Iran & The Gulf

The Revolutionary Guards practiced shooting down American helicopters with RPGs and exploding drones – but their only real experience with US ground combat ended in an embarrassing failure.

According to the Fars news agency, Tehran also demands a relief from international economic sanctions and formal control over the critical Strait of Hormuz.

US intelligence assessments say Iran has restored most of its missile sites and underground facilities. The report contradicts statements by Trump and the Pentagon that Iran’s military has been “crushed” and no longer poses a threat.

According to Kuwait's Interior Ministry, four suspects affiliated with Iran were arrested after attempting to reach Bubiyan Island in a fishing boat. Two security personnel were injured during the arrest. Kuwait blamed Tehran and demanded an end to its "hostile actions."

The US president’s visit to China has become the central axis on which the continuation of the war with Iran depends, as a power that proved in the past that it can influence Iran and set limits for it is a key player. After being harmed by the blockade of Hormuz and helping the Iranians with intelligence, China could advance the US terms in negotiations in exchange for demands of its own on Taiwan.

As the regime hardens its stance against Washington and presents a facade of "business as usual," life for the people of Iran have become a nightmare. The technology and industrial sectors have laid off hundreds of thousands of workers, and 2 million people have been pushed out of the labor market. Medicine prices have jumped 400%, and patients are giving up treatment. As the economy collapses, the regime is only tightening the pressure.

The meeting between a US president and Xi will be the first in nearly a decade. On the agenda: pressure on Iran, trade and Taiwan. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called the US sanctions on Chinese companies "illegal." A senior Taiwanese official told Bloomberg: "We fear being on the menu."

The US president says he rejected Iran's response after Tehran reportedly offered a 30-day negotiating window, sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while refusing to dismantle its nuclear facilities.

Iran is demanding a temporary ceasefire and the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing severe shortages of food, medicine and cash, and warning of the risk of hunger in parts of the country. The US is prepared to partially ease the naval blockade and release frozen funds, but is conditioning this on guarantees regarding the nuclear issue and the consent of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as well.

As Washington awaits an Iranian replay on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the new supreme leader met with the military top brass. A report submitted to him said: “Any enemy mistake will be met with force.” Meanwhile the UAE has intercepted two Iranian drones.