​​​​​​​NEW Breakout Numbers: Iran could have enough weapon-grade uranium for its first nuclear weapon (25 kg) in 12 days, using 60 percent enriched uranium stock. In another twelve days it could produce a second quantity. Adding in the use of 20 % stock leads to five within one month.1/….

Now there are reported poisonings of schoolkids (mostly girls).

"I think the lessons is that if you have nukes, keep them. If you don't have nukes, try and get them."

exactly

i think the current Iranian regime are appalling but if I was in their Govt I'd be driving the N weapon programme at top speed. They're surrounded by people who have N weapons and several of whom have stated clearly and often they 're out to get you.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and other U.S. Defense Officials will reportedly arrive in Israel later today in order to conduct high-level meetings with Israeli military and intelligence officials on the threat that Iran poses to the region.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, is also set to arrive on a 2 day visit to Israel on Wednesday next week to discuss the Iranian nuclear situation with Israeli PM Netanyahu and the IDF Chief of Staff.

These meetings come after White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, CIA Director Bill Burns and Secretary of State Tony Blinken have all also conducted visits to Israel in recent weeks to discuss the Iranian threat with Israeli officials.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a8435cd6a.jpeg

Miller is wetting his pants now....and wringing his hands....and worrying how this latest development will interfere with pushing his Woke Agenda.

But...he and SecDef Austin are right on top of things....as they were when they said the Ukraine War would be over in three days or so.

This does not come for being too strong...to certain in your positions...and prepared to defend the freedom of navigation in critical choke points such as the Straits of Hormuz and Persian/Arabian Gulf (take your pick....).

Is this a big enough problem to begin reflagging tankers?
Maybe, and maybe not.

BREAKING:

The Taliban are pulling serious forces toward Islam-Qala. Meanwhile, Iran is pulling out some of its border guards from there, fearing a Taliban attack.

This comes after the recent deadly border clashes between Iran & Afghanistan.

The Taliban continue to transport heavy equipment and armored combat vehicles to the Iranian border. Occasionally, the Taliban attack Iranian border forces. The two sides are approaching step by step towards war.

So why is this border skirmish between Iran and the Taliban happening now?

Sure the big cause is overpopulation of young men with no future, Sunni Shiite hatred, and the command of their Allah god to subjugate all infidels, but this thread has details…

​​​​​​​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_A...0%93Iran_clash

actually a long running argument over water, dams and extraction that goes back to 1870

I need to be careful how I say this, but in the early 00's (as we were supporting some austere ops) in the region, I was surprised to learn of some under-the-radar cooperation between Iranians and Americans in Western Afghanistan. This was linked to Iranian concerns as regards Taliban and Sunni activism at the time. (And I think that's about as far as I can to with that).
No love lost between the Taliban and Iran then, nor now, it seems. (Though the story in the link by Asturius56, thank you, paints a more nuanced picture of that relationship ...)

That thread - thanks ORAC - as regards water rights, drug trafficking, and the economic challenges in that border region ring true.

Historically the joint border has always been a scene of trouble - occasionally Iran (or Persia) getting to Herat and the Afghans pushing west

Form a religious view there are major differences of course

Interesting story about an F-22 meeting an Iranian F-4 a few years back (was it really over a decade ago?) as a bit of "drone defense" in the Persian Gulf area.
‘You Really Oughta Go Home’: F-22 Stealth Fighter Flew Under Iran F-4 (msn.com)

I like the "You really oughta go home" line.
:E Maverick would have just flipped him off. :E

US Central Command has ordered a squadron of F-35s and F-16s to the Gulf after continued “alarming incidents” by the Iranian military have taken place along the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.

This comes after a squadron of F-16s was deployed to the region last week in order for them to begin escorting commercial shipping through the Strait alongside A-10 aircraft which were already deployed.

https://t.co/4nPnps5jhg

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/07/...arming-events/

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced in addition to F-16s, F-35s, and a Guided-Missiles Destroyer, they have now ordered the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group equipped with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Deploy to the Middle East Region due to the continued “Aggressive Behavior” by Iran against Commercial Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bataan ARG includes the USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Mesa Verde (LPD-9), and the USS Carter Hall (LSD-50

The following opinion piece in the news offers the PoV that it's about to get kinetic unless Iran backs off.
The US Navy is preparing for war in the Persian Gulf. The Iranians just never learn (msn.com)
On the other hand, I've generally found David Axe to be a blow hard.

Another war in the Midle east? 16 months before a Presidential Election? I doubt it....................

Is this Russia !!!! stirring the Iranians into doing something to draw away US munitions/equipment support going to Ukraine?

Probably the Iranians lending a helping hand and assuming that attention may be elsewhere

An official has confirmed that the USA is readying plans to place armed US Marines and navy sailors aboard commercial ships in the Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships. The plan could be executed as soon as this month.

This is considered as an "elevated response" to the consistent harassments.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...ship-seizures/

U.S. moves to put Marines on commercial ships to stop Iranian seizures

The plan, if approved, would represent a remarkable escalation in the long-running feud between Washington and Tehran that could put their militaries in direct confrontation

"USA is readying plans to place armed US Marines and navy sailors aboard commercial ships "

That sort of thing normally doesn't end well - there are all sorts of issues about the non-combatants on the ships, the ships themselves aren't designed to fight and the poor sods selected are really sacrificial lambs if it's anything other than a bunch of Somali type pirates. If its quasi state actors on the other side you can finish up hostages.