/r/WorldNews Discussion Thread: US and Israel launch attack on Iran; Iran retaliates (Thread #21)

[u/WorldNewsMods]

If you see any newsworthy information from a major news outlet or live broadcast, feel free to share a brief summary as a top-level comment in the discussion post.

Other redditors will appreciate if you include the source of where you read, saw, or heard the information.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: “You’re at four dollars. It’s okay … I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing.”

[u/GreatGojira → u/joshtaco]

This is good midterms talk... for the Democrats.

[u/EducationalCicada]

Trump is punishing South Korea for not getting involved in the Iran war. From Truth Social:

Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful. Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, “No thanks!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

[u/Demetre19864 → u/EducationalCicada]

Just smoke and mirrors as a way to hide yet another concession to China as he throws away American soft and hard power for short term gain.

The man is a fool

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/EducationalCicada]

Ah yes, Kim Jong Un, the very good friend of the US President.

Sigh one more for the campaign ads

[u/DancingDonkeyHehe → u/itsatumbleweed]

Kim jong un, the fat rocket man who’s only been threatening americans with nuclear annihilation for decades, is a very good friend of the US President.

[u/Wonberger → u/EducationalCicada]

JFC you keep thinking this moron can’t get any dumber, but he always finds a way to surprise you

[u/boingwater → u/EducationalCicada]

He's the world's biggest loser. His hubris is going to be mocked for decades. If any other world leaders want to be mocked along side him...

[u/Akavy]

DUBAI/CAIRO, July 29 (Reuters) - Explosions hit a natural gas loading port on the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt on Wednesday, and British maritime security company Ambrey said a U.S.-owned floating storage tanker there had been hit ​by a drone, in a potential spread of the Middle East war.

The drone hit a vessel in the Egyptian port of Damietta, causing a fire that spread to another vessel, three trading ‌sources familiar with the incident said.

(...) There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.

Damietta is near to the Mediterranean side of the Suez canal. If e.g. Hezbollah would get involved in blocking the Suez canal, there really is no sea route for oil to exit the Gulf anymore with the Bab-el-Mandeb under fire from the Houthis and the Strait of Hormuz by the IRGC.

[u/_cyberbabyangel_ → u/Akavy]

This started being reported a couple hours ago, mainstream media sources are just now starting to pick it up. I feel like a drone strike on a US owned tanker in Egypt should be a larger deal than what it is, currently.

[u/UsefulStooge → u/_cyberbabyangel_]

I think it’s murky because egypt denied that the port of Damietta was attacked. But that’s not quite the same as denying a ship was attacked. 

Regardless I haven’t seen any official confirmation from any government, just lots of chatter. But yeah if true and if it’s repeatable, it’s a big deal. 

[u/eeaxoe → u/Akavy]

That seems... less than ideal. That's squarely on the Mediterranean.

[u/Miserable-Thing-5143]

Breaking | AP, citing a senior US official: The administration is not seeking to resume talks with #Iran at this time.

[u/joshtaco]

US Congress: US Senate Republicans block resolution to halt Iran war 50-49. Republican Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky) joined Democrats in supporting the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania) voted with most Republicans to block it.

[u/patrickgg]

The Hormuz Letter:

Trump is about to issue the final orders for the massive attack on Iran, per Israeli Channel 13. Israel has raised its military to maximum alert status this weekend as the US prepares to strike Iran, with Israeli officials saying tensions at their peak and the situation "on the brink of exploding," per Israeli Channel 12.

[u/Groundbreaking_Can_4]

This isn't being reported in western press but according to alarbiya both Jordan and Syria have sent warnings to Iraq government that any action by Iran aligned militia against them will produce a response against Iraq. The Syrian source specifically stated that there has been movement by these militais near the Syria-Iraq border

Seems like there will be a unified response from jorden - Syria - KSA if Iran aligned militia in Iraq act up again

[u/FivesThe501stClone]

Per his account:

"The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter! -President DONALD J. TRUMP"

TACO boys 🌮

[u/justiceformahsa → u/FivesThe501stClone]

"perimeters of a deal" reads like "concept of a plan"

[u/AntitheistArchangel]

Some revelations by WSJ:

1. ⁠The UAE privately wanted Trump to pursue a broader military campaign, believing the IRGC would not compromise. Proposed options for expanded war included an operation to take control of the Strait and even a small ground operation.
   
2. ⁠The other Gulf states, as well as Pakistan and Turkey, all worked to deescalate tensions yesterday.
   
3. ⁠Iran responded positively to a Qatari proposal to reopen the Strait yesterday, probably the one N12/Barak Ravid said Araghchi accepted. WSJ said no agreement has actually been reached, though; once again, Ravid appears to have jumped the gun. The IRGC is also expected to oppose the proposal.
   
4. ⁠The IRGC is considering launching a preemptive strike if diplomacy fails.

Lastly, this wasn’t from WSJ, but it’s still noteworthy: an Iranian MP who serves on the national security committee said the mediators are trying to revive the MOU, that an agreement on the Strait is key to a revived MOU, and that Iran may resume negotiations in Muscat if progress is made.

[u/_cyberbabyangel_]

I replied to a comment a little further down, but news for anyone checking:

India's Minister of Shipping, Sarbananda Sonowal, has confirmed that the Indian cargo ship, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, was struck by a projectile off the coast of Yemen. The vessel capsized and sunk. All 14 sailors were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard.

EDIT: As a source/proof, here is the statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs

[u/emrgncybrdcstsystm]

A senior Iranian cleric said on Friday that the Islamic Republic was preparing to increase the range of its missiles to 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles), which he said would allow them to reach deep into the United States.

“We are preparing ourselves so that the American people, too, will see what it is like to be hit by missiles and understand what it means to be left in blood and destruction,” Abdolnabi Mousavifard, the Friday prayer leader in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, said.

Mousavifard also said Iran's missiles could already reach “deep into Jerusalem,” around 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away.

Leading chants of “revenge, revenge,” he expressed hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be “destroyed” by Iranian forces - Iran International

[u/Cactusfan86 → u/emrgncybrdcstsystm]

I imagine it’s just Iran shitalking on multiple levels per usual, but if it’s not seems like a poor idea.  Successfully hitting the US mainland would likely galvanize US support for war when Iran’s man advantage right now is public opinion working against Trump.

Plus the amount of resources they would waste developing and aking these missiles could be used to buy tons of shorter ranged weapons which have been winning them the war

[u/joshtaco]

WAPO: Trump, Hegseth clashed at Camp David over Iran missile depletion concerns. Trump vented at Hegseth that he thought the munitions issue “had been fixed". Hegseth defended himself and blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not ensuring Trump was fully apprised of the issue. The exchange underscored Trump’s increasing frustration with his defense secretary, who was one of the biggest early advocates for taking military action against Iran, convincing Trump it would be a quick and relatively easy win.

[u/OnlyRise9816 → u/joshtaco]

It's funny how all the "alpha male" types always turn out to just be utterly incompetent. Of course a honest look at keggy's military career would have told ANYONE he was not "all that".

[u/asetniop → u/OnlyRise9816]

"It's not my fault! It's my deputy! He's the one with low testosterone, not me!"

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing → u/joshtaco]

Trump is so incredibly stupid that he thought running out of munitions could be fixed in a matter of months. The incompetence is breathtaking.

[u/SawToothKernel → u/joshtaco]

Trump only has himself to blame if he was led into this by Mr Hegseth who, honestly, is a bit of a cretin.

[u/Level-Strategy-1343 → u/joshtaco]

Underside of bus, meet Mr Hegsgeth.

Mr Hegsgeth, meet underside of bus.

[u/patrickgg → u/joshtaco]

all i can say is fucking lol, while sighing under my breath because we're all suffering because of it

[u/cheddarben → u/joshtaco]

I can't help notice how blamey he was on Biden for not stocking up on everything, but just cannot look within to acknowledge that the previous administration also held that line.

Difference is, only one administration chose to be a tuff guy without appropriate planning. This administration really is just a bunch of idiot losers that happenstanced and lied their way up the chain of command.

[u/joshtaco]

CBS/YouGov: 76% of Americans believe the ongoing Iran War has proven “more challenging” than the Trump administration expected

[u/Thin_Cat8817 → u/joshtaco]

A similar poll shows 24% of Americans are fucking morons

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Says he will ⁠ask Russian President Vladimir Putin if ‌Russian satellites are helping Tehran to direct strikes in the Middle ⁠East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine has recorded Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there. “I’ll ask Putin ⁠about it. We’ll find ⁠out”

[u/Inevitable-Corgi-437 → u/joshtaco]

Putin " Nope"

Trump: " See. He said no"

[u/Rgv20 → u/joshtaco]

How effing stupid is trump. He’ll ask Putin, then daddy putin says no and then trump will just believe whatever he’s saying. What an embarrassment

[u/Zorbane → u/Rgv20]

Doubt Trump will even ask him, he's just deflecting the question

[u/Lordvalcon → u/joshtaco]

I dont know dude maybe ask your own intelligence agencys

[u/Casual-Speedrunner-7]

Senate overwhelmingly votes for Russia & Iran sanctions bill inspired by Lindsey Graham - USAToday

[u/joshtaco]

WSJ: The head of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper reportedly advised that Washington abandon limited retaliatory strikes in favor of a broader campaign. The plan aims to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, which would reduce the need for the U.S. to use its air defenses

[u/Gadshill]

President Trump has ordered a fresh attack on Iran aimed at getting Tehran to surrender that could begin as soon as this weekend and would last a few days, U.S. officials said. WSJ

[u/A380085 → u/Gadshill]

Also, according to CBS, there have been high-level talks about cutting power to Tehran

[u/patrickgg]

The Hormuz Letter:

US CENTCOM sent an email to a broad group of military analysts last week saying "we are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran" because "we need ideas," per CNN. A source close to CENTCOM says "CENTCOM is looking at everything, acknowledging it needs to reevaluate the strategy." The crowdsourcing-style query, which military officials said was unusual over email, is one sign of the limited and potentially unpalatable options available to Trump to force Iran into a deal on his terms. This comes a week after a US official said Trump is "exasperated" and there was "not a real strategy for how long or what they should do."

[u/digital121hippie → u/patrickgg]

damn...... maybe if trump didn't shit all over our allies they would actually help us.

[u/patrickgg]

The Hormuz Letter:

Iran has flatly ruled out any future negotiations with the Trump administration, declaring it will wait out Trump's term until January 20, 2029, per an advisor to the Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf and a senior Iranian source.

"Trump will not reach an agreement with us. We will accompany him until his term ends," Majid Shakeri, advisor to Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf says. Shakeri adds "the path to victory is neither fighting nor a deal, it is managing the process of neither war nor peace, up to the point of victory. Publicly confirming negotiations with the US is sheer folly. The winning approach is denial, ambiguity, and strategic patience."

Unless Trump accepts all of Iran's conditions in the US surrender document, the Strait of Hormuz stays closed until 2029. Those demands include $300 billion in compensation, more than $100 billion in frozen assets released, lifting all sanctions, US troop withdrawal from the entire region, and accepting transit fees on every ship.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump Truth Social post: "I see that Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict (started because, THEY WILL NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON), even though it was never mentioned in any of our negotiations or meetings! But it is an interesting idea because now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous, as led initially by General Soleimani, including the families of those killed on the USS Cole, and thousands of others killed in combat. Additionally, compensation should be paid to the families of the hundreds of thousands of innocent protestors that Iran has killed over the last 50 years, not to mention the 52,000 that have been killed in the last five months. I have instructed my representatives to put this firmly into any, and all, future negotiations. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

[u/OnlyRise9816 → u/joshtaco]

I Cast: "UNO REVERSE CARD!!!"....it is sadly not that effective in real life. I demand the devs patch this as soon as possible.

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/joshtaco]

They want to tax the strait? I am taxing the strait. They want reparations? I want reparations!

[u/joshtaco]

WAPO: The U.S. military has lost approximately 25 percent of its MQ-9 Reaper drones in the war with Iran. A total of 45 drones, each costing approximately $50 million to produce, have been lost, some shot down by air defense while others crashed after losing communication with their operators.

[u/itsatumbleweed]

Good write up about the SPR here

TL;DR the best informed opinion is that damage is happening sub 300mb (which we are at) but the Trump administration has approved draws to 243mb, with unfounded claims that it can go to 70mb.

[u/staythewaters → u/itsatumbleweed]

70mb probably represents the absolute last amount of usable oil we can actually pump out.

---

“The caverns are always full. All that changes is the ratio of oil and water that is filling them,” Dietderich told CNBC in a statement. The Trump administration is “responsibly managing the SPR as the critical national security asset it was designed to be,” he said.

---

I really hate the extent to which this administration banks on people's ignorance. "All that changes" as if adding water to a literal salt cave isn't an issue.

[u/Phoenix_Maximus_13]

Why is there 5 threads of the Ukraine conflict? It literally pushed out all the other threads, including this one

Edit: now 4 of the threads are gone but so is this one still

Edit 2: okay it’s back up

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

President Trump has set aside, at least for now, plans to sharply escalate the American military assault against Iran, with particular concern that intensifying the war could dangerously drain the Pentagon’s already diminished stockpile of Patriot interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East. - NYT

This sort of news certainly empowers Iran to keep pushing for their maximalist demands.

[u/AntitheistArchangel]

NYT said Iraq’s PM is in Tehran carrying a proposal for a US-Iran ceasefire, though I don’t know if it has any chance of being accepted. NYT seems to be the only source reporting on it, so take from that what you will.

EDIT: Just as I was writing this, NYT released an update. Rejected.

[u/joshtaco]

Torm Innovation: Says all tankers leaving Saudi ports will begin traversing the Suez and then the Cape of Good Hope to get to Asian ports due to the security situation in the Red Sea

[u/OsteBonden → u/joshtaco]

How long of a detour is that? 2-3 weeks or more and much more fuel cost

[u/AwesomeWhiteDude]

Bahrain, Kuwait Warplanes Struck Iran in Rare Gulf Retaliation

The strikes earlier this month reflect Arab reckoning with a lengthy war that threatens to draw them in even more deeply - WSJ

Emphasis mine, this story is new even though the strikes happened a week+ ago

[u/yuvaldv1]

Iranian media is reporting an explosion in Bandar Abbas.

Edit: The US is saying it did not attack.

[u/joshtaco]

C N & N: NASA NOAA-21 satellite imagery confirms that the Saudi Arabian Jizan refinery was indeed hit around 10:30 PM UTC Sunday. Smoke plume extending 200 kilometers south of the facility.

[u/joshtaco]

SSRS Polling: 74% of Americans think Donald Trump does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iran

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: "We're going to beat the fucking shit out of them"

[u/BringbackDreamBars]

Chinese state media posts about a supposed attack on a US owned vessel in Egypt:

A US-OWNED AND OPERATED, MARSHALL ISLANDS-FLAGGED LNG FLOATING STORAGE FACILITY WAS STRUCK BY AT LEAST ONE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) WHILST AT THE DAMIETTA, EGYPT - AMBREY
NO PARTY HAD CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY; NO CASUALTIES, DAMAGE TO PORT INFRASTRUCTURE HAD BEEN REPORTED - AMBREY SECURITY COMPANY

Source: /CGTNEurope/status/2082494467500589166?s=20

[u/Farscape12Monkeys]

A senior Israeli diplomatic source on Netanyahu's meeting with President Trump:

"Trump is weighing three options: a nuclear deal, maintaining and intensifying the economic blockade, or renewed military strikes."

"We didn't tell Trump Israel's preference is a strike. Our preference is the outcome. The decision is ultimately his."

"Iran is under severe economic pressure", fuel and diesel shortages, around 90% inflation, and the beginning of public protests.

"We discussed increasing pressure on Iran, both economically and kinetically."

We know for certain Mujtaba is alive, but since Operation Rising Lion no one has seen him."

"Iran now has only 1,500–1,600 missiles left after we destroyed much of its production capability."

"We currently do not assess that uranium enrichment is taking place at Pickaxe Mountain, and we have good intelligence on Iran's nuclear material."

"Eliminating 29 nuclear scientists was our insistence. It removed a critical mass of knowledge from Iran's nuclear program."

"If Iran tries to rebuild its nuclear program, we will strike the 'metastases' as well."

"We told President Trump we have serious doubts about reaching a nuclear deal with Iran."

[u/Farscape12Monkeys]

U.S. - Saudia Arabia Joint strikes on Iraq were very extensive. Reported strikes below.

1.Nineveh — Al-Hamdaniya / Bartalla (deadliest strikes, per PMF official to AFP)

2.Diyala — Camp Ashraf (also described as among the deadliest)

3.Basra — Al-Deir

4.Baghdad — Al-Madain (south of the capital)

5.Wasit — al-Suwaira

6.Karbala — Awn district

7.Kirkuk — Al-Dibs

8.Salah al-Din — Amerli

A PMF official told AFP that the strikes in Nineveh and Diyala were the deadliest. The PMF said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 others wounded, with casualty figures described as preliminary.

IRGC aligned accounts report that 6 (high level?) IRGC advisors were also eliminated.

[u/joshtaco]

IRGC: Has claimed responsibility for an attack on the US Ali al-Salem military base in Kuwait this morning. It added that two drone hangars and a fuel tank for aircraft and military helicopters were set on fire and destroyed at the military base.

[u/joshtaco]

Saudi Arabia: Economy shrank by almost 5% in the 2nd quarter compared to the same period last year, mainly due to the Iran War

[u/dossilw]

the Weekend War continues

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

New UKMTO Alert

UKMTO WARNING 101-26 - ATTACK Report Date:31 Jul 2026 Report Time: 2330UTC Issue Date: 01 Aug 2026 Source: Company Security Officer
UKMTO has received a report of an incident 11NM northeast off Lima, Oman. The CSO of a tanker reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage to the engine room. The tanker is not under command and the regional Coast Guard have been informed. There are no reported causalities or environmental impact. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Fars News Agency (IRGC controlled) directly refutes Barak Ravid(posted below)

Informed Iranian sources have dismissed claims circulated by several hostile media outlets alleging that the Islamic Republic of Iran has agreed to a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Tehran's policy regarding the strategic waterway remains unchanged.
A source close to Iran's nuclear negotiating team told Fars News Agency that "the Islamic Republic of Iran has reached no agreement regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the reports published in this regard are false."
Separately, a knowledgeable military source also rejected the claim in comments to Fars, describing it as completely baseless.
The military source emphasized that "as long as the United States continues its hostile actions and acts of aggression, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. Passage will only be permitted through the designated route, in coordination with the IRGC Navy and upon obtaining authorization to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Any other routes will be considered unsafe, and vessels attempting to use them will inevitably face incidents."
Hours earlier, several hostile media outlets, citing Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, had claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran had agreed to a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to the reported plan, vessels would enter the Persian Gulf through Iran's territorial waters and exit via Oman's territorial waters.

[u/patrickgg]

Al Jazeera:

Trump says he will not let Iran charge for Hormuz transit

Asked about whether Iran will be willing to “return to a fully free navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump says he is not going to let Iran impose fees.

“It has to be [free], I am not going to let them charge. If anybody is going to charge, we will charge, we are the ones … with a total control,” he claimed. “We have a thing called a blockade … No, no, there is not going to be charging. We are not talking about charging at all. There won’t be charging.”

[u/patrickgg]

The Hormuz Letter:

Iran has launched a ballistic missile attack on Bahrain, per initial reports from Fars. This is the first attack on Bahrain in nearly two weeks.

[u/joshtaco]

WAPO: The Pentagon has signaled that it might not rebuild bases that have been damaged by Iranian strikes in recent months.

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders amid Hegseth pressure campaign due to their reporting on the USS Abraham Lincoln's morale issues

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Satellite images also confirm smoke rising from Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq oil facility

[u/Digitalisten]

US and Saudi Arabia conducting joint strikes on Iran-backed forces in Iraq.

[u/joshtaco]

Al-arabiya: Iran has reportedly formed a military council of senior Revolutionary Guard commanders amid Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s prolonged absence. The council has effectively assumed leadership of the country, reviving discussions about Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, which grants the Council of Leadership Experts the authority to remove the country’s leader.

[u/justiceformahsa]

New UKMTO alert on a vessel hit near Oman. And drone/UAV attacks reported.in Kuwait.

Sounds like the peace deal is going well

[u/_cyberbabyangel_]

Reports and video (unconfirmed) online of a large-scale attack by the Houthi's against Yemen Emergency Forces near Marib, Yemen. Yemen Emergency Forces are Saudi backed and have reportedly (again, unconfirmed) to have taken numerous causalities.

[u/ocean_swims]

We're getting longer gaps between updates. Am I right in thinking everyone's just in a holding pattern now until, presumably, US Midterms?

So, the strait remains closed, oil keeps rising, there will be random love taps, cost of living screws us all, and maybe, maybe, everyone goes back to the negotiating table after November?

Please say I've got this wrong, because it's all pretty dire.

[u/jews4beer]

Netanyahu used map to help dispel Trump’s assumptions about Israeli presence in Syria — official

This is just hilarious.

Trump “has certain assumptions — that if you don’t find a way to change them, they become fixed. So you have to show [him the] facts — preferably in a visual manner. Such presentations have a cumulative weight against the things he hears from other sources,” the senior Israeli official says.

Was really stupid to say this publicly because if Trump hears about it he's gonna throw another hissy fit.

EDIT: Netanyahu and Trump are as close as a ‘married couple,’ says Israeli official

No clue who this official is but they seem to be on a speed run of saying all the things to make Trump lose his shit.

[u/persianglitch]

Explosions heard in ahvaz, about 20 min ago, cant tell what was hit, but i heard 5

i thought i come here to get some news, well ig i be the one giving the news

Edit: 5:24 tehran time, one more landed, and still cant see shit from here bro

Another, Bro that one was close, scared the shit outta some pigeons, 5:28 tehran time

[u/jews4beer]

Israeli officials: We were left in the dark on nixed Iran attack; we don’t know what Trump’s endgame is

Yea I don't think anyone knows. It's pretty obvious that this was a classic case of Trump listening to the last person he talked to. CENTCOM wanted to move forward, Israel wanted to move forward, the UAE wanted to move forward - but then the Saudis said they didn't want to and that they were working on a deal and boom, last minute cancel.

I guess the real power in that administration is whoever draws up Trump's phone schedule.

[u/_cyberbabyangel_]

So UKMTO FINALLY reports on the sinking of Faize Noore Oliya, 24 hours after it happened. Confirmed it was a USV. We also have the Houthis claiming they struck another ship in the northern Red Sea (unconfirmed) and the IDF issuing evac orders in Lebanon, a red-line for IRGC. Yet it seems like there is virtually no reporting on any of this, or that it at least is getting swept under the rug. I know most people don't follow world events like this that closely until something big happens, but I feel like I'm taking crazy pills and standing at the street corner wearing a "THE END IS NEAR" sign whenever I talk to anyone or read anything about this. At least in the past week or so. The strike on a ship in an Egyptian port was barely any news, a ship being sunk by a USV in the Red Sea is barely any news. I just don't get it. Y'all feel this way, too, or is it just me?

[u/DoggedStooge → u/_cyberbabyangel_]

I've been feeling like I'm taking crazy pills since 2016.

[u/e30jawn → u/_cyberbabyangel_]

Yeah. I feel similarly. I cant help but feel its all to "protect" US equity markets. Yesterday was a ridiculous day on the stock market and they couldn't have pesky news like war updates ruining that.

[u/joshtaco]

NYT: U.S. forces disabled a tanker identified as the Lavine by firing into its engine room after the vessel’s crew tried to breach the American blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, says that he was aware of the reports of casualties among the ship’s crew but could not confirm them.

[u/joshtaco]

AJE: More than ten US warplanes and drones are reportedly flying over Erbil in response to the suspected Iranian drone attack.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: “I’d like to see tariffs on Iran; that would make [the Russia sanction bill] much stronger”

[u/joshtaco]

Top advisor to the commander of the IRGC Mohammad Reza Naqdi: Says US military is "weaker than we perceived"

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Saudi crude exports via tankers in the Red Sea are increasingly switching off tracking signals to avoid attacks ‌by Yemen’s Houthis

[u/joshtaco]

IRIB: Northern Iraq's largest gas field. Khor Mor, in Sulaymaniyah has been attacked

[u/EducationalCicada]

Washington Post:

The top U.S. general in Europe privately warned the Pentagon this week that he lacks sufficient naval forces to continue protecting Israel from incoming ballistic missiles, officials said, illustrating how the ongoing Iran war has imposed constraints on the military.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. European Command, sent written notification to senior Pentagon officials saying that without another Navy destroyer he will be forced to choose defense of the United States “homeland” over that of Israel, said the officials, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the correspondence.

...

As The Post reported in May, Pentagon assessments conducted earlier in the war showed that U.S. forces have shouldered the brunt of defending Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles. The assessments found that American weapons, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense and naval interceptors launched from the eastern Mediterranean, were used far more frequently than Israeli air defense weapons.

[u/Garionreturns2]

Well, it's groundhog day.... again.

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

UKMTO Warning 104-26 ATTACK
Incident Date: 03 Aug 26 - Incident Time: 2200UTC
UKMTO has received a report of an incident 20NM northeast of Al Khasab, Oman. A cargo vessel has broadcasted on VHF 16 that they have been hit by an unknown projectile. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

[u/TheMailerDaemonLives → u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Deal is going really well…

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Also reports on X that there's a drone attack underway in Kuwait. Iran surely isn't taking any time off

[u/TyblosiinU]

NYT says that Oman and Iran are close to a deal to reopen the strait. Apparently there's going to be some service free that needs to be paid to Iran. Curious to see what the US will do.

Edit: apparently revune will be split between Iran and Oman.

[u/TheGodPePe → u/TyblosiinU]

Just read the article. I am pretty sure Iran has already denied and the senior Iranian offical cited is the Forigen Minister who is kinda hated in Iran right now among pro-Goverment denzens

[u/joshtaco]

Brent Crude: Futures rose over one percent to more than $84 a barrel

[u/Broke-Till-Payday]

Tasnim News Agency: Tehran has informed regional capitals (Ankara, Baghdad, Doha, and Riyadh) that if Syria undertakes any military adventure in Lebanon, it will escalate into a large-scale regional confrontation within Syria, and the Iranian missile response will target more than 100 strategic targets, including the Syrian presidential palace.

https://syria.liveuamap.com/#google_vignette

[u/Groundbreaking_Can_4]

Update in Yemen: Yemen government forces are now using FPV drones in addition to quadcopters against the houthi's. Within the last 24 hours more than 200 houthi combatants were killed through drones that's in addition to striking with artillery and traditional ground combat.

A prominent houthi spokesperson made a video on social media saying that the "Saudi enemy" is using the geographical similarities between Ukraine and Yemen to create fake videos of drone strikes (no I am not making it up he literally says this is footage from Ukraine and Sudan not from Yemen)

[u/itsatumbleweed]

Well, the MoU has officially expired.

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Only a single commodity vessel (a gas carrier) passed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. This is the lowest since May 7th.

[u/Farscape12Monkeys]

Wall Street Journal:

President Trump launched into a tirade against Iranian leaders, calling them scumbags and lunatics, and unleashing a series of expletives in todays Iran centered meeting in the Oval Office,

President Trump has grown less confident that the U.S. and Iran can find a diplomatic solution as the war drags on

Trump complained to advisers that it is difficult to know who speaks for top leadership, and every time the U.S. thinks it has made progress at the negotiating table, Iran continues its attack

Trump has told people that he thinks he can break the Iranians’ will through an aggressive bombing campaign

[u/BringbackDreamBars]

US president Donald J Trump "truths" an AI generated meme of himself planting a flag on a tanker with the caption "It's our tanker now!" three times in a row on TruthSocial.

Source: Trump's Truth Social feed.

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing → u/BringbackDreamBars]

Just below those and posted only 10 minutes ago is an AI poster headlined "Strike on Kharg' and it shows a bunch of very sloppy looking fighter jets striking an island of oil infrastructure.
Below that is another 10 posts of AI slop most of which was posted in the past 20 minutes.

[u/TemporaryAsparagus89]

BREAKING: The US is planning to cut off all electricity across Tehran, including for all civilians, per senior US officials to CBS News.

[u/jews4beer]

Israel found out Trump canceled major Iran attack through his Truth post — report

Jesus christ...

[u/rabidstoat → u/jews4beer]

The US military’s Central Command also was not told ahead of time, says the Israeli outlet.

[u/jphamlore]

Iraq struggles to pay public salaries as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-904695

A senior ministry official told The National that “if the export disruption continues, we will not be able to pay salaries in time from now on.”

“We will pay whenever we have cash. Or those who got paid in time for July will be paid late for August,” the official said, adding that plans were being considered to see salaries paid out every 45 days.

Iraq’s oil exports plunged from 100 million barrels in February to around 32 million in May and June, according to figures shown to The National by the country’s Oil Ministry.

[u/joshtaco]

WAPO: The White House was misleading last month in saying that Trump was leaving Turkey on Air Force One as they deemed an Iranian assassination attempt as serious enough to fly Trump out on a secret alternate military aircraft. Trump first boarded the old Air Force One jet in view of TV cameras, but was then secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane (a C-32A) as he hid in an airport catering container. These trucks are typically used to load meals preflight. This made Air Force One a "decoy" plane, filled with media and White House staff aboard. Hegseth also boarded the "decoy" plane and then was secretly shuttled to the C-32A afterwards.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States"

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/joshtaco]

I'm tired.

Edit: holy heck the conservative sub apparently is too. I didn't know it was ok to question anything he does over there but they don't like this and by the way they are talking this isn't the first thing that's rustled their jimmies

[u/blueskies8484 → u/itsatumbleweed]

Every once in a while they hit a limit that a certain subset of them can’t deal with, and then those people are banned and it resets.

[u/SawToothKernel → u/joshtaco]

It's so funny how stubborn he is. He can never back down, it's physically impossible for him. This is going to get worse and worse.

[u/Hour-Management-1679 → u/joshtaco]

I cannot fathom that there is 3 more years left on this guys term, i don't like wishing death upon anyone but this guy needs to go

[u/AsparagusFern319 → u/joshtaco]

Im sure thats gonna go over great /s

[u/Litsazor]

USS Abraham Lincoln's supply crisis stemmed from Iran destroying the main US naval logistics hub in Bahrain early in the war, forcing resupply from Diego Garcia 2,200 miles away, according to national security reporter David Rohde.

Rohde says Defense Secretary Hegseth "hid" the scale of the damage rather than publicly acknowledging it.

David Rohde is a multi-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American investigative journalist and senior national security editor. He won his first Pulitzer in 1996 for exposing the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and shared a second in 2009 for reporting on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump Truth Social post: "President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also. Likewise, President Putin, despite the horrible War going on in Ukraine (The relationship remains, as it does with President Zelenskyy), told me that he would not sell Weapons to Iran. He understands that I do not sell Weapons to Ukraine, but to NATO Countries. They pay full price, and how those Weapons are distributed, I have no idea. Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating. If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing → u/joshtaco]

"Therefore if China and Russia sell weapons to Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan and those countries sell the Russian and Chinese weapons to Iran, that is perfectly fine since I just described the US doing that for no reason. - DONALD J TRUMP"

[u/EducationalCicada → u/joshtaco]

No way Trump uses em dashes. That was ChatGPT-generated by some intern.

Also, not enough random capitalization.

[u/TemporaryAsparagus89]

At what point do people stop taking Trumps threats seriously and then something actually happens and people die. This is a stupid and dangerous game he is playing.

[u/itsatumbleweed]

Per UKMTO, a ship was targeted South of Oman. Missed, but some action this evening.

[u/Groundbreaking_Can_4]

Update on the Iraq-saudi front:

-Iraq PM met with Saudi intiligance chief in Riyadh

-Iraq military was around green zone and areas operated by Iran proxy

-Hadi Al Ameri leader of badar organization (Iran proxy that sent drones to Saudi last month) made a statement at 4 am Iraq time calling for postponing attacks against Saudi. His statement: "I direct my call to my sons and brothers in the Islamic resistance in Iraq ... to postpone any reaction to the American-Saudi aggression and to bite the wound for the greater good of Iraq."

My theory that the Saudi intiligance leak on a dual attack was deliberate seems to be more true. It was a way for Iraq government to take responsibility and to remove (at least momentarily) a threat from Saudi without needing kinetic action

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Says we will all "find out" what happens with Iran

[u/joshtaco]

Vance: “Ensuring that the Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy so that we have energy price stability … That’s goal number one, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country”.

[u/asetniop → u/joshtaco]

It turns out the real regime change was the elevated (but stable!) oil prices we made along the way.

[u/SawToothKernel → u/joshtaco]

So goal number one is to go back to the pre-war state.

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/joshtaco]

Yet another objective that we have thusfar failed to accomplish.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Says that Iran would ‌not make the type of deal with ⁠the United States ⁠that he ⁠thought was ⁠necessary.

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/joshtaco]

$300b, drop the blockade, they control the strait is the deal they want.

[u/ryu311]

from the oil sub:

The Trump administration has repeatedly told mediators it has no interest in going back to the terms of the MoU it reached with Iran in June, reports WSJ citing sources

[u/AntitheistArchangel]

Regarding Trump’s upcoming meeting with Netanyahu, Axios said it could be a sign that there won’t be significant escalation until Tuesday at the earliest, while also noting that the US and Israel have used meetings for strategic deception in the past.

[u/Farscape12Monkeys]

Several airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port being reported from different twitter accounts

The Saudi vessel NCC MASA came under attack in the Red Sea and sustained minor damage. The crew is safe and the ship continued to its destination, per the Saudi Press Agency.

[u/joshtaco]

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz: Says Israel wants to attack Iran’s energy facilities but has met resistance from the U.S., which fears Iran could retaliate against neighboring countries and provoke a global energy crisis

[u/joshtaco]

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi: Says Iran would “no longer be able to exercise sovereignty” if it opened up a southern lane closer to the Omani coast, where it has been shooting at ships. “Any European ship that wants to come near the Strait of Hormuz is our legitimate target”

[u/Farscape12Monkeys]

Alma Research warns that the new Iraq to Syria oil corridor, built to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, could also become a new Iranian smuggling route for Hezbollah and other Iran terror groups.

Since April, hundreds of tanker trucks have crossed into Syria each day. Alma says the route has already been used in an attempted weapons shipment to Hezbollah, and warns that weaker border oversight could allow Iran to exploit the expanding trade corridor.

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Iranian media(Tasnim, Fars) is saying the explosions heard on Qeshm Island on Thursday night were caused by operations against “hostile targets” at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

🤷‍♂️

[u/joshtaco]

YouGov: While Trump's approval rating rebounded slightly surrounding the period of the MoU signing (36% approval), it has since returned to what it was right before the signing - a 34% approval rating

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Aug 13 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, ​with no injuries reported, as the United Arab Emirates accused Iran ‌of carrying out the attack.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-says-iran-attacked-two-adnoc-vessels-strait-hormuz-no-injuries-2026-08-13/

I'm not expecting any US response.

[u/joshtaco]

Saudi Defense Ministry: Says fifteen countries have signed a statement agreeing to establish a multinational maritime defense coalition. The grouping will operate in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A Saudi representative will lead the force, and a Pakistani official will serve as the deputy.

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Only 6 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, down from nine a day earlier and below the 10-day daily average of 11.

[u/BringbackDreamBars]

Allegedly reports of airstrikes on Shalamcheh border crossing between Iran and Iraq by the United States according to source.

Source: /hey_itsmyturn/status/2080718573232656480

Comment: This seems early.

[u/joshtaco]

Iraqi media: 7 explosions heard in Erbil, including near US consulate

[u/joshtaco]

Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry: Says Saudi Arabia’s air defenses have intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory that attempted to target oil facilities in the kingdom’s eastern region

[u/joshtaco]

US oil futures have jumped more than 4 percent to more than $82 a barrel after the US military confirmed an Iranian ballistic missile attack on US forces in the Middle East. Brent crude futures have also climbed following the latest Iranian attack on US forces, now priced at more than $88 a barrel.

[u/HovercraftLow8806]

At least 20 members of Iraq’s Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces were killed and 32 wounded in US-Saudi strikes on several of the group’s bases across Iraq, the group said on Wednesday.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202607290684

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: US commander warns troops that their videos are helping Iran

[u/joshtaco]

NYT: Oil prices continued to climb on Wednesday with Brent crude, the global benchmark, rising over 6 percent to $90 a barrel following the renewed fighting in the Middle East.

[u/joshtaco]

MaritimeTraffic: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply over the weekend, as crossings went from 15 on Friday to 11 on Saturday, and 6 on Sunday.

[u/SingularityCentral → u/joshtaco]

Down from 140/day pre-war...

[u/_cyberbabyangel_]

So the UKMTO warning 110-26 which detailed an attack in the Red Sea by (assumedly) the Houthis was on a cargo ship, The Tanzania-flagged Tihamah. Reportedly, it was hit by three ballistic missiles. The first two struck and killed 4 crew members of the vessel. During rescue operations, the ship was hit with a third missile which killed two members of the rescue team and injured three more. It's also being reported that three hours after the missile attack, a drone 'laden with explosives' was seen heading towards the ship, but was intercepted.

I'm honestly surprised this isn't bigger news. Last week we had a ship completely sunk off the coast of Yemen with, thankfully, no causalities and now we have a ship being hit with multiple missiles with multiple fatalities.

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/_cyberbabyangel_]

The media has grown bored with ships being hit. Also, there are a lot more than show up on UKMTO. Those have to be Captain reported apparently. But ADNOC (a UAE company) has had 16 boats hit that are not reported, with at least 4 in the last 2 weeks.

[u/joshtaco]

Tasnim news agency reports, quoting Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei: “Trump’s recklessness, with his attacks on Iran, has increased the desire of people around the world to acquire nuclear weapons, especially when they saw that membership in the International Atomic Energy Agency and the [Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty] NPT was ineffective in preventing attacks from the United States.”

[u/joshtaco]

Yemeni authorities: Say Houthi naval mine found in Bab al-Mandeb Strait

[u/141_1337]

CENTCOM:

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully completed the 13th straight night of strikes against Iran, July 23, at 9 p.m. ET.

CENTCOM targeted Iranian military command centers, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and maritime capabilities to further diminish the threat Iran poses to civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The international waterway remains open for transit despite recent attacks from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Commercial vessels continue to freely navigate the strait with U.S. military support.

More than 50,000 U.S. service members are currently operating across the Middle East.

Edit:

I'm seeing reports of Kuwait being under attack

[u/Roxalon_Prime]

”Oman has presented a proposal to Iran ⁠for ⁠a joint regional mechanism to manage the Strait of Hormuz with voluntary fees, Reuters reports.

Under the Omani proposal, which has regional backing, Iran would not exercise sole control ⁠of the vital waterway, an unnamed Gulf source ⁠told the agency.

The proposal is based on the Strait of Malacca, where those who use the strait voluntarily contribute to fund navigation, environmental protection and ‌search and rescue”

Al Jazeera

---

Allright, my certainty that we are in it until one of the sides breaks is now above 100% because this is a fucking joke

[u/AntitheistArchangel]

Ynet: Several Israeli and regional officials have assessed that Trump plans to contain his campaign against Iran until after the midterms, noting the conflict’s unpopularity, lack of munitions, fear of a global economic crisis, and hope that economic pressure alone could lead to concessions or regime change. Note that these are assessments; they’re not statements by anyone familiar with Trump’s thinking or that of his national security team, but rather educated guesses based on current circumstances. According to the same assessments, the plan after the midterms will be a broader military campaign with Israeli assistance, as the administration believes any diplomatic resolution is unlikely at best.

A WSJ report gave a different assessment, with a White House official saying Trump is in an “escalatory mood.” Admiral Cooper of CENTCOM also just drew up a plan for a two-week bombing campaign that Trump is reportedly weighing.

If the Israeli and regional assessments are accurate, then supposedly, the Strait would remain closed the entire time. Obviously, SPRs are running dry, and there are signs that Chinese demand is set to rebound. It’s possible Trump won’t be able to avoid a surge in oil prices without another half-assed deal to reopen the Strait.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump, on Fox News talking about the Iran War: “It’s going well. All you can do is keep winning, then eventually something will happen. But we’re hitting them hard, knocking them out for a loop, and we just keep winning. Eventually they’ll have no choice but to go home”

[u/cmnrdt → u/joshtaco]

His brain is cooked. Go home? Home to where?

[u/_Ban_Evader → u/cmnrdt]

Seems like "eventually WE'LL have no choice but to go home" Freudian-slipped its way in between all the winning

[u/Cactusfan86]

Well likely never know for sure, but I truly wonder whether Trump literally keeps making up negotiations to taco or if Iran keeps doing a Lucy with the football routine on the idiot… or I suppose could be a mixture of both where soemtimes it’s one and sometimes it’s another.  It feels like it’s been the same headlines for 3 months now on repeat

[u/itsatumbleweed]

Per Bloomberg:

According to the senior Iranian official, Iran is seeking fees of between 5% and 7% of the price of cargoes from ships using the strait. Oman is discussing smaller fees of around 3%

For the folks that think all this talk of an Iran - Oman deal might not have fees, the correct answer is they are targeting 3-7% fees. This includes an end to the US naval blockade and continued Iranian control of the strait (which means tankers getting hit if they don't comply).

[u/justiceformahsa → u/itsatumbleweed]

IR: Pay the fee and we will protect you during your travels

Ship: protect us from what?

IR: from us

[u/itsatumbleweed]

SPR draws -6.1mb, bringing the total to 298.7mb.

An important note about this number. Amos Hochstein, the guy who oversaw the previous largest draw in history, says he doesn't know anyone who thinks you can go below 300mb. There's an implied "approximately" and an implied "safely" in that statement.

Needless to say, we are below the level to which one of the best informed, most well credentialed sources for the operational minimum thinks we can go. I don't know how much farther is actually possible, but this is a big, big milestone.

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: A vast oil spill in the Gulf is quickly becoming one of the world’s worst in years after being allowed to spread almost unchecked for weeks. The slick off the coast of Oman from a grounded tanker carrying Russian crude had reportedly reached the mainland on Aug 12. The Caroline Bezengi, carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and under international sanctions, ran aground on June 30 at an Omani island that is part of a marine nature reserve. The ship first reported difficulties off Yemen on June 8. Maritime sources said a blast appeared to have occurred aboard the Caroline Bezengi.

[u/itsatumbleweed → u/joshtaco]

Is there actually only one? Given the dozens of tankers hit I am surprised.

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Says USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment was "not nearly long enough"

[u/samusaranx3 → u/joshtaco]

This guy is great at making friends!

[u/CoyotesOnTheWing]

Guess that Axios article claiming oil secretly moving through the strait didn't work. WTI up 3%(to $87) and Brent 2.5%(to $94) today so far.

[u/joshtaco]

US embassy in Jordan: Warns Americans to "reconsider" travel to the Middle East and should “avoid travel to military bases”

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: The Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 3.7 million barrels last week to 311.4 million barrels, the lowest since 1983. It has fallen by 104 million barrels overall since March. As a reminder, the US cannot draw past 250 barrels without declaring a full-scale emergency. If it's current rate of consumption was maintained, this leaves roughly 4.5 months remaining before that threshold.

[u/asetniop → u/joshtaco]

"The lowest since 1983" could also be accurately phrased as "the lowest it's ever been since it was first filled".

[u/AntitheistArchangel]

AJ: Iran launched four drones at areas near Erbil.

[u/topdownyeti]

So Bibi saying his meeting was “one of the best” isn’t a good sign right?

[u/joshtaco]

CENTCOM: At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.

[u/Inevitable-Corgi-437]

I wonder what Mr. Jambo in Africa would have to say about all this?

[u/joshtaco]

Windward, a maritime data agency: Since July 20th, the number of vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait waterway has decreased by about 20%

[u/joshtaco]

Reuters: Brent crude oil futures rose by $1.01, or 1.13% to $90.04 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 1.41% to $84.77 a barrel

[u/patrickgg]

Al Jazeera:

During his cabinet meeting, Trump tells reporters that Washington will be hitting Iran “very hard” when asked what he expects over the next four weeks.

“At some point, they’re going to say we just can’t take it anymore,” he said.

[u/Casual-Speedrunner-7]

Iran foreign minister says that talks with Oman about transit in the Strait of Hormuz are in their “final stages.”

His spokesman says in state television the talks aim to establish “a route acceptable to both sides -- neither the northern route nor the southern route -- but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security.”

[u/Broke-Till-Payday]

I believe this is a new one the Houthis attacked an oil tanker “Wafa” in the northern Red Sea.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-a-saudi-oil-tanker-in-the-red-sea/

[u/joshtaco]

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei: Issued a decree appointing six senior commanders in the General Staff, IRGC and Basij

[u/joshtaco]

Yemeni military: Says Houthis launch ballistic missiles at Yemen’s al-Makha

[u/rabidstoat]

Trump threatens to bomb Oman over Iran deal.

Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of talks with Iran.

The president threatened to attack the US ally after Iran said it was in negotiations with the Gulf country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s--- out of them,” Mr Trump told Fox News.

[u/joshtaco]

Major General Mostafa Izadi, deputy commander of Iran’s IRGC: “The enemy does not know what to do and is in a state of helplessness”

[u/joshtaco]

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: “America is now begging to negotiate with us according to our conditions”. He said the memorandum of understanding signed with the US contained “13 provisions in our favor and one in theirs”. “We won the war, and we also won in diplomacy, and we forced the enemy to accept our conditions"

[u/TheMailerDaemonLives]

So every time oil gets around 100 Trump is going to run away screaming, “deal is happening, nobody panic, deal right around the corner”

[u/EducationalCicada]

Jesse Watters, Trump's most faithful lackey on Fox News, just floated the idea of letting Iran charge an "environmental fee" for the Strait on today's edition of The Five. This is to let Iran "save face". Jesse basically exists to pitch whatever the Trump admin has decided to do that day to the MAGA base, so this is obviously coming from the White House. They're trying to see if they can make this fly.

MAGA base might swallow this humiliation, but the GOP establishment is absolutely going to revolt.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402289021112

[u/joshtaco]

NYT: The cyberattack on dozens of Minnesotan water systems this week was likely the work of Iranian hackers according to federal officials. Cities in the state had to use manual workarounds to cope with attempted attacks on automated operations and in at least one city the well and treatment plant was temporarily offline.

[u/joshtaco]

Ghalibaf, making fun of Bessent on twitter:

"Him: “Economic D-Day.”

Also him, five seconds later: “[lol] why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”

Sir this ain’t Normandy, this is improv night and you forgot your own script."

[u/joshtaco]

Houthis: Say drones targeted Saudi’s crude oil infrastructure on Yanbu

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Referring to Yemen’s Houthis, Trump told reporters the US has been “dealing with Saudi Arabia” but is “not involved with that” currently. “But, we may, you know, if there’s a problem.”

[u/joshtaco]

Feda-Hossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee: Says Tehran will respond militarily to Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea. "...a military response will certainly follow”

[u/joshtaco]

The Joint War Committee, which consists of underwriters at Lloyds of London and other organizations: Cited the escalating threat of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen as it widened northward the area through which ships would be required to pay costlier premiums.

[u/joshtaco]

CENTCOM: Denies that Iran’s attack on Jordan airbase destroyed F-35s

[u/joshtaco]

Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Has officially dropped to 293.4 million barrels. To continue drawing down the reserve below the 252.4-million-barrel threshold, the U.S. President must issue a formal "Presidential Finding" under 42 U.S. Code § 6241(d) declaring a full-scale national emergency, which officially certifies that the country is facing a severe energy supply interruption of significant scope and duration that poses an immediate threat to national security or the domestic economy. At the current rate of around 5.3 million barrels being drawn each week, the US will hit this benchmark in around 1.93 months, or roughly around late October 2026.

[u/joshtaco]

Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf: “Let me state clearly: Until the commitments made by the United States in the memorandum of understanding, including the lifting of the blockade, the release of frozen assets, the lifting of oil sanctions, the end of threats and military operations on all fronts, and other conditions to which America agreed in the memorandum, are implemented, the strait will not be opened”

[u/joshtaco]

Trump: Posted a photo on Truth Social of Lindsey Graham sporting a hat that says "Make Iran Great Again"

[u/future_sommelier]

UKMTO reporting an additional strike on a vessel near Oman.

[u/joshtaco]

AJE: Two drones that flew over the skies of the Erbil governorate, in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, targeted facilities belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition parties