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US says naval blockade of Iran remains in effect

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The United States announces that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, carrying 3,500 U.S. troops, has reached the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command in the Middle East on March 2026. [US CENTCOM/Handout – Anadolu Agency]

US forces continue to enforce a naval blockade against Iran in the Arabian Sea, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday, Anadolu reports.

“American forces continue to strictly enforce the ongoing naval blockade against Iran,” the command said in a post on the US social media platform X, alongside a photograph it said showed the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook transiting the Arabian Sea while an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter operated nearby.

CENTCOM said that, as of Saturday, US forces had redirected five commercial vessels and disabled another.

READ: US strike on water desalination plant left about 10,000 without water: Iranian official

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Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Genocide denying former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government's support for Israel's Gaza genocide and the UK government and military's active participation in genocide.
Genocide denying UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide and the UK government and military’s active participation in genocide.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.

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Iran’s supreme leader accuses US of MoU breach, says Trump’s signature ‘worthless’

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A view of a banner featuring Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as the attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran continue on March 14, 2026. [Fatemeh Bahrami – Anadolu Agency]

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday accused the US of repeatedly violating a memorandum of understanding signed by the presidents of the two countries, saying the alleged breaches showed that US President Donald Trump’s signature was “utterly worthless,” Anadolu reports.

“The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility,” Khamenei said in a statement on the US social media company X.

“Coercion, totalitarianism, and brutality are inseparable components of the US creed and doctrine,” he added.

Khamenei warned that as the “American enemy is seeking to escalate the conflict thereby incurring even heavier costs and further humiliation,” it should know that the Iranian people and the “Resistance Front” have “unforgettable lessons” in store for it.

READ: Iran says 50 killed in US strikes since June 27

“One of the most fundamental imperatives at this juncture is upholding the sacred unity among all segments of the public and officials and protecting the dignity and independence of our beloved Iran, particularly in the face of the criminal and cunning US enemy,” he said.

“The valor of the Islamic fighters and the courage of the people in the southern regions in recent days are examples of the Iranian nation’s unforgettable lessons for the American enemy,” the supreme leader added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also called for national unity, writing on X: “Adherence to the requirements of sacred unity and avoidance of disagreement and division are the key to victory at this historic juncture.”

Earlier, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that Tehran has suspended its commitments to the MoU after “the US violated its commitments.”

Tensions have heightened in the Middle East, where the US and Iran continue to exchange attacks.

The military escalation comes despite a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding signed in June to end the war and reach a lasting peace agreement.

READ: US strike on water desalination plant left about 10,000 without water: Iranian official

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Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Genocide denying former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government's support for Israel's Gaza genocide and the UK government and military's active participation in genocide.
Genocide denying UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide and the UK government and military’s active participation in genocide.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.

Continue ReadingIran’s supreme leader accuses US of MoU breach, says Trump’s signature ‘worthless’

Iran threatens to close Bab al-Mandab Strait

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A Natural satellite view of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on March 28, 2015 in Bab el-Mandeb, Yemen [USGS/NASA Landsat/Orbital Horizon/Gallo Images/Getty Images]

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to close “all other export routes used by the United States and its allies” after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz and Washington reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the IRGC said in a statement that the region’s energy exports would be “either for everyone or for no one”.

Analysts told Reuters that Iran was signalling it could rely on its Houthi allies in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the strategic waterway leading to the Red Sea. Such a move could open a new front against Washington and threaten two of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key route for Saudi oil exports and a significant share of global maritime trade.

READ: Iranian parliament’s national security committee says US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding is no longer valid

A senior Houthi official said on Monday that the group was prepared to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait if Saudi Arabia continued its attacks on Yemen. According to a report published by the Iranian television channel Press TV, the official said such a move could push oil prices to 200 dollars a barrel.

The Houthis launched missiles at Saudi Arabia after accusing the kingdom of bombing Sanaa airport on Monday, an attack they said violated a four-year truce between Riyadh and the Iran-aligned group.

The IRGC said on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until “America’s evil ends”. Before the outbreak of the war in February, about one-fifth of the world’s daily oil and gas shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC also announced that it had targeted what it described as command-and-control facilities, logistics sites, fuel supplies and military equipment belonging to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, saying the attack was in response to the latest US strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.

OPINION: Chokepoints of power: Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the new corridor wars

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingIran threatens to close Bab al-Mandab Strait

Iran condemns UK designation of IRGC as ‘terror group’

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participate in a military exercise aimed at “increasing combat capabilities” in Tehran province, Iran, on May 12, 2026. [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Anadolu Agency]

Iran on Tuesday condemned the UK government’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, saying Britain would bear the “political, legal and diplomatic consequences” of the move, Anadolu reports.

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the designation as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said it violated international law, including the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

The ministry accused the UK of basing its decision on what it described as “baseless security allegations.”

It said Iran reserved all its rights under the UN Charter and international law to take countermeasures in response to what it called Britain’s “inappropriate” action.

On Monday, the UK designated the IRGC as a terrorist group using new powers introduced under the National Security (State Threats) Act, according to media reports.

In a statement to parliament, Security Minister Angela Eagle said the government had “identified activity linked to the IRGC involving threats to life and intimidation on UK soil,” Sky News reported.

READ: UK lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as ‘terror group’

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/

Genocide denying former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government's support for Israel's Gaza genocide and the UK government and military's active participation in genocide.
Genocide denying UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says that UK is suspending 30 of 350 arms licences to Israel. He also confirms the UK government’s support for Israel’s Gaza genocide and the UK government and military’s active participation in genocide.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIran condemns UK designation of IRGC as ‘terror group’

‘Don’t Talk About It’: Trump Tells Journalists to Stop Asking About Strait of Hormuz After Latest Closure

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Article by Brad Reed republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit, on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Despite the strait’s closure, Trump insisted it was “open as far as we’re concerned.”

US President Donald Trump on Sunday twice told journalists to stop asking him about the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran once again closed after the president declared an end to the ceasefire deal between the two countries.

The first instance came during an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker, who pointed to conflicting statements from the Iranian government and US Central Command about the status of the strait, which is an essential shipping lane for global petroleum supplies.

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Trump replied that “it’s open, and I don’t want to talk about it because I want to honor the life” of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who died on Saturday from what his office described as “a brief and sudden illness.”

“So I don’t want to talk about it,” Trump continued. “I told you that before the call.”

Shortly after, during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump was again asked whether the strait was still open.

“It’s open as far as we’re concerned,” Trump told Tapper. “Don’t talk about it. Talk about the reason you asked me to speak.”

“Okay,” Tapper replied. “We appreciate your time, sir.”

Iran shut down shipping traffic in the strait after Trump launched an illegal war against the country in late February. The strait’s closure resulted in spiking oil and gasoline prices, which coincided with further erosion in Trump’s approval ratings.

Although traffic through the strait initially picked up in the wake of a June memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran, it has since slumped as the ceasefire between the two nations has fallen apart.

Ana Marie Cox, contributing editor at The New Republic, bashed both Welker and Tapper for heeding the president’s requests and not pushing him to answer questions about the war he unlawfully started.

“Frankly astonished that supposed news sources agreed to terms to interview Trump and appeared to be deferential to them,” Cox wrote in a social media post, “enough that they were apologetic in brining up other topics.”

Cox’s sentiment was echoed by Kai Ryssdal, host of NPR’s Marketplace, who remarked that “the guy being interviewed doesn’t get to pick the questions.”

Journalist Helen Kennedy challenged Trump’s assertion that asking about the status of the Iran war was irrelevant when talking about Lindsey Graham.

“Making war with Iran was Lindsey Graham’s favorite thing,” Kennedy observed. “It’s not like it’s unrelated.”

Article by Brad Reed republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.
Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Strait of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Continue Reading‘Don’t Talk About It’: Trump Tells Journalists to Stop Asking About Strait of Hormuz After Latest Closure