WAR Iran/ US/mideast war thread - 2/28/26 Open Hostilities (Thread for Off Topic discussion started, see post #13,751, page 344)

Iran Insiders: Mojtaba Khamenei Either Dead or Brain Dead​

Internal Iranian sources tell The Atlantic that Mojtaba Khamenei, designated successor to his father, is either dead or in a vegetative state—raising questions about who's actually running Iran.

The mystery surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei’s fate continues to grip the world and has taken a dramatic turn. According to testimony from sources within the Iranian government published in The Atlantic, the terrorist designated to succeed his father is dead or at least in a state of brain death. The mystery surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei’s fate has occupied the world for some time now, and alongside numerous speculations and theories—and even Israeli confirmation that Iran’s ‘Supreme Leader’ is still alive—a new report published today (Wednesday) in The Atlantic sheds additional light on the mounting question marks surrounding Iran’s new leader.

According to the magazine, testimony from multiple sources within the Iranian government paints a picture in which Mojtaba is deceased. A staff member at a government institution in Tehran told the magazine: “I believe Mojtaba has died or is in a state of brain death,” pointing to the complete disappearance of any direct communication from him. Two additional government sources in Tehran reinforced these statements, noting that in their assessment the leader died or became a vegetable already at the beginning of the current month.

Nearly six months have passed since Mojtaba was officially appointed successor to his father, the terrorist Ali Khamenei, and during this period he has completely vanished from public view. Not a single current photo, recording, or video of him has been released, and in an unusual and suspicious manner, he was even absent from the memorial ceremony his own office held for his father in Tehran.

The accumulating reports indicate that even ministers in the government and senior officials on the National Security Council admit they haven’t seen him since he took office, with the tight circle of people who allegedly met with him shrinking to fewer than five people, under the official excuse of “security precautions due to fear of Israeli or American assassination.”

The Atlantic’s investigation reported that even meetings he allegedly held with President Pezeshkian were conducted under extreme secrecy, with testimony that the president was led to the meeting location blindfolded without knowing his location—raising suspicion that this is a fake show of control designed to hide the leader’s actual lack of functioning.

However, sources within the Iranian government and those close to the leadership have begun spreading persistent rumors in recent weeks that the leader died or is in a state of brain death following injuries he sustained in an Israeli-American strike last February. The complete silence from his office since August 9, after a series of military appointments and religious decrees distributed in his name, is fueling the storm in Tehran.

The question marks intensified following reports on the opposition website Iran-Wire that at the highest levels of the regime, rumors spread that Mojtaba’s condition is critical and he is expected to die at any moment. About two weeks ago, an unusual call was even circulated on local messaging services in Iran for citizens “to pray for the leader’s health” and to sacrifice sheep as a remedy for his recovery—an Islamic tradition indicating real and immediate mortal danger.

The current situation creates a dangerous power vacuum inside Iran, with other terror elements, primarily the Revolutionary Guards, effectively running the country collectively while the ‘Supreme Leader’ sits “out of the game.” Meanwhile, internal struggles between President Pezeshkian and senior Revolutionary Guards officials are intensifying as uncertainty grows.

It should be noted that a senior Israeli official recently confirmed in a White House briefing that Mojtaba Khamenei is indeed alive, but clarified that he is not in a state of functioning from a health perspective. While Iran needs to make fateful decisions between diplomacy and military confrontation, it appears no one knows with certainty whether the man supposed to tip the scales is actually capable of doing so, or whether the Islamic Republic is currently operating under ghost rule.

www.c14news.com

Iran Insiders: Mojtaba Khamenei Either Dead or Brain Dead

Internal Iranian sources tell The Atlantic that Mojtaba Khamenei, designated successor to his father, is either dead or in a vegetative state—raising questions about who's actually running Iran.
www.c14news.com www.c14news.com

'I don't think he's dead,' Trump says of Iranian leader amid speculation​

The Atlantic reported Tehran is "abuzz" with talk of Khamenei's death and cited unnamed sources who speculated that he eventually died of his injuries.

President Donald Trump said he believes Iran's new supreme leader is still alive, responding to a media report containing speculation that Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei may have succumbed to injuries sustained when the U.S. and Israel launched the Iran war.

The Atlantic reported that Tehran is "abuzz" with talk of Khamenei's death and cited unnamed sources inside and close to the government who speculated that Khamenei eventually died of his injuries.

"I don't think he's dead," Trump told radio host Glenn Beck, who asked about The Atlantic report in an Aug. 26 interview. "He was very seriously wounded. The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing. He was very seriously wounded but I don't think he's dead."

Trump noted that Iranian negotiators talk about getting Khamenei's approval, so if he's dead, "they're putting on a pretty good show."

"They talk about going back to talk to him all the time to get a final blessing on things," Trump said.

The U.S. and Israel killed much of Iran's senior leadership in the initial round of strikes, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei's father.

Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was quickly selected as the new supreme leader. Iran's Assembly of Experts, a group of 88 clerics, picked the mid-ranking cleric with influence in the country's security forces and business networks to succeed his father, announcing the decision March 8.

Yet Khamenei has remained out of public view since the announcement. He wasn't at his father's wake recently, and there have been no recent pictures, videos or audio recordings of him, according to The Atlantic.

Trump expressed frustration with Iran's negotiators during his interview with Beck, saying "you make a deal with them ... it's not the most honorable group, I will tell you that." After a June peace deal collapsed amid jockeying over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil shipments, the president lately has focused on applying economic pressure to Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced a plan for additional sanctions.

www.usatoday.com

'I don't think he's dead,' Trump says of Iranian leader amid speculation

The Atlantic reported Tehran is "abuzz" with talk of Khamenei's death and cited unnamed sources who speculated that he eventually died of his injuries.
www.usatoday.com
 

Kuwait, Qatar Ramp Up Hormuz Oil Flows As Oman-Iran Talks Ease Supply Fears<!-- --> | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

Kuwait, Qatar Ramp Up Hormuz Oil Flows As Oman-Iran Talks Ease Supply Fears​

by Tyler Durden
Thursday, Aug 27, 2026 - 07:20 AM
Brent crude futures fell to an intraday low of $86.22 a barrel early Thursday before recovering above $88 by 0630 ET. The benchmark is down 6.3% this week as traders unwind part of the war-risk premium amid growing optimism that renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran, Oman and Qatar could reduce the threat of drone attacks on tankers in the critical waterway.




Bloomberg reported earlier that Kuwait and Qatar are restoring crude exports through the highly contested maritime chokepoint. Sources familiar with energy flows in the Gulf region say that both producers are shipping about 70% of the combined 2 million barrels a day they exported before the Iran war.

Total oil shipments via tankers have climbed to between 7 million and 8 million barrels a day, up from roughly 4 million barrels a day in mid-July and equal to about 75% of prewar levels, according to the outlet.

London-based energy and freight analytics firm Vortexa told clients in a separate report that the estimated seven-day average for oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz has approached 10 million barrels a day.

The recovery in the critical waterway helps explain why Brent crude retreated to $86 earlier this morning after surging above $120 in late April. The Trump administration and Tehran remain deadlocked over finding another resolution, but Gulf exporters are increasingly finding ways around the disruption.

The outlet noted that the United Arab Emirates was the first to transit crude through the strait before transferring it to other vessels in the Gulf of Oman.

Maritime research firm TankerTrackers was the first to report the increase in ship-to-ship transfers on Tuesday.

A busy day in the Gulf of Oman, where there are at least fifteen sets of STS transfer sessions taking place. We count 25 million barrels of crude oil; plus some refined products. The oil originates from almost every country in the region, minus Iran.#OOTT #IranWar #Tankers pic.twitter.com/TAba26mJiW

— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) August 25, 2026
Click to expand...
"An Iran-Oman framework for a 'temporary joint maritime corridor' is pulling oil lower. It remains difficult to envision how the US would sign off on this given the concurrent ratcheting up of economic pressure," UBS analyst Justinus Steinhorst wrote in a note.

Dennis Kissler, senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial Securities, said on Wednesday, "It seems crude is now beginning to price in a sooner-rather-than-later peace deal."

Beyond Iran and Oman's diplomatic push to reopen the strait, Reuters reported that both countries are working to clear all naval mines from the waterway. President Trump said earlier this week that all mines had been removed.

However, with disruptions to Middle Eastern refineries and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, the energy crisis has morphed into a crude-products crisis, with diesel crack spreads in the US still trading above $90 a barrel. Last week, the spread hit an unprecedented $100-a-barrel level as global diesel supplies dwindled.
 
Open Source Intel @Osint613 Hezbollah launched 5 explosive drones this month at Israeli forces operating in the Ali al-Taher area, an Israeli Army Radio correspondent reports.
 
Open Source Intel @Osint613
Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: "Reopening the Strait of Hormuz will only happen once the Americans accept our terms, including ending the wars in the entire region, and specifically in Lebanon and Gaza."

In separate remarks to Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV, Rezaei said: "Beirut and its southern suburbs are our red line, and no one has the right to move against them. We are monitoring the situation with utmost seriousness. Also, Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanon immediately."
 
Open Source Intel @Osint613
The Trump administration has told mediators it won't return to the terms of the initial June agreement with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Trump is now prioritizing economic pressure on Tehran and is prepared to wait for results. White House spokeswoman: no negotiations are underway or planned, and the maritime blockade and "economic exclusion operations" will continue.

The stance has stalled fresh efforts by Qatar, Oman and Pakistan to revive Washington-Tehran talks.
 
Yesterday Tousi didn’t really have much to say. I didn’t bother. Today, it’s different. It was reported the, Basij checkpoints are now coming under attack “left, right and center”. As reported up thread the resistance in Iran has been doxing the members of the Basij. Now they are being targeted and in some cases assassinated.

A clip was showing a group of Iraqis who were brought in by the regime to help with the crackdown. There was a group of 7 of them. They showed off injuries they have received at the hands of the Iranian people. They are begging the IRGC for protection. It’s either that or they are going home and getting out of this racist country.

One last thing that Tousi found amusing and I don’t blame him. A Slavic news team of some kind was doing a report about the miles long gas lines. The reporter then begins to criticize the people in line, because what they are doing is an embarrassment to the regime. Why don’t they check online to see if the station has gas? Why does everyone have to go at the same time?


REALLY?
 
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BREAKING: Strait of Hormuz is open, US CENTCOM says​

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz is open and can be used freely. CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a video update that American forces have now successfully cleared Iranian sea mines. This comes as Iran continues to insist the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Cooper said U.S. forces have facilitated the safe transit of nearly 1,500 vessels carrying roughly 750 million barrels of crude oil over the last few months. He added that around 50,000 U.S. troops continue to enforce a strict naval blockade on Iranian ports, redirecting at least 75 vessels attempting to breach the restrictions while ensuring the primary maritime corridor remains available for lawful global commerce.

Rt 7:11

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyOq0OiQoQE
 
EndGameWW3 @EndGameWW3 Update: Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy: Our approach regarding the Strait of Hormuz will continue until the end of America's hostile actions and the fulfillment of its commitments.
 

Hegseth Might Again Summon Top Brass to Quantico​

For the second time in a year, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is considering gathering hundreds of the nation's senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is considering gathering hundreds of the nation's senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia for the second time in a year, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

The gathering would mirror one Hegseth convened at Quantico in September, when he ordered generals and admirals from across the military to assemble on short notice.

Hegseth used the event to outline his priorities for the Pentagon, including an emphasis on military readiness and warfighting, while criticizing Biden administration policies he characterized as woke.

"For too long ... the military has been forced by foolish and reckless politicians to focus on the wrong things," Hegseth said. "In many ways, this speech is about fixing decades of decay, some of it obvious, some of it hidden."

Hegseth would likely use the gathering again to outline his priorities, the officials told the Journal. One of the officials said Hegseth would also release a new set of directives to the force.

It was unclear when the meeting would take place or whether it would include all serving admirals and generals.

"We have nothing to announce at this time," Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez told the Journal.

Hegseth and President Donald Trump, who also addressed last year's gathering, received a polite but muted response from the military officers, who are subject to strict rules limiting partisan political activity.

It's unclear whether Trump will attend a second gathering.

At last year's gathering, Hegseth emphasized military standards, saying personnel would be judged on their fitness and appearance.

"We don't have a military full of Nordic pagans," he said. "But unfortunately, we have had leaders who either refuse to call BS and enforce standards, or leaders who felt like they were not allowed to enforce standards. Both are unacceptable. And that's why today, at my direction, the era of unprofessional appearance is over.

"No more beardos. The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done. Simply put, if you do not meet the male level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don't want to shave and look professional, it's time for a new position or a new profession."

The Pentagon also released 11 memorandums outlining the administration's priorities for the department, including new fitness and grooming standards.

"When it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender-neutral," Hegseth said. "If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it."


WSJ of course is behind a paywall, I already used my trial.

Hegseth Weighs Summoning Top Military Leaders to Quantico for Second Time​

 
My, my, my. Tousi has reported three things I believe we will all see as related.

1. The U.S. military has announced the Straits have been cleared of Iranian mines. And surprise, surprise, surprise, out of 200 cleared, only 10 were real. The rest were fakes.

2. Members of the Iranian gov. have announced that they are open to diplomacy.

3. Trump has said he isn’t interested.

EDIT: I forgot, the IRGC has ordered the Houthi’s to attack Red Sea shipping as we’ve all heard. Unfortunately they have a problem with the Saudi’s and the Yemen military currently blowing them up every time they find them.
 
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Somebody might want to remind the IRGC they own the strait and to get some fuel to their people pretty quick. I don't know why they are having fuel problems.

Iran Collapse Officially Begins? Iran Hits Emergency Level As Civil War Over Fuel Implodes| Decoded 9 min​

 
I’m going to stop using the word interesting when reporting what Tousi is saying. I’m wearing that word out.

The financial crisis is really starting to fracture the lower levels of the regime. In at least three cities, cops are starting to stop showing up for work. The reason is because either they aren’t being paid or have had their pay cut. Some are even brave enough to go public. The clip shown was of an officer complaining about the situation. Basicly saying,

“I’m So and So. Badge number******** My job used to pay 38,000 a month. Now I’m getting only 21,000 a month. I’ve been a cop for 15 years. I have a wife and two kids. How am I supposed to support them on that?”

The report goes on to say the Iraqi, Afghani, and Paki proxies brought in to put down the uprising have priority in the pay department. Native born cops aren’t happy with that.

With their navy on the bottom and most of those fast boats joining them, not to mention the farse of fake mines, the IRGC has resorted to propaganda. They are airing clips of patriotic Iranians grabbing their AK’s, jumping in their fishing boats (one of them couldn’t have been 18’) and going out the assault the U.S. Navy. No word on how well that attack turned out.

Lastly, another video like last night. Bandar Abbas port, completely empty. No ships, no dock workers, not even a stray dog. On a humorous note, something I didn’t mention last time. I’m not sure what Iranian port it was, but it was big and had only one ship at dock. Clearly painted on the bow was the ships name. “Gozo”. In Farsi that’s pronounced Goozu. Translated that means,

“One who farts” or “The Farter”.
 

Khamenei calls on Muslim countries to unite against US and Israel​

YOriginal story by Yahoo News
Aug 30, 2026
Khamenei calls on Muslim countries to unite against US and Israel

Context​


Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has urged Muslim nations to unite against the United States and Israel, whom he labels as enemies of the Muslim world. This call for solidarity comes amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions and underscores Iran's stance on regional conflicts.

Detailed Summary​


  • Khamenei asserted that the United States and Israel are common adversaries to all Muslims.
  • He advocated for a unified front by Muslim countries to counter the influence and actions of these nations.
  • The message, described as rare, highlights a significant diplomatic outreach from Iran's highest religious and political authority.
  • This call for unity aims to foster a collective response to perceived threats and promote a shared agenda among Muslim states.
  • The statement reflects Iran's long-standing foreign policy objectives regarding its relationships with the US and Israel, as well as its vision for inter-Muslim cooperation.
  • Khamenei's appeal emphasizes the perceived shared interests and challenges faced by Muslim populations globally, suggesting that collective action is the most effective strategy.
  • The focus is on forging solidarity through a common enemy to achieve greater geopolitical leverage and address regional instability.

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Long Lines for Gas in Iran Show War and U.S. Blockade Squeezing Supply​

The government is struggling to meet a shortfall in fuel and is wary that higher prices at the pump could stir unrest.

Lines of cars waiting to fill up at Iran’s gas stations, even in the middle of the night, have become a common sight in recent weeks, Iranians said in interviews, as war and a U.S. blockade have strained fuel supplies.

The Iranian government is struggling with how to respond and is wary of reducing expensive subsidies, a move that would raise fuel prices and that has prompted large-scale protests in the past.

Though Iran is rich in crude oil, its refining capacity has long been insufficient to meet the country’s gasoline demand, officials and experts say. The shortfall — just over a tenth of the gasoline consumed per day, according to government figures — is usually made up by imports. Now those have been all but cut off by the continuing U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports.

Domestic production of gasoline has also decreased since the U.S.-Israeli war, officials say, as strikes have damaged Iranian refineries and limited their capacity.
Iranians reached in several cities, including Tehran, Isfahan and Bandar Abbas, said they had seen long lines at gas stations in recent days.

“Even when you pass through the streets around midnight, like 2 or 3 in the morning, you will see that there is a huge line of cars standing and waiting in line,” said Reyhaneh, 30, an unemployed teacher in the city of Mashhad. Like others reached in Iran, she asked that her last name not be used for fear of retribution.

The prospect of increased fuel prices is compounding difficulties for Iranians, as the war enters its seventh month with no clear resolution in sight. Iranians are already facing 80 percent inflation over this time last year, the central bank has said, as well as widespread job losses caused, in part, by the war and a government-imposed internet shutdown.
Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and other vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has been stymied by curtailed fuel imports and reduced domestic production.Credit...Elke Scholiers/Getty Images
The U.S. blockade has been aimed in part at pressuring Tehran to loosen its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway in the Persian Gulf that Iranian forces effectively closed early in the war. The bottleneck has caused an increase in the price of fuel globally, including in the United States.
On Monday, the U.S. government announced additional sanctions on Iran and Iran-linked entities, hoping the measures would force the Islamic republic to make concessions.

The situation has left the Iranian government with few options. In 2019, a sharp increase in gasoline prices set off mass protests that the authorities put down with violence.

Economic discontent also caused nationwide demonstrations early this year. Officials are keenly aware that raising gas prices now could set off a new round of protests.

Iran’s Parliament speaker and lead negotiator with Washington, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said this month that though gasoline consumption had to be reduced, raising prices was a mistake. Iran’s “enemy” plans to exploit the issue to create unrest, he claimed, while not specifying what the government should do instead.

Amirhossein Khaleghi, an economist in Iran, said, “When the government lacks sufficient legitimacy and resources, and especially in the middle of a war, the question is how we can continue with the current situation when we no longer have the resources to sustain it.”
Iranian officials have acknowledged some of the scale of the crisis and the effects of U.S. pressure but have still sought to project defiance.

“We are facing war,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview with Iranian state television on Friday. “The enemy has targeted our oil and gas resources, and our production has fallen. We are standing firm in the war, but we have to help increase the country’s resilience.”

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, issued a statement on Friday acknowledging “economic and livelihood challenges” while warning officials not to publicize or highlight government weaknesses, so as to avoid benefiting Iran’s enemies.

On Sunday, he released a longer statement warning that those enemies — implicitly, the United States — were seeking to turn “cultural, social, economic, political and geographic differences into pretexts for creating division” that could later be used to impose foreign domination on Iran. “This servant advises all members of the nation not to allow any discord to arise among themselves in any way whatsoever,” he said.
The gasoline issue is just one of several arenas in which the government has struggled to provide basic infrastructure and align supply with demand. Iran’s electricity usage also exceeds what its infrastructure can deliver.

In his interview, Mr. Pezeshkian urged Iranians to reduce their consumption and said he leaves his office lights off and uses a fan instead of air-conditioning.

In Iran, the government has long provided cheap energyto help make life somewhat manageable even as prices for other goods skyrocket.

The government subsidizes gasoline at different tiers based on consumption, with some gas offered at less than one cent per liter at current exchange rates. There are quotas on how much can be bought at each price, and those quotas have been curtailed in recent weeks.

So far the government has appeared resistant to raising fuel prices. But while Mr. Pezeshkian has pledged that the price of gas at the cheapest tier of quotas will not increase, he said those consuming beyond a set amount could pay as much as double.
“If we raise the gasoline price recklessly, we will create problems for people,” Mr. Pezeshkian said, while lamenting that the government had been subsidizing fuel so deeply.

The looming crisis, though exacerbated by recent events, is the culmination of many longstanding problems.

Because fuel prices in Iran are so much lower than in neighboring countries, some of the subsidized gasoline is smuggled abroad for profit, officials and experts have said. The government has appeared unwilling or unable to stop the trade.

Tehran’s public transit system is not abundant enough to keep cabs and private vehicles to a minimum, even as fuel runs short.Credit...Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times
And even in large cities, public transit is inadequate to meet people’s needs, forcing them to rely on their own cars and taxis to get around.
Until that confluence of problems is addressed, said Reza Gheibi, an economic analyst in London, changes like restructuring the quotas “would, at best, change the way the shortage is distributed — not the shortage itself.”

The recent cuts to quotas for fuel have forced many Iranians to buy unsubsidized fuel, and they often must line up for hours as gas stations offer fewer of those pumps.

Soheil, an engineer in Isfahan, said that his city had relatively ample gasoline availability. And yet, he added, “even here, the queues at gas stations are getting longer and longer.”

 

Greece to sign $3.6b. Israeli air defense deal, creating 'Achilles Shield' against Turkey and Iran​

The agreement, which has been under discussion for three years, will provide Athens with a multilayered air defense system against potential threats from Turkey and Iran.

Greece is set to sign a $3.6 billion defense deal with Israel today in Tel Aviv, a major agreement that will provide Athens with a multilayered air defense system against potential threats from Turkey and Iran.

The agreement, negotiated over three years, will become the largest defense export deal in Israel’s history.

A Greek delegation will sign the agreement with Israel’s Defense Ministry to purchase air defense systems valued at $3.6 billion, slightly below earlier estimates. The deal will provide Greece, for the first time, with an integrated, multilayered defense network.

Most of the funds will go to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which will supply Greece with David’s Sling systems designed to intercept heavy rockets and ballistic missiles, as well as mobile SPYDER systems designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles and drones.

Israel Aerospace Industries will provide the Barak MX system, which is designed to defend against aircraft and missiles.

Project 'Achilles Shield'
The agreement also includes a national-level command-and-control center to operate the systems and manage launches, similar to the system used in Israel. The center will incorporate artificial intelligence capabilities.

Greek companies are expected to receive about €700 million of the deal’s total value as subcontractors for Rafael and IAI.

The project is known in Greece as “Achilles Shield” and will include deploying SPYDER batteries on Greek islands, including popular vacation destinations visited by many Israelis.

The largest defense export deal in Israel’s history to date was IAI’s first export sale of the Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, worth $3.5 billion, signed in 2023.

Greece is already a major Israeli customer
Elbit Systems announced a $2.3 b. deal with a foreign customer this year, according to reports from the Persian Gulf, while Rafael signed a framework agreement with Romania this year to sell SPYDER systems worth $2 b.

Greece has already become a major customer of Israel’s defense industry, purchasing Spike missiles and SPICE precision-guided bombs from Rafael, Rampage missiles from Elbit Systems and IAI, and Heron 2 drones from IAI.

The air defense agreement is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, with Israel playing a key role in helping protect Greek airspace.

Greece, Cyprus, and Israel have strengthened their security coordination in recent years amid growing tensions with Turkey.

Cyprus has also reportedly purchased Israel’s Barak MX system to defend its airspace, according to foreign reports.

www.jpost.com

Greece, Israel to sign $3.6 billion defense deal amid Turkey, Iran threats | The Jerusalem Post

The agreement, which has been under discussion for three years, will provide Athens with a multilayered air defense system against potential threats from Turkey and Iran.
www.jpost.com www.jpost.com
 

Military leaders warn Hegseth against extending Iran war operations​

A recent classified assessment advised that prolonged large-scale operations in the Middle East risk weakening U.S. capabilities elsewhere.

Several U.S. military leaders have advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and risks weakening their ability to confront threats elsewhere, including the U.S. homeland, according to people familiar with a recent assessment prepared for the Pentagon chief.

The warnings — detailed for Hegseth by the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the four-star commanders overseeing U.S. operations throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America — appear in the Aug. 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book (SDOB), these people said. They described the assessment to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because the document is classified.

The SDOB, typically produced twice monthly, outlines the worldwide availability of U.S. warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems. It reflects the president’s priorities for the force, which are carried out by the defense secretary, and includes insights from the military’s top generals and admirals that inform the directives the Pentagon issues.

As President Donald Trump has pressured Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept several U.S. provisions for ending the stalemated conflict, he has been adamant that all options remain available to him — including further military action. Consequently, U.S. Central Command, the headquarters responsible for prosecuting the Iran war, has kept a force of more than 50,000 troops on alert for months in case the president orders additional attacks.

The Aug. 14 orders book directs some troops deployed in the Middle East to remain there through September and some others into 2027, said those familiar with the document. The prospect of extending those forces further compelled military leaders to voice their concern, these people said.

Leaders of the U.S. European Command, the U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. Southern Command, along with the Navy’s top admiral, responded with what is characterized in the SDOB as a “non-concur,” those familiar with the assessment said — meaning they disagree with the secretary’s order to extend their forces but will execute it nevertheless.

The geographic combatant commands overseeing U.S. operations in Europe, Asia and Latin America have had their ships, aircraft and other equipment pulled away to support the Iran conflict. This has limited their ability to conduct missions and ensure proper training, those familiar with the assessment said. The Navy, in particular, has had to stretch its capacity to keep up with wartime demands.

Army and Air Force leadership concurred with Hegseth’s desire to extend their deployed forces, but each emphasized that doing so would come with significant risk, these people said.

Overall, the tenor from the military leadership is that the ongoing Iran operation, having reached the six-month mark, has been “too much for too long,” said one person familiar with the assessment.

The military’s warning to Hegseth, which has not been previously reported, offers new insight into the administration’s dilemma as Trump seeks to end the conflict on terms favorable to the United States while Iran, cognizant of the war’s unpopularity with most Americans and its mounting toll on the U.S. arsenal, refuses to capitulate.

“Decisions regarding the scope and duration of specific force commitments to any Combatant Command are made based on the current threat assessment, strategic priorities established by the President, and the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant Commanders,” Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Hegseth, said in a statement to The Post.

The Pentagon “does not discuss internal operational processes,” including the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, “or specific concurrences, non-concurrences, or risk assessments provided by the Services or Combatant Commands during force allocation deliberations,” he added.

The Secretary of Defense Orders Book also is reviewed by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A spokesman for the chairman declined to comment and referred questions to Hegseth’s office.

The orders book is one avenue for senior military leaders to surface resource concerns and provide Hegseth with assessments on how gaining or losing assets will impact their objectives.

It’s common for commanders to discuss risk, said the one person familiar with the recent assessment. But the outlook now is “more dire” overall, this person explained, adding that certain generals and admirals were more expansive and frank than is usual in telling Hegseth they disagreed with orders to keep providing equipment and personnel when the operation’s trajectory remains uncertain.

The top military officials at European Command and Southern Command each cautioned Hegseth that lending their ships and surveillance aircraft to Central Command has degraded their ability to fulfill homeland-defense obligations, said those familiar with the assessment.

Adm. Samuel Paparo, the chief of Pacific Command, disagreed with the level of support he was ordered to continually provide, including an aircraft carrier strike group and naval destroyers, those familiar with the assessment said.


A spokesperson for European Command declined to comment. Spokespeople for Southern Command and Pacific Command did not respond to requests for comment.

Adm. Daryl Caudle, the chief of Naval Operations, provided Hegseth with the dimmest picture, saying in the SDOB that the Navy cannot sustain its current level of support for the Iran conflict because there is no anticipated end date, those familiar with the assessment said.

The Navy has shouldered an extraordinary burden. It has been asked to supply dozens of vessels for the Iran campaign — first to take part in the U.S. assault and defend against Iranian counterattacks and, for several months since, to enforce Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports as he attempts to force-open the Strait of Hormuz. Deployments for some vessels and crews have been extended by months.

Caudle conveyed to Hegseth that barely one-fourth of the Navy’s destroyer fleet is ready to deploy, a sharp decline from prewar levels, said those familiar with the assessment.

More broadly, the document says that the impact on ship maintenance, if demands imposed by the Iran operation continue unchanged, jeopardizes the fleet’s availability should other conflicts arise, people familiar with the assessment said.

A spokesperson for Caudle did not respond to a request for comment.

At a recent event in Norfolk, he talked about the deployment extensions, calling them “very challenging for our sailors.”

“I typically am not a big fan of extensions, and I push back hard on that, but the enemy gets a vote,” Caudle said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by the Navy.

Although Army and Air Force leadership concurred with Hegseth’s current path for the Iran conflict, they conceded the challenges it has imposed, said those familiar with the assessment.

The Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, which in March mobilized 2,000 soldiers in response to the Iran war, will remain in the Middle East at least through September, said those familiar with the assessment. Some military officials anticipate that the unit — which would be central to any ground invasion of Iran — will be extended beyond that time frame, these people said.

Deployments for units operating the Army’s Patriot air defense systems, which shoot down missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases, also are expected to be extended, said those familiar with the assessment.
A spokesperson for the Army did not respond to a request for comment.

The depletion of Patriot interceptors — as a result of the Iran war and previous donations to Ukraine — has limited the Trump administration’s ability to reescalate the war, as Tehran retains the ability to successfully target U.S. facilities throughout the Middle East.


As The Post and others have reported previously, the Iran war also has drained U.S. supplies of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors — vital not only to the protection of American assets in the Middle East but to regional allies as well — and long-range Tomahawk missiles. About 25 percent of the Pentagon’s Reaper drone fleet has been lost, and U.S. bases there have sustained billions of dollars in damage.

The Trump administration has maintained that reports of munitions shortages are inaccurate.
Many of the Air Force units sent to the Middle East to conduct bombing runs and other around-the-clock operations also are slated to stay in the region into 2027, two people familiar said.

The Air Force declined to comment, citing the classification of the orders book.

A spokesman for Central Command declined to comment and referred questions to Hegseth’s office.
The recent “non-concurs” from some uniformed leaders mark the latest warning from military leaders about the war.

As The Post and others reported previously, Caine advised the White House before hostilities began that the U.S. lacked sufficient munitions — and support from allies — to conduct an extended large-scale campaign.

More recently, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of European Command, privately warned the Pentagon that he lacked adequate naval forces to shield Israel and the U.S. homeland from missile attacks, as The Post reported this month.
In the Pacific, key U.S. allies have raised alarm that the Pentagon’s depletion of missiles and air defense interceptors leave them vulnerable to China. The Navy’s only dedicated aircraft carrier in the Pacific, a linchpin of the military’s plan to deter Beijing, was sent to the Middle East to relieve another carrier that has been deployed for more than 300 days.

 

USS Abraham Lincoln: Is Logistics the U.S. Navy’s Greatest Weakness?​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT784GgO8-o

Run time - 29:46
Aug 15, 2026

In this episode of What's Going on With Shipping, Sal Mercogliano dives deep into the growing logistics crisis facing the U.S. Navy. Using the recent extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Northern Arabian Sea as a case study, we examine how "the tyranny of distance" and a hollowed-out auxiliary fleet are straining both the Navy's operational capacity and the mental well-being of its sailors.


Key Discussion Points:
⚓The Lincoln Case Study: An analysis of the USS Abraham Lincoln's 266-day deployment, including 200 days in a combat zone, and the reported mental health toll on the crew due to prolonged operations and resupply delays.
⚓Wartime Tempo vs. Peacetime Support: How the U.S. Navy is currently conducting wartime-level operations (strikes and blockades) with a logistics infrastructure designed only for peacetime.
⚓The "Gutting" of the Logistics Fleet: A look back at the 1990s policy shifts that replaced Navy-crewed auxiliary ships with civilian-crewed Military Sealift Command vessels, merging "station" and "shuttle" fleets and reducing overall capacity.
⚓Loss of Forward Bases: Why the loss of central Persian Gulf bases has forced the Navy to rely on distant hubs like Diego Garcia and Singapore, drastically increasing resupply transit times.
⚓The Tyranny of Distance: A comparison of modern logistics challenges in the Arabian Sea versus the massive, dedicated replenishment groups used during World War II campaigns like Okinawa.
⚓The Invisible Force: Why logistics remains the "bottom end" of military funding until supplies like food, fuel, or ammunition start to run low, and why that mindset must change to maintain a viable global fleet.


00:00 – Introduction: Logistics vs. The US Navy
01:36 – USS Abraham Lincoln: Extended Deployments and Mental Health
02:26 – Acting Secretary of the Navy's Statement & Combat Stats
05:26 – Current Fleet Distribution: Where are the Ships?
09:14 – The Loss of Forward Bases in the Middle East
10:33 – Military Sealift Command (MSC) & How the 1990s Gutted Logistics
14:17 – The State of US Oilers and Dry Cargo Ships in 2026
16:02 – World War II Logistics: Lessons from Okinawa & Iwo Jima
18:21 – Tracking Modern Logistics: AIS and Global Supply Runs
20:51 – The Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia
22:26 – The Complexity of Provisioning a Carrier at Sea
23:21 – The Tyranny of Distance
27:28 – Conclusion: Why We Must Listen to Logistics Experts


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Multiple USS Abraham Lincoln sailors have tried to go overboard amid extended deployment, families sayhttps://www.navytimes.com/news/your-m...

Statement from Acting Secretary Cao, 14 August 2026https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Sta...

Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: August 11, 2026https://www.twz.com/sea/where-are-the...

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug. 10, 2026https://news.usni.org/2026/08/10/usni...

Ships and Submarines of the United States Navy 2026https://prd-sc102-cdn.rtx.com/raytheo...Military Sealift Command Shipshttps://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Portals...

Military Sealift Command Handbook 2026https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Portals...

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Marine Traffic www.marinetraffic.com
 
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R/T 6 sec and 10 sec


https://twitter.com/x/status/2094190277196152856
View: https://x.com/squatsons/status/2094190277196152856?s=61



Situation in the strait of Hormuz and Middle East

U.S. airstrikes on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz which killed two IRGC soldiers.

Iran responded immediately with ballistic missile launches towards Jordan and cruise missile launches towards ships in the area.

Interceptions seen over Jordan with no reports of hits.

Will update when more information becomes available
 
I’ll report more later. Right now Tousi is saying one of the reasons for the attack on Larak island was a Hugh number of IRGC members gathered in one place at one time. Out of 100’s reported to have been there, between 30 and 40 now have their virgins, and around 100 almost got them.

EDIT ADDITIONAL: As reported above, Iran fired on a couple of ships. We fired back. In retaliation for this cowardly Zionist attack, according to the IRGC, a devastating counter attack was launched which did terrible damage to a U.S. air base in Jordan. Also heavy damage was done to American Naval ships.

According to the Jordanian gov. 8 missiles incoming from Iran were all intercepted. Minor damage from falling pieces of metal did occur.

No know damage was done to the US Navy.

One last thing Tousi pointed out. Within hours of Iran calling on all Muslims to unite and fight the real enemy, namely Israel and the U.S., they start shooting at them. There was also a report that the UAE was attacked. Turned out the attempt to drone the Navy took place just off shore. Everyone was sent to shelters or basements as a precaution.
 
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‘Kharg Island will be blown to smithereens,’ Trump vows as Iran and US exchange fire

US Central Command said the pre-emptive strike targeted IRGC units preparing to deploy sea-mine-armed rockets against commercial shipping routes

US forces carried out targeted strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking Washington's first direct military action against Iranian positions in a month.

According to US Central Command, the pre-emptive strike targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units preparing to deploy sea-mine-armed rockets against commercial shipping routes. The IRGC condemned the action, confirming casualties among its personnel and subsequently launching retaliatory ballistic missiles aimed at US bases in Jordan, eight of which were intercepted by local air defenses. The flare-up breaks a weeks-long lull in direct military exchanges, threatening to unravel fragile maritime transit discussions and trigger broader escalation across the region

www.i24news.tv

‘Kharg Island will be blown to smithereens,’ Trump vows as Iran and US exchange fire | LIVE BLOG - i24NEWS

Iranian President vows ‘decisive’ response after US attacks in Strait of Hormuz Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran does not seek war but “will not stand idly by” following US attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that further regional instability would threaten all countries.
www.i24news.tv www.i24news.tv

BREAKING

President Donald Trump just posted an AI video of “Kharg Island being blown to Smithereens”

Kharg Island is Iran's primary oil export hub, handling roughly 90 percent of the country's crude exports.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2094251158420214271
View: https://x.com/trump_portfolio/status/2094251158420214271?s=46&t=nGVgcONItgQOe_JoKFy5Ww
 
EndGameWW3 @EndGameWW3
Update: Axios: Trump reviewed a plan for limited attacks against Iran in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios: The limited strikes plan being considered by Trump aims to prevent Iran from threatening navigation.

Axios: War Secretary supports Trump's study of limited strikes plan against Iran.
 
The Hormuz letter @hormuzletter
BREAKING: US Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll has suddenly resigned from his position at the Pentagon, following months of tension and fighting with Hegseth.

The Army leadership is now vacant, as it has no confirmed civilian secretary and no confirmed chief of staff. Hegseth already fired Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April.

That is the service whose Patriot batteries in Jordan fired 96 to 160 PAC-3 MSE interceptors last night, three to four rounds per Iranian missile, $380–640 million in one wave, to cover two US bases.
 
EndGameWW3 @EndGameWW3 Update: An Iranian source told Al-Mayadeen: The armed forces of the Islamic Republic have warned America and its allies who assist it that Tehran’s response to any attack will be more severe and widespread.
 
Army Secretary Resigns After Months of Friction With Hegseth

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation to President Trump following months of tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the direction of the service and the ouster of numerous senior Army officers.

He is expected to leave the Pentagon in coming days.

With Driscoll’s departure, the Army will lack top Senate-confirmed civilian or military leaders. Gen. Christopher LaNeve has served as acting chief of the service since Hegseth fired his predecessor, Gen. Randy George. Mike Obadal, the Army undersecretary, would be the highest ranking civilian after Driscoll departs.

Driscoll didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Driscoll had been expected to step down this year from his role as the civilian leader of the Army after clashing with Hegseth, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

“Secretary Driscoll has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.

“The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War,” she added.

Last week, Driscoll attended the retirement ceremony at Fort Bragg for Gen. Chris Donahue, who served as the top Army officer in Europe until Hegseth downgraded his position, effectively bringing an end to his military career.

Donahue’s abrupt departure was presented as part of Hegseth’s broader push to shrink the number of generals and admirals by 10% overall, plus a 20% cut to the number of four-star positions, the Journal reported.

But lawmakers expressed concern over the departure of a highly regarded officer who led the Delta Force in the fight against Islamic State.

Some Republicans also have pushed back on Hegseth’s preference that LaNeve become the next Army chief of staff, signaling that LaNeve might not get confirmed if nominated. LaNeve’s recent decision to phase out an futuristic Army assault battalion has further fueled congressional concerns about the future direction of the service under his leadership.

Driscoll is a former law school classmate of Vice President JD Vance. A former Army officer, he forged a close relationship with George, the former Army chief of staff who was fired by Hegseth in April. The two pushed soldiers to adopt new technology and become more adaptable battlefield threats.

Driscoll and Dave Fitzgerald, the deputy undersecretary of the Army, have pushed private companies to invest in building data centers, critical-mineral refineries and college campus-style dining facilities on bases. Companies have pledged billions of dollars in investments in these facilities on military posts. Most recently, they announced a partnership with FedEx Dataworks to modernize the service’s domestic logistics networks.

Fitzgerald, who served in uniform with Driscoll, also is expected to step down from his position later this week, according to a person familiar with the matter.


Army’s Top Civilian Leader Resigns as It Grapples With Two Wars

Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, the service’s top civilian leader, who clashed repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the ouster of key combat-tested Army leaders, handed in his resignation to President Trump on Monday, administration officials said.

Mr. Driscoll’s resignation was expected but it comes at a tumultuous time, as the military’s largest service faces its busiest period since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Army air defense soldiers are playing the leading role in defending U.S. troops in the Middle East from increasingly sophisticated Iranian missile attacks. The Army’s command in Europe is providing critical intelligence and other support to Ukraine as it fights to hold off a larger Russian force.

And Mr. Hegseth has in the meantime initiated a series of firings and feuds that has left the Army essentially rudderless as it struggles to deal with the threat posed by cheap, deadly drones and missiles that have pounded U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Mr. Driscoll met with Mr. Trump in person to hand in his resignation and discuss the current state of the Army, said one official, who like others in this story spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel issues.

The Army has not had a chief of staff, the service’s top officer, since Mr. Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George without explanation in April, and there are no signs that he is close to filling the position, officials said. Mr. Hegseth has forced out at least three senior officers who had been viewed as potential successor to General George.

Now the Army will also be without a civilian leader, at least until Mr. Trump appoints a new Army secretary. The resignation of Mr. Driscoll, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes as the midterms are approaching, and it may be difficult to get someone new confirmed soon.

Mr. Hegseth has indicated that he would like to see Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, in the job.

Mr. Parnell served as an officer in Afghanistan, but his tenure as the Pentagon’s chief spokesman has been buffeted by controversy. Mr. Parnell recently fired three journalists at Stars and Stripes, a federally funded but independent news organization. The journalists sued the government last week, claiming that the Pentagon had fired them in retaliation for writing about the worsening conditions on a Navy aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East.

Mr. Parnell also led an effort to restrict reporters’ access within the Pentagon. The moves prompted The New York Times to sue the Pentagon on the grounds that the policy violated the First Amendment.
Mr. Parnell withdrew from a Senate race in November 2021 after a judge ruled that his estranged wife should have primary custody of their three children in a case in which she accused him of spousal and child abuse. The order was later vacated and Mr. Parnell has shared custody with his wife for several years, a Pentagon official said.

Mr. Parnell, who spoke at the 2024 rally in Butler, Pa., where Mr. Trump was nearly assassinated, has a strong relationship with the president, officials said. But senior administration officials said Mr. Parnell likely would struggle to be confirmed by the closely divided Senate.

Mr. Driscoll, a 40-year-old Army former first lieutenant, was until recently seen as a potential candidate to replace Mr. Hegseth if he decided to step down or fell out of favor with Mr. Trump. He garnered more support on Capitol Hill than did Mr. Hegseth, who has a combative relationship with the Democrats and even some Republicans on the key House and Senate committees that oversee the Pentagon.

Mr. Driscoll, in contrast, was viewed by many in Congress as one of the few Trump administration Pentagon officials who can work with lawmakers in both parties, two congressional aides said. While Mr. Hegseth has tried to limit direct communications between military officials and lawmakers, Mr. Driscoll has responded to requests from Republicans and Democrats alike in the Armed Services Committees, the aides said.

During his nomination hearings, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, pressed him to commit to allowing the Army to repair its own equipment, instead of sending it back to defense contractors. Months later, Mr. Driscoll did so, putting the policy, known as “right to repair,” in place and earning a rare plaudit for a Trump administration official from a Democratic lawmaker (and one who had voted against his nomination).

But Mr. Driscoll told Mr. Trump that he was frustrated with Mr. Hegseth’s ouster of so many proven Army leaders and his blocking the promotions of a number of colonels who had worked for people he did not like, two officials said.

 
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It seems the fractures are getting worse. As was reported up thread the regime has again started executing prisoners. Tousi is saying there’s a reason for this and why the rate is increasing. They fear the next uprising is going to be the one that does them in. So they are emptying prisons now for more people later.They have reason to fear.

In three or four cities today, there were spontaneous anti gov. demonstrations. The IRGC opened fire. That is encouraging more protests.

Last time it was reported that because of no pay, a lot of cops weren’t showing up for work. Tousi showed a letter from the Iranian Teachers Union or something like that. The union has announced that due to lack of paychecks, their members are not returning to work. Close the universities and put more people on the streets.

There was a brief clip from a young lady who is a street vendor, they are fairly common in Iran. She filmed up and down the street. Far as you can see there is one customer at her booth, but not another anywhere to be seen. At what should be the busiest time of day. It’s not like people are afraid to come out. They are just too broke.

Finally I believe it was someone in the medical profession. He’s driving all over to get any gas he can for a generator he said was for ICU. Power has become unreliable.
 
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Fleitz to Newsmax: US Is Poised to 'Starve Iran'​

Former National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleitz told Newsmax that President Donald Trump is moving to "starve Iran."

Fleitz told "Ed Henry The Big Take" on Monday that the Trump administration has put all the clamps in place to economically strangle Iran, even if China tries to help Iran survive.

"I think China could help a great deal," Fleitz said, "but we can starve Iran's economy without China.

"Iran is losing $300 million to $500 million a day.

"The Chinese are historically cheap. They're not going to pay that to Iran," Fleitz said.

Fleitz agreed China may try to get some support to Iran. But it will not amount to much.

"They're going to try to send some resources to Iran by plane and by train," he said.

"But they can't replace the revenue that Iran is losing. They can't get [their] oil out of the Arabian Gulf," he said.

Fleitz told Newsmax that "A lot of other things are happening.

"There are rare earth minerals. There's food that would be coming in by ship to Iran.

"They can't get there.

"That's why the speaker of the Iranian parliament recently said, 'We can't survive. We're hungry,'" Fleitz said.

He predicted the end is near for Iran.

"And look, this economic blockade, we're at the beginning of it. In 30 to 60 days, we may be looking at a very different Iran," he said.

Fleitz told Newsmax on Sunday that Trump's pressure campaign is creating bigger divides among Iran's leadership figures who have so far survived.

"The fate of this war may come down to a power struggle between moderates who want the war wrapped up because of the economic damage and the radicals," Fleitz said.

"That struggle is going on right now," he said.

 
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