Iran, Israel, US war

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਡਾਵਾਂ ਡੋਲ

ਡਾ: ਦਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਾਲ​

ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਰਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਸ ਨੁਕਾਤੀ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਰੱਖੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਤਾਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਪੂਰਨ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਲਈ ਦੋ ਹਫਤੇ ਦਾ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜੋ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋਨਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਨਿਧੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਪਰ ਹੈਰਾਨੀ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ ਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਦੋ ਹਫਤੇ ਦੀ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਸਿਰਫ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਹੀ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ । ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਮੰਨ ਤਾਂ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਹਾਰਮੋਜ਼ ਖਾੜੀ ਖੋਲ੍ਹ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਜਦ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਹਮਲੇ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖੇ ਤਾਂ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਹਰਮੋਜ਼ ਫਿਰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਹ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਡਾਵਾਂ ਡੋਲ ਨਜਰ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦੋ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਕਿ ਇਰਾਨ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹਿਜ਼ਬਉਲਾ ਕੋਈ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਗੇ ਇਸ ਸੰਧੀ ਦੇ ਅੰਗ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਅਪਸੀ ਸੰਧੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਇਹ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਲ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ।

ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤੇ 50 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਟੈਰਿਫ ਲਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਵੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਇਰਾਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ । ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਹੂਦੀ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ । ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਮਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਇਹ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਅੱਧੀ-ਅਧੂਰੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਪੂਰੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁੜ ਆਉਣ ਦਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਖਦਸ਼ਾ ਹੈ । ਜੇ ਅਸੀਂ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਯੁੱਧਬੰਦੀ ਦੇ ਐਲਾਨਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੋਚੀਏ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਵੀ ਅਧੂਰੇ ਹੀ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਲੱਗ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ । ਹੁਣ ਆਸ ਇਹ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੂੰ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਲਈ ਮਨਾ ਲਏਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ ਉਤੇ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਬੰਦ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਇਹ ਹੋਇਆ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਿਸ ਲਈ ਘਮਾਸਾਨ ਉਸੇ ਤਰਾਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ।

ਅਸਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਚਹੁੰ ਪਾਸਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਘਿਰਿਆ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਇਸ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਨਾ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਨਿਕਲਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ। ਉਸਦੇ ਅਪਣੇ ਜਰਨੈਲਾਂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਉਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਹ ਕਹਿਕੇ ਨਾਂਹ ਕਰ ਦਿਤੀ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਜੰਗ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਪਣੇ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਕਫਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸਨੇ ਚੀਫ ਆਫ ਆਰਮੀ ਸਟਾਫ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਹੋਰ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਬਰਖਾਸਤ ਕਰ ਦਿਤੇ। ।

ਰੂਸ ਅਤੇ ਚੀਨ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਖਲ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਸੀ। ਖੁਦ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਵਿਰੁਧ ਭਾਰੀ ਜਲੂਸ ਕੱਢੇ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਜਿਆਂ ਵਾਂਗ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਲੈਣ ਤੋਂ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਗਿਆ । ਇਧਰ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਅੱਡਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਬਾਹ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਤਰ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਹ ਕਹਿਕੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਕਿ ਜੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਸਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਤਾਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਅਪਣੇ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਡੇ ਕਿਉਂ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੇਈਏ ਤੇ ਤੇਲ ਡਾਲਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ ਵੇਚੀਏ। ਤੇਲ ਡਾਲਰਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਨਾ ਵਿਕਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਅੱਡਿਆਂ ਉਤੇ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਭਾਰੀ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇ ਕਈ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸੈਨਿਕ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਤੇ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਤਬਾਹ ਹੋਏ ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸਦੀ ਬਿਗਾਨੀ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੁਦਣ ਬਾਰੇ ਰੋਸ ਜਤਾਇਆ।

ਹੁਣ ਜਦ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਚਾਲੂ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਅਰਬ ਅੱਡਿਆ ਉਤੇ ਵੀ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਧਰ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਵੀ ਇਰਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹਿਜ਼ਬਉਲਾ ਉਤੇ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਫਿਰ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਭੰਗ ਹੋਈ ਜਾਪਦੀ ਹੈ। ਭਾਵੇਂ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਇਸ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਨਿਕਲ ਕੇ ਸੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਸਾਹ ਲੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਜਦ ਤਕ ਉਹ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਲਈ ਮਨਾ ਨਹੀਂਂਲੈਂਦਾ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਅਧੂਰੀ ਹੀ ਰਹੇਗੀ ਤੇ ਲੜਾਈ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਅੱਗੇ ਚੱਲਣ ਦੀ ਆਸ ਹੈ। ਹਾਂ! ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇਹ ਕਹਿਕੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ “ਭਲਾ ਹੋਆ ਮੇਰਾ ਚਰਖਾ ਟੁੱਟਾ ਜਿੰਦ ਅਜਾਬੋਂ ਛੁੱਟੀ”। ਤੇ ਇਹ ਜੰਗ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ-ਹਿਜ਼ਬਉਲਾ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਜਾਰੀ ਰਹੇਗੀ ਜਦ ਤੱਕ ਦੋਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਇੱਕ ਦੀ ਭਿਆਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲ ਜਾਂਦੀ । ਪਰ ਜੇ ਦੇਖੀਏ ਤਾਂ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਹਿਣਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਸਾਰਾ ਦੇਸ਼ ਇਕੱਠਾ ਹੈ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਹ ਲੰਬਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਡਟਿਆ ਰਹੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬੇਹਦ ਬੇਚੈਨੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਹ ਨੇਤਨਨਯਾਹੂ ਵਿਰੁਧ ਸੜਕਾਂ ਤੇ ਉਤਰ ਆਏ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਵਾਂਗ ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਅਪਣੀ ਗੱਦੀ ਦਾ ਫਿਕਰ ਪੈ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਦੇਖੀਏ ਨੇਤਨਯਾਹੂ ਅਪਣੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿਰੁਧ ਕਿਤਨਾ ਚਿਰ ਖੜਾ ਰਹਿ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।ਪਰ ਇਹ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕੱਢਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਦਦਗਾਰ ਤਾਂ ਸਿੱਧ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਪੂਰਨ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਕਰਾਉ​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੌਰ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੀ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ ਤੇ ਦਸ਼ਾ ਇਕ ਮੁਲਾਂਕਣ

ਡਾਕਟਰ ਦਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਾਲ

ਪ੍ਰੋਫੈਸਰ ਅਮਰੀਟਸ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਗਤ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ​

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਜੋ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਟੁੱਟ ਗਈ ਸੀ ਉਹ ਹੁਣ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਹੈ । ਇਸ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੀ ਲੜੀ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਹੀ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧੇਗੀ ਜਿਨਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਟੁੱਟੀ ਸੀ। ਇਹ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਸਨ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਂਝਾ ਰੱਖਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਥੱਲੇ ਲਿਆਉਣਾ। ਇਹ ਦੋਨੋਂ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੁੱiਦਆਂ ਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਲਈ ਤਿਆਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਯੁੱਧ ਵੀ ਇਨਾ ਹੀ ਦੋਨਾਂ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਪੱਖ ਭਾਰਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਹੌਲਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। । ਜਦ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸ ਜੰਗ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਬੰਬ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੇ ਲੀਡਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਨਵੀਂ ਯੁੱਧ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ । ਉਦੋਂ ਵੀ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਸਨ ਪਰ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਤੇ ਪਹੁੰਚਣ। ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਗ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਂਝਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਲਿਆਉਣਾ ਜੋ ਕੱਟੜਪੰਥੀ ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਨਾ ਕਰੇ। ਇਜਰਾਈਲ ਆਪਣੀ ਹੋਂਦ ਲਈ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਵੱਡਾ ਖਤਰਾ ਮੰਨਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਰਾਨ ਕਈ ਵਰਿ੍ਹਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਹਿਜਬੁੱਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਹਮਾਸ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਦਾ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਇਸਰਾਈਲ ਤੋਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਹੋਂਦ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਨ।

ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਫਿਲਸਤੀਨ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਭਾਗਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਕਬਜ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ । ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਜੋ ਜਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਅਰਬ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਫੈਲਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣਾ ਰਾਜ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਸਥਾਪਿਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ । ਏਧਰ ਹਮਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਹਿਜਬੁੱਲਾ ਆਪਣੀ ਹੋਂਦ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਲੜਦੇ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਸਿਰਫ ਇਰਾਨ ਹੀ ਅੱਗੇ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਇਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਤੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਨਾਲ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੁੜੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਦਦ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸੇ ਲਈ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੂੰ ਇਰਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਖਤਰਾ ਹੈ ।
ਹੁਣ ਜੋ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਯੁੱਧ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ ਉਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਉਲਝਾ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਹ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਕੱਲਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਜਿੱਠ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ । ਬੜੇ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਉਹ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਯੁੱਧ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਿਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਪ੍ਰੰਤੂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਤਿਆਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਏ ਪਰ ਹੁਣ ਜਦ ਟਰੰਪ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਬਣਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਤੇਲ ਖੂਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ੇ ਦਾ ਲਾਲਚ ਦਿਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੁਰਖਿਆ ਦੇ ਵਧਾਰੇ ਲਈ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਦਬਾਉਣਾ ਸਹੀ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਉਤੇ ਅਸਰ ਹੋਇਆ ਤੇ ਉਹ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲਕੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਉਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਮੰਨ ਗਿਆ । ਇਸ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਲਾਹਕਾਰ ਜਵਾਈ ਜੋ ਇਕ ਯਹੂਦੀ ਹੈ ਬੜੇ ਕਾਰਗਰ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਹੁਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਮਨਾਉਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਾਮਯਾਬ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਜਦ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਤੋਂ ਹਾਂ ਅਖਵਾ ਲਈ ਤਾਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ 28 ਮਾਰਚ ਨੂੰ ਇਰਾਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਲੀਡਰ ਆਇਤਉਲਾ ਖਮੈਨੀ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਵੱਡੇ ਲੀਡਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ । ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਯੁੱਧ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਤੇ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਇਰਾਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਹਵਾਈ ਸੈਨਾ ਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਬੇੜੇ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਇਆ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਉਦਯੋਗਕ ਅਤੇ ਸੰਚਾਰ ਕੇਂਦਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਤਬਾਹ ਕੀਤਾ ।
ਜੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਕੁੱਝ ਬਚਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਮੁਲਕ ਪਹਾੜੀ ਹੈ । ਉਸ ਨੇ ਪਿਛਲੇ 20-25 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਇਹ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਸੋਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਤੇ ਇਜਰਾਈਲ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ । ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਸਨੇ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਵੱਡੀਆਂ ਗੁਫਾਵਾਂ ਬਣਾ ਲਈਆਂ ਸਨ ਜਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਮਿਸਾਈਲਾਂ, ਡਰੋਨ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਜੰਗੀ ਸਾਜੋ ਸਮਾਨ ਜਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਵਾਈ ਜਹਾਜ ਤੇ ਤੋਪਾਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਸੀ । ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਇਰਾਨੀ ਅਸਲਾ ਬਚਿਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ ਜੋ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਨ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਭਾਰੀ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਭੜਕਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖੀ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਝੁਕਣ ਲਈ ਵਾਰ ਵਾਰ ਵੰਨ ਸੁਵੰਨੇ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਧਮਕੀਆਂ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ । ਪਰ ਇਰਾਨ ਤਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਮਿੱਟੀ ਦਾ ਬਣਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਅਪਣੀ ਅਜ਼ਾਦੀ ਅਤੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਨੋਂ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਸੀ। ਉਸ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਦਾ ਠੋਸ ਸੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਨੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਰ ਹਮਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਜਿਠਣ ਲਈ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਤਿਆਰ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਸਨ।ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਇਰਾਕ, ਸੀਰੀਆ ਵੈਨਜ਼ਏਲਾ ਆਦਿ ਦੇ ਹਮਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਯੁੱਧ ਨੀਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਝ ਲਿਆ ਤੇ ਅਪਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕੀ ਢਾਂਚਾ ਵੀ ਇਹੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਬਣਾ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਸੀ ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਜੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਕਮਾਂਡਰ ਮਾਰੇ ਜਾਣ ਜਾਂ ਫੜੇ ਜਾਣ ਤਾਂ ਹੇਠਲੇ ਅਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਕਮਾਨ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਲੈਣ ਤੇ ਜੰਗ ਦੀ ਲਗਾਤਾਰਤਾ ਨਾ ਟੁੱਟੇ।ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਸੈਨਾ ਨੂੰ 21 ਸੂਬਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੰਡ ਦਿਤਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਲੋੜ ਪੈਣ ਅਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਫੈਸਲੇ ਲੈਣ ਦਾ ਹੱਕ ਵੀ ਦੇ ਦਿਤਾ ਸੀ ।

ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਸਮਝਿਆ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੁ ਵੱਡੇ ਲੀਡਰ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਇਰਾਨ ੳਨਾਂ ਅੱਗੇ ਗੋਡੇ ਟੇਕ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ ਪਰ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਇਆ।ਅਪਣੇ ਤਕਰੀਬਨ ਸਾਰੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਲੀਡਰ ਮਾਰੇ ਜਾਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਦ ਵੀ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਹਮਲੇ ਹੋਰ ਤੁਜ਼ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਡਾ ਝਟਕਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

ਜਿਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਸਨੇ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਦੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਘੇਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਤਬਾਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਅੱਡਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਰਡਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਹਵਾਈ ਜਹਾਜ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਬ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਮਲਬਾ ਬਣਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਤਾਂ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਬੜੀ ਹੈਰਾਨੀ ਜ਼ਾਹਿਰ ਕਰਦਿਆ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੋਚਿਆ ਸੀ? ਇਸ ਤਬਾਹੀ ਤੋਂ ਤੰਗ ਆ ਕੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਦੋ ਹਫਤੇ ਦੀ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਯੁੱਧਬੰਦੀ ਲਈ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਆਦਿ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮਦਦ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੋ ਸਕੇ। ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦਾ ਦੌਰ ਚੱਲਿਆ ਪਰ ਅਖੀਰ ਉੱਤੇ ਜਦ ਦੋਨੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਸਨ ਤਾਂ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਵਫਦ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਲੀਡਰ ਜੇ ਡੀ ਵਾਂਸ ਨੂੰ ਟੈਲੀਫੋਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਹ ਮਨਜ਼ੂਰ ਕਰਵਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਹਥਿਆਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਤੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਲਈ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰੇਗਾ । ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਇਰਾਨ ਇਹ ਸ਼ਰਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਨੇਗਾ ਤੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਟੁੱਟ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੋਇਆ ਤੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਟੁੱਟ ਗਈ। ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਸ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਹੋਇਆ ਸਮਝਿਆ ਗਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਦੋਨੋਂ ਧਿਰਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਸ ਚਲੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ।

ਹਾਲਾਂ ਕਿ ਜੰਗ ਬੰਦੀ ਚਾਲੂ ਸੀ ਪਰ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਨੇ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਦੇ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਭਾਗ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਭਾਰੀ ਬੰਬਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਕਰੀਬਨ 185 ਲੈਬਨਾਨੀ ਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ। ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਦੇ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਭਾਗ ਨੂੰ ਹਿਜਬੁਲਾ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਅਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਪੂਰੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਜਵਾਬੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਵੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਹਿਜਬੁਲਾ ਨਾਲ

ਸਿੱਧੇ ਤੌਰ ਦੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਇਜਰਾਇਲ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਤਿਆਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਉਸਨੇ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਈ ਵੀ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਅਤੇ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਦਾ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਹੋਇਆ।

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਹਰਮੁਜ ਵੱਲ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੈਂਟਰਲ ਕਮਾਂਡ ਦੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਘਿਰਾਓ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਖਾੜੀ ਹੈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੀ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਦਾ 20% ਪ੍ਰਤੀਸ਼ਤ ਤੇਲ ਦਾ ਵਿਉਪਾਰ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਖਾੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਘੇਰਾ ਪਿਆਂ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਰੀ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਲਚਲ ਮੱਚ ਗਈ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਇਰਾਨ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਖਾੜੀ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਦੀ ਜਹਾਜ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਇਜਾਜ਼ਤ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਉਹ ਹੀ ਜਹਾਜ ਉਥੋਂ ਦੀ ਨਿਕਲ ਸਕਦੇ ਸਨ ਜੋ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਦੁਸ਼ਮਣ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਨ । ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਟੈਕਸ ਉਗਰਾਹੁਣਾ ਵੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਖਾੜੀ ਨੂੰ ਆਜ਼ਾਦ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਘੇਰਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ। ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਹਰ ਬੰਦਰਗਾਹ ਤੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਘੇਰਾ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਰੱਖੇਗਾ ।

ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਤੇਲ ਦਾ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਵਪਾਰ ਚੀਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੈ। ਚੀਨ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੂੰ ਧਮਕੀ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਹਰਕਤ ਅਹਮਕਾਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਧੱਕੇ ਵਾਲੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਚੀਨ ਕਦੇ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰੇਗਾ । ਚੀਨ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਲੈ ਜਾਇਗਾ ਤੇ ਜੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਚੀਨ ਉਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਸਮਝਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।ਹੁਣ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਢੋਂਦੇ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਲਈ ਹਰਮੁਜ਼ ਖਾੜੀ ਖੋਲ੍ਹਣੀ ਵੀ ਮੰਨ ਲਈ ਹੈ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਬੰਦਰਗਾਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਘੇਰਾਬੰਦੀ ਅਜੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਟਾਈ[

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇਸ ਨਵੇਂ ਖਤਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਡਰਿਆ ਤੇ ਉਸਨੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੁਣ ਦੂਜੇ ਦੌਰ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਲਈ ਸੱਦਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਸੱਦਾ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਇਰਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ । ਹੁਣ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਫਿਰ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਹੋਣ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁੱਖ ਤੌਰ ਦੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਮਜ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਹੀ ਹੋਣਗੇ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਬਾਕੀ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਸੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਮਾਸ ਅਤੇ ਲੈਬਨਾਨ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਦਾ,ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਦੀ ਭਰਪਾਈ ਵੀ ਹੈਂ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਕੇ ਯੁੱਧ ਬੰਦੀ ਦਾ ਸਵਾਲ ਵੀ ਹੈ।

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਵਾਈਸ ਪ੍ਰੈਜ਼ੀਡੈਂਟ ਦਾ ਬਿਆਨ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਨਿਊਕਲਿਆਈ ਜ਼ਿਦ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਲਾ ਮਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਮੰਗ ਦਾ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਤਾਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੈਣ ਲੱਗਾ ਪਰ ਇਹ ਜ਼ਿਦ ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦੀ ਹੀ ਉਠਾਈ ਲਗਦੀ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਲਈ ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇਸ ਜ਼ਿਦ ਨੂੰ ਤਿਆਗ ਦੇਵੇ।ਪਰ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਦਾ ਹੁਣ ਬਿਆਨ ਆਇਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਨਿਊਕਲਿਆਈ ਮਸਾਲਾ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੈ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਮੁੱਢੋਂ ਹੀ ਨਕਾਰਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਰਾਨ ਨਿਊਕਲਾਈ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਕੁੱਝ ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੱਕ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋਣੀਆਂ ਮੰਨ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਖਦਸ਼ੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਤੇਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦਾ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਨੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਚੀਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਤੇਲ ਦੀ ਆਮਦਰਫਤ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਹਾਲਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੁਕਾਵਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਣ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਤੇ ਤੇਲ ਨੂੰ ਚੀਨੀ ਕਰੈਂਸੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਵੇਚਣਾ ਚਾਹੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਡਾਲਰ ਕਰੈਂਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੰਨੇਗਾ। ਦੂਸਰਾ ਉਹ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਹਮਾਸ ਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਹਿਜ਼ਬੁੱਲਾ ਨੂੰ ਮਦਦ ਦੇਣੀ ਛੱਡਣਾ ਚਾਹੇਗਾ ਤੇ ਉਨਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਕੋਈ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਠੋਸ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੇਗਾ । ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਨੁਕਸਾਨ ਦੀ ਭਰਪਾਈ $270 ਅਰਬ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਵੀ ਹੈ ।ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਇਾਨ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਜੋ ਇਰਾਨ ਤੇ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਲਗਾਈ ਆਂ ਹਨ ਉਹ ਵੀ ਹਟਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਣ ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕਈ ਅਰਬ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਬੈਕਾਂ ਵਿਚ 47 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਫਸੇ ਹਨ ਨਿਕਲ ਆਉਣਗੇ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਅੱਡਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਕੋਈ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਚਾਹੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਖਾੜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਉਵੇਂ ਬਣਿਆ ਰਵੇ । ਇਹਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਕਿਤਨੀਆਂ ਕੁ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਮੰਨਵਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦੇਖਣਾ ਬਾਕੀ ਹੈ । ਪਰ ਜਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਤੇਲ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਊਕਲਆਈ ਹਥਿਆਰਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਕੇਂਦਰਿਤ ਰਹੇਗੀ ਸਿੱਟਾ ਕੀ ਨਿਕਲੇਗਾ ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਸਮਾਂ ਹੀ ਦੱਸੇਗਾ।‘






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[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran-Israel War on the path of World War after US Bombing

Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal

Prof Emeritus Desh Bhagat University​

The U.S. has directly entered the war against Iran, striking three nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced via social media. The attack came on the ninth day of the Israel-Iran war starting from 13 June 2025 in which Israeli forces have been attacking Iranian nuclear weapons facilities among other targets, including ballistic missile launchers, air defence systems, military leaders and nuclear scientists.

US and Israeli officials said that American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker buster bomb offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.

Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country’s leaders to give up their nuclear program peacefully.

There were also reports that Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main naval facility on the Persian Gulf and the epicentre for IRGC naval assets that would be used to close the strait, was struck.

After this announcement, the following questions emerge which are answered gradually.

1‘Wherefrom these aircrafts took off before striking? “What was the timings and process of striking?”

Two separate groups of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers headed westward across the Pacific Ocean. The destination was unclear and it is possible other B-2s were sent clandestinely to hit the targets. Other aircraft could also have been involved. However, B-2s carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs are widely seen as the only readily available conventional option for targeting the deeply-buried enrichment facility at Fordo, in particular, short of a ground raid. Fordo nuclear site of Iran is in the depth of a huge mountain.

It is not known if the B-2 group that appeared to be sent out over the Pacific could have made it to Iran on the timetable now established. It is very possible that this was a feint in order to provide cover for the real strike force. While the B-52s now located in Diego Garcia could drop GBU-57 MOPs, as they did in early testing, it is not a known operational capability for the type. Also using those assets would be much riskier than the B-2 due to their lack of stealth. Still, it may have been possible depending on the state of Iran’s air defences, especially in the east of country where Israeli operations have been far lower in volume, and what other assets would have assisted in the attacks. It seems most likely that another group of B-2s was sent east, using the already deployed tanker bridge, to clandestinely carry out the strikes. They could have also been moved in the days prior clandestinely to bases closer to Iran. Even the B-2 shelters in Diego Garcia could have hidden four B-2s. The UK is another established B-2 operating base, but they could have gone somewhere else, as well. The B-2 community has worked to hone its forward operations capabilities in recent years. The U.S. attack came a day after Trump mentioned that he was still deliberating what he would do, but that previous comments about giving Iran two weeks to end their nuclear ambitions were the maximum timeframe.

Were the air bases in Pakistan utilised for this operation. If so, then how? This is a question to be researched in depth.

3. “Was the damage to Iran nuclear sites surreal as claimed by Trump?” Trump announced on social media, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan”. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of Bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump has retweeted the statement: Fordow Is Gone’. Donald Trump called the airstrikes a ‘Historic Moment’ for the USA, Israel, and ‘the world’. ‘Iran must now agree to end this war.’ Iran however, has negated this claim saying all the nuclear devices were shifted from these sites hence no damage could be done to the nuclear.

4. “Will Iran retaliate and in what manner?”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have warned the United States earlier that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.” And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region." However, it is not known how Iran’s command and control architecture is operating and if additional capabilities have been deployed by the U.S. to degrade it in order to make a massive response harder to execute. An attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz is also a possibility. Ships are still moving through the strait. This is simply an indicator of the current situation. It will likely take time for Iran to act, especially if its command and control is being further disrupted.

As a precaution, the U.S. has evacuated many of its personnel, aircraft and ships from Persian Gulf bases, but these are still potential targets, which could prompt a response from host countries if attacked. Important factor however, is that Israel has degraded Iran’s long-range ballistic missile capability over the last week — there has been no launches in the last 24 hours, which is a first and a potential indicator of the state of these forces — Iran’s short-range ballistic and cruise missile, as well as one-way attack drone capability is far more expansive and harder to target. These systems are a major threat to U.S. bases in the region. Israel too made immediate changes in its defensive set up and it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity. The instructions include: a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors. The public is required to follow the instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels. Full instructions will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.

5. “Will Russia and China enter into the war in support of Iran?”

The ongoing conflict has revealed limitations of China's influence. This is significant, since Beijing has invested heavily in raising Iran's international stature, including by helping it become member of SCO in 2023 and BRICS in 2024. China has ignored US sanctions to become the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Beijing sprang a surprise in 2023 when it brokered a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran without involvement of any Western power. Conversely, it has been a major buyer of Israeli arms in the past, even as US intervention has resulted in cancellations and scaling back over the years.

China and Russia are ideologically opposed to the idea of regime change in Tehran, particularly if Western powers are instrumental for this. Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, who were rattled by the Arab Spring movement in 2010, are also opposed to such attempts in the name of bringing democracy to Iran. But will they intervene if the US wants regime change?

f there is one legacy that Xi Jinping wishes to leave behind, it's 'reunification' of China and Taiwan. He would rather conserve China's energies to achieve this goal than allow friction with the US over another country like Iran. China's military brass is keenly watching US actions in West Asia for clues about what it would be willing - and capable of doing - to protect Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack on it.

Since he came to power in 2013, Xi has been campaigning against the idea of a US-centric world. China has joined Russia and Turkiye in denouncing Israel's latest attacks on Iran. But these countries have done little more than express moral support, even as they could have done much more to help without direct involvement. For instance, Iran lacks an adequate air defence system, a key factor behind Israel's supremacy in the ongoing conflict. This is a gap that these 'morally supportive' countries could have narrowed.

China and Turkiye, which supplied fighter jets, missiles and drones to Pakistan during the recent post-Pahalgam conflict with India, have developed cold feet. They see Israel as an extension of US power and fear a harsh reaction from Washington if they assist Iran with military hardware. Beijing's efforts to create a strong anti-US front with the help of Russia, Iran and nuclear-armed North Korea are on unsteady ground, with Trump openly wooing Putin. The American president even spoke at the G7 summit on Tuesday about the removal of Russia from the grouping in 2014 to have been a 'mistake'.

Despite adding that he 'wouldn't mind' China joining G7, Trump appears determined to weaken the bond between China and Russia by dangling before Putin the possibility of ending the Ukraine war on the Russian president's terms, and softening economic sanctions at a later stage. That arrangement helps Putin - as long as Trump keeps US arms and financial support to Ukraine at suboptimal levels.

But if the US does enter the Israel-Iran conflict, how long can China stay away from defending a country/regime it has poured billions into as investment?

Russia had warned the US not to join Israel's attacks on Iran, amid speculation over whether Donald Trump would greenlight direct military action. Russia is one of Iran's most important allies, with the two deepening military cooperation and inking a strategic partnership agreement just months ago.

But the Kremlin has not provided military support so far, and President Vladimir Putin is pitching himself as a possible mediator even as he condemns Israel's aggression. "We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in the situation," Russian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. However, Trump retaliated” settle Ukraine first.”

China voiced strong criticism of the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran. On June 13, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing “was deeply concerned” about the attacks, stating that China “opposes any infringement upon Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity” and called for de-escalation to preserve “regional peace and stability.” He also emphasised China's readiness to play a “constructive role”.

Subsequently, at the United Nations, China’s UN Ambassador Fu Cong condemned Israel’s actions, reiterated opposition to “violations of Iran’s sovereignty,” and urged Israel to “immediately stop all risky military actions,” citing concern for their potential impact on nuclear diplomacy.

In practical terms, China's embassy in both Iran and Israel issued travel advisories on June 17, urging its citizens to return home or leave via land crossings due to deteriorating security.

According to political analyst Chang, Iran has long served as a vehicle for China’s foreign policy goals in the Middle East. “The Chinese… they’re losing their proxy, Iran. Iran has been accomplishing China’s foreign policy goals for quite some time. And China’s Middle East policy is now in disarray,” he stated. Chang warned that China may not quietly accept the blow to its regional ambitions. “This is a point where China is suffering a terrible loss in the Middle East,” he said. “It is not going to take that lying down, and it’s probably going to get Iran or some other party to strike us.” China’s support for Iran has been extensive, particularly through oil and weapons trade. “China was supporting the attacks on Israel across the board with elevated commodity purchases,” Chang explained. “Remember, China has taken more than 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, but also provided weapons support.”

He added that Chinese-made arms are widespread among Iran-backed militias. “Hamas, Houthi militia, Hezbollah, all of them have large quantities of Chinese weapons. Iran’s weapons are made with China’s computer chips,” he noted.

6. “Will it lead to a world war?”

If Iran retaliates as suggested by Khamenei, bombing US positions in West Asia, the chances of aggravation of war like situation exist. As subjugation of Iran is not in the interest of Russia and China they may like to respond as proxies and even directly,



1‘Wherefrom these aircrafts took off before striking?” 2. “What was the timings and process of striking?” 3. “Was the damage to Iran nuclear sites surreal as claimed by Trump?” 4. “Will Iran retaliate and in what manner?” 5. “Will Russia and China enter into the war in support of Iran?” 6. “Will it lead to a world war?”



The timings and process of striking:

At the same time, there were also reports that Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main naval facility on the Persian Gulf and the epi-centre for IRGC naval assets that would be used to close the strait, was struck. Now it appears this indeed did happen, based on news out of Israel:

This could widen the war significantly if Iran launches attacks on U.S. bases throughout the region.

Another question is, “Whether Russia and China would enter the war?”

Iran-Israel War on the path of World War after US Bombing

Col Dr Dalvinder Singh Grewal

Prof Emeritus Desh Bhagat University

The U.S. has directly entered the war against Iran, striking three nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced via social media. The attack came on the ninth day of the Israel-Iran war starting from 13 June 2025 in which Israeli forces have been attacking Iranian nuclear weapons facilities among other targets, including ballistic missile launchers, air defence systems, military leaders and nuclear scientists. He announced on social media, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan”. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. Now is the time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump has also retweeted the statement: Fordow Is Gone’. Donald Trump called the airstrikes a ‘Historic Moment’ for the USA, Israel, and ‘the world’. ‘Iran must now agree to end this war.’

US and Israeli officials said that American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker buster bomb offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.

Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country’s leaders to give up their nuclear program peacefully.

There were also unconfirmed reports leading up to Trump’s announcement that strikes had occurred at the three nuclear sites. At the same time, there were also reports that Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main naval facility on the Persian Gulf and the epicentre for IRGC naval assets that would be used to close the strait, was struck. Now it appears this indeed did happen, based on news out of Israel:



A coalition of 21 Muslim-majority nations—reported by Reuters and Haaretz—signed a memorandum urging an immediate ceasefire in the region, calling for pressure on Israel via Washington and emphasising the need to resume diplomacy. The signatory countries include Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, plus others from the broader Islamic world. The resolution underscores Ceasefire now, aims to curb further civilian casualties, and supports renewed talks between Iran and Israel mediated by Gulf states.

​

he U.S. has directly entered the war against Iran, striking three nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced via social media. The attack came on the ninth day of the Israel-Iran war in which Israeli forces have been attacking Iranian nuclear weapons facilities among other targets, including ballistic missile launchers, air defense systems, military leaders and nuclear scientists. You can catch up with our coverage of this fight here.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

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Trump did not say how the facilities were attacked. However, as we explained earlier today, at least two separate groups of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were heading westward across the Pacific Ocean. The destination was unclear and it’s possible other B-2s were sent clandestinely to hit the targets. Other aircraft could also been involved. However, B-2s carrying 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs are widely seen as the only readily available conventional option for targeting the deeply-buried enrichment facility at Fordo, in particular, short of a ground raid.
The U.S. attack came a day after Trump mentioned that he was still deliberating what he would do, but that previous comments about giving Iran two weeks to end their nuclear ambitions were the maximum timeframe.
This is a developing story. Stay with TWZ for updates.
UPDATE: 8:30pm eastern
After the strikes, the big question is will Iran retaliate and in what manner? This could widen the war significantly if Iran launches attacks on U.S. bases throughout the region. An attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz is also a possibility. What isn’t known is how Iran’s command and control architecture is operating and if additional capabilities have been deployed by the U.S. to degrade it in order to make a massive response harder to execute.
The U.S. has evacuated many of its personnel, aircraft and ships from Persian Gulf bases, but these are still potential targets, which could prompt a response from host countries if attacked. Also what is important to factor in is that although Israel has degraded Iran’s long-range ballistic missile capability over the last week — there has been no launches in the last 24 hours, which is a first and a potential indicator of the state of these forces — Iran’s short-range ballistic and cruise missile, as well as one-way attack drone capability is far more expansive and harder to target. These systems are a major threat to U.S. bases in the region.
We also don’t know if the B-2 group that appeared to be sent out over the Pacific could have made it to Iran on the timetable now established. It is very possible this was a feint in order to provide cover for the real strike force. We are looking into the timing and will report more when we can more definitively answer this question. While the B-52s now located in Diego Garcia can drop GBU-57 MOPs, as they did in early testing, it is not a known operational capability for the type. Also using those assets would be much riskier than the B-2 due to their lack of stealth. Still, it may have been possible depending on the state of Iran’s air defenses, especially in the east of country where Israeli operations have been far lower in volume, and what other assets would have assisted in the attacks.
It seems most likely that another group of B-2s was sent east, using the already deployed tanker bridge, to clandestinely carry out the strikes. They could have also been moved in the days prior clandestinely to bases closer to Iran. Even the B-2 shelters in Diego Garcia could have hid four B-2s. The UK is another established B-2 operating base, but they could have gone somewhere else, as well. The B-2 community has worked to hone its forward operations capabilities in recent years.

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There are many unknowns at this time.

An R-12 hydrant service vehicle refuels a B-2 Spirit during hot-pit refueling operations at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., May 28, 2025. Hot-pit refueling is the practice of refueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping the engines running. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings) Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings

There were also unconfirmed reports leading up to Trump’s announcement that strikes had occurred at the three nuclear sites. At the same time, there were also reports that Bandar Abbas, Iran’s main naval facility on the Persian Gulf and the epicenter for IRGC naval assets that would be used to close the strait, was struck. Now it appears this indeed did happen, based on news out of Israel:

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Trump has also retweeted the statement: Fordow Is Gone from an open source intelligence account on Truth Social:
Screenshot

Israel has changed its defense posture following the strikes:
Israel hunkering down: IDF: Changes to the Home Front Command Instructions

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With the approval of the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, and following the situational assessment, it was determined that as of today (Sunday), at 03:45am, immediate changes will be made to the Home Front Command instructions. As part of the changes, it was decided to shift all areas of the country from Partial and Limited Activity to Essential Activity. The instructions include: a prohibition on educational activities, gatherings, and workplaces, except for essential sectors.
The public is required to follow the instructions published on the official Home Front Command channels. Full instructions will be updated on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.
The IRGC just posted this on telegram:
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Update: 9:10pm eastern
Ships are still moving through the strait. This is simply an indicator of the current situation. It will likely take time for Iran to act, especially if its command and control is being further disrupted.




Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: Donald Trump to address the nation shortly

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: Donald Trump called the airstrikes a ‘HISTORIC MOMENT’ for the USA, Israel, and ‘the world’. ‘IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR.’ He would address the nation at 10:00 PM EST (7:30 AM IST).

Arshdeep Kaur

Updated22 Jun 2025, 07:26 AM IST

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (AFP)

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates:

US President Donald Trump said that the US military struck three nuclear sites in Iran, as the country now directly joins Israel in its war against Tehran.

The direct involvement of the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran.

US and Israeli officials said that American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker buster bomb offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on social media. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”

Trump added in a later post that he would address the national at 10:00 p.m. eastern time, writing “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday the United States that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.” And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region."

Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country’s leaders to give up their nuclear program peacefully.

Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s military said it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war. Iran’s foreign minister warned before the US attack that American military involvement “would be very, very dangerous for everyone.”



Follow updates here:

22 Jun 2025, 07:25 AM IST

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: ‘History will record…’: Netanyahu on Trump's role in war against Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded US President Donald Trump for creating a “pivot of history”

“History will record that Trump acted to deny the most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons,” he said.

“Trump's leadership has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace,” he added.

22 Jun 2025, 07:21 AM IST

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: 'President Trump, I Thank You,' says Netanyahu

“President Trump, I Thank You, the People of Israel Thank You,” said Netanyahu after the US struck Iran's nuclear sites, including Fordow.

22 Jun 2025, 07:18 AM IST

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: 30 Tomahawk missiles used on other Iranian nuclear sites

US used 30 Tomahawk missiles on other Iranian nuclear sites, according to Fox News

22 Jun 2025, 07:16 AM IST

Iran-Israel war LIVE Updates: Schools, workplaces, except 'essential sectors', to be closed in Israel

The Israeli military said schools and workplaces, except 'essential sectors', will be closed under tightened safety restrictions after the US strikes Iran.

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Israel strikes Iran's Isfahan nuclear site as UN watchdog warns against attack on Bushehr reactor

Earlier, addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA warned against attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors.

Livemint

Updated21 Jun 2025, 09:17 PM IST

A destroyed drone, which the Iranian Army says belongs to Israel, is seen in Isfahan, Iran, in this handout image obtained on June 18, 2025. (via REUTERS)

Israel reportedly targetted the Isfahan nuclear site in Iran as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned against attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in Bushehr.

“Iran's Isfahan nuclear site was targeted by Israel, no leakage of hazardous materials,” Iran's Fars news agency reported on Saturday.

Also Read | Trump again snubs Gabbard's take on Iran's nuclear programme: ‘She's wrong’

UN nuclear watchdog's warning

Earlier, addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA warned against attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors.

He was quoted by The Associated Press as saying,“I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment."

A file photo of N. Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons. (PTI)

“I have no words to express to console any of the families of those who died. I deeply regret that this accident happened in a Tata-run airline. And I feel very sorry.” Air India and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran apologised during an interview with Times Now.

In his first time speaking since the tragic Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, that claimed over 270 lives, a remorseful Chandrasekaran added, “All we can do is to be with the families at this time, grieve with them, and we will do everything to support them at this hour and beyond.”

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਯੁੱਧ-ਸੰਧੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ

ਡਾ: ਦਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗ੍ਰੇਵਾਲ​

ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਇਜ਼ਰਾਈਲ ਦਾ ਇਰਾਨ ਯੁੱਧ 23 ਮਾਰਚ ਤੋਂ ਚਲਦਾ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਹਫ਼ਤਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ, ਇਹ ਯੁੱਧ ਸਮਾਂ-ਸੀਮਾਵਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਚੱਲਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ। ਕੈਲੰਡਰ 'ਤੇ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਇੱਕ ਤਾਰੀਖ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਸੀ: 23 ਮਾਰਚ, ਫਿਰ 28 ਮਾਰਚ, ਫਿਰ 6 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ, ਫਿਰ 7 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ, ਫਿਰ 21 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ। ਹੁਣ ਜਦ ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਸੱਦੇ ਤੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਨ ਤੋਂ ਇਨਕਾਰ ਇਸ ਲਈ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਉਤੇ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ । ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਇਕ ਪਾਸੇ ਤਾਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਇਰਾਨੀ ਬੰਦਰਗਾਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਗਿਰਦ ਘੇਰਾ ਪਾ ਕੇ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਸਾਮਾਨ ਲਿਜਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਰਾਨੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੀ ਕਬਜ਼ੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਸਾਫ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਧਮਕੀਆਂ ਵੀ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਯੁੱਧ ਬੰਦੀ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਵੀ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਉਤੇ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵਿਚੋਲੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਟੋਕਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸਮਤੋਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਚੱਲ ਰਿਹਾ ਸਗੋਂ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੇ ਇਸ਼ਾਰੇ ਤੇ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਈਰਾਨੀ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਅਰਾਘਚੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ "ਈਰਾਨੀ ਬੰਦਰਗਾਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਕਾਬੰਦੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਜੰਗ ਦਾ ਕੰਮ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਹੈ।" "ਇੱਕ ਵਪਾਰਕ ਜਹਾਜ਼ 'ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਉਸਦੇ ਚਾਲਕ ਦਲ ਨੂੰ ਬੰਧਕ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਹੈ।" "ਈਰਾਨ ਜਾਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਬੇਅਸਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ, ਆਪਣੇ ਹਿੱਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕਰਨੀ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਗੁੰਡਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ। ਹੁਣ ਫਿਰ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਛਾਪੇਮਾਰੀ ਕਰਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੂਜੇ ਈਰਾਨੀ ਤੇਲ ਟੈਂਕਰ 'ਤੇ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ।

ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਜਲਡਮਰੂ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਕਾਰਗੋ ਜਹਾਜ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਬਤ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ, ਟਰੰਪ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਵਧਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਤਣਾਅ ਹੋਰ ਡੂੰਘਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ। ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਦੀ ਨਾਕਾਬੰਦੀ ਖਤਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ, ਉਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਜਲ ਮਾਰਗ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇਗਾ। ਬਾਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਕਿਰਿਆ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਬ੍ਰੈਂਟ ਕਰੂਡ (ਵਧੀਆਂ ਤੇਲ) $101 ਤੋਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਚੜ੍ਹ ਗਿਆ।ਲੇਬਨਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਝੜਪਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਕ 'ਤੇ ਦਬਾਅ ਨੇ ਖੇਤਰੀ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਵਧਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਤੇਜ਼ ਹਮਲਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਕਿਸ਼ਤੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਅਸਮਿਤ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਰਣਨੀਤੀ ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੀ ਆਵਾਜਾਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਘਨ ਪਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ, ਟੈਂਕਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਵਧ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਭੂ-ਰਾਜਨੀਤਿਕ ਤਣਾਅ ਵਧਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਪਸ ਮੁੜਨ ਲਈ ਮਜਬੂਰ ਹੋਣਾ ਪੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਨਾਗਰਿਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਜ਼ਾ ਸਲਾਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਈਰਾਨ ਦੀ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ।ਈਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋ ਵਪਾਰਕ ਜਹਾਜ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜ਼ਬਤ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ, ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਨੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਅਤੇ ਏਸ਼ੀਆਈ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਾਕਾਬੰਦੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਾਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਯੂ ਟਿਊਬ ਤੇ ਦਿਖਾਈ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਦੀ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਅਟੈਕ ਦੀ ਧਮਕੀ ਨੇ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਰੀ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਹੈ। ਖਬਰਾਂ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਫੌਜੀ ਜਰਨੈਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਨਿਊਕਲੀਅਰ ਬੰਬ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਕੋਡ ਜਰਨੈਲਾਂ ਤੌਂ ਮੰਗਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਨਾਂਹ ਕਰ ਦਿਤਾ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਇੱਕ ਬਹੁਤ ਵੱਡਾ ਸਾਕਾ ਹੋਣੋ ਬਚ ਗਿਆ।ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਤਕਨੀਕੀ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਬਰਕਰਾਰ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਸਮਾਂ ਸੀਮਾ ਦੀ ਘਾਟ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਵਾਸ਼ਿੰਗਟਨ ਅਤੇ ਤਹਿਰਾਨ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਟਕਰਾਅ ਲੰਬੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੱਕ ਰਣਨੀਤਕ ਸਹਿਣਸ਼ੀਲਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਦਲ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ-ਈਰਾਨ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੀ ਮੇਜ਼ਬਾਨੀ ਦੀਆਂ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਇਸਲਾਮਾਬਾਦ ਨੂੰ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਤਾਲਾਬੰਦੀ, ਆਰਥਿਕ ਵਿਘਨ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਤਣਾਅ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। 100 ਡਾਲਰ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਤੇਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੀਮਤਾਂ, ਸ਼ਿਪਿੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਘਨ, ਅਤੇ ਵਧਦੀ ਬੀਮਾ ਲਾਗਤਾਂ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਵਿਆਪੀ ਸਪਲਾਈ ਲਈ ਤਣਾਅ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਿੰਗਾਈ ਦੇ ਦਬਾਅ ਪਾ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ।

ਟੈਂਕਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਗਤੀਵਿਧੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਗਿਣਤੀਆਂ ਠਕਿ ਤੋਂ ਵਾਂਝਿਆਂ ਰੱਖ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਕਰਕੇ , ਨਾਕਾਬੰਦੀ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵਸ਼ੀਲਤਾ ਦਾ ਸਹੀ ਮੁਲਾਂਕਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਔਖਾ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਤੋਂ ਮਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਹੁਣ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਲਈ ਖੁਲ੍ਹਾ ਸੁਝਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ । ਬਿਨਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਤਾਰੀਖ ਦੇ ਇੱਕ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹਾ ਇੰਤਜ਼ਾਰ। ਇਰਾਨ ਤੋਂ ਇੱਕ 'ਠੋਸ ਪ੍ਰਸਤਾਵ' ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ। 'ਕੋਈ ਸਮਾਂ-ਸੀਮਾ' ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਕੋਈ ਪੱਕਾ ਸਮਾਂ-ਸੀਮਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਫੌਕਸ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ 'ਕੋਈ ਕਾਹਲੀ ਨਹੀਂ'।

ਜੰਗਬੰਦੀ ਜੋ ਦੋ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਚੱਲਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਸੀ, ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਦੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਣਮਿੱਥੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਲਈ ਹੋਗਈ ਹੈ - ਇੱਕ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਜੋ ਕੂਟਨੀਤਕ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਧੀਰਜ ਵਰਗਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਅਭਿਆਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਇਸਦਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ, ਦੋਵੇਂ ਪਾਸੇ, ਹੁਣ ਇੱਕ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਦਬਾਅ ਬਿੰਦੂ ਦੇ ਆਲੇ-ਦੁਆਲੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਗਠਿਤ ਕਰੇਗਾ ਹੈ। ਰੂਸ ਦੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਦੀ ਚਾਲ ਹੈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਹਮਲੇ ਦੀ ਤਿਆਰੀ ਕਰੇਗਾ।ਸਮਾਂ-ਸੀਮਾ, ਇਹ ਵੀ ਦਰਸਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕੁਝ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ। ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਘੇਰਾ ਹਟਾ ਲਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਲਈ ਸਮਾਂ ਸਾਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਬਣਾ ਦੇਵੇ। ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਨੇ, ਇਰਾਨ ਵੱਲ ਇੱਕ ਗੁਪਤ ਹਵਾਲਾ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਦਾਅਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ " ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ 159 ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਜਹਾਜ਼" ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਤਲ 'ਤੇ ਹਨ।

"ਮੈਂ ਸੰਯੁਕਤ ਰਾਜ ਦੀ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਕਿਸ਼ਤੀ, ਛੋਟੀਆਂ ਕਿਸ਼ਤੀਆਂ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਉਹ ਹੋਣ (ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਜਲ ਸੈਨਾ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਹਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ 159, ਸਮੁੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਤਲ 'ਤੇ!) ਨੂੰ ਗੋਲੀ ਮਾਰਨ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ, ਜੋ ਕਿ ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਜਲਡਮਰੂ ਦੇ ਪਾਣੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਰੂਦੀ ਖਾਣਾਂ ਪਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੋਈ ਝਿਜਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ," ਪੋਸਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਅਮਰੀਕੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਜਲਡਮਰੂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਾਰੂਦੀ ਖਾਣਾਂ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਕੰਮ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਤਿੰਨ ਗੁਣਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।"ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ, ਸਾਡੇ ਬਾਰੂਦੀ ਖਾਣ 'ਸਵੀਪਰ' ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਜਲਡਮਰੂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਮੈਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਉਸ ਗਤੀਵਿਧੀ ਨੂੰ ਤਿੰਨ ਗੁਣਾ ਪੱਧਰ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਰੀ ਰੱਖਣ ਦਾ ਆਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ!" ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਗੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।ਅਫਵਾਹਾਂ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਵਿਰੁਧ ਐਪਸਟੀਨ ਫਾਈਲਾਂ ਵੀ ਖੋਲ੍ਹ ਦਿਤੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਟੀਵੀ ਚੈਨਲਾਂ ਤੇ ਵਿਖਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਇਸ ਖਬਰ ਦੀ ਪੁਸ਼ਟੀ ਬਾਕੀ ਹੈ।ਪਰ ਕੀ ਅਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਸਮੇਂ ਲਈ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਲਈ ਸਹਿਣਸ਼ੀਲਤਾ ਬਣਾ ਕੇ ਰੱਖਣੀ ਆਸਾਨ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ?

ਨਵੰਬਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੱਧਕਾਲੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਅਤੇ ਧਰਮ ਤੇ ਆਸਥਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਸਹਿਣਸ਼ੀਲਤਾ ਦੇ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ, ਇਰਾਨ ਨੇ ਚਾਰ ਦਹਾਕੇ ਇਸ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੇ ਦਬਾਅ ਨੂੰ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਸਹਿਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਵਾਸ਼ਿੰਗਟਨ ਲਈ ਸਹਿਣਸ਼ੀਲਤਾ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਅਸਮਾਨਤਾ ਆਰਾਮਦਾਇਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਛੀਆਂ ਬਾਰੂਦੀ ਖਾਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ਼ ਕਰਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਛੇ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਲੱਗ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਦਾ ਹੱਲ ਬੰਦ ਕਮਰੇ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਣ ਲੱਗਾ। ਯੂਰਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੈੱਟ ਤੇਲ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਖਤਮ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਉਡਾਣਾ ਕੈਂਸਲ ਕਰ ਦਿਤੀਆ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ। । ਤੇਲ $100 ਤੋਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਖਾੜੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਤੇ, ਈਰਾਨੀ ਟੈਂਕਰ ਇੱਕ ਨਾਕਾਬੰਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਲੰਘ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਪਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਯੁੱਧ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ 1 ਮਈ ਨੂੰ ਖਤਮ ਹੋ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਜਿਸ ਪਿੱਛੋਂ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸੰਵਿਧਾਨ ਅਧੀਨ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਆਂ ਹੋਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ । ਪਰ ਇਸ ਸਭ ਵਿੱਚ, ਟਰੰਪ ਨੇ ਹੱਲ ਦਾ ਰਸਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ, ਸਗੋਂ ਅੰਤ ਲੱਭਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਲਤਵੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਹੁਣ ਉਡੀਕ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਟ੍ਰੰਪ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਮਤ ਆਵੇਗੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਅਪਣਾ ਘੁਮੰਡ, ਹੳੇਮੈ ਅਤੇ ਲਾਲਚ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਨਿਉਕਲਿਆਈ ਮਸਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਹਥਿਆਉਣ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿਦ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਵੇ ਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਉਦਾਲਿਓਂ ਅਪਣਾ ਘੇਰਾ ਹਟਾ ਕ ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਵਾਜਾਈ ਖੁਲ੍ਹੀ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਸਮੁੰਦਰੀ ਜਹਾਜ਼ ਵੀ ਵਾਪਿਸ ਕਰ ਦੇਵੇ। ਯੁੱਧ ਲਈ ਯੋਗ ਮੁਆਵਜ਼ਾ ਦੇ ਦੇਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਜੋ ਪਾਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਇਰਾਨ ੳੇਤੇ 47 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਲਾਈਆਂ ਹਨ ਉਹ ਹਟਾ ਲਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਸਹੀ ਅਰਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ। ਉਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ, ਇਹ ਜਲਡਮਰੂ ਲਗਭਗ ਬੰਦ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਦੁਨੀਆ ਭੁਗਤਾਨ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਵੀ, ਜਿਸਨੇ ਇਹ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ, ਇਹ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਹਿ ਸਕਦਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਕਦੋਂ ਖਤਮ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Analysis of the direction of the second round of talks between America and Iran​

Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal

Professor Emeritus Deshbhagt University​

A view of Hormuz​

Talks between America and Iran were broken earlier are now likely to start again. This series of talks will proceed only on those core issues on which talks had broken down. These main issues were to prevent Iran from going nuclear and to bring Hormuz under American influence. Iran will not be ready to compromise in any way on these two main issues. Because the war also started on these two issues in which Iran's side was at a better foot. Before this war too the negotiations were going on between America and Iran, however Israel suddenly appeared on the scene and bombed Iran and eliminated its top leadership. This ended the talks in between and a war began where the US too became an active part. Even though America and Iran were close to an agreement but Israel did not want America and Iran reach an agreement. Israel's main demand is to deprive Iran of nuclear power and to establish a favourable government in Iran. With the then existing leadership Israel considered Iran a major threat to its existence because Iran has been supporting Hezbollah and Hamas for many years helping Hamas who were trying their best to save their freedom from Israel.

Israel had occupied Palestine and many parts of southern Lebanon. Israel claims the old Israel, which included Palestine, Lebanon and most of the Arab region. Hamas and Hezbollah continue to fight for their survival and Iran is helping them with weapons and military training for their struggle. That is why Israel feels Iran a dangerous enemy.
Because Israel knows that he cannot deal with Iran alone, he got America entangled in it.. For many years he has been encouraging America to go to war against Iran, but America's previous Presidents did not take the bait that the US will control immense stock of oil and will be able to dominate entire Gulf region freely for which Iran is the only hurdle. When Trump became President for the second time, Israel enticed the US to take over Iran’s oil wells and to increase security in the Gulf countries. This impressed Trump and he joined hands with Israel to attack Iran. In this decision, his own advisor, his son-in-law, who is a Jew, was instrumental in convincing his father-in-law. On 28 March Israel heavily bombed Iran killing its leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior leaders. America also started heavy bombing on Iran in which caused major damage to Iran's navy and air force, industrial and communications centres.
If anything is left of Iran, it is because its entire country is mountainous. Iran had already thought for the last 20-25 years that America and Israel could attack them. Therefore, they had built large caves inside the mountains in which they could store his missiles, drones, etc. And other war equipment, including planes and cannons. Despite heavy US bombing, Iranian weapons remained intact and Iran launched a massive counterattack on Israel. They also bombed and caused heavy damage to American air bases in the Gulf countries. Due to this, America became even more angry and continued the bombing and repeatedly threatened and demanded Iran's surrender. But Iran was made of different stuff and loved its freedom and its country's security. They have prepared well to face this situation. Strategies were already made to deal with every type of attack after evaluating the US attacks in Iraq, Syria, Venezuela etc. The administrative structure was also moulded in such a way that if their top commanders were killed or captured, the next takes command automatically so that the continuity of the war is not broken. The army was divided among 21 states with powers to act as deemed fit. Israel and America thought that after killing their top leaders, Iran would bow before them. But it didn't happen that way. Despite killing almost all of its top leadership, Iran's retaliatory attacks continued. This dealt a big blow to the opponents. Iran destroyed israel’s much touted security dome and demolished Israel's security network. It also destroyed radars and other intelligence network and caused heavy damages to parked military equipment at American bases.
Israel’ s and US bases were bombed and turned into debris, Trump expressed his surprise and said that he never thought of this? Fed up with this disaster, America declared a two-week ceasefire and asked for help from countries like Pakistan for talks with Iran. In the first round of talks with Iran, when both were close to an agreement, Netanyahu rang up J.D. Vance, and requested that the point regarding Iran’s destruction of all nuclear {censored}nal should be included in the agreement. Israel knew that Iran would not accept this condition and the talks would break down. As Vance insisted of inclusion of this point the conversation broke down and the talks were considered ended. Both the parties went back to their countries.
Although the ceasefire was in force, Israel carried out heavy bombing to capture the southern part of Lebanon. In this bombing about 185 Lebanese civilians were killed. Hezbollah has been trying its best to secure the southern part of Lebanon and has responded by counter attacks. Israel was never ready to negotiate directly with Hezbollah. Instead, Israel asked for talks with Lebanon Government so. These talks took place in America but broke down without any agreement.
Having failed in talks, America turned its attention towards Hormuz and ordered its Central Command to encircle it. Hormuz is a very important passage for oil from Gulf countries and the world since 20% of the world's oil trade takes place through it. When America encircled the Gulf, it created a stir in the whole world due to fear of lack of oil. Earlier, Iran Hormuz allowed ships to pass through the Gulf and only those ships could pass through it which were not a party to war with US-Israel. Besides, Iran also started collecting taxes from other countries. America said that this encirclement was established to liberate Hormuz Gulf. Trump said that he would encircle every port of Iran and destroy any ship entering and leaving.

Most of Iran's oil trade is with China. China threatened America and said that this action of America is arrogant and against international laws, hence China Will never accept this . China will take planes to and from Hormuz and if any of its planes is attacked it will consider as an attack on China, hence will be retaliated accordingly.
Shaken at this reaction, America invited Iran for the second round of talks. The invitation has been delivered to Iran through Pakistan. Let us hope that this dialogue goes on positively. Main issues to be discussed include nuclear and weapons as Vance has pointed out and Hormuz Issue though some other issues may be included. The statement of America's Vice President has come out that if Iran gives up its nuclear insistence, then America will make it prosperous. Tough this issue us not vital for the US but appears to be on Israel’s insistence. Perhaps America should abandon this to make the agreement of permanent nature. The issue of Lebanon, Hizballah and Hamas also may come up and also the war compensation which Iran has been claiming from the US and Gulf countries. is also included and compensation for Iran's losses in the war.

Apart from this, there are fears in Iran that it will not accept any influence of America in its oil and its Does not want to hinder the normalization of oil with China under any circumstances and wants to sell oil to China. Will be sold in currency only and will not accept dollar currency. Secondly, Iran will neither want to stop supporting Hamas nor Hezbollah and will take no concrete action towards them. Hence would like a compromise with Israel so that their land is and people are not disturbed and allowed to be in peace.

Israel and America had thought that Iran would bow down before them by killing its top leaders, but this did not happen. Despite the killing of almost all its top leadership, Iran's retaliatory attacks are still more severe. This was a big surprise to the opponents.
The way Iran badly destroyed Israel's security network and radars deployed in American bases and these into turned into rubble. Trump expressed his surprise and said that he never expected of this? To avoid further disaster of Gulf bases America declared a two-week ceasefire and asked for help from countries Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey etc, so that talks could be held with Iran. A round of negotiations continued with Iran, but at the end when both the countries were close to an agreement, Israel by telephoning the main leader of the American delegation, J.D. Vance, and said that he wanted to get Iran's nuclear weapons to be destroyed and will never try to make nuclear in future. Israel knew that Iran would not accept this condition and the talks would break down. This happened and the conversation broke down. Due to Iran's opposition to nuclear issue, the talks were considered ended and both the parties went back to their countries.
Although the ceasefire was in force, Israel carried out heavy bombing to capture the southern part of Lebanon. In this bombing about 185 Lebanese were killed. Hezbollah has been trying its best to secure the southern part of Lebanon and has responded equally forcefully with the active assistance of Iran. Israel has never been ready to negotiate directly with Israel hence Israel was invited to the US along with Lebanon delegation where an temporary ceasefire agreement has been reached with the mediation of the US. This ceasefire has encouraged Iran for the second round of talks with the US which are now being held shortly. In Pakistan
America turned its attention to Hormuz and ordered its encirclement under its central command. Hormuz is a very important Gulf because 20% of the world's oil trade takes place in it. When America annexed the Gulf, it created a stir in the whole world because first Iran Hormuz allowed ships to pass through the Gulf and only those ships that belonged to Iran could pass through it. Did not belong to enemy countries. Besides, Iran also started collecting taxes from other countries. America said that this encirclement was established to liberate Hormuz Gulf. In which he said that he would establish a siege on every port of Iran.

Most of Iran's oil trade is with China. China threatened America and said that this action of America is arrogant and threatening which China will never accept. China will take its ships to Hormuz and if any of its ships is attacked it will be considered as direct attack on China. Since Iran has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz for every ship carrying cargo, America is yet to lift its encirclement of Iran’s ports.
Now an invitation has been given for the second round of talks to Iran and the second rough of talks are due to be held shortly in Pakistan major issues of nuclear material and Hormuz are likely to be on the table. The talks may be direct as the base for the discussions is already being prepared. America's Vice President's new statement that “if Iran gives up its nuclear insistence, America will help develop Iran to new heights”. Iran’s abandoning of nuclear enrichment does not in any way as Iran poses no direct threat to the US and Iran will never use atomic threat for the GCC countries where the US bases are there. America has already a heavy pile of of a only atomic bombs and is far away for any atomic attack from Iran. Now Trump has said that he will take all the enrichment of uranium to the US which does not seem to be logical because Iran will never hand over its resources to the US, hence Iran has bluntly rejected this approach. However, Iran may consider nuclear sanctions to remain in place for a few years during discussions. Iran is not sparing any ship which does not follow its instructions. Today Iran has hit two Indian ships in violation to international law since it declared Hormuz closed because of the US encirclement.

Apart from this, there are fears in Iran that the US is trying to achieve a status where it could have control over Iran’s oil. Iran will not accept any influence of America in its oil and its does not want any hinderance in its regular supplies to China where the currency used is Chinese. It will not accept dollars in these bilateral arrangements. Another point is that Iran will neither want to stop supporting Hamas nor Hezbollah and will take no concrete action towards them.

Apart from this, there are fears in Iran that the US is trying to achieve a status where it could have control over Iran’s oil. Iran will not accept any influence of America in its oil and its does not want any hinderance in its regular supplies to China where the currency used is Chinese. It will not accept dollars in these bilateral arrangements. Another point is that Iran will neither want to stop supporting Hamas nor Hezbollah and will take no concrete action towards them.
Iran opened Hormuz now because Israel has agreed for a ceasefire with Lebanon and not under pressure from the US. Iran has also put a demand of war damage compensation of $270 billion from the US and its war friends. Iran also wants that America should remove sanctions that have been imposed on since last 47 years due to which billions of dollars are stuck up in foreign banks. Th is trapped money once released will help iron to develop again. In turn, America would also like to make an agreement for the security of its bases in the Gulf countries and would also like that His influence in the Gulf countries remained the same. It remains to be seen how many of these things will be accepted. But mostly the discussion will be focused on oil and nuclear weapons though Russia has felt that it is the US trick to earn time so that it could prepare for a bigger attack. Only time will tell as to what will happen in near future but we must pray and hope for peace.
​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran offers deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz to end US blockade: Report​

ANI - April 29, 2026 09:26 IST
Iran has offered a new proposal to de-escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, seeking an end to military operations in exchange for the removal of the US blockade and a commitment to cease hostilities.

IMAGE: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points​

• Iran has proposed ceasing military operations in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the removal of the US blockade and a cessation of hostilities.
• The proposal involves shelving discussions about Iran's nuclear program as part of a broader de-escalation strategy.
• Russia has pledged diplomatic support to Iran in finding a resolution to the ongoing tensions with the US and Israel.
• The US administration is actively considering the Iranian proposal but remains cautious about allowing Iran total authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
• Analysts express skepticism about the long-term sustainability of the proposed agreement, particularly regarding the sequencing of de-escalation steps.

In a significant diplomatic maneuver aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran has submitted a fresh proposal to regional intermediaries, offering to cease its military operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the deal is contingent upon a complete cessation of hostilities and the removal of the United States blockade currently stifling Iranian maritime hubs.
Iran's Diplomatic Overture and Nuclear Program
The strategic overture, delivered by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, seeks to dismantle the current geopolitical stalemate and revitalize stalled negotiations.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the framework would essentially see 'discussions about Iran's nuclear program shelved.'
While the proposal gains traction, Iran's mission to the United Nations has yet to offer an official statement.

The diplomatic push was further highlighted on Monday when Araghchi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the meeting, the Russian leader lauded the Islamic Republic's perseverance against the military efforts of the US and Israel, while committing Moscow's diplomatic support to find a resolution.

US Response and Concerns​

In Washington, DC, The Wall Street Journal reports that the administration is actively weighing the offer, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that President Trump reviewed the Iranian framework with his national security advisers.
Providing a cautious perspective, Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Monday that while he believes Tehran is 'serious about making a deal' with the US, he clarified that Washington, DC has no intention of allowing Iran to exercise total authority over the vital shipping lane.
Details of the Proposed De-escalation
The current friction reached a flashpoint this month when the US implemented a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a direct response to Tehran's 'de facto closure of the strait.'
Following the collapse of previous discussions, The Wall Street Journal detailed that Iran's new roadmap involves a three-stage de-escalation process.
The initial phase would demand that the US and Israel terminate the war and offer formal 'guarantees not to start it again.'
Under this proposed timeline, neutral mediators would subsequently facilitate the reopening of the strait and oversee a long-term management agreement for the waterway.
However, a significant sticking point remains; Iranian officials reportedly informed mediators that Tehran still intends to maintain sovereignty over the strait before it would 'start negotiations on its nuclear program and other issues such as its funding to proxies in the region.'

Skepticism and Future Prospects​

Scepticism remains high among regional analysts regarding the sustainability of such an agreement.
Raz Zimmt, an expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, argued that this sequence is flawed, suggesting, 'It is clear to all that whatever is not resolved by the end of the war is highly unlikely to be resolved afterward.'
As the situation evolves, The Wall Street Journal noted that international mediators are encouraging Tehran and Washington to maintain remote communication channels until a mutual understanding is within reach.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

US marines board merchant ship in Arabian Sea​

April 29, 2026 08:58 IST
US Marines boarded and searched a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea, suspecting it of violating the US blockade against Iran, highlighting tensions in the region.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: CENTCOM/Handout via Reuters

Key Points​

• US Marines boarded the M/V Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea on suspicion of violating the US blockade of Iranian ports.
• The US Central Command confirmed the ship was searched and released after determining it was not headed to an Iranian port.
• The US blockade of Iranian ports has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global energy markets.
• The blockade has led to an increase in the number of vessels anchored at Iranian ports, disrupting economic trade.

US Marines boarded a commercial ship in the Arabian Sea suspecting it was headed to Iran in violation of the US-imposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
US Forces Action In The Arabian Sea
"Earlier today in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/V Blue Star III, a commercial ship suspected of attempting to transit to Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports," CENTCOM wrote on X on Tuesday.
CENTCOM said US forces released the vessel after conducting a search and confirming the ship's voyage would not include an Iranian port call.
The vessel was released after a search determined it was not planning to dock at an Iranian port, it said.

CENTCOM added that 39 vessels have been "redirected to ensure compliance" with the blockade.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the US-Israeli war against Iran began February 28, rattling global energy markets and raising fears of prolonged economic damage.
The blockade has resulted in ships being anchored at various ports in the region.

Economic Impact On Iranian Ports​

"Prior to the U.S. blockade on Iran, 5 ships were moored or anchored in the Iranian port of Chah Bahar on an average day. Today, more than 20 vessels remain in Chah Bahar as US forces cut off economic trade going into and coming out of Iran during the ongoing blockade," the CENTCOM said.
According to marine traffic monitoring websites, M/V Blue Star III is a container ship sailing under the flag of Comoros and was headed to the port of Sohar in Oma

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

King Charles III trades barbs with Trump at state dinner​

Source: ANI -
April 29, 2026 09:19 IST
King Charles III reaffirmed the enduring strength of the US-UK alliance and the importance of NATO during a White House state dinner with President Trump, highlighting the historical ties and future cooperation between the two nations.

IMAGE: Britain's King Charles III points at the bell he presented to US President Donald Trump as a gift during a state dinner for the king and Queen Camilla at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Key Points​

• King Charles III reaffirmed the strong US-UK alliance during a White House state dinner with President Trump.
• The king highlighted the historical ties between the US and the UK, particularly their cooperation during World War II and the formation of NATO.
• He warned of increasing global volatility and the need for deeper cooperation through NATO and AUKUS to address security challenges.
• King Charles III presented Trump with a bell from HMS Trump, symbolizing the shared history and future of the two nations.
• Despite serious discussions, the evening included light-hearted moments and jokes about historical events.

Britain’s King Charles III reaffirmed the enduring strength of the United States-United Kingdom alliance, underscored the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's centrality to global security, and shared light-hearted moments with President Donald Trump during a White House state dinner.

Historical Depth of Transatlantic Ties
In a formal toast following the US President’s remarks, the King highlighted the historical depth of transatlantic ties, recalling how both nations have 'fought and fallen together' and stood by each other through the best and worst of times.
Tracing the partnership back to World War II, he credited American leadership with helping rebuild a shattered Europe and shaping the foundations of the NATO alliance in 1949.

Addressing Global Security Challenges​

Warning of an increasingly volatile global landscape, the monarch pointed to threats from hostile actors, rapidly evolving technologies, and challenges to international rules that have maintained balance for decades.
Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said 'freedom is under attack' and stressed the need for deeper cooperation through NATO and AUKUS to tackle emerging security challenges.
The remarks come amid a sensitive diplomatic backdrop, following Trump's earlier suggestions about a potential US withdrawal from NATO and concerns over burden-sharing among allies, as well as tensions linked to Iran.

Humour and Shared History
Despite the serious undertone, the evening featured moments of humour.
The King described Trump's second term as 'historic' and joked about renovations at the White House, quipping that Britain had once attempted its own 'real estate redevelopment' when it burned the building in 1814 during the War of 1812.
He also referred to the cultural imprint of British heritage in American cities such as Charleston and Annapolis.

Symbolic Gift and Future Cooperation​

In a symbolic gesture, the King presented Trump with a bell from HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine launched in 1944 that served in the Pacific during World War II.
"Should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
The gift, he added, stands as a testament to the shared history and future of the two nations.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

UAE's OPEC Exit: A Policy-Driven Evolution for Energy Future​

Source: ANI
April 28, 2026 23:34 IST
The United Arab Emirates is set to make a significant policy-driven shift in its long-term energy strategy by exiting the OPEC and OPEC+ alliance, a move poised to reshape global oil market dynamics and align with the nation's domestic economic goals.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Key Points​

• The UAE will officially exit OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance on May 1, 2026, following a comprehensive review of its production policy.
• Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei stated the decision reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals and national economic goals.
• The UAE plans to gradually bring additional oil production to the market after its exit, aiming to enhance its ability to respond to evolving market needs.
• The country reaffirms its commitment to energy security, providing reliable and lower-carbon supply, and supporting stable global markets.
• This move allows the UAE to focus on national interests, investor commitments, and economic diversification, while continuing to invest across the entire energy value chain.

The United Arab Emirates announced its decision to exit the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in its long-term energy strategy. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei confirmed the development on X, noting that the decision reflects a policy-driven evolution.

Strategic Policy Evolution​

The minister stated that the move is aligned with long-term market fundamentals and follows decades of participation in the organization.
"The UAE's decision to exit from OPEC reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals.
"We thank OPEC and its member countries for decades of constructive cooperation. We remain committed to energy security, providing reliable, responsible, and lower-carbon supply while supporting stable global markets," Al Mazrouei said.

The withdrawal is scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2026.
This move follows a comprehensive review of the country's production policy and its future capacity, as the nation seeks to align its energy profile with domestic economic goals and accelerated investment in production.

Impact on Global Markets and Future Plans​

At the time of filing this report, Brent Crude stood at $111.15, up by $3.25, or 3.00 percent.
While near-term volatility, including disruptions in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, continues to impact supply dynamics, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE maintains that underlying trends point to sustained growth in global energy demand over the long term.
The country plans to bring additional production to the market in a gradual and measured manner after the exit.
"We reaffirm our appreciation for the efforts of both OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance and wish them success.
"During our time in the organization, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all.
"However, the time has come to focus our efforts on what our national interest dictates and our commitment to our investors, customers, partners, and global energy markets.

"This is what we will focus on going forward," the official communication said.

Commitment to Stability and Diversification​

As a producer of cost-competitive and lower-carbon barrels, the UAE intends to continue its role as a reliable partner in the global energy system.
The government noted that the exit does not alter its commitment to market stability or its cooperative approach with both producers and consumers.
Instead, the move is intended to enhance the country's ability to respond to evolving market needs and support its own economic diversification.
"This decision follows decades of constructive cooperation.
"The UAE joined OPEC in 1967 through the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and continued its membership following the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.
"Throughout this period, the UAE has played an active role in supporting global oil market stability and strengthening dialogue among producing nations," the official communication stated.
The UAE remains committed to investing across the entire energy value chain, including oil, gas, renewables, and low-carbon solutions.
This forward-looking approach is designed to support a resilient energy transformation while valuing the five decades of cooperation it shared with its partners in the alliance.
The United Arab Emirates comprises seven emirates—Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al-Quwain—located along the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
The country covers an area of around 84 thousand square kilometers and has a population of around 11 million.
More than four million people live in the capital, Abu Dhabi. (ANI)

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'No more Mr. Nice Guy': Trump warns Iran with a gun​

Source: ANI
April 29, 2026 16:33 IST
Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Iran regarding its nuclear programme, indicating a potential shift towards a more assertive US foreign policy if a diplomatic resolution is not reached quickly.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump posts his AI image with a gun. Photograph: Donald Trump on Truth Social

Key Points​

• Donald Trump warns Iran about its nuclear program, signaling a potential shift towards a more aggressive US policy.
• Trump expresses frustration with the pace of nuclear negotiations, stating that Iran needs to 'get smart soon.'
• Trump claims Iran is in a 'state of collapse' and wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• Gulf Cooperation Council leaders reject Iran's 'illegal actions' regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
• The US administration is reportedly planning a sustained blockade of Iran to cripple its economy.

United States President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that the US will take a tougher stance if a diplomatic resolution regarding its nuclear programme is not reached soon.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, the President posted a picture of himself holding an assault rifle and the slogan 'No more Mr. Nice Guy.'
Trump expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations, asserting that "Iran can't get their act together."

"Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon! President DJT," Trump said.
The President's remarks come at a time of heightened regional tension and a continued diplomatic stalemate. Highlighting a shift in his administration's approach, Trump warned, "They better get smart soon!"
The post from the US, Trump, signals a potentially more aggressive policy if Tehran continues to resist the terms proposed by Washington.
The statement follows recent efforts to negotiate a "Trump" deal that would replace previous agreements, which the president has frequently described as insufficient for ensuring global security.

Trump's Dissatisfaction with Iran's Diplomatic Efforts​

Furthering this stance, Trump has voiced significant dissatisfaction with Tehran's recent diplomatic overtures. He asserted that Washington will not advance negotiations unless the nuclear issue is tackled directly.
The President also claimed that Iran had indicated it was in a "state of collapse" and was consequently pushing for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible."
During his assessment, Trump highlighted the global security risks inherent in Tehran's atomic aspirations, warning that should Iran successfully obtain nuclear armaments, "the whole world would be held hostage."
This rejection follows a proposal from Iran focused on an immediate ceasefire in West Asia and the restoration of traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the proposal sought to postpone discussions on its nuclear program, missile technology, and existing sanctions.
While Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been conducting a diplomatic blitz—visiting Islamabad and meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to secure international backing—regional powers have begun to voice their own opposition.

Gulf Cooperation Council's Response​

In a meeting held in Saudi Arabia, leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), convened under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, formally rejected what they characterized as Iran's "illegal actions" regarding the closure of the strait and threats to maritime passage.
The GCC summit, which included high-level representation from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, issued a collective call for the return of "security and freedom of navigation" to levels seen before the conflict.
Furthermore, the bloc advocated for enhanced military integration, specifically the creation of shared infrastructure and a ballistic missile early warning system.

Potential US Blockade of Iran​

As regional and international pressure mounts, reports from The Wall Street Journal suggest that the US administration is bracing for an extended period of economic confrontation.
Trump has reportedly instructed his team to formulate plans for a sustained blockade of Iran, a strategy designed to cripple the Iranian economy and oil exports by strictly controlling maritime access to its ports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the President prefers this blockade as a more effective, lower-risk alternative to either a renewed aerial bombing campaign or a policy of total disengagement, marking a shift toward a long-term strategy of economic attrition.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Trump rejects Iran's offer and says the blockade will remain until.....​

Source: ANI
April 30, 2026 00:49 IST
Trump is rejecting the Iranian proposal to first open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade while postponing the nuclear talks to a later stage.

IMAGE: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 29, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters
US President Donald Trump, in an exclusive interview to Axios on Wednesday, said that he would continue to keep the naval blockade until Iran agrees to deal with the United States by addressing America's concerns about the nuclear programme.

Key Points​

• Trump is rejecting the Iranian proposal to first open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade, while postponing the nuclear talks to a later stage.
• Trump told Axios he saw the blockade as "somewhat more effective than the bombing.
• Trump declined to discuss any military plans in Wednesday's phone interview with Axios.

As per Axios, Trump is rejecting the Iranian proposal to first open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade, while postponing the nuclear talks to a later stage.
Trump told Axios he saw the blockade as "somewhat more effective than the bombing," and, as sources said, he had yet to order any kinetic action as of Tuesday night.
"The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump told Axios.
This comes on the heels of POTUS posting an AI-generated meme of himself holding a gun with a warning to Iran and the tagline, "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY."
While, as of now, Donald Trump sees continuing the blockade as his primary source of leverage, according to Axios, sources said that he would consider military action if Iran still doesn't cave.

However, Trump declined to discuss any military plans in Wednesday's phone interview with Axios.
It further reported that while Trump said Iran wants to settle and does not want to see a continuation of the naval blockade, Trump, on the other hand, does not want Tehran to have nuclear weapons.
"They want to settle. They don't want me to keep the blockade. I don't want to [lift the blockade] because I don't want them to have a nuclear weapon," Trump added.
As per Axios, Trump claimed that due to the blockade, Iran is not able to export oil, thus its storage and pipelines "are getting close to exploding" because Iran can't export oil due to the blockade. However, analysts doubt that Iran is in immediate danger on that front.
As the security situation develops in the region, Axios reported, citing three sources, that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes on Iran in hopes of breaking the negotiating deadlock.
It further mentioned that post the strikes, which would likely include infra targets, Washington would press the regime to come back to the negotiating table and show more flexibility.
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian security source quoted by English-language state media PRESS TV said on Wednesday the U.S. naval blockade "will soon be met with practical and unprecedented action."
While the source said that Iran's armed forces have shown restraint to give diplomacy a chance and provide Trump with an opportunity to end the war, the source stressed Iran's armed forces "believe that patience has limits and that a punishing response is necessary" if the blockade continues.
Also on Wednesday, Iran's Parliament Speaker, MB Ghalibaf, in an audio message, affirmed that Iran would defeat the "deceitful plan" of its adversaries and that US President Donald Trump is seeking the country's surrender through "internal discord and naval blockade," as reported by ISNA.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Amid West Asian tensions, Iran's FM Araghchi dials Jaishankar to discuss the crisis.​

Source: PTI
April 30, 2026 00:33 IST
Amidst ongoing tensions, the foreign ministers of India and Iran engaged in crucial discussions regarding the West Asia crisis, exploring potential paths towards de-escalation and regional stability.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting , in Tianjin, July 15, 2025. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo

Key Points​

• The phone conversation occurred after Araghchi's discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
• Both sides exchanged views on the latest developments related to the ceasefire and bilateral relations.
• The US blockade of Iranian ports and Iran's restrictions on ships in the Strait of Hormuz were discussed.
• Araghchi's visit to Moscow followed trips to Oman and Pakistan as part of diplomatic efforts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday called his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar and discussed various aspects of the West Asia crisis.
The phone conversation came two days after Araghchi held wide-ranging discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
"Received a phone call from Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi of Iran this evening," Jaishankar said on social media.
"Had a detailed conversation about various aspects of the current situation. We agreed to remain in close touch," he said.
The Iranian embassy in New Delhi said the two sides "discussed and exchanged views on the latest developments related to the ceasefire and bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues."
It was learned that the situation arising out of the US's blockade of the Iranian ports as well as Iran's restrictions on movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz figured in the conversation.
The Iranian foreign minister traveled to Moscow after visiting Oman and Pakistan as part of diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US war.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, failed to bring end their conflict.
Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, discussing the ongoing conflicts in Western Asia and Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday.
According to Ushakov, the call lasted more than 90 minutes and was described as “frank and businesslike.”
A major focus of the conversation was the situation in Iran and the wider Persian Gulf region. Putin reportedly welcomed Trump’s decision to extend a ceasefire with Iran, saying it would create space for negotiations and help stabilize tensions.
Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long US blockade of Iran’s ports with US oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday as the US. The president urged Tehran to "get smart soon" and sign a deal
April 30, 2026, 05:33:54 (IST)
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Senior Advisor to Mojtaba warns US of ‘catastrophic’ fallout​

A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei says fresh aggression towards Iran will be “catastrophic” for the United States.
“History will record that the Iranian nation sank the American superpower in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” Mohsen Rezaei, a former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said on Wednesday.
“American military personnel are warning that if the country continues the war, there is a possibility that their vessels will be sunk and their soldiers killed,” he added.
April 30, 2026, 05:25:18 (IST)
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Trump confuses Iran with Ukraine​

President Donald Trump seemed to confuse two different ongoing wars on Wednesday, telling CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that Ukraine was “defeated.”
Trump struggled to clearly separate references to Ukraine and Iran while answering questions on which conflict might end first.
Trump said Ukraine was “militarily defeated” and described extensive losses across ships, aircraft, missiles, and drones.
He stated: “They had 159 ships. Every ship is underwater… Every one of their planes has been shot down or has been decimated.” These remarks drew attention because they did not align with publicly known military structures or assessments of the war in Ukraine.

April 30, 2026, 05:19:02 (IST)
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Gaza flotilla claims Israeli interception, comms lost​

The Gaza-bound aid mission said that its boats have been “illegally surrounded” by Israeli military boats in international waters, and “threatened kidnapping and violence.”
“Communications with 11 vessels have been lost and israeli media claims that seven boats have been intercepted,” The Global Sumud Flotilla wrote in a post on X.
“Governments must act now to protect the flotilla, hold Israel accountable for these flagrant violations of international law and for Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people,” it added.

April 30, 2026, 05:15:10 (IST)
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Ghalibaf mocks US oil curbs, prices rise​

Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that US measures to halt Iran’s sale of oil have yet to see its storage tanks reach capacity and have simply resulted in oil prices going up.
“Three days in, no well exploded,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X. “We could extend to 30 and livestream the well here.”

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Trump says he told Putin to end the Ukraine war, not focus on Iran's uranium enrichment. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump described the call as productive and said the two leaders discussed multiple global issues, with Ukraine remaining the central focus. 30 Apr 2026, 12:54 AM IST​

Donald Trump revealed that Vladimir Putin offered Russian assistance related to Iran’s nuclear issue but said he redirected the discussion toward ending the Ukraine conflict. (File Photo by Adrian DENNIS and Gavriil Grigorov / various sources / AFP) (AFP)

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (April 29) that he encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to prioritize ending the war in Ukraine during a lengthy phone conversation that also touched on Iran and ceasefire diplomacy.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump described the call as productive and said the two leaders discussed multiple global issues, with Ukraine remaining the central focus.
“I talked about a few different subjects, mostly about Ukraine. And we had a very good conversation. I think we’re going to come up with a solution relatively quickly, I hope,” Trump said.
“I think you’d like to see a solution, I can tell you. And that’s good,” he added.

Trump rejects Putin’s offer on Iran nuclear issue​

Trump revealed that Putin offered Russian assistance related to Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts, but said he redirected the discussion toward ending the Ukraine conflict.

“He told me he’d like to be involved with the enrichment if he can help us get it,” Trump said.
“I said, ‘I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine,’” the US president told reporters.
Trump also confirmed that Iran was part of the discussion.
“I talked a little bit about Iran,” he said.

Kremlin says call lasted more than 90 minutes​

According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the conversation between Trump and Putin lasted more than an hour and a half and covered Ukraine, Iran, and broader geopolitical issues.
Ushakov described the exchange as “friendly, frank, and businesslike.”
Russian officials said Putin expressed support for Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire involving Iran in order to allow more time for negotiations.

According to Reuters, Ushakov said Putin shared ideas regarding Iran’s nuclear program and discussed possible diplomatic efforts surrounding Tehran.

Putin proposes temporary Ukraine truce​

The Kremlin’s account of the call said Putin proposed a temporary truce linked to Russia’s annual World War II Victory Day commemorations on May 9.
Russia traditionally marks the anniversary with large-scale military ceremonies commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
Trump said he suggested “a little bit of a ceasefire” during the discussion as diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war continue to face obstacles.

Ukraine's peace efforts remain stalled​

The call came at a critical time for Trump, who pledged during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would quickly end the Ukraine conflict if returned to office.
However, US-led peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have struggled to gain momentum, with negotiations reportedly slowing as Washington’s focus shifts toward the conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Trump has also faced challenges in securing a long-term settlement in the broader Middle East conflict after the war involving Iran escalated earlier this year.

Iran remains central to diplomatic tensions​

The conversation also underscored how Iran continues to dominate international diplomacy following months of conflict and ceasefire negotiations.
Trump recently extended the temporary ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to allow more time for negotiations over a broader peace framework.
Russia has increasingly positioned itself as a potential mediator in discussions involving Iran and regional security issues, while maintaining close ties with Tehran throughout the conflict.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran Has To Give Up, Says Trump as Talks Hit Breaking Point​

30 April 2026
The Iran conflict remains at a critical juncture as political tensions, fragile diplomacy, and continued regional violence shape an increasingly uncertain trajectory. US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned of further pressure, even as Iran signals willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under limited terms. With warnings over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rising international criticism, ongoing clashes in Lebanon and shifting energy geopolitics, including the UAE’s exit from OPEC, the conflict is entering a complex and volatile phase with global implications.

Follow real-time developments as the US-Israel conflict with Iran unfolds amid escalating political rhetoric, stalled diplomacy, and continued military exchanges across the Middle East. Track the latest strategic decisions, diplomatic efforts, regional clashes, and economic impacts affecting global energy markets and security dynamics.

US Raises Alarm Over Iran’s Nuclear Intentions: US Senator Marco Rubio has warned that Iran is “sprinting towards” acquiring nuclear weapons capability, stressing that any future agreement must prevent Tehran from advancing its program. He also accused Iran of potentially using negotiations to delay decisive action.

Trump Rejects Iran Proposal, Signals Pressure: US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while delaying nuclear talks. He has also claimed that Iran is in a “state of collapse” and has urged Tehran to move quickly to resolve tensions, including lifting restrictions impacting maritime trade.

Domestic and Global Political Pressure Builds: In Washington, lawmakers are pushing War Powers resolutions to limit further military escalation without congressional approval, highlighting divisions over the conflict. In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has criticized the US approach, warning of a lack of clear strategy and growing geopolitical and economic fallout.

Diplomatic Channels Remain Fragile: Despite tensions, diplomatic efforts continue through intermediaries, including Pakistan. Iran has defended its position at the United Nations, accusing the US and Israel of aggression while proposing interim arrangements linked to maritime access in the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf and Regional Reactions Intensify: Gulf leaders meeting in Saudi Arabia have called on Iran to take responsibility and rebuild trust after what they described as destabilizing actions. The regional bloc’s stance reflects growing concern over security and economic disruption.

Lebanon Front Sees Renewed Violence: Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue in southern Lebanon, with drone attacks wounding Israeli soldiers and retaliatory airstrikes causing casualties. Israel has been accused of killing emergency workers, an incident condemned by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as a “war crime."

Hezbollah Hardens Position: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected negotiations involving Israel and demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of prisoners, and reconstruction support, underscoring the risk of prolonged conflict on the northern front.

Energy and Economic Shockwaves Expand: The conflict continues to disrupt global energy dynamics. In a significant development, the UAE has announced it will exit OPEC after nearly six decades, signaling a potential shift in global oil alliances amid ongoing instability.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Central To Crisis: The strategic waterway remains a focal point of both military and diplomatic maneuvering. Iran has indicated conditional willingness to reopen it, while global markets remain sensitive to any disruption in this critical energy corridor.

Conflict Remains at Critical Inflection Point: With no clear diplomatic breakthrough, continued military exchanges, and rising global concern, the war remains at a highly volatile stage. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether negotiations gain traction or tensions escalate further.


APR 30, 2026 05:27 IST

“Three Days In, No Well Exploded," Says Speaker Of Iranian Parliament Whilst Mocking US​

APR 30, 2026 05:26 IST

CENTCOM Seeks To Deploy Hypersonic Missile Against Iran​

According to a report from Bloomberg, CENTCOM has requested the deployment of the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to the Middle East for possible use against Iran after Iran moved its launchers out of the 300-mile range of the Precision Strike Missile.

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APR 30, 2026 04:47 IST
Trump Doesn't Want To Resume Bombing, Says Report
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Trump does not want to resume bombing Iran or walk away from the conflict. The report indicated that he will impose an indefinite blockade.
APR 30, 2026 04:25 IST

Enriched Iranian Uranium Likely Still At Isfahan Site, Says IAEA​

Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear agency, while speaking with the Associated Press, suggested that enriched Iranian uranium is likely still at its Isfahan nuclear complex.
APR 30, 2026 03:54 IST

CENTCOM Issues a Statement On Blockade​

APR 30, 2026 03:30 IST

Considering Reduction Of US Troops In Germany, Says Trump​

APR 30, 2026 03:12 IST

Israel Intercepts Flotilla Sailing Towards Gaza​

APR 30, 2026 02:25 IST
USS Gerald R. Ford To Leave Middle East, Says Report
According to a report from the Washington Post, USS Gerald R. Ford will depart the Middle East in a few days. The aircraft carrier will arrive in Virginia by mid-May, as per an official cited in the report.
APR 30, 2026 02:07 IST

Iran Has Roughly 20% Of Its Missile Production Facilities Remaining. Suggests Trump​

APR 30, 2026 01:29 IST

No Deal Unless They Agree To No Nuclear Weapons, Says Trump​

APR 30, 2026 01:09 IST

"Blockade Has Been 100% Foolproof," Claims Trump​

APR 30, 2026 00:48 IST

"Militarily, They're Defeated," Claims Trump​

APR 30, 2026 00:25 IST

"Talked a Little Bit About Iran," Says Trump On Conversation With Putin​

APR 30, 2026 00:18 IST

6 Crew Members of Iranian Ship Seized By US Freed​

According to a report from Tasnim News Agency, 6 Iranian crew members of Touska, which was seized by the US on April 20th, have been freed.
APR 29, 2026 23:46 IST

US Blockade Ineffective, Says Iranian Oil Minister​

Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has said that America's blockade of Iranian ports is ineffective. Iran’s supply and distribution of fuel remains stable, he said.
APR 29, 2026 23:26 IST

Iran War Has Cost United States $25 Billion​

The Iran war has cost the United States $25 billion so far, according to the Pentagon.
APR 29, 2026 22:37 IST

Hegseth refuses to say how much longer the Iran war could last or cost​

Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan asked Hegseth, “How many more months, just by order of magnitude, do you think that you’re going to need to be able to conclude operations successfully? And how many more billions of dollars do you think you’re going to ask this body for?”

Hegseth refused to answer the question, saying that the U.S. military would never tip its hand to an adversary about how long it would be committed to the mission.
APR 29, 2026 21:57 IST

US Spent $25 Billion On Iran War So Far, Pentagon Official Tells Congress​

The chief financial official for the Pentagon told lawmakers that the estimated cost of the war with Iran is $25 billion so far. During the hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of war for finances, said that most of the expense has been on munitions, but the military has also spent money on running the operations and equipment replacement.
APR 29, 2026 14:54 IST

Trump Says Iran ‘Can’t Get Their Act Together’ on Deal​

APR 29, 2026 14:53 IST

IDF Strikes Burj Qalaouiyah as Drone Threat Neutralised​

Israeli forces have reportedly carried out a drone strike on the town of Burj Qalaouiyah in southern Lebanon, as military operations continue across the border region.

The development coincided with the Israeli military confirming it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” near its forces operating in southern Lebanon. The object was detected in the vicinity of troops and neutralized before causing any reported damage or casualties.

The twin developments highlight the evolving battlefield dynamic, where offensive drone strikes and defensive interceptions are occurring simultaneously. Drone activity has become a central feature of the conflict, increasing both the frequency of engagements and the complexity of air defence operations along the Israel-Lebanon front.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran warns of 'long, painful' strikes if US renews attacks​

Iran Israel War Live Updates: With diplomacy between Iran and the United States at a standstill after false starts, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned him of “damaging consequences” if the United States and Israel resume their war on Iran.

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz- AFP

Iran Israel War Live Updates:
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, discussing the ongoing conflicts in the West Asia and Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday.
According to Ushakov, the call lasted more than 90 minutes and was described as “frank and businesslike.”
A major focus of the conversation was the situation in Iran and the wider Persian Gulf region. Putin reportedly welcomed Trump’s decision to extend a ceasefire with Iran, saying it would create space for negotiations and help stabilise tensions.

Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long US blockade of Iran’s ports with US oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the US. president urged Tehran to "get smart soon" and sign a deal.

May 1, 2026, 00:58:15 (IST)
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Hezbollah deploys fibre-optic drones that evade Israeli air defences​

Hezbollah has introduced a new battlefield tactic in clashes with Israel, deploying fibre-optic guided drones that are resistant to electronic jamming and difficult to detect. The small, cable-controlled devices — already seen in the Russia-Ukraine war — have caused casualties in recent fighting, highlighting a shift in aerial warfare as these hard-to-track drones bypass traditional air defence systems despite operational limitations such as cable entanglement.
May 1, 2026, 00:49:39 (IST)
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Iran warns of 'long, painful' strikes if US renews attacks​

Iran has warned it will launch “long and painful strikes” on US positions if Washington resumes attacks, while reaffirming control over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict. Two months into the US-Israeli war, the crucial shipping route remains shut, disrupting nearly a fifth of global oil and gas flows and driving up energy prices, as ceasefire efforts stall and both sides hold firm.
May 1, 2026, 00:44:23 (IST)
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Spain PM says Israel's Gaza flotilla seizure illegal​

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday said Israel’s interception of about 20 boats from the a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was illegal, after about 175 pro-Palestinian activists, including Spaniards, were arrested.
“Israel is once again violating international law by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters that do not belong to it,” he wrote on X, urging the EU to freeze bilateral ties immediately and for maritime law to be respected.
May 1, 2026, 00:40:39 (IST)
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UN climate chief says Iran war supercharges energy transition​

The West Asia conflict is “supercharging” the world’s pivot to renewable energy, as countries scramble to reduce exposure to volatile oil and gas markets, the U.N. climate secretary said.
“Those who’ve fought to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels are inadvertently supercharging the global renewables boom,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the U.N.’s climate secretariat UNFCCC.
The war ‌has upended oil and gas supplies, prompting some countries to ration fuel and others to roll out subsidies and tax cuts to shield consumers from surging prices.
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Cost of Iran war equals aid for more than 87m people: UN aid chief
The Pentagon’s spending on its war with Iran could cover the UN’s entire 2026 aid appeal and bring lifesaving support to more than 87 million people, its aid chief told AFP Thursday.
The US Department of Defence says it has spent $25 billion so far on the conflict in the West Asia, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sought $23 billion for this year’s aid appeal.
“I know what we could do with 25 billion,” OCHA head Tom Fletcher told AFP. “We have a direct comparison of what we can do with that money.”
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May 1, 2026, 00:06:45 (IST)​

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Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill at least 15​

Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed at least 15 people, the health ministry said Thursday, as the country’s president decried what he described as ongoing Israeli violations of a nearly two-week ceasefire.
The Lebanese army said another strike on a home in Kfar Rumman had also killed one of its soldiers and “several members of his family”, though the health ministry had yet to include it in its toll.
April 30, 2026, 23:57:26 (IST)
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Hegseth says no Congress approval needed for Iran action due to ceasefire​

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration does not need fresh congressional authorisation for the Iran conflict, arguing that the legal deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 effectively “stops” during an ongoing ceasefire.
April 30, 2026, 23:23:51 (IST)
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The latest developments so far​

The latest developments in the West Asia war:
Israel warns Iran
Israel’s defence minister said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel”.
“US President Donald Trump, in coordination with (Israeli) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the efforts to achieve the campaign’s objectives, to ensure that Iran does not once again become a threat to Israel, the United States and the free world in the future,” Israel Katz said, according to a statement from his office.
UN says Hormuz ‘strangling’ economy
UN chief Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm over the worsening global economic impacts of the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed due to the Iran war.
The closure of the vital waterway is “strangling the global economy,” the secretary-general warned in remarks to the media.
No US presence in strait: Iran
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed his country’s control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz would ensure a future without US presence in the area.
“Today, by managing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will provide itself and its neighbours with the precious blessing of a future free from American presence and interference,” said Ghalibaf in a post on X to mark the national “Persian Gulf” day.
Deadly Lebanon strike
Israeli strikes on three south Lebanon villages killed nine people, among them two children and five women, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, nearly two weeks into a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon slams Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the “continuing Israeli violations” in south Lebanon, saying they were occurring “despite the ceasefire, as do demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day after day”.
“Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and humanitarian health and relief organisations,” he added.
‘Accelerate’ climate transition
The global energy crisis has shown the need for the world economy to transform and “accelerate the transition to clean energy”, the Turkish president-designate of the United Nations’ COP31 climate conference said.
“We now know clearly that the global economy must transform its energy paradigm,” Murat Kurum, who is also Turkey’s climate minister, told a meeting on the energy transition at the International Energy Agency (IAE) in Paris.
‘Major energy crisis’
The world is facing a “major energy and economic challenge” as oil prices have soared in the wake of the war in the West Asia, said IAE chief Fatih Birol at the same Paris meeting.
With the world faced with “the biggest energy crisis in history”, oil prices were “putting a lot of pressure in many countries”, he added.
Blockade ‘doomed to fail’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said a US naval blockade on Iranian ports would deepen disruptions in the Gulf while failing to achieve its targets.
“Any attempt to impose a maritime blockade or restrictions is contrary to international law… and is doomed to fail,” Pezeshkian said in a statement.
Oil at four-year high
Oil prices soared to four-year highs, with the US crude benchmark Brent for June delivery spiking more than seven percent to $126.41, while West Texas Intermediate was up 3.4 percent to $110.31, before later paring gains.
US-Germany tensions
Trump said the United States was considering reducing its troops in Germany over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s refusal to join Washington’s war against Iran — a force estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 troops.
The threats to slash US troop numbers echo Trump’s longstanding criticisms of the NATO alliance, but Merz drew Trump’s fresh ire earlier this week after saying Tehran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.
EU pushes back
Following Trump’s post, the EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington’s interest.
“Our NATO allies are also increasing their defence spending at an unprecedented pace,” European Union spokeswoman Anitta Hipper added.
April 30, 2026, 23:18:01 (IST)
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Lebanon says six killed in new Israeli strike on south
Lebanon’s health ministry said six people were killed in an Israeli strike on the village of Zebdine, raising the number of people killed in raids on the country’s south on Thursday to at least 15.
The state-run National News Agency said an Israeli drone targeted the group in Zebdine “while they were gathered near the village’s cemetery”.
April 30, 2026, 22:58:13 (IST)
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Iran president slams US blockade as 'intolerable' amid rising tensions​

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sharply criticised the US naval blockade, calling it an extension of military pressure and warning that its continuation is “intolerable.” In a post on X, he said Iran had shown “tolerance and conciliation,” but accused Washington of escalating coercive measures against a country defending its independence, as tensions over maritime restrictions and energy flows continue to mount.

April 30, 2026, 22:54:17 (IST)
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Hegseth says ceasefire pauses war powers clock, senator disputes claim​

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators that a ceasefire with Iran effectively pauses the 60-day deadline for securing congressional approval under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a claim immediately challenged on Capitol Hill. Senator Tim Kaine rejected the interpretation, arguing the legal clock continues to run and is set to expire Friday, sharpening a dispute over the administration’s authority to sustain military involvement without explicit approval from Congress.
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April 30, 2026, 22:26:51 (IST)
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Top US general confirms Russian role in Iran war​

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine told senators that Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported Iran’s war effort, pointing to undisclosed actions by Moscow. Speaking at a public hearing, Caine offered few details but said there was “definitely some action,” a view echoed by Senator Roger Wicker, who accused Russia of undermining US efforts in the conflict.
April 30, 2026, 22:23:41 (IST)
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Trump team races to secure Congress backing as Iran war deadline looms​

The administration of US President Donald Trump is in active talks with lawmakers to secure congressional authorisation for the Iran conflict ahead of a key legal deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. With the 60-day window set to expire on Friday, the White House has ramped up briefings on the military operation, even as House Speaker Mike Johnson argued a formal vote is unnecessary, insisting the United States is “not at war.”
April 30, 2026, 22:07:26 (IST)
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Israel receives 6,500 tonnes of military equipment, says ready for full-force operations​

Israel has received 6,500 tonnes of military equipment in the past 24 hours, including air and ground munitions, as it boosts readiness for potential escalation, the Defence Ministry said. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the deliveries — transported via ships and cargo planes to bases across the country — are meant to ensure the military has “all the means required” to resume operations at full force “at any time and in any place.”
April 30, 2026, 21:34:49 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Hegseth clashes for a second day with Democrats in Congress over the Iran war​

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Democratic lawmakers in Congress for a second day Thursday, rejecting senators’ accusations that the Iran war was launched without evidence of an imminent threat and waged with no coherent strategy.
In his opening statements, Hegseth called Democratic lawmakers “reckless naysayers” and “defeatists from the cheap seats” who have failed to recognize the many successes of the U.S. military against the Islamic Republic over the last two months and in other operations since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Hegseth said Trump has had the courage “unlike other presidents to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon and that their nuclear blackmail never succeeds. We have the best negotiator in the world driving a great deal.”
April 30, 2026, 2102 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Israel defence minister says country may have to 'act again' against Iran​

Israel’s defence minister on Thursday said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel”.
“US President Donald Trump, in coordination with (Israeli) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the efforts to achieve the campaign’s objectives, to ensure that Iran does not once again become a threat to Israel, the United States and the free world in the future,” Israel Katz said during a military ceremony, according to a statement from his office.
“We support this effort and are providing the necessary support, but it is possible that we may soon have to act again to ensure these objectives are met,” he added.
April 30, 2026, 21:14:38 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: UK PM Starmer accuses Iran of wanting 'to harm British Jews'​

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday accused Iran of wanting “to harm British Jews”, in the wake of the latest attack targeting the country’s Jewish community.
“We need stronger powers to tackle the malign threat posed by states like Iran, because we know for a fact that they want to harm British Jews,” he said in a statement delivered from Downing Street.
It came the day after two Jewish men were stabbed in the street in north London and following repeated warnings by Starmer and other officials that hostile states were intent on using proxies to conduct attacks in the UK.
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April 30, 2026, 21:13:50 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: ECB warns of risks from West Asia war as it holds rates​

The European Central Bank held interest rates steady on Thursday but signalled a possible increase ahead as it warned of growing risks to the growth and inflation outlook due to the war in the West Asia.
Energy costs have surged since the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas usually passes, following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
“The increase in energy prices will keep inflation well above two percent in the near term,” ECB president Christine Lagarde said at a press conference.
“As the period of high energy prices extends, the likely impact on broader inflation through indirect and second round effects intensifies,” she added.
April 30, 2026, 20:45:26 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Hegseth faces Senate grilling as Iran war looms over Pentagon budget hearing​

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is sitting before senators in what’s expected to be another fiery hearing on the Hill.
The defence secretary’s hearing is ostensibly to discuss the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request to Congress, but it’s the first time that senators will get to publicly question him since the Iran War began nearly two months ago. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is also seated beside Hegseth.
The defence secretary also appeared for a House hearing Wednesday and he drew a large crowd of anti-war protesters to the hallways of the House office building where the hearing was held.
On Thursday, things feel a bit more low-key in the Senate, although there are a handful of people in the hearing room wearing pink shirts that state “Peace with Iran.”
April 30, 2026, 20:39:49 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: US, China hold 'constructive' trade talks ahead of Trump’s planned Beijing visit​

Senior trade officials from the United States and China held a “candid, in-depth and constructive” virtual meeting, state media reported as both sides prepare for a planned visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing next month. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng spoke with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with Beijing raising “solemn concerns” over recent US trade restrictions amid escalating economic tensions.
April 30, 2026, 2030 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Spain blasts Israel's interception of Gaza-bound flotilla​

Spain on Thursday said it “energetically condemns” the seizure by Israeli forces of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla carrying Spanish nationals in international waters off Greece.
Madrid has summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Spain to convey its protest over the detention of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, the foreign ministry added in a statement.
Spanish diplomatic staff in Israel are in contact with the organisers of the flotilla and Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has spoken with his counterparts who also have nationals on board, the statement said.
April 30, 2026, 20:24:00 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Israel intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla near Greece, activists allege detentions at sea​

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli forces intercepted several vessels in international waters near Greece as they attempted to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, according to reports. Israel said around 175 activists from more than 20 boats were being taken into custody, a move criticised by Turkey as an “act of piracy”, while multiple countries called for restraint and adherence to international law.
April 30, 2026, 20:16:55 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Air India Express restarts flights to Qatar, Bahrain​

Air India Express, whose operations have been impacted by the West Asia conflict, on Thursday resumed flights to Qatar and Bahrain, as well as additional services to the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
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April 30, 2026, 20:08:14 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Hegseth faces a second day of Democrats grilling him over the Iran war​

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with senators getting their first opportunity on Thursday to confront or praise the Pentagon chief over his handling of the Iran war.
Hegseth battled with Democrats — and some Republicans — a day earlier during a nearly six-hour House Armed Services Committee hearing, where he faced sharp questioning over the war’s costs in dollars, lives and the diminishing stockpiles of critical weapons.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hear a similar presentation on the Trump administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defence spending to a historic $1.5 trillion. Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, will again stress the need for more drones, missile defence systems and warships.
April 30, 2026, 20:04:34 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump weighs plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz while tightening pressure on Iran​

US President Donald Trump is considering a new plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Washington maintains its blockade on Iranian ports, according to reports. The proposal would see the United States work with allies to counter Tehran’s attempts to disrupt global energy flows, while exploring a range of diplomatic and policy options to curb Iran’s influence over the vital shipping route.
April 30, 2026, 19:37:14 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: UN chief warns Hormuz closure 'strangling' global economy​

UN chief Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on Thursday over the worsening global economic impacts of the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed due to the Iran war.
The closure of the vital waterway is “strangling the global economy,” the secretary-general warned in remarks to press.
Even if restrictions were lifted today, “supply chains will take months to recover, prolonging lower economic output and higher prices,” he said.
April 30, 2026, 19:23:03 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump reviews Iran military options as pressure campaign intensifies​

US President Donald Trump is set to receive updated military options on Iran from Pentagon officials, signalling he is keeping force on the table even as slow-moving negotiations continue, CNN reported. The briefing comes as Washington ramps up economic pressure on Tehran, with plans to sustain a naval blockade and potentially extend restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to force concessions on its nuclear programme.
April 30, 2026, 19:10:06 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: US inflation gauge jumps to 3.5% as West Asia war drives energy costs higher​

The US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure rose in March as energy costs surged on the back of war in the West Asia, government data showed Thursday.
The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index jumped 3.5 percent from a year ago, the Commerce Department said, up notably from 2.8 percent in the prior month.
April 30, 2026, 19:02:56 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Germany ready for possible US troop cuts amid tensions with Trump​

Germany is bracing for a potential reduction in US troop presence, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, following renewed tensions between Donald Trump and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Speaking during a visit to Morocco, Wadephul said Berlin was “prepared” for any decision from Washington, adding that discussions were ongoing within NATO in a “spirit of trust” as Germany awaits clarity from the United States.
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April 30, 2026, 18:46:14 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: US seeks 'maritime freedom' coalition to restart Hormuz traffic​

The United States is launching an international coalition to restart shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, an official confirmed Thursday, as the vital waterway remains largely cut off amid stalled talks with Iran.
The “Maritime Freedom Construct” (MFC) will “take steps to ensure safe passage, including providing real-time information, safety guidance, and coordination to ensure vessels can transit these waters securely,” a State Department official told AFP.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, was responding to questions about a reported diplomatic cable calling on US embassies to press foreign governments to join such an effort.
April 30, 2026, 18:34:48 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Iran parliament speaker says Strait of Hormuz will be 'free from American presence'​

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed on Thursday that his country’s control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz would ensure a future without US presence in the area.
“Today, by managing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will provide itself and its neighbours with the precious blessing of a future free from American presence and interference,” said Ghalibaf in a post on X to mark the national “Persian Gulf” day.
April 30, 2026, 18:08:12 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Trump says US is weighing reducing American troop presence in Germany​

The president levelled the new threat that he may reduce the U.S. military presence in Germany as tensions grow with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the Iran war.
“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump said in a social media post.
Merz on Monday said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington’s lack of strategy in the war. Trump attacked Merz in a social media post Tuesday, saying the German chancellor “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon” and “doesn’t know what he’s talking about!”
In his first term, Trump also moved to cut U.S. troops in Germany because he said it spent too little on defense.
April 30, 2026, 17:53:33 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: USS Ford aircraft carrier heading home after record-breaking deployment​

The world’s largest aircraft carrier had been at sea for more than 300 days, including participating in the war against Iran and capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Ford will be leaving the Middle East in the coming days and returning to its home port in Virginia in mid-May, according to two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military movements.
The ship broke the U.S. record this month for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, a nearly 10-month span after leaving Naval Station Norfolk in June.
April 30, 2026, 17:22:20 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: The developments so far​

The latest developments in the West Asia war:
Lebanon slams Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the “continuing Israeli violations” in south Lebanon, saying they were occurring “despite the ceasefire, as do demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day after day”.
“Pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and humanitarian health and relief organisations,” he added.
‘Accelerate’ climate transition
The global energy crisis has shown the need for the world economy to transform and “accelerate the transition to clean energy”, the Turkish president-designate of the United Nations’ COP31 climate conference said.
“We now know clearly that the global economy must transform its energy paradigm,” Murat Kurum, who is also Turkey’s climate minister, told a meeting on the energy transition at the International Energy Agency (IAE) in Paris.
‘Major energy crisis’
The world is facing a “major energy and economic challenge” as oil prices have soared in the wake of the war in the West Asia, said IAE chief Fatih Birol at the same Paris meeting.
With the world faced with “the biggest energy crisis in history”, oil prices were “putting a lot of pressure in many countries”, he added.
Blockade ‘doomed to fail’
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said a US naval blockade on Iranian ports would deepen disruptions in the Gulf while failing to achieve its targets.
“Any attempt to impose a maritime blockade or restrictions is contrary to international law… and is doomed to fail,” Pezeshkian said in a statement.
Oil at four-year high
Oil prices soared to four-year highs, with the US crude benchmark Brent for June delivery spiking more than seven percent to $126.41, while West Texas Intermediate was up 3.4 percent to $110.31, before later paring gains.
US-Germany tensions
President Donald Trump said the United States was considering reducing its troops in Germany over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s refusal to join Washington’s war against Iran — a force estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 troops.
The threats to slash US troop numbers echo Trump’s longstanding criticisms of the NATO alliance, but Merz drew Trump’s fresh ire earlier this week after saying Tehran was “humiliating” Washington at the negotiating table.
EU argues for US troop deployments in Europe
Following Trump’s post, the EU said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington’s interest.
“Our NATO allies are also increasing their defence spending at an unprecedented pace,” European Union spokeswoman Anitta Hipper added.
Putin-Trump talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart not to resume attacks on Iran in a phone call between the two leaders Wednesday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
He said there would be “inevitable and extremely damaging consequences” for the region and wider world if military action restarted.
Trump said Putin had wanted to “help” end the US-Israeli war on Iran but that he had told the Russian leader to end the Ukraine invasion first.
US war cost $25 billion
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked Wednesday during a fiery exchange in Congress about the cost of 60 days of conflict, and replied that it was estimated at less than $25 billion so far.
But he hit back at concerns that the United States has used up “alarming” levels of critical munitions that could deplete reserves, accusing critics of “handing propaganda to our enemies”.
‘No more Mr. Nice Guy’
“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, alongside an illustration of himself holding an assault rifle, with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
April 30, 2026, 17:20:35 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 9 people, including 2 children​

Israeli strikes on three south Lebanon villages killed nine people, among them two children and five women, Lebanon’s health ministry said Thursday, nearly two weeks into a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Israeli enemy strikes on south Lebanon led, in an initial toll, to nine martyrs, among them two children and five women, and 23 wounded, among them eight children and seven women,” the ministry said in a statement issued shortly after Lebanon’s president slammed “continuing Israeli violations” of the ceasefire..
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April 30, 2026, 16:52:53 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Iran's supreme leader says US suffered 'disgraceful defeat', in written message​

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message on Thursday that the United States had been defeated in its war on Iran.
“Today, two months after the largest military deployment and aggression by the world’s bullies in the region, and the United States’ disgraceful defeat in its plans, a new chapter is unfolding for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” said Khamenei in the message read on state television.
April 30, 2026, 15:18:45 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Eurozone growth worse than expected, inflation to worsen with high oil prices​

Eurozone reported 0.1 per cent growth against the projection of 0.2 per cent, according to data released today.
Inflation rose from 2.6 per cent in March to 3 per cent in April. And that could worsen if oil prices continue to stay high.
Inflation could rise by 0.5 per cent if oil prices remain near $120, according to Jack Allen-Reynolds of Capital Economics.
Brent crude’s spot prices today reached the four-year high of $125 a barrel today.
Even as the growth had slowed before the war, the fallout plunged it further.
The slowdown in eurozone GDP growth in the first quarter shows that the economy lost a little pace even before the Iran war, and the business surveys point to stagnation at the start of the second quarter,” said Allen-Reynolds, according to The Telegraph.
April 30, 2026, 14:56:35 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Israel seizes activists' flotilla headed to Gaza​

Israel has seized a flotilla with activists trying to break the blockade of Gaza.
Under the Global Sumud Flotilla, hundreds of activists set sail in dozens of boats from Spain for Gaza earlier this month to deliver humanitarian supplies.
Activists said the Israeli military seized their vessels overnight. Israeli Foreign Ministry on Thursday published a video of activists in its custody.
“Israel’s actions … mark a dangerous and unprecedented escalation, the abduction of civilians in the middle of the Mediterranean, over 600 miles from Gaza, in full view of the world,” the organisers said in a press release, according to AP.
April 30, 2026, 14:43:57 (IST)
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Iran Israel War Live Updates: Germany beats expectations with 0.3% growth​

Germany beat economists’ expectations to grow at 0.3 per cent in the first quarter, according to official data.
The Germany economy was expected to grow at 0.2 per cent.
Despite the global disruption from the West Asia war, the data showed that both private and government consumption expenditures were higher than in the previous quarter and exports also increased.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

War On Iran Has Cost $50 Billion, Not $25 Billion, Reports Say​

Iran-Israel-US War News Live Updates: The Iran conflict remains at a critical juncture as political tensions, fragile diplomacy, and continued regional violence shape an increasingly uncertain trajectory. US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned of further pressure, even as Iran signals willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under limited terms. With warnings over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rising international criticism, ongoing clashes in Lebanon and shifting energy geopolitics, including the UAE’s exit from OPEC, the conflict is entering a complex and volatile phase with global implications.
May 1, 2026, 05:50 IST

Iran-Israel-US War News Live Updates: Follow real-time developments as the US-Israel conflict with Iran unfolds amid escalating political rhetoric, stalled diplomacy, and continued military exchanges across the Middle East. Track the latest strategic decisions, diplomatic efforts, regional clashes, and economic impacts affecting global energy markets and security dynamics.

US Raises Alarm Over Iran’s Nuclear Intentions: US Senator Marco Rubio has warned that Iran is “sprinting towards” acquiring nuclear weapons capability, stressing that any future agreement must prevent Tehran from advancing its programme. He also accused Iran of potentially using negotiations to delay decisive action.

Trump Rejects Iran Proposal, Signals Pressure: US President Donald Trump has reportedly rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while delaying nuclear talks. He has also claimed that Iran is in a “state of collapse” and has urged Tehran to move quickly to resolve tensions, including lifting restrictions impacting maritime trade.

Domestic and Global Political Pressure Builds: In Washington, lawmakers are pushing War Powers resolutions to limit further military escalation without congressional approval, highlighting divisions over the conflict. In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has criticized the US approach, warning of a lack of clear strategy and growing geopolitical and economic fallout.

Diplomatic Channels Remain Fragile: Despite tensions, diplomatic efforts continue through intermediaries, including Pakistan. Iran has defended its position at the United Nations, accusing the US and Israel of aggression while proposing interim arrangements linked to maritime access in the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf and Regional Reactions Intensify: Gulf leaders meeting in Saudi Arabia have called on Iran to take responsibility and rebuild trust after what they described as destabilizing actions. The regional bloc’s stance reflects growing concern over security and economic disruption.

Lebanon Front Sees Renewed Violence: Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue in southern Lebanon, with drone attacks wounding Israeli soldiers and retaliatory airstrikes causing casualties. Israel has been accused of killing emergency workers, an incident condemned by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as a “war crime."

Hezbollah Hardens Position: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected negotiations involving Israel and demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of prisoners, and reconstruction support, underscoring the risk of prolonged conflict on the northern front.

Energy And Economic Shockwaves Expand: The conflict continues to disrupt global energy dynamics. In a significant development, the UAE has announced it will exit OPEC after nearly six decades, signalling a potential shift in global oil alliances amid ongoing instability.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Central To Crisis: The strategic waterway remains a focal point of both military and diplomatic maneuvering. Iran has indicated conditional willingness to reopen it, while global markets remain sensitive to any disruption in this critical energy corridor.

Conflict Remains At Critical Inflection Point: With no clear diplomatic breakthrough, continued military exchanges, and rising global concern, the war remains at a highly volatile stage. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether negotiations gain traction or tensions escalate further.


MAY 01, 2026 05:50 IST

The Country Is Falling Apart, Says Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett​

MAY 01, 2026 05:26 IST

Netanyahu Praises Israeli Navy For Stopping Flotilla That Was Sailing Towards Gaza​

President Donald Trump has said that the United States will continue its naval blockade of Iran until a nuclear deal is reached with Tehran.

The US president told Axios on Wednesday that he does not want to end his blockade on Iranian ports, apparently rejecting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz so that US-Iran talks could proceed.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran submits new proposal for talks with US via Pak​

Source: ANI
May 01, 2026 22:10 IST
Media reports say that Tehran handed over the text of its new proposal to Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in talks with the United States, on Thursday evening.

IMAGE: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 1, 2026. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters
Iran has submitted its latest proposal aimed at advancing negotiations to end the ongoing West Asia conflict with the US, days after the Islamic Republic submitted a fresh proposal through regional intermediaries to cease its military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, which is likely to get rejected by Washington.​

Key Points​

• Tehran handed over the text of its new proposal to Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in talks with the United States.​
• The Iranian proposal suggests the restoration of maritime traffic through the Hormuz while deferring critical concerns regarding its nuclear program to future discussions.​
• Trump expressed his reservations during a high-level briefing with national security aides on Monday.​

According to the Iranian state media IRNA news agency, Tehran handed over the text of its new proposal to Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in talks with the United States, on Thursday evening.
This comes after US President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that he is inclined to reject the most recent diplomatic overture from Tehran aimed at halting current hostilities, according to a report by CNN.
The Iranian proposal suggests the restoration of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while deferring critical concerns regarding its nuclear program to future discussions.
Sources familiar with the situation told CNN that Trump expressed his reservations during a high-level briefing with national security aides on Monday.
One source noted that Trump is "not likely to accept the plan," which was formally delivered to Washington within the last few days.
Administrative officials have expressed concern that reopening the vital waterway without addressing Iranian nuclear enrichment or its "stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium" would effectively eliminate a significant source of American diplomatic pressure.
However, CNN reported that maintaining the blockade poses its own risks, as the continued closure of the strait is expected to sustain the inflated energy prices that have led to a sharp rise in American fuel costs.

Meanwhile, the latest round of peace talks, which should have been held in Islamabad between Washington and Tehran, was cancelled after the Iranian delegation, led by its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, departed Islamabad on Saturday evening after a day of high-level meetings with the Pakistani leadership, leaving Pakistan's ambitious claims of brokering a US-Iran peace deal as part of the second round of negotiations in tatters.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the delegation left the Pakistani capital after delivering an "official list of demands" to Pakistani leaders for the US and Israel in order to achieve a complete solution to the conflict in West Asia.
Following this, Trump said he has cancelled the scheduled visit of the US delegation, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, for talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to hostilities in West Asia.
The diplomatic theater of last week mirrored the failures of the past, when the first round of talks hosted in Islamabad—featuring US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker MB Ghalibaf—dragged on for a grueling 21 hours without yielding a single breakthrough.​