interests - but if tested, it will defend itself and respond in a way it never has before." (Source)

A life and death market: Starlink smuggling to Iran surges

Iranian authorities said Tuesday that they confiscated 51 Starlink satellite-internet terminals in the Kurdistan province, calling the shipment anti-security goods. Brigadier-General Hossein Rahimi, head of the Economic Security Police, told reporters the devices had been hidden among household items and intercepted under the guise of border transport. “Holders will be dealt with firmly,” Rahimi was quoted as saying, according to Arab media. He added that the seizure brought the total number of terminals confiscated in the first nine months of the current Iranian year to 108, an 881% rise over the same period last year.

Demand for the low-orbit network surged after last year’s nationwide unrest over the economic crisis and the devaluation of the rial. Protesters endured 19 days of internet outages, prompting activists to ask Elon Musk to activate Starlink over Iran. The US Treasury’s General License D-2, issued in 2022, allowed American tech firms to provide services that bypass Tehran’s firewalls, effectively legalizing Starlink for Iranian users, Anadolu Agency said.

Iranian law bans possession or distribution of the terminals, with penalties ranging from imprisonment to execution if a court views the activity as espionage. Parliament cemented the death penalty in the summer of 2025 for cases it classified as espionage, Al-Araby Al-Jadid reported. Security agencies now use detection trucks that trace the signal emitted by Starlink antennas and seize the gear immediately.

An underground market emerged. One terminal sold for about $3,000, a sum residents said a neighborhood could collect. A single rooftop dish could blanket a city block with Wi-Fi, creating pockets of uncensored connectivity that authorities struggled to police.   (Read More)

Adviser to Khamenei: Iran will hit ‘heart of Tel Aviv’ in response to any US attack

A top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, posts on social media in Hebrew that the regime will attack Tel Aviv in response to any strike from the United States.

“The limited strike is an illusion,” Ali Shamkhani posts on X. “Any military activity from America, from any source and at any level, will be considered the beginning of a war, and the response will be immediate, comprehensive and without precedent, and will be directed at the aggressor, to the heart of Tel Aviv and all of its supporters.”

Shamkhani’s post comes amid continued speculation over whether US President Donald Trump will attack Iran in response to its bloody crackdown on anti-regime protests, in which thousands were killed. In December, Shamkhani posted on X, “Any aggression will face an immediate ‌#Harsh_Response⁩ beyond its planners’ imagination.” Iran has said it would strike Israel in response to a US attack. (Source)

Iran mural threatens US - 'If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind'

The Iranian government unveiled a new mural warning the US against launching a strike against Iran, Sky News reported on Sunday.

The mural mimics the United States flag, with an aircraft carrier in blue littered with damaged white aircraft and streaks of red. A caption next to the image declared that "If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," in Farsi and in English. Enghelab Square in Tehran, where the mural had been displayed, was often used by the Iranian regime for public gatherings, and the mural was changed to fit national occasions, Sky News said. (Read More)

(Ed note: So what about: Jeremiah 49:36)

And I will bring against Elam the four winds
From the four courners of heaven
And shall scatter to all these winds
and there shall be no nation
to which the outcasts of Elam will not go.

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

(Ed note: A little known prophecy found by Dr. Bill Salus in Jereimah 49: 34-39 tells
us that something will happen in the western part of Iran, back then known as ELAM.
Your call, what do you think when one sows the wind?)  (CLICK HERE)

Iranian drone swarms pose threat to US ships, expert says as USS Abraham Lincoln approaches

Iran’s growing use of swarming, low-cost one-way drones presents a credible threat to high-value US naval vessels, Cameron Chell, CEO of Canadian drone company Draganfly, told Fox News Digital on Monday.

Chell said Iran’s advantage is volume and cost rather than sophistication, pairing inexpensive warheads with cheap delivery platforms launched in large numbers. “If hundreds are launched in a short period of time, some are almost certain to get through,” he told Fox News Digital, describing how near-simultaneous arrivals can stress radar, interceptors, and close-in weapon systems.

The assessment was framed around potential risks to large, slow-moving surface vessels that are easily tracked and, in saturation scenarios, may face difficult cost-exchange rates when expending expensive interceptors against cheap attackers. Chell said such swarms give Iran “a very credible way to threaten surface vessels,” particularly if launched in coordinated waves designed to exhaust magazines and create gaps in coverage. Shortly after the report, a US official told Fox News that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group had entered US Central Command waters in the Indian Ocean.

In recent days, US force movements and consultations between CENTCOM and Israel’s military leadership have intensified amid rising regional tensions. The backdrop includes years of drone and missile activity across the Red Sea and Persian Gulf arenas and evolving cooperation on counter-drone defenses among US, Israeli, and partner forces. Chell concluded that the key operational dilemma is the imbalance between cost and capacity. “Modern defense systems were not originally designed to counter that kind of saturation attack,” he told Fox News Digital. (Read More)

U.S. Deploys Rare Electronic Warfare Assets to Middle East for First Time

The U.S. has moved rare electronic warfare assets, including the new EA-37B, into the region. These "system paralyzers" can blind Iranian radars, creating a safe corridor for a potential strike.

Amid soaring regional tensions, the United States has deployed two highly specialized aircraft to the Middle East within the last 24 hours, signaling a move beyond mere "firepower" toward total electronic dominance over Iranian airspace. Military analysts have noted the arrival of a Boeing RC-135 reconnaissance jet and, most significantly, the Gulfstream EA-37B Compass Call II. The latter represents the cutting edge of American electronic warfare and is likely making its first-ever operational deployment to the region.

The EA-37B is not a bomber, but it may be the most feared asset in the U.S. arsenal for a modern adversary. Having only entered service in August 2024, the aircraft is designed to paralyze a nation’s entire defense infrastructure without firing a single kinetic round.

Its primary capabilities include:

1. Radar Suppression: Blindfolding advanced air-defense systems, rendering them unable to track or lock onto incoming fighter jets.
2. Communications Jamming: Severing the "nervous system" of a military by blocking command-and-control networks.
3. Signal Disruption: Neutralizing virtually any system transmitting over the air, from drone links to surface-to-air missile batteries.

Iran relies on a "layered" defense strategy, mixing Russian technology with domestic upgrades. The deployment of the EA-37B suggests that the U.S. is preparing the battlefield for stealth operations. By creating an electronic "protective bubble," the Compass Call II can shield American (and potentially Israeli) jets, allowing them to operate in "dead zones" where Iran’s sophisticated S-300 or domestic air-defense systems are rendered useless. (Read More)

‘USS Abraham Lincoln’ strike group arrives in Middle East as Trump urges talks with Iran

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group entered the Middle East region on Monday “to promote regional security and stability” amid tensions with Iran, U.S. Central Command stated. The announcement came as U.S. President Donald Trump told Axiosthat while he dispatched a “big armada” amid the mounting pressure with Tehran, he believes the mullahs still “want to make a deal” that would curb the regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

“We have a big armada next to Iran. Bigger than Venezuela,” the president told Axios‘s Barak Ravid in an interview on Monday. Trump declined to tell Ravid which options his national security team had presented to him or which he currently favored. At the same time, he said that diplomacy with the Islamic Republic remained an option. “They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” Trump said.

Anonymous U.S. officials told Axios that any deal with Iran would have to include the removal of all enriched uranium from the country, a ban on future enrichment, a cap on its stockpile of long-range missiles, and a “change” in its policy of supporting regional terrorist proxies. The Iranians have said they’re willing to engage in negotiations but have not signaled willingness to accept Washington’s terms, Axios reported.

According to the outlet, some of Trump’s more hawkish advisers have urged him to enforce his red line after the regime killed thousands of protesters. Other members of the president’s circle have questioned what strikes would achieve and shown interest in using the regime’s weakness to push for a diplomatic agreement, the report noted. (Ed note: Can you guess who is for what in those White House debates?) (Read More)

US announces major Air Force exercise in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise

After bolstering US forces in the region, CENTCOM announced an operational readiness exercise with deployments to contingency sites, as Iran released footage of a 'drone carrier'; Turkey said it is preparing a buffer zone amid fears of migration from Iran. 

  

The United States announced it will hold a large-scale air exercise in the Middle East, as Iran showcased what it described as a new drone carrier and regional tensions continued to escalate. U.S. Central Command said it will conduct an operational readiness exercise across its area of responsibility, aimed at demonstrating the ability to deploy, disperse and sustain combat airpower. The exercise comes amid a buildup of U.S. forces in the region and heightened concerns about a possible confrontation with Iran.

According to CENTCOM, the exercise is intended to improve the dispersal of assets and personnel, strengthen regional partnerships and prepare for rapid responses throughout the command’s area. Air crews will deploy to multiple contingency locations, with the approval of host nations and in close coordination with civilian and military aviation authorities, the statement said. Lt. Gen. Derek France, commander of the air component for U.S. Central Command, said U.S. airmen are proving they can operate and fly missions under challenging conditions with safety, precision and cooperation with partners. “This is about upholding our commitment to maintaining combat-ready Airmen and the disciplined execution required to keep airpower available when and where it’s needed,” France said.

The announcement followed the arrival of the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, accompanied by several warships, according to two U.S. officials cited by Reuters. The deployment comes amid speculation that President Donald Trump could soon order U.S. military action against Iran. (Read More)

'Trump promises, does nothing': Iranians fear US may never take action against regime

“I’m angry at the world. I’m angry because nothing is happening. And because Trump promises and then does nothing, I’m angry,” Sara, a resident of Mashhad, told N12. 

Citizens in Iran fear that help will never actually arrive after US President Donald Trump delayed a potential strike, N12 reported on Tuesday. “I’m angry at the world. I’m angry because nothing is happening. And because Trump promises and then does nothing, I’m angry,” said Sara, a resident of Mashhad. 

Trump reportedly called off strikes on Iran after he decided that the potential benefit wasn't worth the consequences. He also told reporters that he decided against striking the regime after they claimed to stop executing protesters, and that he "greatly respect[ed] the fact that they canceled."

Currently, CENTCOM has announced it is conducting a multi-day readiness exercise "to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the US Central Command area of responsibility." Iranian citizens have questioned when or if the American forces moving toward Iran will take action, hoping for Trump to stick to his attack plan.

Iranian civil sources clarified that, at the moment, their most urgent request is for President Trump to help the population by launching an attack against the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij, and the military forces. Alireza, a Tehran resident, explained to N12 that this would be the only way to "give people a chance to go out into the streets and take over important government centers." (Read More)

Iranians say Tehran labeling those it killed as regime forces, in bid to cover up crimes

In accounts shared with ToI via activists, relatives report government efforts to paint slain protesters as Basij militia members, seemingly looking to justify atrocities amid ongoing crackdown.

Iranian regime operatives have been forcing protesters and their families to falsely present individuals killed by security forces in the recent wave of protests as members of the regime’s Basij paramilitary force who were attacked by demonstrators, according to accounts from inside Iran shared with The Times of Israel this week.

The testimonies were relayed to three Iranian anti-regime activists based in the United Kingdom and Canada by acquaintances inside Iran, and then forwarded to The Times of Israel, in an effort to publicize events amid the regime’s internet shutdown and violent repression of protests, including by killing thousands who demonstrated across the country. The demands for false claims of militia membership, which appear aimed at retroactively justifying the regime’s use of widespread deadly force against protesters, could not be independently corroborated, but matched accounts that have been cited by the UN.

“Families are forced to pay for the bullets used [to kill their relatives], or they are told when and where they can bury the body, or even forced to lie on state TV, claiming the victim was a Basij member killed by protesters,” a resident of Tehran said in a Farsi-language voice message sent on Thursday to one of the activists and forwarded to The Times of Israel. (Read More)

Saudi Arabia won't allow airspace to be used for military action against Iran, crown prince says

According to Saudi state news agency, SPA, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the airspace issue with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Tehran, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday. In a phone call with Pezeshkian, the crown prince affirmed his country's support for any "efforts that would resolve differences through dialogue" to bolster security and stability in the region.

Earlier, Iranian media reported that Pezeshkian told bin Salman that Tehran welcomes any process, within the framework of international law, that prevents war. The statement by the Saudi de facto ruler follows a similar statement by the United Arab Emirates that it would not allow any military action against Iran using its airspace or territorial waters.

Uncertainty over the possibility of military action in Iran has lingered after United States President Donald Trump said last week that an "armada" was heading toward the country but that he hoped he would not have to use it. (Ed note: Hold that phone! I thought that the Crown Prince was President Trump's newest best friend ever. Did Ishmael just throw Trump under the bus?) (Read More)

Saudi Arabia to Iran: We will not accept an attack against you

A phone call took place between the Iranian president and the Saudi crown prince against the backdrop of tensions with the US. According to Tehran, the discussion focused on regional and international developments. The Iranian presidential office said the Saudi crown prince told Pezeshkian that the kingdom "declares its readiness for full cooperation with Iran."

The two leaders discussed what Tehran described as "recent events" as well as regional and international developments. During the call, Pezeshkian referred to what he called the "12-day war" and accused the US of acting in bad faith. "From the Americans' perspective, negotiations mean 'they talk, and we act,'" he said. "That is not dialogue. We engaged in dialogue with the Americans, and they launched a military attack against us in front of the entire world."

The Iranian president also addressed the recent protests in Iran, which were violently suppressed, saying: "We appreciate the support of Islamic countries for our people during the recent events, especially that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." According to the Iranian readout, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Pezeshkian that "Saudi Arabia will not accept any aggression, threat or provocation against Iran." He added that the kingdom "declares its readiness for full cooperation with Iran and other countries in the region in order to establish lasting peace and security." (Source)

Netanyahu: If Saudis want deal, we expect them not to align with anti-Israel forces

As MBS cozies up to Turkey and Qatar and turns away from UAE, PM says he is following realignment closely and accuses Riyadh of ‘nurturing all kinds of forces that attack Israel.’

In the latest sign that a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not going to be signed any time in the foreseeable future, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he is closely following Riyadh’s recent shift toward Turkey and Qatar. “We expect from anybody who wants normalization or peace with us that they not participate in efforts steered by forces or ideologies that want the opposite of peace,” Netanyahu said at a press conference in response to a question by The Times of Israel.

Normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia seemed to be a question of when, not if, before the October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war. Two Israeli ministers made unprecedented visits to the desert kingdom in the weeks before the attack, and the Biden White House was pushing hard for a deal. Riyadh adopted a harder line on normalization during the war, insisting that Israel commit to Palestinian statehood, which Netanyahu opposes, and which the Israeli public is even less likely to accept in the wake of the Hamas attack.

US President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed hope that Riyadh would join the Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations in 2020, during the president’s first term. After the October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, Trump reportedly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that he expects him to move toward normalization with Israel now that the fighting was over.

But Saudi Arabia has been pursuing a dramatic realignment in the Middle East in recent months, including heightening its rivalry with the United Arab Emirates, one of Israel’s closest allies in the region. In December, MBS signed a series of agreements with Qatari Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani, and discussed deepening defense cooperation. Saudi Arabia is also reportedly in talks with Turkey — one of Israel’s leading regional rivals — to join a mutual defense pact that includes Pakistan. (Read More)

How Hamas plans to survive Phase II of Gaza ceasefire with Turkey's help - analysis

This idea would seem to be an obvious non-starter for how to proceed in Gaza, especially as Israel and the Trump administration want to see Hamas disarmed.

As the Gaza ceasefire moves forward, there are reports that Hamas would like to see its police integrated into whatever type of new force emerges. This idea would seem to be an obvious non-starter for how to proceed in Gaza, especially as Israel and the Trump administration want Hamas to be disarmed.

The question, therefore, is what is the reason for the latest report about the police and what might be the best path forward. Reuters reported on January 27 that Hamas is hoping to see around 10,000 of its existing police officersincorporated into a new force. The report suggested that Hamas floated this idea during meetings in Turkey this week. Turkey has supported the ceasefire and has been invited to have key seats at the table in US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and also on Gaza’s Executive Board. Israel has opposed Turkey’s role.

The issue of the Hamas police has always been controversial in Gaza. Many international organizations have seen the police as a stabilizing factor that brings law and order to Gaza. They basically see the police as a civil society organization and not as part of the Hamas “armed wing” that is waging the war. This portrays the Hamas police as if they are not primarily Hamas members, but civilian law enforcers. (Read More)

Israel prepared for evacuation of tourists in event of Iran attack, says Tourism Ministry head

“If and when the skies close, we have the means, and all the managers know what to do in that moment,” Director-General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Izhakov, said.

Israel’s plan to evacuate approximately 42,000 tourists amid the possibility of an Iranian attack is ready, Director-General of the Tourism Ministry, Michael Izhakov, announced on Monday. Itzhakov explained that Israel has been preparing for an evacuation scenario for about a month now, after he discussed with Tourism Minister Haim Katz that the country needs to learn its lesson from previous scenarios, alluding to the 12-day war with Iran in June of last year.

He noted that the Tourism Ministry has developed internal procedures designed to provide certainty and reassurance to tourists in the event of an airspace closure. Although data from the Population and Immigration Authority estimated that there are around 42,000 tourists in Israel, the data is incomplete regarding Israelis with dual citizenship who may be tourists but are not counted as such upon entering the country, he explained. Izhakov's remarks come amid rising tensions with Iran and the possibility of a security escalation as Trump weighs US strikes on the regime. (Read More)

Report: Iran deploys units along coast to counter possible US landing

Reports indicat Iran has deployed Revolutionary Guard units and advanced coastal defenses along its southern coastline, including near the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions with the US.

Intelligence assessments from Persian Gulf states indicate that Iran has reinforced its southern coastline with units from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a move seen as preparation to counter any potential US ground operation. The deployments are concentrated along strategic areas of the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz. The reported buildup comes as US naval forces increase their presence in the region. Washington has dispatched an aircraft carrier along with multiple warships and frigates, a show of force that Iranian officials and regional analysts have described as a de facto naval siege.

Late last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of what he called an “armada” to the Middle East, saying the move was intended to deter Iran amid ongoing unrest inside the country. Iranian authorities have responded by strengthening coastal defenses and conducting military drills focused on repelling amphibious landing operations.

According to intelligence shared with several Western diplomatic missions, Iran has positioned IRGC and Basij units along its more than 2,400-kilometer coastline, with particular emphasis on key locations such as Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Abbas. The stated objective, according to the reports, is to prevent any U.S. ground landing on Iranian territory. (Read More)

NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN IN IRAN

(Ed note: If President Trump chooses to attack Iran, could we see the fullfillment of a little known prophecy in Jeremiah 49:34-39 concerning the western part of Iran, then known as Elam? Be up to date, and get your copy now.)      (CLICK HERE)

Iran Expert: 'I was shocked by Witkoff's remarks on Iran'

Iran researcher Beni Sabti criticizes Witkoff's remarks on the killing in Iran that "has stopped", but holds out hope that it was part of an act of misdirection.

Beni Sabti, an Iran specialist at the Institute for National Security Studies, delivered sharp criticism of Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s envoy, during an interview at the Arutz Sheva - Israel National News booth at the IAC conference in Florida. Sabti said Witkoff’s narrow focus on Iran’s missile program and nuclear ambitions - while disregarding the plight of ordinary Iranians living under repression - was deeply troubling. “I sat there in shock," he said.

According to Sabti, regional discourse has shifted away from the grassroots level and is now concentrated among political leaders. “The conversation moved from the street to the leaders’ level," he said, describing a dynamic now centered largely between Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with Israel playing only a limited role. He holds out hope that the change is an act of misdirection. "We have seen before that Trump has tried to mask his true intentions. It seems that we are at a stage where we do not necessarily need to know what is truly happening, and must wait and see what develops."

He argued that the Iranian regime has perfected the art of survival, even instructing Hamas on how to withstand sustained pressure. As a result, Sabti said, Iran favors long-term endurance over a dramatic, single blow against the regime. “This is a regime focused entirely on survival," he explained. “The leader will flee from place to place, generals will relocate constantly, and the country will resemble one vast refugee camp. This requires patience." (Ed note: Whatever happens, Bill Salus' book, "Nuclear Showdown in Iran" discusses a little known prophecy about Elam, and Ezekiel 38:5 tells us that there is yet another prophecy that Persia will appear again.) (Read More)

Turkey Prepares Contingency Plans for Likely US-Iran War

Ankara triggers Plan A, B, and C as U.S. carrier groups move into striking range of Iran. Fearing a tidal wave of one million refugees, Turkey is preparing a massive buffer zone to seal its border and insulate itself from the fallout of a potential Iranian revolution.

Reports from Turkish media indicate that the Turkish government is actively preparing for various scenarios and implications of a potential war between the United States and Iran, including the establishment of a buffer zone along the Turkey-Iran border in the event of the Iranian regime's collapse and a subsequent wave of migrants.

This information emerged from a briefing by the Turkish Foreign Ministry to Parliament's foreign affairs committee, as reported by outlets like Türkiye newspaper and Middle East Eye. According to the briefing, Ankara has developed multiple contingency plans—A, B, and C—for all eventualities, with a focus on preventing a massive influx of refugees into Turkey.

Officials emphasized the need for a buffer zone on the Iranian side of the border to ensure that any migrants remain there, drawing from experiences with Syrian refugees during past conflicts. Estimates suggest that a full-scale war could drive up to one million Iranian refugees toward the Turkish border. (Read More)