- Iran’s Foreign Ministry claims the latest US economic sanctions against Tehran are a “declaration of war” on all nations, representing “an attempt by the United States to exert extraterritorial sovereignty over all independent UN member states”.
- US President Donald Trump says he views “the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now” and that Iran “would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal in my opinion”.
- Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia says Iran’s military doctrine is shifting from a “defensive” to an “offensive” posture.
- The foreign ministers of Oman and Iran held a call to discuss returning to negotiations over a bilateral deal that would govern passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Israel has continued demolitions and air strikes in several areas of southern Lebanon despite the so-called ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s government using anti-Muslim fear to rally Western right
By Josh Paul
It had been a lengthy and productive meeting with the chief of staff to a Republican member of Congress. We had discussed United States policy towards Israel, and the scepticism of many of the Grand Old Party members towards the relationship and the challenge they face in saying anything about it, given President Donald Trump’s iron grip on it.
But there was one final agenda item I needed to raise: the members’ participation in the newly created “Sharia-Free America Caucus”, a group of US representatives standing against what one founding member described as “a religion of violence, abuse of women, and ruthless political conquest. Its laws and practices have no place in American society.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” the staffer said, with a wave of his hand.
“Muslims are just the low-hanging fruit. Really, it is about Indians. And brown people in general. And the Jews, too. It won’t get in the way of putting America first. Really, the only member [of the Caucus] who believes all the bullshit about Israel is Randy Fine.”
Israeli forces, settlers injure three Palestinians in occupied West Bank
Two Palestinians have been injured after being beaten by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Recovery at one of four damaged refineries in South Pars gasfield reaches 70%, Iran says
Recovery of production capacity at the Phase 14 refinery in Iran’s South Pars gasfield is 70 percent complete and is expected to be finished by the end of the Iranian calendar year, state-owned Pars Oil and Gas Company CEO Touraj Dehqani said.
Dehqani said reconstruction began immediately after the refinery was hit during the 12-day war in June last year, according to Iran’s Oil Ministry news agency SHANA.
Dehqani added that reconstruction was also under way at the third and fifth South Pars refineries, which he said sustained the heaviest damage among four affected facilities.
He said initial estimates suggested a full rebuild could take at least three years, but authorities are now aiming to complete the overall reconstruction within two years.
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