By Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim – Drop Site News

Over the past week, both the U.S. and Iran delivered frameworks to mediators aimed at ending the ongoing war. The Trump administration is now insisting that its framework must be the basis for any negotiations, a high-level Iranian official told Drop Site, as President Donald Trump’s top envoy on Friday repeatedly asserted that direct talks are imminent and that the U.S. expects a response from Tehran in the coming days. Continue reading “Iran Rejects U.S. Narrative That It Must Adhere to Trump’s ‘Disingenuous’ Negotiation Framework”

By Wyatt Reed – The Grayzone

Claims that an Iran-backed group is carrying out attacks in European cities raise questions about why they’re not targeting countries directly involved in the US-Israeli war, and why they appear to communicate like Israelis.

Strangely, suspects arrested in the attacks have been released on bail.

Continue reading “Who’s behind the mysterious ‘Iran-backed terror cell’ haunting Europe?”

By Tyler Derden – Zerohedge

Given worsening US-Spanish relations over Washington’s pro-Israel policies, this is a big step which is not entirely surprising – Spain has fully shuttered its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.

This is an action significantly beyond its prior controversial policy to deny US use of jointly-operated military bases, and what has also been a long-running ban on ships transferring arms and ammo to Israel.

Continue reading “NATO Member Spain Closes Airspace To US Planes Involved In Iran Operations”

By Dave DeCamp – Antiwar.com

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that the Pentagon was considering diverting military aid meant for Ukraine to the Middle East for use in the US-Israeli war against Iran, as the US military continues depleting its stockpiles of air defenses and other munitions in the conflict. Continue reading “US Considers Diverting Military Aid for Ukraine for Use in the War With Iran”

By Naqaa Hamed – Drop Site News

RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank—As Palestinians in al-Fandaqumiya, a village south of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Saturday evening, dozens of Israeli settlers raided the area, physically assaulting residents and torching homes and cars. “They attacked at midnight,” Ghassan Qararyeh, the head of al-Fandaqumiya village council, told Drop Site News. “It was Eid evening, so everyone was trying to feel any kind of joy under the overall difficult situation, but the attack destroyed that.” Continue reading “Palestinians in the West Bank Are Now Experiencing Multiple Settler Attacks Per Day”

By Tyler Derden – Zerohedge

Summary

  • No pause from Tehran, war footing deepens: Iran denies requesting Donald Trump’s 10-day halt; Israel attacks steel & industrial sites.
  • Escalation on all fronts: IRGC HQ targeted by US-Israsel; Iran signals expansion by naming UAE targets, hitting Kuwait ports and sending drones on Riyadh
  • Israel doubles down amid reports of manpower strain: IDF chief warns of manpower pressure even as Defense Minister Katz vows to “intensify and expand” strikes.
  • Risk rises that Iran is holding back more advanced missiles for a prolonged war: WSJ writes “The US and Israel are pounding Iran’s missile-launching sites… But Tehran’s missiles keep flying.”

Continue reading “Escalation On All Fronts As Iran Says Never Requested US Energy Strike Pause; Israel Goes After Industrial Targets”

By Dave DeCamp – Antiwar.com

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, denounced the US War Department on Wednesday for not providing enough information about the US war against Iran, including plans for potential ground operations. Continue reading “Top GOP Lawmaker Says Pentagon Not Sharing Enough Details on Potential Iran Ground War”

By Kit Klarenberg and Jonathan Urmeneta – The Gray Zone

A bombshell confession letter obtained by The Grayzone reveals Israeli intelligence recruited an asset in the Palestinian Red Crescent, who admitted using drugs and sexual blackmail to create a “network of informants” which could infiltrate and destroy resistance groups.

Continue reading “Drugs, sexual blackmail: shocking confession letter exposes Israel’s Red Crescent spy ring”

By Tyler Derden – Zerohedge

Summary

  • Iran rejects US plan but says diplomacy continues (indirectly, apparently) – White House, Pentagon reviewing options for ‘final blow’ as Trump tells Iranians ‘get serious’ about talks.
  • Trump said to want ‘speedy end to war’ (WSJ) while at the same time warning Tehran of ‘no turning back’ if it doesn’t negotiate.
  • Israel says it has killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy.
  • Iran “laying Traps” & “building up defenses” on Kharg Island; NYT report says 13 US regional bases largely ‘uninhabitable’ in wake of Iran ballistic missile retaliation on Gulf.

Continue reading “Diplomacy Has Not Stopped, Iran Says, While Vowing To Continue The Fight; Trump Mulls Plan To Deliver ‘Final Blow’”

By Dave DeCamp – Antiwar.com

Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, the chief of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and his headquarters staff have been ordered to the Middle East as the Pentagon prepares for potential ground operations in Iran, The Intercept reported Tuesday, citing two US government officials.

The New York Times reported a day earlier that the US War Department was considering deploying the 82nd Airborne’s “Immediate Response Force,” a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers, and that order is now said to be imminent.

Continue reading “Commander of 82nd Airborne Ordered to Middle East for Potential Ground Operation in Iran”

By Tyler Derden – Zerohedge

Summary

  • Iran Does Not Accept Ceasefire, Issues 5 Conditions, Says US Talks Illogical: Fars. The statement says that talks are not viable in current conditions, oil rising.
  • 3,000 elite Army Airborne soldiers & Marines still en route after Trump said Monday says Iran has been destroyed “militarily”. 
  • Iran is tightening control of Hormuz, demanding detailed ship data and in some cases fees for passage
  • Iran continues to say it is ready for long war, monitors US troop movements: Parliament Speaker says “Do not test our resolve to defend our land.”

Continue reading “Iran Rejects US Proposed Ceasefire, Counters With 5 Conditions For Ending War, As US Troops En Route”

By Brett Wilkins – Antiwar.com

Israeli soldiers in Gaza allegedly tortured an 18-month-old Palestinian toddler in an effort to force a confession from his father, local and international media outlets reported Monday.

Continue reading “‘A Revolting Moral Outrage’: Israeli Soldiers Reportedly Torture Gaza Toddler”

By Dave DeCamp – Antiwar.com

US military officials are considering deploying a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support the war with Iran and potentially take part in an operation aimed at seizing control of Iran’s Kharg Island, The New York Times reported on Monday.

The troops would come from the 82nd Airborne’s “Immediate Response Force,” a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers that can deploy anywhere in the world. Officials speaking to the Times said that while planning was underway, there has been no order from the Pentagon to deploy troops to the region so far.

Continue reading “NYT: Pentagon Considers Deploying 82nd Airborne Troops for Potential Attack on Iran’s Kharg Island”

By Chris Menahan – Information Liberation

On Monday, President Trump backed out of striking Iran’s power plants, seemingly blamed Pete Hegseth for the war, and then Reuters dropped an article pointing the finger at Netanyahu for the war just a few hours later. Continue reading “Reuters: Trump Approved Iran Strikes After Speaking With Netanyahu”

By Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain – Drop Site News

On Monday, Iran forcefully denied claims by President Donald Trump that the U.S. and Iran are in the midst of negotiations to end the war, saying that no direct talks are occurring. Continue reading “Iran Blasts Trump’s Claims of Direct Talks as “Fake News” Aimed at Manipulating Markets”

By Tyler Derden – Zerohedge

Summary

  • Backchannel diplomacy vs skepticism: Abbas Araghchi reportedly signaled openness to negotiations with the US via envoy Steve Witkoff, but Israel has appeared cool on deal prospects or offramp.
  • Heavy exchange of fire and testing red lines: Iran continues missile and drone waves targeting Israel and US bases, amid reports of overnight airstrikes on military and gas infrastructure near Isfahan.
  • Iran reshuffles its security leadership, appointing Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr: he’s a former IRGC commander and replaces the assassinated Ali Larijani.
  • Iran halts natural gas exports to Turkey: follows last week’s Israeli strike on the massive South Pars gas field.

Continue reading “Iranian Missiles Pound Israel Overnight After US Claims Progress On Talks; Tehran Appoints Larijani Successor, Cuts Gas Flows To Turkey”

By Dave DeCamp – Antiwar.com

The Iranian military has warned that if the US or Israel bomb Iran’s power plants or other energy infrastructure, it will completely close the Strait of Hormuz and target similar infrastructure in Israel and regional countries hosting US bases. Continue reading “Iran Says It Will Completely Close Strait of Hormuz If US Bombs Iranian Power Plants”