News & views related to the war on Iran …
Back to Main
April 16, 2026
Iran Open Thread 2026-077
Comments
🇮🇷⚡️🇮🇱🇺🇸 Footage shows tankers breaching the U.S. maritime blockade. TankerTrackers confirms via 3-day AIS data that multiple U.S.-sanctioned tankers are moving freely across the blockade line between eastern Oman and the Iran–Pakistan border, despite U.S. military presence.
Only vessels with AIS on are counted—others may have passed undetected. This contradicts CENTCOM’s claim that no ships crossed in the first 48 hours.
https://t.me/RezistanceTrench/63863
Posted by: Surferket | Apr 17 2026 12:24 utc | 301
I have to force myself to read this comment section now. The details of what is being done to the Gazans are horrendous. But I’m still grateful to “b’s” commenters for their work in documenting it. It has to be known and must set the context for any discussion on the current wars in the ME.
……………………………
HORMUZ BLOCKADE: Recovery Time Will Devastate the World /Steve Jermy & Lt Col Daniel Davis – YouTube
Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 17 2026 3:06 utc | 219
Don Firineach – a grim survey indeed. A different approach, that, very differnet and has to be listened to. Commodore Jermy does not mention the background to that survey – the fact that all the Western economies have been going downhill for a considerable period in any case. In fact it’s perhaps possible to see the current aggression in Ukraine and the ME as the last throw of the dice of a West looking at a future very different from the privileged position to which the Western countries are accustomed.
But that “last throw or the dice” theory does imply an organised and rational approach on the part of our Western politicians that it’s unrealistic to expect! Looks more as if they’re fumbling around not knowing what to do, especially in the case of the European/UK politicians. Actuated more by herd instinct than by considered policy, blind to the damage they are doing to their own countries and to the mayhem they are unleashing on others.
Oddly enough, I came across that same exposition from Commodore Jermy yesterday. It was linked to in the comment section of an English site. As so often when reading the European press or looking at European blogs, one needs to be a schizophrene to accommodate the so different takes on English and Western foreign policy. The world as one views it from “b’s” site, or Martyanov’s or LJ’s, or any of the many American dissident analysts, is quite different from the world as one views it from the usual English or European perspective.
Not that bothersome, being a schizophrene. I formed my own perspective after the Maidan. It was at that time, for me anyway, that the disconnect between what was happening on the ground and what our politicians and press were telling us became too apparent to argue away. We weren’t talking of a difference in emphasis, or making allowance for different cultural backgrounds. We were talking the difference between truth, ascertainable truth, and not-truth. We in the West are in truth victims of our own information warriors and that disconnect, that gulf between reality and how we in the West are taught to view reality. is now unbridgeable.
The comment section, with article, in which I came across the Commodore Jermy video:-
“Middle East: a reckoning”
“By Richard North – April 16, 2026”
https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/front-page/middle-east-a-reckoning/
You’ll find a similar take in most of the European and English press, in as far as I get to see it. That in turn echoed in social media and in daily life. This is how we are taught to see the world. It is the information environment in which we live.
But information warfare can only take us so far. Going to be a rough time for us in Europe, when the information bubble in which most of us live is confronted by reality.
Posted by: English Outsider | Apr 17 2026 12:35 utc | 302
Footage shows tankers breaching the U.S. maritime blockade.
Posted by: Surferket | Apr 17 2026 12:24 utc | 306
—
Perhaps they are paying for the privilege?
Posted by: too scents | Apr 17 2026 12:35 utc | 303
Massacres Timeline
1. The Haifa Massacre (1937)
2. The Jerusalem Massacre (1937)
3. The Balad al-Sheikh Massacre (1939)
4. The Haifa Massacre (1939)
5. The Haifa Massacre (1947)
6. The Abbasiya Massacre (1947)
7. The Al-Khisas Massacre (1947)
8. The Bab al-Amud Massacre (1947)
9. The Jerusalem Massacre (1947)
10. The Sheikh Burek Massacre (1947)
11. The Al-Sheik Break Massacre (1947)
12. The Jaffa Massacre (1948)
13. The Al-Saraya Al-Arabeya Massacre (1948)
14. The Semiramis Massacre (1948)
15. The Ramla Massacre (1948)
16. The Yazur Massacre (1948)
17. The Tabra Tulkarem Massacre (1948)
18. The Jerusalem Massacre (1948)
19. The Deir Yassin Massacre (1948)
20. The Abu Shusha Massacre (1948)
21. The Tantura Massacre (1948)
22. The Lydda Massacre (1948)
23. The Saliha Massacre (1948)
24. The Al-Dawayima Massacre (1948)
25. The Al-Husayniyya Massacre (1948)
26. The Abu Kabir Massacre (1948)
27. The Cairo Train Massacre (Haifa, 1948)
28. The Qalunya Massacre (1948)
29. The Nasir Al-Din Massacre (1948)
30. The Tiberias Massacre (1948)
31. The Haifa Massacre (1948)
32. The Ayn Al-Zaytoun Massacre (1948)
33. The Safed Massacre (1948)
34. The Beit Daras Massacre (1948)
35. The Qibya Massacre (1953)
36. The Kufr Qassem Massacre (1956)
37. The Khan Yunis Massacre (1956)
38. The Jerusalem Massacre (1967)
39. The Bahr Al-Baqr Massacre (1972)
40. The Sabra and Shatila Massacre (1982)
41. The Al Aqsa Mosque Massacre (1990)
42. The Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre (1994)
43. The Jenin Refugee Camp Massacre (2002)
44. The Gaza Massacre (2008)
45. The Gaza Massacre (2009)
46. The Gaza Massacre (2012)
47. The Gaza Massacre (2014)
48. The Gaza Border Massacre (2018)
49. The Gaza Border Massacre (2019)
50. The Gaza Wehda Street Massacre (2021)
51. The Gaza Massacre (2022)
52. The Jenin Refugee Camp Massacre (2023)
53. The Gaza Genocide (2023)
54. The Gaza Genocide (2025)
Posted by: Exile | Apr 17 2026 12:40 utc | 304
Been very busy all day.
Some comment on the Geelong oil refinery.
One comment about a US reaper from Darwin being present. Well it is a rather long way from Darwin to Geelong, (2000 miles) well beyond the travel distance of any aricraft based in Darwin.
It could have been an Australian owned craft. I guess that it would make some sense to have aerial surveillance of our two refineries, but to be effective this means that two drones would be full time on oil watch. Very high intensity use of resources.
I do not believe in co-incidences. As i see it the possibilities are:
- Accident caused by overuse of facility leading to maintenance skimping
- Internal sabotage by a pro Iranian worker
- False flag operation by US or Israel
- Internal sabotage by some Australians for political reasons
I just cannot see what the USA or Israel would have to gain by attacking an Australian refinery. We are way too small a player in the market for it to be particularly useful as a means of controlling markets, and they have no need to bully or threaten us as we are fully compliant and obedient servants.
I guess Angas Taylor and friends may wish to destabilise the Victorian and Federal government but rather a stretch, especially since there is no election nationally for some time.
So I guess by choices have narrowed to the first two.
@watcher | Apr 17 2026 12:47 utc | 310
Does that mean you consider the report of a US made drone flying from Darwin is false?
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 12:52 utc | 306
I would like to know how many in Israel are aware of how nazi-like their regime and army are.
Posted by: Konami | Apr 17 2026 9:56 utc | 279
Most of them, I’m sure, and I’m equally sure they use the time-honored American excuse: “Evil deeds are good deeds when we do them.”
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 17 2026 12:56 utc | 307
“Everyone should see this: since “ceasefire” over 75 US logistics flights into the Gulf. Notice how much depends on Europe’s bases. Shows US preparing for more escalation and its global power would decline markedly without Europe.”
Robert A. Pape @ProfessorPape post on X
Posted by: spudski | Apr 17 2026 12:58 utc | 308
@Tom Pfotzer – I’ll have to leave the Lavrov quote from Beijing uncommented. I can’t make out the strategic reasoning either. Economics is really not my field.
@UWDude – The psi phenomena are somewhat more reliable than being merely erratic. Once you’ve seen them for yourself, you can work on getting them concious by learning to spot them as they appear. Typifying them is another helpful approach. In general, one may say that strong emotions and affects are more prone to result in a breakthrough experience, connecting both present and future events. Below the threshold appears to be a constant, low hum of presence of others, especially if one is in some way (intimately) connected to them. This layer is best accessed through intuition. However, as you say, no means of controlled application of psy powers are known.
Posted by: persiflo | Apr 17 2026 13:00 utc | 309
As the Iran thread is already a jumble of off-topic odds and sods am posting a new ‘Israeli connections’ to the Geelong fuel refinery to the other thread…
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 13:15 utc | 310
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 12:52 utc | 311
Well it might have been a US drone but it would NOT have been operating from Darwin. 3,300 Km is a very long way, even for a large sophisticated drone.
Any US air assets could of course be based in Victoria, but probably not for public information, especially in Melbourne.
I agree the presence of a US drone is suspicious but again I can see no reason for a false flag or indeed any reason for a US drone to be operating in Geelong. Unless there is a lot of stuff we are not being told (like Chinese or Russian naval activity in the Southern Ocean), Geelong and Melbourne seem the places in Australia least needing aerial.surveillance. Now US aerial surveillance In Brisbane i could understand a little more, although I would think Townsville more likely.
watcher | Apr 17 2026 12:47 utc | 310
“I just cannot see what the USA or Israel would have to gain by attacking an Australian refinery. We are way too small a player in the market for it to be particularly useful as a means of controlling markets, and they have no need to bully or threaten us as we are fully compliant and obedient servants.”
Maybe that’s the point, to carry out a clear demonstration strike (clear to those in the know) which wouldn’t significantly affect global supply and which is performed upon a pure unsovereign bootlick vassal who would never do anything about it or even complain. It would be a pure terror attack to put all the vassals on notice that the US could choose to go all in on the destruction of their energy systems if they don’t toe the US line.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 17 2026 13:18 utc | 312
I see now that the famed US blockade wasn’t ever really about stopping g or boarding Iranian oil vessels, as much as it was about military navy vessel positioning. Getting close enough to Iranian ports ect to eventually move in to destroy them.
Bessent’s economic fury unleashed the 14-15th shows zero intent on reaching agreement, as all sanctions would need to be removed.
Israel has already broken ceasefire, although not with bombing campaigns yet:
https://tass.com/world/2118709
“TUNIS, April 17. /TASS/. Ceasefire violations by Israel have been reported in southern Lebanon, with Israeli artillery targeting the town of Khiam, Lebanon’s NNA reported.”
“According to the news agency, five projectiles fell within the town. It also reported that the southern town of Quneitra, near the Israeli border, came under artillery fire. According to NNA, the strikes hit an ambulance crew, resulting in casualties.“
Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 17 2026 13:21 utc | 313
IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!
from the real Dr. Jesus Don Quixote Trump
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 13:21 utc | 314
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2026 12:08 utc | 302 Try better. This one is ridiculous.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 12:13 utc | 303
Iran officially opened the Strait of Hormuz to all travelers before the ceasefire with the US and Israel expires.Brent crude oil prices plummet
JUST IN – Trump thanks Iran for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
You were saying? Iran couldn’t hold out any longer and capitulated.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2026 13:22 utc | 315
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 13:21 utc | 319
*Only for Duration of Lebanon Ceasefire….🤔
Posted by: Nobody | Apr 17 2026 13:23 utc | 316
Seyed Abbas Araghchi @araghchi
In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.
Oil futures down 11% WTI Crude below $82 Dow pre-market up 600 at 49,340 Happy Days are Here Again
Posted by: Perimetr | Apr 17 2026 13:24 utc | 317
Flying D 317
Possible I suppose, but it would only work once ie until nations ramped up security at key sites.
#302 bored..we are -bored- to death with your stoooooopid comments…..
Posted by: sejmon | Apr 17 2026 13:27 utc | 319
TNA: Brian Berletic: US Using Israel To Distract Away From WW3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjbIPpTnDZ0
“Blockade on Iran is an act of war on China.”
Berletic warns ‘WWIII is taking shape right before our very eyes’.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 13:28 utc | 320
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2026 13:22 utc | 320
You want me to engage in a discussion based on the statements of a known, compulsive, pathologic, proven big liar named Donald Trump.
I am not interested in this waste of time and energy.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 13:29 utc | 321
@302
I do not see stock speculation related to fact in the strait of Hormuz.
That opening by Iran is under the ro🪯es, payments and approving already established.
Does Trump call off his blockade.
Israel has already shelled South Lebanon.
Posted by: paddy | Apr 17 2026 13:37 utc | 322
VOW: Qinduo Xu: ‘The Real War is Between US vs China’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6f1s0wr0VQ
“Iran is just the battlefield.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 13:37 utc | 323
I just keep focusing on Israel waging the war for Lebanon as a drinking water issue. Certainly they only seem to think that the only people worthy of that water is them.
https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/israeli-strikes-are-decimating-water-infrastructure-in-lebanon/
Posted by: Laradise | Apr 17 2026 13:44 utc | 324
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 17 2026 11:41 utc | 294
Peter, you are a treasure of information. Swedish or German. Swedish Gotland/Gulland (Goldland), was offered to the Templer Knigths in Malbork that migth have developed into the Hanseatic League. Know anything about that?
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Apr 17 2026 13:46 utc | 325
10 days cease fire
>USA went to war to back to where we started
>Iran has more control over the Persian Gulf
>The US Israel munitions depleted
>Straits of Hormuz is now called Strait of Iran by Trump
Maybe this is how Trump want to win the propaganda war in Iran like how the USA won the Vietnam War decisively.
Let’s see how long this 2 weeks 10 days Cease Fire will last before it expires.
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 13:47 utc | 326
TMJ News: ‘People Wanted To Keep Fighting’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfw0tgST0Mc
“Inside Iran’s war mindset. From Iranian public sentiment to the reality inside the Strait of Hormuz, we unpack the controversies inside the ceasefire, conflicting US vs on-the-ground narratives, and how Iran is reshaping the region as we know it…”
The people may be right.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 13:52 utc | 327
Flying Dutch man 317
I agree with your analysis.
The US will out all its vassals on notice that , apart from near Iran’s missiles, the US is still the Boss.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 17 2026 13:54 utc | 328
JUST IN – Trump thanks Iran for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
You were saying? Iran couldn’t hold out any longer and capitulated.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2026 13:22 utc |
Jesus youre a muppet.
I see that tanker tracking shows multiple Iran linked ‘sanctioned’ tankers have left the gulf. Trump seems to be relying on his time tested ‘bullshit your way through’ with the help of a compliant media to imagineer his way into a blockade. The reality is the scale makes it impossible even with all the naval assets the Americans have. If this is American ‘strategy‘ they might as well stick a fork in her cuz she’s cooked.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Apr 17 2026 13:54 utc | 329
Does anyone think Israel will maintain the cease fire in Lebanon for even 24 hours?
Posted by: Spark | Apr 17 2026 13:56 utc | 330
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 13:47 utc | 331
Ten days, how much time is left for the ceasefire with Lebanon?
Or five days, how much time is left for the ceasefire with Iran?
I used to say that all this would end in a ceasefire but without an agreement.
But ultimately, Iran clearly intends to force these people to sign something and abide by it.
It’s a real feat. Looking forward to see this happening.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 13:59 utc | 331
Lets not talk about the Women, I swear I have seen eyes that would launch a Thousand ships.(…)Posted by: Thunderdownunder | Apr 17 2026 11:49 utc | 298
US women would sink a thousand ships. Obesity…West Europeans towards Russia and USA towards Iran, the same Deadly Vice : jealousy.
Posted by: Asian Frog | Apr 17 2026 11:58 utc | 301
—
O thin men of Haddam,
Why do you imagine golden birds?
Do you not see how the blackbird
Walks around the feet
Of the women about you?
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 14:01 utc | 332
Iran officially opened the Strait of Hormuz to all travelers before the ceasefire with the US and Israel expires.Brent crude oil prices plummet
JUST IN – Trump thanks Iran for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
You were saying? Iran couldn’t hold out any longer and capitulated.
Posted by: bored | Apr 17 2026 13:22 utc | 320
Congratulations. Trump is awesome. A genius really. And America is the undefeated, greatest power the world has known. And magnanimous and so ethical to boot! Bask in the glory of history’s greatest society!
Is that enough for your spank bank? Enough to spare the rest of us from this cheerleading?
Posted by: Centinel | Apr 17 2026 14:03 utc | 333
Posted by: Spark | Apr 17 2026 13:56 utc | 335
Does anyone think Israel will maintain the cease fire in Lebanon for even 24 hours?
If the threat of receiving Iranian missiles was able to convince them to accept the very principle of the ceasefire, this same threat should help to calm their belligerent ardor.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:04 utc | 334
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/04/17/767038/Strait-of-Hormuz-open
Following the implementation of a ceasefire in Lebanon, Iran has announced the complete reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, signaling a successful culmination of its decisive military and diplomatic campaign against US and Israeli aggression.
The reopening of the vital waterway was confirmed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who emphasized that maritime operations would safely resume under Iranian oversight.
“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran,” Araghchi stated.
The Strait had been effectively blocked to vessels affiliated with adversaries and those cooperating with them, a strategic maneuver by Tehran aimed at maintaining security in the waterway during unrelenting US-Israeli aggression that began on February 28.
I suppose the toll still applies?
Friday’s maritime announcement follows a major diplomatic victory for Tehran.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:04 utc | 335
🔴 Senior Military Official: Transit of military vessels through Strait of Hormuz remains prohibited
🔺 Senior Official: Non-military vessels must transit only through route designated by Iran Ports, Maritime Org.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:08 utc | 336
It looks like Iran feels comfortable enough to give the leash it’s holding more leeway.
Posted by: mk | Apr 17 2026 14:08 utc | 337
🇮🇷🇺🇸❗️Iran has not fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz
– Abbas Araqchi stated that until the ceasefire deadline is reached, they have decided to allow ships to pass through a route designated by them. This means the reopening remains conditional and temporary.
– Simultaneously, this decision followed the Lebanon ceasefire, appearing as a promise not to fully reopen the strait until attacks on Lebanon cease. This is not a return of the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-war status but rather an assertion of Iranian control.
– Trump also referred to the “Strait of Iran” instead of the “Strait of Hormuz”; now, Iran is the true owner of the Strait of Hormuz.
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:09 utc | 338
Trump tweet in link
⚡️ Trump ‘PROHIBITS’ Israel from bombing Lebanon
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:12 utc | 339
‘In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely opened for the remaining period of the ceasefire…’ – FM Araghchi
https://x.com/s_m_marandi/status/2045130695496904878
“Everything depends on Netanyahu and the Zionist regime. If they are forced to stop killing children and the ceasefire in Lebanon holds there is hope…”
Since when has USrael ever observed a ceasefire. To the zio-nazis ‘ceasefire means you cease we fire’. That clock is already ticking.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 14:14 utc | 340
watcher | Apr 17 2026 12:47 utc | 310 “I just cannot see what the USA or Israel would have to gain by attacking an Australian refinery. We are way too small a player in the market for it to be particularly useful as a means of controlling markets, and they have no need to bully or threaten us as we are fully compliant and obedient servants.”
Who are the media blaming? From the horses mouth:
If anything, you must learn (and are learning) to dislike and fear the modern and “assimilated” Jew more than you did the old Jew, for he is more dangerous to you. At least the old Jew kept apart from you, was easily recognizable as an individual, as the bearer of the dreaded Jewish world-idea: you were afraid of him and loathed him. But to a large extent he was insulated. But as the Jew assimilates, acquires your languages, cultivates a certain intimacy, penetrates into your life, begins to handle your instruments, you are aware that his nature, once confined safely to his own life, now threatens yours.
You Gentiles – Wikipedia
Posted by: Paul from Norway | Apr 17 2026 14:16 utc | 341
Strategists in Tehran have turned the situation around the strait to their advantage once again. Now Iran’s blockade of Hormuz has been lifted.
This was done against the backdrop of a ceasefire in Lebanon — all fair and square, for Iranian authorities this was their last significant point. And for the duration of the truce on the Lebanese-Israeli border, Hormuz is open for commercial vessels.
➡️Against this backdrop, oil has already begun to plummet sharply — for the first time since March 11, Brent crude is trading at around $90 per barrel. Naturally, for traders it’s time to profit from the sharp decline.
➡️The Americans find themselves in a difficult position. It turns out that now only the US Armed Forces are blockading Hormuz — Trump has already stated that no one is lifting the blockade until a final deal with Iran is reached.
Because then the Iranians can calmly reimpose their own blockade — the ceasefire in Lebanon rests on the “word of honor,” and finding a pretext to return “to square one” is very simple.
❗️However, according to Marine Traffic data, vessels are in no hurry to cross the strait. This is influenced by mistrust of both sides of the conflict, as well as the fact that there should still be floating mines somewhere in the strait, laid by Iran.
📌The fate of this Iranian leadership decision depends on further US actions. If the strait does open, then the “root cause of all problems” will be eliminated — the timeline for global trade recovery remains in an extremely suspended state.
https://t.me/rybar_in_english/30310
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:16 utc | 342
Congratulations. Trump is awesome. A genius really. And America is the undefeated, greatest power the world has known. And magnanimous and so ethical to boot! Bask in the glory of history’s greatest society!
Is that enough for your spank bank? Enough to spare the rest of us from this cheerleading?
Posted by: Centinel | Apr 17 2026 14:03 utc | 338
—
That’s stable genius to you.
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 14:17 utc | 343
🇺🇸🇮🇷 “Naval blockade will remain in FULL FORCE” — Trump
“Until our transactions with Iran is 100% complete. This process should go VERY QUICKLY”
https://t.me/myLordBebo/113914
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:20 utc | 344
Sebgo @336
“Iran clearly intends to force these people to sign something and abide by it.”
Please tell me you’re joking. Even the nazis had a better habit of keeping their promises than America does.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayastha | Apr 17 2026 14:22 utc | 345
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 14:14 utc | 345
Since when has USrael ever observed a ceasefire. To the zio-nazis ‘ceasefire means you cease we fire’. That clock is already ticking.
I believe Iranian “diplomacy” has found a way to speak to these people.
“If you don’t respect the ceasefire, we will violate it too, and here are our targets in Israel.”
By attacking Iran, Israel has given it the right to bomb it in self-defense, and that can only change with a binding peace agreement.
Otherwise, it’s bombing until the end.
Ultimately, I believe we will have a peace agreement, not because they will have changed, but because they no longer have the means to defend Israel.
I hope I am right.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:26 utc | 346
Count on more Iran related munga-munga business to be conducted here. Saw a news clip on AJ with Pak weasel Sharif in deep brownose with Erdogan and GCC bigshots. Up to no good I’m sure.
Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026
https://x.com/AntalyaDF
“Mapping Tomorrow – Managing Uncertainties.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 14:28 utc | 347
Sbego@351:
“I hope I am right.”
I hope so too.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 14:32 utc | 348
Got to love those Euros! Starmer et al are going to have yet another zoom meeting to sort out things in Hormuz. Those doughty Euros have a wonderful plan– When the world does not need us, We Will Be There!
Yes, their plan is to wait until everything is sorted and quiet and there are no more problems. Then they will send in the mighty Euro navies — maybe 3 or 4 ships — and …. do what? Claim the credit?
How can those Euro “Leaders” look at themselves in a mirror? How can the Euro population keep on voting for such worthless characters?
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 17 2026 14:34 utc | 349
So is the temporary opening of the “Straight of Iran” the off ramp for Trump after starting the war that closed it?
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:34 utc | 350
@Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:26 utc | 351
Your reasoning may be correct, I share your hope!
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:36 utc | 351
Trump claims the “deal” is not in any way tied to Lebanon
🇺🇸🇱🇧 Yikes
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/182149
Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 17 2026 14:38 utc | 352
I hope I am right.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:26 utc | 351
Yes I hope so too …
Posted by: Avtonom | Apr 17 2026 14:40 utc | 354
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 17 2026 14:34 utc | 354
Regardless of the euphemisms used, and the number of countries involved, these people are planning a military aggression.
The Strait of Hormuz is not an international waterway.
It is the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
A third country has no right to impose its will there, except in the case of occupation.
Foreign countries occupying and controlling Iran’s territorial waters without its consent and using military means constitute an unprovoked aggression followed by military occupation. Period.
They want to join the war, planning to prolong it after the withdrawal of the United States, and under false pretenses.
Perhaps with the help of neighboring Arab countries.
It’s one of two things. Either they take the Iranians for fools, or they’re convinced the Iranians will be so weakened that they won’t be able to oppose their plans.
Another surprise in store for these incorrigible Western supremacists.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:42 utc | 355
How can those Euro “Leaders” look at themselves in a mirror? How can the Euro population keep on voting for such worthless characters?
Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Apr 17 2026 14:34 utc | 35—
ZH: *EU’S KALLAS: IRAN MUST ABANDON ANY PLAN TO LEVY HORMUZ FEES
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 14:44 utc | 356
Another surprise in store for these incorrigible Western supremacists.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 14:42 utc | 360
—
Dude, get hold of yourself. And are you sure the strait is not covered by the law of the sea thingy?
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 14:48 utc | 357
IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!
30 mins later
THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE. THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! PRESIDENT DONALD J.TRUMP
20 mins later
Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines! Thank you! President DJT
Liar! Seamine is not on and off switch dude. Now 5 mins ago
Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Trump is spamming so much. Is this Trump Friday stock market manipulation?
The only truth is when the live tracker shows how many ships moving in and out of the straits
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 14:55 utc | 358
Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 17 2026 3:47 utc | 231
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Apr 17 2026 3:59 utc | 235
Thank you John and George for links to information on possible US involvement in the Australian refinery destruction. Thanks also to:
Posted by: CrazyCanuck | Apr 17 2026 4:19 utc | 240
for info on similar apparent drone mapping of Cuban targets.
Also thanks to:
Posted by: William Gruff | Apr 17 2026 11:26 utc | 292
for connecting the dots on the implications of the above.
They indicate that the United States and possibly China have satellite based Directed Energy Weapons that have been employed successfully against US and Australian targets. The attack in Australia was finely targeted and the energy finely focused, while strikes on US territory were more diffuse. Drone mapping of Cuba and elsewhere may be preparation for similar attacks in the future.
Posted by: Samu | Apr 17 2026 14:55 utc | 359
Is this Trump Friday stock market manipulation?
Posted by: KillerDoll | Apr 17 2026 14:55 utc | 363
Is the Pope a catholic?
Trump will claim maximum victory to try and CYA for the shitshow he himself created.
Still, good to hear that all those imaginary mines have been cleared :-/
Posted by: ChatNPC | Apr 17 2026 14:59 utc | 360
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 14:48 utc | 362
And are you sure the strait is not covered by the law of the sea thingy?
I’m not an expert in this field.
What I do know are a few simple things.
1) Everyone makes the law within their own territorial waters, unless a neighbor has no access to the sea and they are at peace with them, in which case they must allow them passage.
Iran’s neighbors helped the US and Israel attack it and took advantage of the “right of free passage” to sink its civilian commercial vessels.
It is Iran’s absolute right to cut off all passage to them until a possible peace agreement is reached, and even to sink their ships in the name of self-defense.
2) No one can be at war with a country and at the same time demand the right of free passage in its territorial waters, whether for civilian or military vessels.
In a state of war, even in international waters or elsewhere, such as in the waters of Oman, Iran has the right of self-defense, and therefore the right to target them.
3) A toll on the Strait of Hormuz is equivalent to a transit fee for crossing its territory, a practice already common worldwide.
Passage can be considered free by default in maritime practice.
However, Iran’s aggressors and its complicit neighbors, if they refuse to pay reparations, can be subjected to this toll as a form of forced recovery, with the alternative being the seizure of the vessel and its cargo.
4) In all cases, with or without a toll, and unless otherwise agreed, no foreign country can manage transit through Iran’s territorial waters.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 15:17 utc | 361
Trump says the blockage on Iranian ports is still in place. Absolutely cucked country Iran is proving to be. “Strategic Patience” backed by “Do Nothing” at it again!
Posted by: Angry Retard 😍💢 | Apr 17 2026 15:26 utc | 362
Knowing Trump’s English, the mines might have been ” in the room now”.
Posted by: Giyane | Apr 17 2026 15:26 utc | 363
One comment about a US reaper from Darwin being present. Well it is a rather long way from Darwin to Geelong, (2000 miles) well beyond the travel distance of any aricraft based in Darwin.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 17 2026 12:47 utc | 310
It wasn’t a Reaper attack drone, it was a Triton recon drone.
————
Well it might have been a US drone but it would NOT have been operating from Darwin. 3,300 Km is a very long way, even for a large sophisticated drone.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 17 2026 13:17 utc | 316
This is still incorrect. The Triton drone is the one that can fly for 24+ hours and has a range of 7,000-8,000 nautical miles. Therefore, 2,000 miles from Darwin and back is entirely possible.
Posted by: Kuromi | Apr 17 2026 15:28 utc | 364
So it’s over, Iran has capitulated to the USA and is fully opening the straight again, thus removing the only leverage they have for negotiations. The Persion Gulf will be full of US military assets by the end of the ceasefire and the country will be surrounded by overwhelming ballistic force.
Fucking pathetic, expect them to give US rights to control their oil, they’ll hand over the Uranium and make nearly every single insane concession USA has asked for soon including cutting all exports to China, Mark this comment. We’ve been sucking too much hopium brothers, Iran was always a nation full of compradors who have repeatedly cucked themselves to US demands for decades, why did we think this would turn out any different?
Posted by: Frey Bentos | Apr 17 2026 15:30 utc | 365
Peter AU1 at 92: US extracts something like 13 14mbbls/d from its fraction activities. The crude extracted is a) light and needs to be blended down with a heavier crude, say venezuelan crude and b) a fractioned well is relatively shortlived and will yield much less crude over its lifespan than what an ordinary old well drilled straight down into the source. Say spindeltop in texas, found in 1901 and produced small volumes into the 1990s and saudis ghawar field, found in the first part of 1940# and is still giving 2 to 3 million bbbls/d after more than say 80 years. A fractioned well won’t last more than a couple of years and give a fraction of what a regular oil well would give. In summary, the US is short traditional oil wells and is producing its fractioned crude from a myriad of holes, each providing relatively small volumes but in total a lot of crude! There is already talks that the areas from where the fractioned oil is extracted are running out of space and oil!
Posted by: Nisses | Apr 17 2026 15:34 utc | 366
…However, Iran’s aggressors and its complicit neighbors, if they refuse to pay reparations, can be subjected to this toll as a form of forced recovery, with the alternative being the seizure of the vessel and its cargo.
4) In all cases, with or without a toll, and unless otherwise agreed, no foreign country can manage transit through Iran’s territorial waters.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 15:17 utc | 366
—
Thank you. My question was about your statement about the Strait not being an international waterway. I assume it is. But I agree things are very sticky in the current situation, including who can impose a toll and actually enforce it, etc.
I have the sneaking suspicion that this is all a wink, wink, nod, nod on both sides. Oil drops, peeps drop their hedges right before the weekend. Just an interlude before the next shoe falls.
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 15:49 utc | 367
@Paul from Norway | Apr 17 2026 13:46 utc | 330
Ask AI
The Kinghts of Malta were offered Gotland by a Swedish King Gustav IV in 1806
He was sacked by a coup de’Etat in 1809
Teutonic Knights perhaps would be tied to the Hansa I thought.
The conclusion is that those traders and Knights came from the same regions and spoke the same form of German. They complemented each other covering different features of society. The Knights Templars were used as a model for the Teutonic Knights
The latter were formed in Akko in 1190, that is in current Israel.
But Jews were apparently not involved in the Hansa. Religious rules forbidding it.
In 1198, they were transformed into a military order. At that time, it was expressly decided that they would follow the statutes of the Knights Templar in matters of military affairs and discipline, but the statutes of the Order of St John in matters of medical care.
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 17 2026 15:51 utc | 368
Posted by: persiflo | Apr 17 2026 13:00 utc | 314
Shades of Robert A Monrow of Virginia Beach, Va., who employed ‘out of body’ experiences. He gave (reportedly) accurate psychic readings and predictions of future events. I studied him, lucid dreaming, and other ‘woo woo’ topics when I was a teenager. The CIA and Russians were also studying such matters at that time. I could not satisfy the reproducibility requirements of the Scientific Method, and eventually stopped pursuing those interests.
Any further discussion of this belongs on the Open Thread.
Posted by: Samu | Apr 17 2026 15:55 utc | 369
I was curious about what the military geniuses had been thinking about bombing really deep. Using more than a single bunkerbuster. I obviously wondered how they argued about the Iranian deeply buried sites. When I found out more I understood that the Iranians and the Chinese have really prepared themselves thoroughly.
Posted by: petergrfstrm | Apr 17 2026 16:12 utc | 370
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 15:49 utc | 372
The Strait of Ormuz is NOT international waters.
It is territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
This was never disputed anywhere.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 16:18 utc | 371
@Posted by: Jim H | Apr 16 2026 18:05 utc | 32
The Africa route from Norfolk to the Gulf of Oman adds roughly 6,000–7,000 nautical miles compared to the Mediterranean/Suez route, which in practical terms means the trip takes 2–3 weeks longer than normal.
It is due in late April or early May.
Posted by: Shahmaran | Apr 17 2026 16:25 utc | 372
The Strait of Ormuz is NOT international waters.
It is territorial waters of Iran and Oman.This was never disputed anywhere.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 16:18 utc | 376
—
I wasn’t disputing that. I only meant that it might be, by convention, also considered an international waterway due to its strategic trading importance. BUT Karlof1 said in the other thread that Iran never signed the Law of the Sea pact. If Oman did, maybe ships could use their side of the Strait. Maybe it doesn’t matter if Iran signed it or not. I don’t know, I was just asking.
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 16:55 utc | 373
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 16:55 utc | 378
All the distinctions you wish to make might matter if peace were prevailing.
But that is not the case; this is a time of war, and Iran is the country under attack.
Not only does it have the right to take all measures for its security in its neighborhood, but above all, it has every right to attack the interests of its enemies and aggressors in the name of self-defense.
Even in Omani waters, a civilian or military vessel belonging to one of the countries that participated directly or indirectly in the attacks against Iran is a legitimate target.
Because they targeted its civilian and military interests and infrastructure.
And by the way, they also used Omani waters and territory.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 17:13 utc | 374
All the distinctions you wish to make might matter if peace were prevailing.
Posted by: Sebgo | Apr 17 2026 17:13 utc | 379
—
True!
Posted by: frito | Apr 17 2026 21:10 utc | 375
petergrfstrm | Apr 17 2026 11:41 utc | 294
*** Wingate was known as a brilliant, if eccentric, officer who also taught himself Hebrew***
What I’ve ever read about him indicates that he was a life-long fanatical Zionist nutcase given command of a UK military unit in Burma — contrary to propaganda, of little use — mainly to to get rid of him from anywhere else.
Frey Bentos | Apr 17 2026 15:30 utc | 370
…..
Ever examined a modern day Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie?
They used to, like their corned beef, be well regarded in Britain, long ago….
Now there’s just barely adequate puff pastry hiding a somewhat sparse filling of vile, jellyish, onion-flavoured sludge almost entirely devoid of either steak or kidney.
Sam at 218: you are unduly harsh where vladimir putin is concerned but that is most likely due to a lack of insight (iq) and understanding. Vladimir saved Russia from the US vultures that almost managed to steal russias resources, factories etc, under yeltsin who slick willy kept as a bff. And as you most likely don’t know (iq) the US never forgets and never forgives and thus the US is still smarting from that complete setback and remember, which you won’t (iq) that russia holds about 40 pct of the worlds resources and had slick willy managed to mastermind the theft of those resources he would have a statue in washington 100 m high. And he was foiled by vladimir who went on to rebuild russia, raising the standard of living hardly seen anywhere else in the world except maybe china while the demented morons in the white house are busy developing the US in the opposite direction.
iran has a number of russian s300 missiles hanging about which keeps the jews away, forcing them to fire their missiles from outside of iran and those missiles is in serious short supply and will be hard to come by. Russia has provided all kinds of intelligence to iran making certain that iran can empty the garage before the jews nissiles arrives. And so on!
I guess you should recalibrate your brain to think properly, which it doesn’t do today.
Posted by: Nisses | Apr 18 2026 12:00 utc | 378