Is Iran Capable Of Blocking The Strait of Hormuz?

Business Insider: Iran threatened to cut off a key oil shipping waterway — but the US would blow it out of the water

* Iran threatened to respond to economic sanctions against its oil exports imposed by the US with military action to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, but the US would shut it down quickly.
* The Strait of Hormuz sees around 30% of the world's oil supply pass through, so the US and its allies in the Middle East would have it back open in days.
* Iran must know it can't hold the strait, but a former US ambassador told Business Insider it's likely a bluff to try to send a message about oil prices, which Iran could manipulate and use to help break US-imposed sanctions.

Iran threatened to respond to economic sanctions against its oil exports imposed by the US with military action to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, the sea passage into the Persian Gulf that sees around 30% of the world's oil supply pass — but if they did, the US would shut them down in days.

"As the dominant power in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, (Iran) has been the guarantor of the security of shipping and the global economy in this vital waterway and has the strength to take action against any scheme in this region," Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri said, according to Reuters.

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WNU Editor: Any Iranian attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz will not only result in a U.S. reaction, but every Gulf State that ships oil through the strait will react, as well as every other nation in the world that is dependent on stable oil supplies.

Iranian President Rouhani: Iran Should Respond To Trump's ‘Empty Threats’

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani addresses a meeting of government officials in Tehran, July 25, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

RFE: Iran's Rohani Says No Need To Respond To 'Empty Threats' From U.S.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani has said he feels no need to respond to what he called "empty threats" from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran's IRNA news agency reported on July 25 that, after Rohani mentioned "baseless comments" by "some U.S. leaders," he told a cabinet meeting "there is no need for us to respond to any nonsensical comment and answer back to them."

"We should respond with action," Rohani said.

Rohani's remarks came in response to a July 22 all-capital-letters post on Twitter by Trump in which Trump warned Iran not to "threaten the United States again or you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before."

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WNU Editor: Iranian President Hassan Rohani says that Iran should respond to President Trump's tweets .... Rouhani says Iran should respond to Trump's ‘empty threats’ with action (The Hill). More here .... Iran: Resistance strongest response to US empty rhetoric (Press TV).

Update: Iran's armed forces chief of staff issues his own warning .... Iran Army Warns Of "Firm, Strong Response" To US Threats (AFP)

Should Former U.S. Officials Be Permitted To Keep Their Security Clearances?

Stephen Collinson, CNN: Trump moves to silence critics

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's latest gambit to choke off the flow of information for past spy chiefs who have criticized him is a disturbing move that again exposes an imperious streak out of place in American democracy.

The President's threat to rip security clearances from some of the nation's most decorated former intelligence officials may turn out to be a classic Trumpian distraction play that whips up a media storm and drowns out stories that are damaging to the White House.

But the idea that it is being seriously contemplated will send a chilling effect throughout Washington.

The wielding of presidential power to punish prominent critics would take this White House perilously closer to potential abuses of executive authority -- perhaps moving it onto territory not tested by any commander in chief since Richard Nixon.

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WNU Editor: I can understand having one's security clearance during a transition period to help an incoming administration .... but once that transition is over and you are no longer with the governemnt .... that security clearance should be revoked.

Should Iran Negotiate With President Trump?

James S. Robbins, USA Today: Donald Trump takes North Korea approach to reopen Iran negotiations — Mullahs should listen

Despite all-caps Tweets between Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister, there are few options for Tehran. Military action isn't one of them.

Monday morning President Trump tweeted out an all-caps warning to Tehran not to try America’s patience. “NEVER EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN,” Mr. Trump warned, “OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKE OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.” Responded Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, “COLOR US UNIMPRESSED.”

The upper-case exchange followed a series of statements from Iran indicating the possibility of armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf. Earlier this month President Hassan Rouhani said that if the United States persisted in its efforts to cut Iran’s oil exports, Tehran would see to it that no country in the region would be able to export oil. This was widely seen as a threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of global oil exports flow, and a move Iran has threatened before.

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WNU Editor: President Trump is leaving the door open for Iran .... Trump says U.S. ready to make a 'real deal' on Iran’s nuclear program (Reuters). My prediction .... Iran is not interested in dealing with the U.S. for now. Next year may be a different story.

U.S. - North Korean Talks To Return U.S. Remains Proceeding Slowly

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un sign documents that acknowledge the progress of the talks and pledge to keep momentum going, after their summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore, June 12, 2018.

Reuters: Recovery of U.S. troops' remains in North Korea complicated by cash, politics

SEOUL (Reuters) - When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed in June to help return the remains of American troops killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, it was seen as one of the more attainable goals to come out of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

American officials expect North Korea to hand over around 50 sets of remains in coming days or weeks, but the drawn-out process of negotiations to get to this point highlights the complications involved in the issue.

At the heart of the difficulty, former officials involved in previous recovery missions say, are likely demands from North Korea for cash compensation, as well as the unsolved tensions over North’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile arsenal.

More than 7,700 U.S. troops who fought in the Korean War remain unaccounted for, with about 5,300 of those lost in what is now North Korea, according to the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), the U.S. military agency tasked with tracking down prisoners of war and troops missing in action.

The Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the United States and North Korea still technically at war.

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WNU Editor: This is going to take some time, but these remains will ultimately be returned .... albeit at a price.

No Trump - Putin Summit In Washington D.C.?

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Daily Mail: Sorry Donald, we're not sure whether Putin can come to the White House, maybe see you at the G20: Kremlin goes coy on invitation Trump made after Helsinki love-in

* Kremlin says 'there are other options' than the White House for a Putin-Trump meeting this fall
* Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that Washington and Moscow agreed there was a need for another meeting but Russia has made no preparations
* 'Maybe there will be other international events which Trump and Putin will take part in,' Ushakov said

The Kremlin was reticent on Tuesday about whether it would accept an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to hold a summit with Vladimir Putin in Washington later this year, saying only that the two men had other chances to meet as well.

The Kremlin's failure to swiftly accept Trump's invitation for a Washington summit has been noticeable.

Though Moscow saw the Helsinki summit between the two leaders held last week as a success, the fiercely negative reaction by some U.S. politicians to Trump's performance has taken some in Russia aback.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that though Washington and Moscow agreed there was a need for another Putin-Trump meeting, Russia had not yet begun any practical preparations for a new meeting.

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WNU Editor: A week after the Helsinki Summit I can say without hesitation that Russian pundits  have been surprised by the overwhelming negative U.S. press and political backlash to the Trump-Putin summit. Bottom-line .... the Kremlin is going to avoid having President Putin traveling to the U.S. for now, and will use other channels in the future for their leader to meet President Trump.

Israel Shoots Down Syrian Fighter Jet Over The Golan Heights

DW: Israel shoots down Syrian fighter jet 'in Israeli airspace'

Israel has shot down a Syrian fighter jet that it says breached its airspace over the Israel-occupied Golan Heights. Syria has accused Israel of targeting the plane "in Syrian airspace."

Israel shot down a Syrian fighter jet on Tuesday after it said the warplane crossed into the occupied Golan Heights, as Russian-backed Syrian forces regain control of territory from rebels along the volatile border.

Israel Defense Forces said it launched two surface-to-air Patriot missiles at a Syrian Sukhoi jet when it "entered about 1 mile [1.6 km] into Israeli airspace."

"The only thing we know about the aircraft is that it crashed, most likely in the southern part of the Syrian Golan Heights," Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters.

He said that the plane was Syrian, not Russian, and had been monitored since it flew from the Syrian military airbase T4 in central Syria.

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WNU Editor: And all of this happening at a time when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov held a meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem .... Lavrov Discussed in Jerusalem Iran's Withdrawal From Israeli Border - Kremlin (Sputnik).

More News On Israel Shooting Down A Syrian Fighter Jet Over The Golan Heights

Israel shoots down Syrian warplane as Golan frontier heats up -- Reuters
Israel Shoots Down Syrian Jet It Says Flew Into its Airspace -- Time/AP
Israel shoots down Syrian fighter jet it says entered Israeli airspace -- CNN
Syrian fighter jet shot down after infiltrating Israel's airspace, Israeli military says -- FOX News
No ‘confusion’: IDF knew intercepted Sukhoi jet was Syrian, not Russian, spokesman confirms -- RT
Pilot of Syrian fighter jet downed by Israel killed — reports -- TASS

Canadian Backlash Towards Prime Minister Trudeau's Immigration Policy?

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with a Syrian refugee during Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 1, 2016. (Chris Wattie/REUTERS)

Bloomberg: Immigration and the Border Are Suddenly Tough Issues for Trudeau

(Bloomberg) -- Justin Trudeau’s latest headache is unusual for a country bounded by three oceans and just one neighbor: the border.

Canada has seen a steady flow of asylum seekers since Donald Trump’s election, with people who fear the U.S. will deport them or reject their bids for asylum crossing the 4,000-mile undefended border and filing a claim. While the total numbers are relatively modest, the influx has strained resources and prompted calls for more funding.

The issue has the Canadian prime minister caught between demands for tighter security and his own pledge of open arms. The controversy has ramped up in recent weeks, in part because of Ontario’s election of a conservative government led by populist Doug Ford. He and two other premiers have called on Trudeau to act, and a political sparring match is underway over what values are more Canadian: welcoming refugees, even those arriving illegally, or securing the border?

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WNU Editor: Regular readers of this blog know that I live in the french province of Quebec (Canada), and that I have been talking about this issue since the beginning. This is an issue that has backfired against the ruling Liberals in this province from the French majority, and it will not only result in the Quebec Provincial Liberal Party being defeated in the provinicial election this fall, but probably Prime Minister Trudeau's chances of being elected next year when Canadians go to the polls.And blaming President Trump for this crisis is not working.

President Trump To Iran: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN

To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 23 July 2018

Daily Mail: 'YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE SUFFERED': Trump sends astonishing all caps Twitter warning to Iranian President Rouhani over threats to the US - but regime dismisses his 'passive reaction'

* Trump tweeted dire all-caps warning to Iranian President Rouhani late Sunday
* 'NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN' Trump tweeted
* Rouhani had earlier told the US that 'war with Iran is the mother of all wars'
* Iran called Trump's threat as a 'passive reaction' and said he 'won't dare' attack

President Donald Trump has issued a dire warning to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, escalating a war of words over looming sanctions against Tehran.

Rouhani had warned Trump not to 'play with the lion's tail' before Trump let rip on Twitter late on Sunday night, saying: 'To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.'

'WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!'

But that only prompted Iran to further goad Trump, calling his reaction 'passive' and saying he 'won't dare' launch an attack.

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WNU Editor: Presdient Trump was reposnding to this .... Iran President Rouhani Warns President Trump About 'Mother Of All Wars'.

Update: Iran has responded .... Iran dismisses Trump’s explosive threat to country’s leader (AP)

More News On President Trump Responding To Iranian Presdient Rhouhani's Threat On "Mother Of All Battles"

Trump tells Iran 'never, ever threaten' U.S. or suffer consequences -- Reuters
Trump to Iran: 'never, ever threaten' US again -- AFP
Trump warns Iran's President Rouhani: 'NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN' -- CNBC
Trump warns Iran's Rouhani: Threaten us 'and you will suffer' -- The Hill
Trump warns Iran's Rouhani to stop the threats or suffer historic consequences -- FOX News
Donald Trump lashes out at Iran in all-caps tweet -- DW

Iran President Rouhani Warns President Trump About 'Mother Of All Wars'

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani attends a news conference at the Chancellery in Vienna, Austria July 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

Reuters: Iran's Rouhani warns Trump about 'mother of all wars'


DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump about pursuing hostile policies against Tehran, saying “war with Iran is the mother of all wars”, but did not rule out peace between the two countries.

Iran faces increased U.S. pressure and looming sanctions after Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from a 2015 international deal over Iran’s nuclear program.

Addressing a gathering of Iranian diplomats, Rouhani said: “Mr Trump, don’t play with the lion’s tail, this would only lead to regret,” the state new agency IRNA reported.

“America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars,” Rouhani said, leaving open the possibility of peace between the two countries, at odds since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“You are not in a position to incite the Iranian nation against Iran’s security and interests,” Rouhani said, in an apparent reference to reported efforts by Washington to destabilize Iran’s Islamic government.

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WNU Editor:  Another Middle Eastern leader talking about"mother of all wars/conflict/etc.". Here is an easy prediction. President Trump is going to respond.