#iran

#iran

The footage lasts just three minutes. An Israeli flag flies over a position in the village of al-Bayada, in occupied southern Lebanon. One drone approaches the flagpole while another observes from above. The flag falls after the impact. The final frame displays a digitally rendered, torn Israeli flag with the words: Al-Bayada does not welcome you. The video's caption reads: Flag lowering ceremony.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky yesterday lost the Republican House primary by nearly 10 percentage points. Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein secured the victory over Massie, who is the latest Republican lawmaker to lose his seat after angering the president. This became the most expensive House primary in history, with $33 million spent on TV ads, much of it directed at Massie, according to NPR's ad-tracking partner AdImpact.

Maine Democratic Congressman Jared Golden was the target of fresh ire late Thursday after casting his party's sole vote against a war powers resolution in the US House aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's disastrous war against Iran. Though Golden, who is not seeking reelection this year, was an original cosponsor of the resolution ( H.Con.Res.75) offered by fellow Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) back in March, he became the deciding vote in the 212-212 tie when it finally hit the floor - even as two Republicans broke with their party for the first time to support such a measure.

In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s oil flows. Predictably, oil and gas prices have soared. The national average was $4.53 for a gallon of gas, as of Thursday. Before the war, it was under $3. Collins noted to Jordan that Trump ran and won in 2024 on the issue of affordability, especially gas prices.

We have been cut off from our sources. After the authorities imposed a nationwide communications blackout, the already fragile infrastructure of reporting has all but collapsed. Even when we can make contact, we are careful; a phone search at a checkpoint could put them in danger. We cannot cross-check events through local coverage or rely on familiar verification channels. Instead, we wait for the rare, precious moments when a reliable contact inside Iran manages to get online, navigating VPNs or risking Starlink, which the authorities have criminalised.

If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.

Iran is reviewing a new U.S. proposal, with sources indicating that Washington and Tehran are nearing a one-page memorandum to end the Gulf war while deferring discussions on Iran's nuclear program.

The pulse that pushed VIX above 30 in late March has faded. President Trump paused the U.S. operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing 'Great Progress' toward an Iran agreement, while warning bombing would resume 'at a much higher level and intensity' if Tehran balks.

The White House believes it's getting close to an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations. The U.S. expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours.

Iran's plan was to build a conventional shield with thousands of missiles, drones, and rockets to avoid attacks while advancing their nuclear program. They no longer have that conventional shield.