From my colleague Lahib Higel on the political and economic effects of the Iran war on Iraq. The war will likely reshape US-Iraq relations and may hasten plans for downgrading US military and diplomatic engagement.
www.crisisgroup.org/qna/middle-e...
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya has claimed responsibility for another attack in London overnight - on the Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow
We await confirmation from the police but its video appears to show someone throwing a molotov cocktail at the building
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Japanese PM:
Ok to explain why this is important:
1) doing this under cover of exercise confirms what a lot of folks have thought: larger exercises are precursors for an invasion
2) it reveals a confidence in PLA SOF not previously seen in public
3) makes deterrence even harder if operators are already on ground
APNewsAlert: CAIRO (AP) — Iranian gunboats have fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, British military says.
Merchant vessels report gunfire as they attempt to cross Hormuz, shipping sources say reut.rs/3QLIUJa
We’re in the sandbox forever.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi X.com @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. 7:45 AM • 4/17/26 • 43K Views
‼️ Iran FM: Hormuz is OPEN
Strait's open!
(I found out because Al Jazeera called me, I'll be on in an hour's time to talk about it!)
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
As you can clearly see in this 3 day long AIS playback since the blockade line was drawn between the eastern horn of Oman and the IR-PK border, a lot of the tankers which have been placed under US sanctions have been entering and departing the scene with ease. And those are just the ones on AIS.
New Epstein-linked revelations show how neo-Nazi operative Andrew Auernheimer aka “Weev” became a crucial link between Peter Thiel and the online far-right subcultures waging “memetic warfare” against their enemies.
By @barrettbrownlol.bsky.social
"U.S. officials have informed some European counterparts that some previously contracted weapons deliveries are likely to be delayed as the Iran war continues to draw on weapons stocks" www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Labor to boost defence spending by $53bn over next decade – but plan still short of Donald Trump’s demands
Asia is willing to pay top dollar for US crude to guarantee security of supply
This means that oil prices will continue to rise in the US, unless the administration does something radical - like restricting exports
You wouldn't bet against it...
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Phil Stewart © @phildstewart X.com ISLAMABAD - Negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran could return to Islamabad later this week, five sources said on Tuesday, days after the highest-level talks between the two countries in decades ended without a breakthrough. A source involved in the talks said a date was not yet decided, but both countries could return as early as the end of this week. "No firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open," a senior Iranian source said. 3:21 AM • 4/14/26 • 46K Views
Phil Stewart ( @phildstewart X.com MORE- Two Pakistani sources said Islamabad was communicating with the two sides about the timing of the next round and the meeting would likely take place on the weekend. "We have reached out to Iran and we got a positive response that they will be open to a second round of talks," a senior Pakistani government official said.
⚠️ Negotiating teams from US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week with possible negotiations over the weekend, per Reuters
Saudi Arabia is pressing the U.S. to drop its blockade of Hormuz, fearing President Trump’s move to close it off could lead Iran to escalate and disrupt other important shipping routes.
on.wsj.com/4dHoIli
this really is a significant blow to the global far right. Hungary under Orban was more than a financier and place to host events: it was a proof of concept
You can read more about our research here: doi.org/10.1525/coll...
Important distinction: the U.S. is blockading Iranian ports not the Strait entirely. I know everyone on this here site wants to think everything the U.S. does is illegal but this isn’t.
Orban’s defeat also removes a major part of the far-right populist infrastructure worldwide, which I wrote about this fall: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
So, let’s game this out. A Chinese flagged tanker pays the toll and transits the strait. We interdict it? What if the tanker is escorted by a Chinese warship?
We’ve gone from “I don’t care if they reopen the Strait” to “we’ll destroy your civilization if you don’t reopen the strait” to “well if THEY don’t reopen the strait then WE are going to blockade it ourselves.”
What an extraordinarily embarrassing moment for this country.
Ali Gholhaki, a conservative analyst close to the Iranian government, said on social media that talks fell apart because the United States demanded zero enrichment, removal of nearly 900 pounds of stockpile uranium from the country and a new demand of U.S. "management of the security of the Strait of Hormuz on their own terms." Mr. Gholhaki said the United States also provided no commitment to end Israel's bombing of Lebanon.
Is Trump proposing that the US operates the Strait of Hormuz?
Mark Dubowitz @mdubowitz X.com "Fourth, carry out a final barrage of leadership strikes, eliminating the Iranian officials who had been spared for the purpose of negotiations. Iran's leaders must be made to understand that their lives literally depend on reaching a negotiated settlement to Trump's liking. If they refuse to do so, they will be killed." washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/.. The Delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran 1 H.E. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Honorable Speaker of the Parliamant, Head of delegation 2 H.E. Seyed Abbas Araghchi Honorable Foreign Minister 3 H.E. Reza Amiri Moghadam Honorable Ambassador to Pakistan 4 H.E. Ali Akbar Ahmadian Honorable Member of Supreaqm National Security Council 5 H.E. Ali Bagheri Kani Honorable Deputy to Supreaqm National Security Council 6 H.E. Esmael Ahmadi Moghadam Honorable President, National Defense University H.E. Mohammad Jafari Honorable Assistant to the Secretary, Supreaqm National Security Council 8 H.E. Naser Hemati Governor, Central Bank of I.R.Iran 9 H.E. Kazim Gharibabadi Honorable Deputy Foreign Minister 10 H.E. Majid Takht e Ravanchi Honorable Deputy Foreign Minister
Mark Dubowitz on X and Marc Thiessen in the WaPo advocate for the assassination of the negotiating team sent from Iran WHILE NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY:
NEW: US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to provide Iran with air defense systems in a matter of weeks, CNN reported. Beijing is expected to ship shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles known as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
🇬🇧 The UK-based civil-defence maritime surveillance company has awarded two contracts to the German sensor specialist Hensoldt for the supply of 50 coastal surveillance radars.
www.joint-forces.com/defence-equipment-news/9...
