Live Thread: War With Iran Continues #6

[mystery-ak]

Top Iranian Lawmaker Warns Trump After Hormuz Threats: ‘Worry About Your Own Security’

A top Iranian lawmaker appeared to warn President Donald Trump about his personal safety Saturday, telling the president to “worry about his own security” as tensions escalate over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The U.S. President ought to worry about his own security rather than his endless bluffing regarding the Strait of Hormuz; before he ends up hiding in a food truck,” Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/16/top-iranian-lawmaker-warns-trump-after-hormuz-threats-worry-about-your-own-security/

[mystery-ak]

President Donald Trump is signaling a new round of economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promising measures as soon as next week that go beyond Washington’s already expansive sanctions campaign.

The administration’s options include:

– Hit Chinese “teapot” refiners that buy large volumes of Iranian crude.

– Sanction bigger Chinese banks that facilitate Iran-linked transactions — a step that could risk retaliation from Beijing.

– Expand the sanctions dragnet against oil shippers, currency exchanges and front companies helping Tehran evade restrictions.

– Push for a land blockade with help from Iran’s neighbors, though experts say it would be difficult to enforce.

– Use new secondary tariffs against countries doing business with Iran if Congress gives Trump additional authority.

The challenge: Many of those steps carry economic or diplomatic costs, and years of sanctions have shown Tehran can often find new routes around U.S. pressure.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Posted by Eric Mack

[Timber Rattler]

President Donald Trump is signaling a new round of economic pressure on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promising measures as soon as next week that go beyond Washington’s already expansive sanctions campaign.

The administration’s options include:

– Hit Chinese “teapot” refiners that buy large volumes of Iranian crude.

– Sanction bigger Chinese banks that facilitate Iran-linked transactions — a step that could risk retaliation from Beijing.

– Expand the sanctions dragnet against oil shippers, currency exchanges and front companies helping Tehran evade restrictions.

– Push for a land blockade with help from Iran’s neighbors, though experts say it would be difficult to enforce.

– Use new secondary tariffs against countries doing business with Iran if Congress gives Trump additional authority.

The challenge: Many of those steps carry economic or diplomatic costs, and years of sanctions have shown Tehran can often find new routes around U.S. pressure.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Posted by Eric Mack

The point of failure with all of these economic pressure points is that they rely on other countries to cooperate and carry out those measures on behalf of the U.S.

It ain't gonna work.

[mystery-ak]

Iran touts $30,000 bounty for killing or capturing US troops

Iran’s military has announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. service member, with the bounty doubled if claimed by a woman, according to state media, Agence France-Presse reported Sunday.

Army chief Amir Hatami said the program was created after requests from Iranians seeking to financially support such actions. He did not specify where or when the attacks were expected to occur.

There is no known deployment of U.S. ground forces inside Iran beyond an April rescue mission for a downed American pilot, as fighting has remained concentrated in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and CENTCOM for comment Sunday morning.
Posted by Eric Mack

[mystery-ak]

Monday will mark 60 days since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, with little apparent progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz or resolving Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran continued attacks in the strait over the weekend, with a bulk carrier reporting a projectile strike Saturday after an Emirati oil vessel was targeted a day earlier.

President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. blockade effectively controls which ships can pass through the waterway.Tensions are also rising on Israel’s northern front after Hezbollah wounded three Israeli soldiers in what Israel called a ceasefire violation, prompting new Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

Initial reports indicated both Hezbollah operatives and civilians were killed, while Hezbollah has threatened a response.

Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.
Posted by Eric Mack

[libertybele]

Monday will mark 60 days since the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, with little apparent progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz or resolving Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran continued attacks in the strait over the weekend, with a bulk carrier reporting a projectile strike Saturday after an Emirati oil vessel was targeted a day earlier.

President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. blockade effectively controls which ships can pass through the waterway.Tensions are also rising on Israel’s northern front after Hezbollah wounded three Israeli soldiers in what Israel called a ceasefire violation, prompting new Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

Initial reports indicated both Hezbollah operatives and civilians were killed, while Hezbollah has threatened a response.

Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report.
Posted by Eric Mack

Did anyone actually really think that Iran was sincere about the 'Memorandum of Understanding"??   It was all smoke and mirrors and a horse and pony show.   

[libertybele]

Iran touts $30,000 bounty for killing or capturing US troops

Iran’s military has announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. service member, with the bounty doubled if claimed by a woman, according to state media, Agence France-Presse reported Sunday.

Army chief Amir Hatami said the program was created after requests from Iranians seeking to financially support such actions. He did not specify where or when the attacks were expected to occur.

There is no known deployment of U.S. ground forces inside Iran beyond an April rescue mission for a downed American pilot, as fighting has remained concentrated in southern Iran and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and CENTCOM for comment Sunday morning.
Posted by Eric Mack

Continue to pray for our troops.  This is significant but definitely  not unexpected and so far Trump has been steadfast in not putting boots on the ground.

[Cyber Liberty]

The point of failure with all of these economic pressure points is that they rely on other countries to cooperate and carry out those measures on behalf of the U.S.

It ain't gonna work.

None of that will work!  Who dreamed that shit up?

[BobfromWB]

None of that will work!  Who dreamed that shit up?

WH aides, politicians, Witkoff, Jared etc. the usual run of the mill idiots who think they are experts - just ask them for verification.

[mystery-ak]

President Donald Trump rejected concerns over the U.S. military's stockpile of weapons as the war on Iran continues Monday.

Trump told Fox News' Trey Yingst that the U.S. still has deep reserves of weapons.

"What we've used is peanuts," Trump said. "We have a lot of mid-level weapons."

Some estimates show the U.S. has used more than half of its stockpiles of some weapons systems in the war with Iran as of early August.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies found the U.S. has enough missiles to continue fighting in Iran under any plausible scenario, but the group says the true issue with the shrinking stockpiles is future wars.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom


Trump downplays midterm elections as Iran war shows no end in sight

President Donald Trump says he is not concerned about the Iran's war's potential impact on the impending midterm elections.

Trump made the comment to Fox News' Trey Yingst on Monday, saying midterms have "nothing to do with my thinking."

"I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry," he added.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom


President Donald Trump said the U.S. will "bomb the s---" out of Oman if they get in the way amid conflict with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Trump made the statement in an interview with Fox News' Trey Yingst on Monday as the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire.

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them," Trump said.

Iran stated last week that it was in negotiations with Oman regarding how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom

[Smokin Joe]

Trump isn't running in the midterms, and the current GOP has been really slow to get anything he wants done, done. A taste of Democrats in Congress should lock up 28, provided the Dems don't manage to make shining citizens out of all the illegals. They won't get a veto proof majority on that.

[BobfromWB]

Trump isn't running in the midterms, and the current GOP has been really slow to get anything he wants done, done. A taste of Democrats in Congress should lock up 28, provided the Dems don't manage to make shining citizens out of all the illegals. They won't get a veto proof majority on that.

The Dem Radicals will take over the party, throwing road blocks at every turn and, if they can, destroying the House as a viable part of the US government. As for fiscal shut downs, they will be permanent under the Block of 14, lead by AOC.

[bigheadfred]

Faytuks Network
@FaytuksNetwork
·
51m
Iran has decided to shift from a defensive posture to a “fully offensive” policy, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

Tehran has set a deadline of several weeks for the full implementation of its MOU with the U.S., warning it will not tolerate an indefinite American naval blockade.

The official said all Iranian entities are prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and across the region if diplomacy fails, with the deadline to be conveyed to Washington and regional states through mediators.

[Cyber Liberty]

Faytuks Network
@FaytuksNetwork
·
51m
Iran has decided to shift from a defensive posture to a “fully offensive” policy, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

Tehran has set a deadline of several weeks for the full implementation of its MOU with the U.S., warning it will not tolerate an indefinite American naval blockade.

The official said all Iranian entities are prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and across the region if diplomacy fails, with the deadline to be conveyed to Washington and regional states through mediators.

Yay, more empty threats.  "The official" and what Navy?

[rustynail]

[BobfromWB]

What's that?

[Cyber Liberty]

What's that?

The Black Knight after his encounter with King Arthur in Monty Python in Search of the Holy Grail.

[Timber Rattler]

Surprise!  Kushner's an idiot and should stick to real estate!

Mixed Signals or Taqiyya? Hamas Pledges Disarmament As Iran Plots Wider War

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2026/08/17/mixed-signals-or-taqqiya-hamas-pledges-disarmament-as-iran-plots-wider-war-n3818065

Shot:

Hamas leaders tell Kushner they will demilitarize Gaza, sources say

Chaser:

Iran’s Secret Plan to Escalate the War

Gee, which headline should we trust? Oh, let's not always see the same hands ...

Let's start with the latter from the Wall Street Journal, which reports that the regime in Iran has not (gasp) negotiated in good faith from the start. The IRGC determined that the US would use talks as a ruse for a devastating strike and therefore never planned to reach any real agreement. Instead, they have worked to expand the war as a way to wear down our allies and force us from the region:

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IRGC's proxy that has refused to disarm as agreed insists they're still committed to doing the thing they won't do ... or something. Axios' Barak Ravid reports that Hamas is attempting to curry favor with the US while not actually doing what they agreed to do almost a year ago:

EXCERPT

Cited links:

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-plan-escalate-war-cc657664?mod=hp_lead_pos1

https://www.axios.com/2026/08/16/kushner-hamas-gaza-disarmament-egypt-israel

Meanwhile, Trump threatens Oman, while caring nothing about the midterms...

http://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/2089314268558618803

President Trump told Fox News that Iran should "put up the white flag of surrender."

"I have no time schedule," Trump added. "I'm not in a hurry...the midterms have nothing to do with my thinking."

The President confirmed there is a direct backchannel with IRGC officials.

"They're good poker players, but they're dying."

President Trump also reacted to the ongoing talks between Iran and Oman regarding control of the Strait.

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them."

[mystery-ak]

Iran threatens to go 'fully offensive' if diplomacy with US fails as 60-day MoU period ends
"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," an official said.

ByREUTERS
AUGUST 17, 2026 17:43
Updated: AUGUST 17, 2026 18:28

Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to "fully offensive" due to the deadlock in efforts to agree on a permanent end to its war with the United States, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

Progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with no sign that the warring parties are moving towards ending the conflict that the US and Israel launched on February 28.

"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," the Iranian official said, adding that Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

Monday marked the day by which Iran and the United States were expected to reach a final deal under a memorandum of understanding agreed in June and aimed at ending the war.

Signed on June 17, the MoU set a 60-day timeframe, extendable by mutual consent, for Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear program.

more
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-905793

[libertybele]

Iran threatens to go 'fully offensive' if diplomacy with US fails as 60-day MoU period ends
"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," an official said.

ByREUTERS
AUGUST 17, 2026 17:43
Updated: AUGUST 17, 2026 18:28

Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to "fully offensive" due to the deadlock in efforts to agree on a permanent end to its war with the United States, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

Progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with no sign that the warring parties are moving towards ending the conflict that the US and Israel launched on February 28.

"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," the Iranian official said, adding that Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

Monday marked the day by which Iran and the United States were expected to reach a final deal under a memorandum of understanding agreed in June and aimed at ending the war.

Signed on June 17, the MoU set a 60-day timeframe, extendable by mutual consent, for Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear program.

more
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-905793

So, here we are.  Iran has  threatened to go 'full offense', similar to Trump's threats.  Which side is going to follow through first?

[mystery-ak]

Iranian lawmaker warns Trump about securing his own safety, references Turkey plane swap

A prominent member of the Iranian parliament issued an ominous warning to President Donald Trump on Monday.

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the national security commission for the Iranian parliament, wrote on X that Trump should be concerned for his own safety.

"The U.S. President ought to worry about his own security rather than his endless bluffing regarding the Strait of Hormuz; before he ends up hiding in a food truck," Azizi wrote.

The message references recent reports that Trump was smuggled out of Air Force One in a catering vehicle during a return trip from Turkey last month.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Iranian lawmaker warns Trump about securing his own safety, references Turkey plane swap

A prominent member of the Iranian parliament issued an ominous warning to President Donald Trump on Monday.

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the national security commission for the Iranian parliament, wrote on X that Trump should be concerned for his own safety.

"The U.S. President ought to worry about his own security rather than his endless bluffing regarding the Strait of Hormuz; before he ends up hiding in a food truck," Azizi wrote.

The message references recent reports that Trump was smuggled out of Air Force One in a catering vehicle during a return trip from Turkey last month.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom

An assassination attempt on a head of state is sort of an act of war, no?

[Hoodat]

C14 News | EN
@c14english

🚨🇮🇷🇦🇪 Iran's IRGC seizes UAE oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz; situation developing.



11:31 AM  ·  Aug 17, 2026  ·  8,103 Views

https://x.com/c14english/status/2089389677182636441

[Hoodat]

WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧
@WarMonitor3

Iran has moved to a fully offensive posture in its war with the US and has stated if the MOU conditions such as releasing Iranian frozen assets are not released it will begin to escalate with regional proxies and its own missile and drones fires-Reuters

Iran is emboldened...

8:33 AM  ·  Aug 17, 2026  ·  97.8K Views

https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2089344841574408488

[Smokin Joe]

The Dem Radicals will take over the party, throwing road blocks at every turn and, if they can, destroying the House as a viable part of the US government. As for fiscal shut downs, they will be permanent under the Block of 14, lead by AOC.

Well, then. If that's the case, then Republicans had best better scrape their scattered dung into a ball and get rolling and pass some of the legislation their constituents elected them to office to pass.

[corbe]

[libertybele]

WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧
@WarMonitor3

Iran has moved to a fully offensive posture in its war with the US and has stated if the MOU conditions such as releasing Iranian frozen assets are not released it will begin to escalate with regional proxies and its own missile and drones fires-Reuters

Iran is emboldened...

8:33 AM  ·  Aug 17, 2026  ·  97.8K Views

https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2089344841574408488

Iran is emboldened .... I think that is an understatement.  (Just my opinion).

[mystery-ak]

Thread #7
https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=587079.0

[rustynail]

Well, then. If that's the case, then Republicans had best better scrape their scattered dung into a ball and get rolling and pass some of the legislation their constituents elected them to office to pass.

[MeganC]

An assassination attempt on a head of state is sort of an act of war, no?

Didn't the United States kill Iran's head of state?

Then we are at war, right? So why is Trump playing footsie with these mutts?

[Cyber Liberty]

Didn't the United States kill Iran's head of state?

Then we are at war, right? So why is Trump playing footsie with these mutts?

Taps sign:

Thread #7
https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=587079.0