Live Thread: War With Iran Continues #4

[DB]

Except for one shot towards the end of the obviously AI video, that shows a ship fully loaded with shipping containers!

Look at the 1:48 mark....

LOL...

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2047286070291648664

[Cyber Liberty]

I don't pay much attention to this guy anymore. Just a hyper rah, rah cheerleader.

Regarding the new shoot to kill order - why the hell wasn't that already the policy???

We've certainly had target practice on speedboats from Venezuela.  Seems to me that doing that with the outboard engine boats from Iran should be child's play!

[DB]

We've certainly had target practice on speedboats from Venezuela.  Seems to me that doing that with the outboard engine boats from Iran should be child's play!

Even speed boats take significant time to move across the open water. It should be pretty easy to take them out by the air with drones.

[Cyber Liberty]

Even speed boats take significant time to move across the open water. It should be pretty easy to take them out by the air with drones.

It's a relatively small body of water.  We could have armed drones loitering about....

[DB]

It's a relatively small body of water.  We could have armed drones loitering about....

Yes, I don't understand why that didn't happen.

[mystery-ak]

Iran Military and Police Going Unpaid
David Strom 1:00 PM | April 22, 2026

It's hard to say whether or not Trump is prepared to restart kinetic action against Iran, or continue his indefinite cease-fire...indefinitely.

No doubt Trump likes it that way. While I hate that every time a security studies guy or gal talks about military action, they always quote Clausewitz or Sun Tzu, I have to say that Trump is the most Clausewitzian and Sun Tzu-style military leader we have had in a long while.

By that I mean that Trump understands that war is an extension of politics, and that military success relies as much on deception as good tactics.

I know that sounds odd, given the nearly universal criticisms of Trump's Iran war, but if I am reading his strategy correctly, he is continuing his longstanding policy of keeping your enemies guessing and looking in the wrong direction. He did it well in the first strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, and the military successes of Operation Epic Fury at the outset of the war depended on keeping Iranian leaders off guard.

That's why it is so hard to predict Trump's next moves on the military front, and his Clausewitzian side is what is driving his current strategy of maximum pressure through the blockade and his attempts to negotiate. Non-kinetic politics, with a potential recourse to going kinetic again.

more
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/04/22/iran-military-and-police-going-unpaid-n3814176

[BobfromWB]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2047069702694765038

Their AI generated video is pretty amateurish.

[BobfromWB]

I don't think Iran wants peace or negotiation. I really think they are trying to provoke war.

Provoking war is the whole point of the 12er Shia sect.

[BobfromWB]

WarMonitor🇺🇦🇬🇧
@WarMonitor3

Over 20 small Iranian gunboats have been spotted on satellite imagery racing towards the Iranian coastlines after traveling from the Middle of the Strait of Hormuz likely laying mines.

https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2046980687677300927

Before all this misadventure began, Iran's capital ships were more or less a joke. These go-fast boats were their primary navy, harassing US Navy ships all the time - there were lots of videos and news reports of this action by Iran's real navy.

Now all of a sudden, Iran's capital ships, which never bothered anyone, are considered the Iranian navy, and the go-fast boats are ignored. Then, 47 and Hegseth get up and tout that the Iranian navy is sunk, only to look like fools later. Could that be the reason the Sec. Navy was fired?

[BobfromWB]

It's just the quiet part no one wanted to say out loud.
The only country bombed to surrender had two nukes dropped on it, and it had been engaged on the ground (and in the air and on/under the sea) a lot before that.

Its also worth pointing out that the Japanese, like the Iranians, the war was a religious matter, as the Emperor was considered a living god.

So yes, deal or no, it will take troops on the ground the resolve the issue. Air power alone will and cannot do that by itself.

Whoever talked 47 into fighting Iran with air power alone, needs a trip to the woodshed.

[BobfromWB]

The ship in the background is also adorned with the letters ""MSC" on the side. A German shipping company.

Mediterranean Shipping Company [ MSC ] is a Swiss-Italian international shipping line, not German.

[BobfromWB]

Of course, yet Trump pretends otherwise.  Does he realize how foolish it makes him look acting like he's made this deal??  Iran is not trustworthy, yet he continues to try to make everyone believe otherwise.  Either he's delusional or he thinks people are stupid and/or have forgotten what Iran has done in the past.  Just recently they slaughtered thousands .... yet ... somehow these women are going to escape the wrath of Iranian leaders???

I find Trump's actions right now very darn troubling.

Going with vastly oversold or delusional - brought on by someone selling something.

[BobfromWB]

They sunk the major vessels, even the larger submarines. Smaller speedboats (gunboats) were not all accounted for, nor were all the midget submarines (2-10 believed still somewhere).

The major Iranian naval vessels were never a threat to anyone except possibility in the mind of the Sec. Navy.

The threat was always the go-fast boats.

Hundreds or thousands of them are not accounted for.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2047339601337963008

[DCPatriot]

Before all this misadventure began, Iran's capital ships were more or less a joke. These go-fast boats were their primary navy, harassing US Navy ships all the time - there were lots of videos and news reports of this action by Iran's real navy.

Now all of a sudden, Iran's capital ships, which never bothered anyone, are considered the Iranian navy, and the go-fast boats are ignored. Then, 47 and Hegseth get up and tout that the Iranian navy is sunk, only to look like fools later. Could that be the reason the Sec. Navy was fired?

You're trying too hard there, Mr. Trump hater.

And, you look downright silly.

https://preview.lucianne.com/2026/04/23/navy_secretary_fired_after_feud_over_trumps_golden_fleet_with_pentagon_leaders_including_hegseth_165676.html

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was fired Wednesday after months of feuding with his Pentagon bosses, particularly over his handling of President Trump’s “Golden Fleet” shipbuilding initiative. Tensions between Phelan, War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy War Secretary Stephen Feinberg had been simmering for months, according to the New York Times and a Republican source.

Phelan didn’t get along with Pentagon brass and his management and leadership style was “incongruent” with Hegseth and Feinberg, one GOP source familiar with the fired Navy secretary’s standing at the Pentagon told The Post. “The administration really wanted to accelerate the shipbuilding program because of the president’s agenda … and the secretary seemed...

Try and keep up...   

[DefiantMassRINO]

Even the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, by themselves, did not end the war with Japan.

The Japanese only surrendered after the Soviets entered the war against Japan, and took 1 million Japanese soldiers as POW's in Manchuria.

The Japanese faced the prospect of surrendering to a historical enemy (Russia), led by Josef Stalin, or to America, which might give them a better deal.

The nukes were the hammer.  Josef Stalin and the Soviets were the anvil.  Otherwise, the Japanese would have fought American forces to the death on the home islands.

In Iran, bombing is the hammer.  What's the anvil?

[BobfromWB]

How he's going to wrap things up is my concern. Exiting too early and pretending that he made Iran flinch with a deal so wonderful that nobody can believe it, is going to be problematic.  Not many are going to trust him anymore. If he exits before getting Iran's uranium and the Strait under control it's going to put a target on our country.  Iran will be been seen by many as having the upper hand over the U.S.

So .... go back in at another time?  I don't see that happening; we'll be too busy fighting them on our own soil in the future.

Perhaps I'm dead wrong, if so, how do you see it?  Anyone?

He exits with some sort of agreement he can call a deal. Everyone cheers. Everyone goes back to sleep, smiling at the rising stock market and the very cheap gas. 47 hailed as Hero of America and receives medal.

While the US dozes soundly, protected by the delusional Trump deal, Iran rearms. Makes more enriched uranium in 3000 foot deep bunkers under impenetrable granite. Successfully builds hundreds of ICBMs based on the North Korean model they have. US breaks out in open kinetic war. Iran nukes the US.

You asked, and that's my answer to were we go as things stand now. It could change. 47 could take out all the 12ers.

Its could rain gold.

[BobfromWB]

𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 🇮🇷 ✡︎
@NiohBerg

Reports from Iran:

Over 100 basijis are hospitalized with severe illness, and one has died, after an Iranian patriot poisoned their food in Parand, Tehran last night.

This is what's called resistance.

3:19 PM  ·  Apr 22, 2026  ·  102.5K Views

https://x.com/NiohBerg/status/2047047737384804409

When they recover, lots of dead Iranian civilians ... that's called repression.

[BobfromWB]

Dr. Eli David
@DrEliDavid

White 🇺🇸 is up a Queen and clearly winning. Black 🇮🇷 should resign, but refuses.

Instead of simply playing out the game and delivering the inevitable checkmate, White gets angry, declares victory, and asks Pakistan 🇵🇰 to invite Black to the negotiating table for a "fair deal"…



12:40 PM  ·  Apr 22, 2026  ·  10.7K Views

https://x.com/DrEliDavid/status/2047007637217091937

No one plays 2-D chess [ flat, only 2 direction available ], 47 plays 3-D [ 3 directions of movement ]. Iran plays 4-D [ 3 directions of movement and time ].

[BobfromWB]

I don't pay much attention to this guy anymore. Just a hyper rah, rah cheerleader.

Regarding the new shoot to kill order - why the hell wasn't that already the policy???

Why do you imagine the Sec. Navy was fired?

[BobfromWB]

Even speed boats take significant time to move across the open water. It should be pretty easy to take them out by the air with drones.

That was the original task of the A-10s and AC-130Js [ which apparently were stationed on Saudi, but never used ].

[mystery-ak]

He was fired....

John Phelan out as Navy secretary

https://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=581162.0

[Smokin Joe]

Mediterranean Shipping Company [ MSC ] is a Swiss-Italian international shipping line, not German.

They are global, headquarters in Geneva. The reference I found to them included a video and was from Germany. The video (promotional):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgw0kY0-j0M&t=4s
The company website:
https://www.msc.com/

The livery matches.

[mystery-ak]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that the country's hardline and moderate leaders are infighting over who will lead the Islamic Republic.

In a social media post, Pezeshkian noted that there are no moderates or "radicals" in Iran.

"In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates," he wrote on X. "We are all 'Iranian' and 'revolutionary,' and with the iron unity of the nation and government, and complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions."

Iran has only "the path" of victory, Pezeshkian added, which is "more precious than life."
Posted by Louis Casiano

[mystery-ak]

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said during a security assessment that Israel is waiting for a “green light from the United States” to resume fighting against Iran.

“Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran. The IDF is ready in defense and offense, and the targets are marked,” said Katz, as reported by The Times of Israel.

He said Israel was “awaiting a green light from the United States, first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty—the initiator of the extermination plan against Israel—and the successors of the successors of the leadership of the Iranian terror regime."

In addition, he added that Israel wants to "return Iran to the age of darkness and stone by blowing up central energy and electricity facilities and crushing national economic infrastructure.”
Posted by Louis Casiano

[Smokin Joe]

The major Iranian naval vessels were never a threat to anyone except possibility in the mind of the Sec. Navy.

The threat was always the go-fast boats.

Hundreds or thousands of them are not accounted for.

That's like saying the Bismarck and Tirpitz were not a threat, it was really the U-boats. The capital ships, such as they were, are no longer a threat because we sunk them, just as the Bismarck and Tirpitz were made priorities for destruction. As a swarm, the little go-fast boats are indeed a threat. Their uses include mine laying, antiship missile launches (as their midget subs can do--also some unaccounted for) and potentially, loaded down as suicide bombs.

Because of their size, they can be relatively easy to conceal and quick to deploy. That makes it as hard as swatting gnats to account for all of them.

My strategy would be to track them back to their bases and add those to the target list for when hostilities resume, otherwise take out the ones which are an imminent threat or laying mines.

[Smokin Joe]

Even the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, by themselves, did not end the war with Japan.

The Japanese only surrendered after the Soviets entered the war against Japan, and took 1 million Japanese soldiers as POW's in Manchuria.

The Japanese faced the prospect of surrendering to a historical enemy (Russia), led by Josef Stalin, or to America, which might give them a better deal.

The nukes were the hammer.  Josef Stalin and the Soviets were the anvil.  Otherwise, the Japanese would have fought American forces to the death on the home islands.

In Iran, bombing is the hammer.  What's the anvil?

Money.

[Cyber Liberty]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to President Donald Trump, who said Thursday that the country's hardline and moderate leaders are infighting over who will lead the Islamic Republic.

In a social media post, Pezeshkian noted that there are no moderates or "radicals" in Iran.

"In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates," he wrote on X. "We are all 'Iranian' and 'revolutionary,' and with the iron unity of the nation and government, and complete obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will make the aggressor criminal regret his actions."

Iran has only "the path" of victory, Pezeshkian added, which is "more precious than life."
Posted by Louis Casiano

I have to agree with this fellow....there are no "moderates," especially among the 12ers.

[BobfromWB]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded, Iran has only "the path" of victory, Pezeshkian added, which is "more precious than life."

Translation: the only thing "more precious than life" to Shia 12er is death. Death of the entire human race which is a blessing since everyone will be in Paradise.

Either understand how they think or be killed by them. Choose 47.

[Free Vulcan]

Money.

Yes! The whole point of the blockade is to starve them of funds.

[240B]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrq9vQ9s-JY&list=RD7LXpnNKNxJI&index=2

[BobfromWB]

That's like saying the Bismarck and Tirpitz were not a threat, it was really the U-boats. The capital ships, such as they were, are no longer a threat because we sunk them, just as the Bismarck and Tirpitz were made priorities for destruction. As a swarm, the little go-fast boats are indeed a threat. Their uses include mine laying, anti-ship missile launches (as their midget subs can do--also some unaccounted for) and potentially, loaded down as suicide bombs.

Because of their size, they can be relatively easy to conceal and quick to deploy. That makes it as hard as swatting gnats to account for all of them.

My strategy would be to track them back to their bases and add those to the target list for when hostilities resume, otherwise take out the ones which are an imminent threat or laying mines.

The original US strategy was to use A-10s on them. Their bases are well known - many of them are on the islands off the coasts of UAE, but the UAE asked the US not to target the islands in the opening stages of the misadventure. Something to do with the dual claims to the islands.

The "capitol" Iranian ships were junk and seldom ventured out of port for fear of sinking or capsizing in a breeze. They were for show only, and hardly in the class of the pocket battleships the Bismarck and Tirpitz.

The were more in the class of the Beatles' Yellow Submarine or the Yellow Submarine tied up at the Bangor, WA sub base. Completely harmless.

[BobfromWB]

Yes! The whole point of the blockade is to starve them of funds.

Starving them of money for a country that measures dollars by the pound is not much of a threat.

[DB]

Starving them of money for a country that measures dollars by the pound is not much of a threat.

Actually, Iran produces two things for export. Weapons and energy. Not much else. Much like Russia. Cut those off and yes, you can bankrupt them.

[Free Vulcan]

Starving them of money for a country that measures dollars by the pound is not much of a threat.

Iran loses $500 million daily as Hormuz blockade continues



Iran is under growing financial strain as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues despite the extension of the ceasefire. The Guardian’s live coverage says Trump claimed Iran is losing $500 million every day while the blockade stays in place, making the economic squeeze a central part of Washington’s strategy rather than a side effect of the fighting.

That matters because the ceasefire extension did not come with the concession Tehran has been seeking most. AP reported Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely at Pakistan’s request, but kept the naval blockade intact, while CBS said he framed the move as giving Iran time to produce a “unified proposal.”...

Trump’s claimed $500 million daily loss is politically powerful because it gives the blockade a simple measure of impact. Even where the exact figure cannot be independently verified from public official accounting, the broader direction is supported by multiple reports showing the blockade is disrupting Iranian sea trade and choking off export revenue. CENTCOM’s blockade announcement said U.S. forces were stopping maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, while defense reporting last week said the operation had already forced multiple ships to turn back.

Other current reporting also points to heavy financial damage. Al Jazeera reported earlier this month that Iran had earned nearly $5 billion from oil exports in the previous month and warned that revenue was now at risk under the blockade, while CBS said oil prices jumped sharply after the U.S. announced the move.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-loses-500-million-daily-as-hormuz-blockade-continues/ar-AA21rq8E

-------

Keep telling yourself that.

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2047378474537505167