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Trump: “Iran better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE”

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Regional intelligence officials believe Iran is preparing for the possibility that President Donald Trump could resume military strikes against the Islamic Republic as early as this week amid growing frustration with Tehran’s conduct and its refusal to abandon nuclear ambitions, Fox News reports.

According to the report, the prevailing assessment inside Iran is that Trump may decide to restart military action, leading Tehran to pursue what officials described as a strategy of “deception and delay” aimed at buying time and complicating any renewed military campaign.

The officials told Fox News that Iranian leaders believe they can stretch the crisis out for at least two more weeks, potentially making it more difficult for the US to restart military operations both politically and operationally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Trump spoke on Sunday about developments with Iran. “For Iran, the Clock is ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the call.

Trump’s post featured a map of the Middle East and Central Asia, with the entire region overlaid with the pattern of the United States flag. The country of Iran is highlighted at the center of the map with a dozen red arrows pointing directly at the Islamic Republic. Later Trump said Iran “should be afraid” of him in an interview with Israel’s Channel 13. 

In response Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the United States must either accept Tehran’s conditions or “surrender to our missiles.”

Trump is expected to hold a Situation Room meeting with his top national security team on Tuesday to discuss options for military action.

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Hackers have Breached Tank Readers at US Gas Stations; Officials Suspect Iran is Responsible

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US officials suspect Iranian hackers are behind a series of breaches of systems that monitor the amount of fuel in storage tanks serving gas stations in multiple states, according to multiple sources briefed on the activity.

The hackers responsible have exploited automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems that were sitting online and unprotected by passwords, allowing them in some cases to tinker with display readings on the tanks but not the actual levels of fuel in them, the sources said.

The cyber intrusions are not known to have caused physical damage or harm, but the breaches have raised safety concerns because gaining access to an ATG could, in theory, allow a hacker to make a gas leak go undetected, according to private experts and US officials.

The sources briefed on the investigation said Iran’s history of targeting the gas tank systems is one reason the country is a top suspect. But, the sources cautioned, the US government may not be able to definitively determine who was responsible because of a lack of forensic evidence left by the hackers. (Read more from “Hackers have Breached Tank Readers at US Gas Stations; Officials Suspect Iran is Responsible” HERE)

Multiple Oil Spills May Plague The Persian Gulf Because Of Iran War

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The Iran War’s effects are moving past economics and into the environment.

Multiple instances of what appear to be oil spills have occurred this week in the Persian Gulf, Reuters reported. One apparent spill appears to be emanating from Kharg Island, while another spill appears to be streaming behind an ADNOC Logistics & Services oil tanker that was hit by Iranian drones on May 4.

The images are probably indicative of oil slicks, Reuters reported, citing Louis Goddard, co-founder of Data Desk, a climate- and commodities-focused consultant.

“The ADNOC Logistics & Services vessel Barakah remains at anchor off the coast of Oman ​after being impacted by two Iranian drones on May 4,” Reuters reported, citing an ADNOC company spokesperson. “A small amount of what is understood to be bunker fuel was unfortunately released as a result of the incident.”

The Barakah is classified as a crude oil tanker, according to MarineTraffic. It remains unclear how much fuel leaked into the Persian Gulf from the vessel. (Read more from “Multiple Oil Spills May Plague The Persian Gulf Because Of Iran War” HERE)

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Trump Tells Reporter He Doesn’t ‘Think About’ Americans’ Finances In Waging Iran War; Cost Of Iran War Balloons To Nearly $30,000,000,000

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By Daily Caller. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the deteriorating financial situation of Americans is not playing any role in pushing him to make a deal with Iran.

The Daily Caller’s White House Correspondent Reagan Reese pressed the president on whether increasing inflation — including energy and food prices — is influencing the White House’s decision to seek a deal to end the ongoing war with Iran. Trump dismissed the idea, declaring, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.”

“What extent are Americans’ financial situation motivating you to make a deal?” Reese asked.

“Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation, I don’t think about anybody.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for April revealed that inflationary pressure in the U.S. economy has been rising, with prices for energy and groceries heavily contributing to the spike. The cost of everyday goods rose 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after increasing 0.9% in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. (Read more from “Trump Tells Reporter He Doesn’t ‘Think About’ Americans’ Finances In Waging Iran War” HERE)

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Cost Of Iran War Balloons To Nearly $30,000,000,000

By Daily Caller. The estimated cost of the war in Iran has now hit nearly $30 billion, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Department of War Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer Jules W. Hurst III said during a congressional testimony on Tuesday that the Iran war has cost about $29 billion in total thus far, citing an “updated repair and replacement of equipment cost and also just general operational cost” as the main reasons for the increase. The announcement comes after the Pentagon estimated on April 29 that the total cost of the war was roughly $25 billion, Reuters reported.

Hurst also said during the hearing that “at the time of testimony… it [the estimated cost of the Iran war] was $25 billion dollars,” in reference to War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s cost estimate from April.

However, the total cost of the Iran war may actually be closer to $50 billion, CBS News reported on April 30, citing anonymous U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments.

The Pentagon requested $200 billion from Congress to fund the war in March. (Read more from “Cost Of Iran War Balloons To Nearly $30,000,000,000” HERE)

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Trump Rejects Iran’s Latest Peace Offer after Tehran Refuses to Negotiate its Nuclear Program: ‘TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!’

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By New York Post. President Trump on Sunday appeared to reject Iran’s latest proposal in ongoing negotiations over a peace deal, calling the Islamic Republic’s offer “totally unacceptable.”

“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president also warned the country against “playing games” after Tehran refused to discuss its nuclear program in its latest response to America’s peace proposal through Pakistani mediators.

Trump slammed the rogue Mideast country for delaying negotiations historically, ranting on the social platform.

“Iran has been playing games with the United States, and the rest of the World, for 47 years (DELAY, DELAY, DELAY!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.’ (Read more from “Trump Rejects Iran’s Latest Peace Offer after Tehran Refuses to Negotiate its Nuclear Program: ‘TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!’” HERE)

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Pentagon reveals location of secret Navy submarine capable of launching nukes after Trump rejects Iran peace offer

By New York Post. The Pentagon revealed the location Monday of one of the US Navy’s most secretive vessels – a stealthy, nuclear-armed submarine – a day after President Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace offer.

The Navy’s Sixth Fleet shared an image of the Ohio-class submarine and its crew docked Sunday in Gibraltar, a British territory off Spain’s southern coast.

“The port visit demonstrates US capability, flexibility, and continuing commitment to its NATO allies,” the Sixth Fleet said in a press release.

“Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines are undetectable launch platforms for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, providing the US with its most survivable leg of the nuclear triad,” the fleet added.

The Navy, which operates 14 nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed Ohio-class submarines, did not share the name of the vessel docked in Gibraltar. (Read more from “Pentagon reveals location of secret Navy submarine capable of launching nukes after Trump rejects Iran peace offer” HERE)

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Trump: Iranian Attackers ‘Destroyed’ After Firing on U.S. Destroyers — Ports Struck; Ceasefire Holding

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President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iranian attacking forces were “completely destroyed” after Tehran fired missiles, drones, and fast attack boats at three U.S. Navy destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. Central Command to carry out retaliatory “self-defense strikes” on Iranian military targets and port areas as the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran again came under strain.

U.S. Central Command said its forces intercepted what it described as “unprovoked Iranian attacks” as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason transited the Strait of Hormuz toward the Gulf of Oman.

“Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones and small boats” at the destroyers, CENTCOM said, adding that no U.S. assets were struck.

CENTCOM said U.S. forces then “eliminated inbound threats” before striking Iranian military sites it said were responsible for the attack, including missile and drone launch positions, command-and-control facilities, and intelligence and surveillance nodes.

“CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces,” the statement added.

(Read more from “Trump: Iranian Attackers ‘Destroyed’ After Firing on U.S. Destroyers — Ports Struck; Ceasefire Holding” HERE)

Iran War Drives Up Jet Fuel Costs As Summer Travel Season Looms

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Airfare is taking off as the Iran war drives up jet fuel costs, with travelers now facing steeper prices heading into the summer travel season.

The spike shows how the conflict in Iran is hitting Americans far beyond the battlefield, as rising oil prices ripple through airlines, gas prices and consumer costs. Fuel is one of airlines’ largest operating expenses, according to the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS), and higher costs are increasingly being passed on to travelers through higher fares, added fees and fewer flight options.

Airfares are reportedly surging by around 25% according to data released by KAYAK. The increase comes as the Iran war drives up jet fuel prices and Americans head into the busiest travel season of the year, straining consumers’ plans.

Families planning to travel are getting hit with higher ticket prices, raising the possibility that travelers may resort to changing destinations and driving instead of flying.

“I don’t see how a family that could just barely justify, say $500 in plane tickets, is going to be able to justify $800,” JP Krahel, Loyola University professor, told CBS News. “If it’s a discretionary trip, they may say, ‘You know what, instead of flying across the country, let’s just drive down to the beach.’” (Read more from “Iran War Drives Up Jet Fuel Costs As Summer Travel Season Looms” HERE)

US Destroys Six Iranian Ships In Straight Of Hormuz During ‘Project Freedom’

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters on Monday that the United States destroyed six Iranian boats that were threatening commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump launched “Project Freedom” on Sunday, an effort by the U.S. Navy to help guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. On a press call with reporters, Cooper said the U.S. returned fire and destroyed Iranian forces who emerged to threaten the commercial ships.

“We have defeated each and every one of those threats,” Cooper told reporters.

“We defended this, both ourselves and consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships,” Cooper added. “We had drone launches against commercial ships, all of which were defended against consistent with our commitment, and then the small boats were all going against commercial ships, and all were sunk by Apaches and [inaudible] helicopters.”

Cooper told the Daily Caller that the U.S. has cleared an “effective pathway” through the strait. Two U.S. ships have passed through the strait in the last 24 hours. Following the exchange of fire, Cooper declined to speak about whether the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was now over.

(Read more from “US Destroys Six Iranian Ships In Straight Of Hormuz During ‘Project Freedom’” HERE)

Iran Tortures Dad to Death for Using Internet, Executes Karate Champ in Regime’s Latest Bloody Crackdowns

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The barbaric Iranian regime reportedly tortured a dad to death for the high crime of using the internet and abused and executed a 21-year-old karate champ for merely attending a protest.

Father of two Hesam Alaeddin, 40, was beaten to death after being arrested for using Starlink to access the internet — which has been banned in the country since the US-Iran war started Feb. 28.

News of Alaeddin’s death was reported by Reza Pahlavi — the exiled son of the last shah of Iran — and spread across shocked posts on social media.

“The brutal and criminal regime of the Islamic Republic killed Hesam Alaeddin under torture after he was reportedly arrested for using Starlink,” Pahlavi wrote on X on Friday. “For 62 days, this regime has shut down the internet and continues to massacre Iranian people. The world cannot stay silent.”

Alaeddin was detained sometime in the past two weeks after being accused of connecting to the internet with Starlink, IranWire reported.

Iranian regime police searched his home, and when they found the Starlink device, they beat him in the family’s residence until he died, according to IranWire. (Read more from “Iran Tortures Dad to Death for Using Internet, Executes Karate Champ in Regime’s Latest Bloody Crackdowns” HERE)

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Strait of Hormuz Crisis Sparks Fears of Global Famine

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The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz caused immediate shocks to the world oil market, but analysts are also afraid that rising food prices and fertilizer shortages could increase the risk of famine in struggling nations.

Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen told Fox News Digital on Thursday that the “worst-case” scenario would resemble “the eight-year closure of the Suez Canal from 1967 to 1975.”

“Best case, there is an agreement between the U.S. and Iran within the next few weeks, and the Strait reopens — and it has to be a deal where there is trust that Iran is sufficiently satisfied with the deal such that they do not suddenly close the strait again,” Jensen said.

“Even in that case, it will still take months for the supply chains to revert back to normality,” he added.

The Suez Canal was shut down by Egypt at the beginning of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The Egyptians blocked one of the world’s most important shipping lanes by laying minefields and sinking ships to create physical barriers. The canal remained closed until 1975. It was actually the second time the canal was closed by Egypt, after a much shorter shutdown in 1956-1957. (Read more from “Strait of Hormuz Crisis Sparks Fears of Global Famine” HERE)

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