Author: adler

Commercial oil tanker Abqaiq readies itself to receive oil at the Mina al-Bakr Oil Terminal (MABOT). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Andrew M. Meyers. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on March 14, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all countries except the United States and Israel, describing it as closed only to “tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies.”
The statement came immediately after U.S. strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. The regime derives most of its revenue from oil exports.
Iran earned $65.8 billion from oil, petroleum products, and gas exports in the last fiscal year, while total government revenues were projected at around $45 billion, meaning oil export earnings alone exceed the entire state budget.
Iran sells about 80 percent of its oil to China. Beijing depends on discounted Iranian crude to reduce manufacturing costs. Iranian crude has traded at around $8 per barrel below Brent.
This discount helps lower production costs at a time when export volumes are at record highs but profit margins have collapsed.
The share of loss-making Chinese manufacturers has doubled since 2018, and producer prices have fallen continuously for more than three years.
While Iran attempts to hold the world’s oil supply hostage, the war is also restricting Iran’s ability to export oil. Iran has sent at least 11.7 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began on February 28, all destined for China.
However, shipments of approximately 1.22 million barrels per day are significantly lower than pre-war levels. Iran had exported 2.16 million barrels per day in February, the highest level since July 2018.
Iran’s only alternative export outlet, the Jask facility on the Sea of Oman, which bypasses the Strait entirely, has rarely been used. Loading a single Very Large Crude Carrier can take up to 10 days there, compared to one or two days at Kharg Island, making it logistically marginal.
The U.S. struck more than 90 military targets on Kharg Island, destroying naval mine storage facilities and missile storage bunkers, but deliberately preserved the oil infrastructure.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the island.” Trump added, “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
Kharg Island processes 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports. A CIA document from 1984 described the facilities as “the most vital in Iran’s oil system, and their continued operation is essential to Iran’s economic well-being.”
Although some people want to believe that Iran is in a position of advantage, it would be extremely easy for President Trump to crash Iran’s economy and take a chunk of China’s economy with it.
Iran’s social-media propaganda accounts are claiming that the IRGC will allow safe passage for tankers whose oil was paid for in Chinese yuan. Accounts supporting the regime are portraying this as the death knell of the petrodollar and claiming that America’s economic power is collapsing.
However, the yuan proposal is largely propaganda and de-dollarization signaling. Iran floated the idea, China’s own analysts warned against it, no country has formally agreed to the condition, and the few ships that have actually passed did not price their cargo in yuan.
The U.S. 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, is already conducting operations against Iranian threats in the area. At the same time, Iranian missile and drone strike volumes are down 92 percent since the conflict began.
A JINSA report from March 5 stated that approximately 75 percent of launchers were destroyed. Analysts attribute the decline to U.S. and Israeli strikes on launch infrastructure, underground facilities at Esfahan and Ahvaz, airbases, and production sites.
The drone picture, however, is different. Iran’s production capacity before the war was reportedly about 10,000 units per month, leading analysts to believe that Iran could sustain drone harassment in the Strait of Hormuz for months.
However, it is unlikely that Iran is still operating at pre-war production levels. CENTCOM confirmed that it continues to strike Iran’s industrial base, including factories and weapons warehouses.
Even before the war, Iran faced its most severe energy crisis in decades, with frequent power outages and disruptions to natural gas supplies. In summer 2024, Iran’s electricity shortage was estimated at 14,000 megawatts, equivalent to roughly twice the total electricity production of Azerbaijan.
The 12-day war in June 2025 damaged oil storage sites, refineries, and power stations. A year earlier, Israel blew up two major Iranian gas pipelines, disrupting supplies that provide roughly 70 percent of the country’s energy. More than 86 percent of Iran’s electricity comes from gas-fired plants, leaving the country dangerously exposed.
Even before the latest attacks, shortages of natural gas forced authorities to burn mazut, a cheap and highly polluting heavy fuel oil, to keep power plants running.
The initial U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 targeted Iranian oil refineries and export terminals alongside military sites, hitting Iran’s own production capacity in the opening hours.
By March 5, the combined U.S.-Israeli force had advanced to a second phase specifically targeting Iranian defense-industrial assets, including missile and drone production facilities.
The IDF issued evacuation warnings for the Abbas Abad Industrial Zone and Shenzar Industrial Zone in Pakdasht, Tehran Province, both key defense-manufacturing areas.
While America-haters are celebrating the IRGC taking such a staunch position against the United States and Israel, the threat has limited practical effect on its stated targets.
The United States imports only about 0.5 million barrels per day from the Persian Gulf, roughly 7 percent of total U.S. crude imports and about 2 percent of overall petroleum consumption, with the vast majority coming from Canada and Mexico.
Israel does not import Persian Gulf crude and has no Israeli-flagged commercial vessels transiting the strait. Nearly all Hormuz oil flows to Asia. China accounts for approximately 38 percent, with India, South Korea, and Japan taking most of the remainder.
In a further blow to Iran’s attempted global oil blockade, Saudi Arabia converted the East-West Pipeline to full capacity on March 11 in response to the Hormuz closure.
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser confirmed the pipeline will reach its maximum capacity of seven million barrels per day within days, and ship-tracking data shows 27 very large crude carriers heading to Yanbu, with 11 already waiting to load. Yanbu exports have surged to 2.47 million barrels per day, a 330 percent increase over pre-war levels. (S&P Global, March 10, 2026)
The pipeline is a genuine strategic asset but does not eliminate Iran’s leverage over Gulf energy. Saudi Arabia exported 6.3 million barrels per day of crude last year, while the Yanbu facility can handle only about 4.5 million barrels per day, leaving a significant gap.
The shift to the Red Sea creates a new vulnerability, as oil bound for Asia must pass through the Bab el-Mandeb, the strait the Houthis made largely impassable in 2023. So far, however, the Houthis have remained out of the conflict. (Middle East Eye)
The pipeline moves crude, not refined products, and Iran’s drone strikes forced Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, Saudi Arabia’s largest at 550,000 barrels per day, offline on March 2, leaving refined fuels stranded regardless of pipeline capacity.
Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain have no bypass options at all. Iraq’s southern output has fallen roughly 70 percent, from 4.3 million to 1.3 million barrels per day, and Kuwait has begun shutting in production as storage fills with no export route available.
The United States and Israel will continue targeting Iran’s drone and missile launch sites as well as its manufacturing facilities in order to reduce the threat to international shipping. At the same time, Iran’s own exports are declining and could be driven to near zero should President Trump decide to destroy all of the refineries and ports.
Meanwhile, some countries will find ways to bypass Iranian blockades. Furthermore, holding the world hostage is not endearing Iran to its neighbors. Despite its massive propaganda machine, Iran is unlikely to garner international support for its defense.
On the whole, the U.S. position appears much stronger than Iran’s, whose position is growing weaker each day.
The post Assessing Iran’s Ability to Hold the World’s Oil Supply Hostage appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo to discuss billions of dollars in energy deals that were secured.
Secretary Burgum attended the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum in Tokyo this weekend.
“Joining me now from in this Sunday Morning Futures exclusive, live from Japan for talks about energy security with Indo-Pacific allies is the US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who has just locked up some 57 billion dollars in some 20 new deals with Asian partners around energy security,” Bartiromo said.
“Let me ask you about the Strait of Hormuz. Will Japan send ships to the Middle East to join this fight and stop Iran from holding up the Strait of Hormuz?” Bartiromo asked.
“Those discussions will lead to who eventually wants to participate in a task force to ensure freedom of navigation,” Burgum said.
“Certainly, there is a motivation for countries. Japan itself, I mean, this is a country of 120 million people. 93 percent of the oil that they receive comes through the Strait of Hormuz,” Burgum continued.
“There is a deep, vested interest in these countries participating,” Burgum said.
“I know that you’ve got a huge update to share with us. How many deals have you done? Is it 56 billion dollars in total? And what specifically are these deals about?” Bartiromo asked.
“I think we had one more after the conference closing. We went from 56 billion to 57 billion over 22 deals,” Burgum said.
“This conference was planned months ago, completely independent of anything going on in the Middle East, because this is President Trump’s energy dominance policy. It’s about the fact that we need to sell energy to our friends and allies so they don’t have to buy from adversaries,” Burgum explained.
“They all want to have energy security. They see the US a reliable partner. They see us now as the number one oil producer, number one gas producer,” Burgum continued.
“Are these largely private sector deals?” Bartiromo asked.
“Are you expecting that the US will be selling oil and gas to Japan?” Bartiromo asked.
“Yes, Japan wants to buy more energy from the US,” Burgum said.
Watch:

Today on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum @DougBurgum @SecretaryBurgum spoke about Asia-Pacific allies agreeing to $56 Billion in deals with U.S. companies at this weekend’s energy security forum in Tokyo. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/JvNt9vhO9N
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) March 15, 2026

The post Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Securing Billions of Dollars in Energy Deals – “They all Want to Have Energy Security. They See the US as a Reliable Partner” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo to talk about how the partial government shutdown is affecting airport travel. Many TSA agents have quit and others have called off, which has made wait times at airports last potentially for hours.
“Can you give us the impact of this 30-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security?” Bartiromo asked.
“As you mentioned, TSA agents have missed a partial payment. They just missed a full payment. These are men and women who don’t make a lot of money, and so some of them are making choices to go, you know, whether they are driving Uber or you know, waiting tables. They have to put food on their family’s table,” Duffy said.
“These places where this is happening, you are seeing really long lines, whether they are one hour, three to four hour lines at airports,” Duffy continued.
“You can thank a Democrat who cares more about making sure that the 15 million people that they let into this country under Joe Biden, that we don’t have ICE that can actually look across the country, find those radical elements who have come into the country, by the way, without being vetted, find them and deport them,” Duffy continued.
“Open up DHS, and then have a negotiation, have a conversation, but in the process, don’t hold America hostage to just get what you want,” Duffy said of Democrat leaders.
“I wanna get your take on the long-term impact of this?” Bartiromo asked.
“There are long-term impacts to the employees that work for the Department of Homeland Security, the employees at TSA. Are they, those who left the job, are they coming back? What are you going to do in terms of the work force?” Bartiromo asked.
“First of all, three hundred TSA agents have quit. The number of call outs are double what they were before,” Duffy said.
“We want a smooth aviation system and aviation is split up between Homeland Security and us at the FAA and DOT, and it all has to work together to make your flying experience better,” Duffy explained.
“If you stand in line for again, for multiple hours, you might make a choice not to fly,” Duffy said.
“What are you doing to ensure that we’ve got safe situation to fly, while also trying to cut back and deal with the reality of a lot fewer people on the job?” Bartiromo asked.
“The line is long because they have less people and it takes longer to actually screen them, so it’s not impacting safety and security at the airport, it’s just your time at the airport,” Duffy explained.
Secretary Duffy called out the Democrats and said their motive to shut down DHS was to get ICE agents to take off their masks. This would allow the left to dox and harass agents and their families.
“Going back to Democrats. You know what they really want? They want to make sure ICE agents take off their masks. Why? So, they can dox them, they can harass them, they can go to their house, to their children, to their spouses,” Duffy said.
Watch:

Today, exclusively on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy @SecDuffy @SeanDuffyWI spoke about the impact to airport security due to the continuing partial shutdown of Homeland Security. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/RnQ444w5sz
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) March 15, 2026

The post Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Partial Government Shutdown Affecting Airport Travel (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Screenshot: Fox News
The Left and their media allies want Americans to forget how the Iranian regime was empowered in the first place.
But former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany recently walked viewers through the timeline, and the receipts, showing how the Obama-Biden foreign policy machine sent billions to the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
McEnany recently walked viewers through what she described as a troubling financial trail that began with the Obama administration’s controversial nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
McEnany’s breakdown begins with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, where Barack Obama promised Americans that sanctions relief would not strengthen the radical regime in Tehran.
Speaking in 2015 while defending the deal, Obama acknowledged that Iran would gain access to tens of billions of dollars in previously frozen assets.

“It is true that if Iran lives up to its commitments, it will gain access to roughly $56 billion of its own money, revenue frozen overseas by other countries,” Obama said at the time.
“Our best analysts expect the bulk of this revenue to go into spending that improves the economy and benefits the lives of the Iranian people.”

But the controversy only intensified a year later.
In January 2016, the Obama administration secretly airlifted $400 million in cash to Iran, reportedly delivered in pallets of foreign currency. The transfer happened the same day Iran released several detained Americans, raising immediate questions about whether the payment functioned as leverage or ransom.
CNN itself acknowledged the timing sparked outrage and speculation that the payment and hostage release were linked.
At the time, administration officials denied any quid pro quo.
The story did not end with the $400 million.
Within weeks, reports revealed the United States also transferred additional payments totaling about $1.3 billion in interest, bringing the total settlement to roughly $1.7 billion connected to a decades-old arms dispute dating back to before the 1979 Iranian revolution.
McEnany summarized the situation bluntly:

“$400 million was just the tip of the iceberg… the Obama White House sent three different payments to Iran totaling $1.3 billion.”

When confronted about the payments during a CNN interview, then-Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted the arrangement had nothing to do with hostage negotiations.

“No,” Blinken said when asked whether the money was a quid pro quo.“Absolutely.”

Fast-forward to 2023, and the controversy returned under the Biden administration.
The White House approved access to $6 billion in frozen Iranian money, claiming it was restricted to humanitarian purposes.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller defended the move, saying the funds technically belonged to Iran.

“Even as we allowed them to have access to this humanitarian funding… we have made clear that we will continue to hold them accountable.”

But Iran’s leadership didn’t see any restrictions.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi openly declared the regime would spend the money however it wanted.

“This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran… and naturally we will decide to spend it wherever we need it.”

However, Blinkin admitted that Iran “has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism.”
After a week, Joe Biden’s NSC spokesperson went into damage control after Hamas surprised Israel with a horrific terror attack.
While billions flowed into Tehran over the years, Iran continued expanding its nuclear program and strengthening its military capabilities.
McEnany noted that the situation finally changed when President Donald Trump took a dramatically different approach, abandoning Obama’s nuclear deal and authorizing aggressive action against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to Trump allies, the contrast couldn’t be clearer.
For years, the Obama-Biden foreign policy establishment sent pallets of cash and billions in sanctions relief to Tehran while promising the regime would moderate.
Instead, Iran expanded its influence across the Middle East and pushed forward with its nuclear program.
WATCH:

BREAKING: Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Biden have been EXPOSED for putting the entire world at risk due to propping up Iran
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: “A $400 million cash transfer was FLOWN out to Iran…400 million was just the tip of the iceberg. One month later, the Wall Street… pic.twitter.com/ewk5RZwklL
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 14, 2026

The post Kayleigh McEnany Lays Out the Money Trail — Obama and Biden Showered Iran With Billions While Tehran Built Its Nuclear Program appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz was on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream to talk about what the US is doing in Iran with ‘Operation Epic Fury.’
Waltz defended President Trump’s military operation and explained that no options were taken off the table. He also said, “This isn’t going to be another 2003 Iraq.”
“You’ve worn the uniform. You’ve been a troop on the ground. So, I want to get your take on this conversation that that may be necessary in order to get to the enriched uranium we believe Iran has?” Bream asked.
“The Pentagon’s job, Secretary Hegseth, Chairman Dan Caine, is to provide options to the President to have forces that are trained, equipped, in position, and ready for whatever he chooses to do as Commander-In-Chief,” Waltz said.
“President Trump is never going to take options off the table,” Waltz said.
“I can tell you as a former special operator, we have forces that are dedicated to handling WMD all over the world, should we have to cease it from a rogue nation or otherwise,” Waltz continued.
“What I can tell you, I’m confident is that this isn’t going to be another 2003 Iraq. There are not going to be hundreds of thousands of troops occupying urban areas somewhere, you know, certainly not Tehran,” Waltz continued.
“If the President has to dedicate limited options, very focused, very targeted options, I’m confident that is something that the Pentagon, an option that the Pentagon, can and will provide him,” Waltz explained.
“To this issue of the enriched uranium that we know about. Is it possible to declare an end to this, or some sort of victory or mission accomplished short of getting control of that?” Bream asked.
“There’s all kinds of options that President Trump can choose. There’s diplomatic options. There’s the options of seizing it. We’ll see what he decides to do,” Waltz said.
“But you know, at the end of the day, he’s made it clear that Iran can never have a nuke,” Waltz continued.
Ambassador Waltz explained that President Trump has been consistent from the beginning about his position on Iran not being allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“I just want to reemphasize President Trump has been clear on that point for many years. In his 2016 campaign, his 2020 campaign, his 2024 campaign,” Waltz continued.
“I think one of the things that the American people wanted when they reelected President Trump was a Commander-In-Chief that lives up to his redlines,” Waltz said.
Watch:

WATCH: @USAmbUN, asked about boots on the ground in Iran, says the President is not going to take options off the table but “this isn’t going to be another Iraq.” pic.twitter.com/RYouX1Mjso
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) March 15, 2026

The post Mike Waltz Weighs in on ‘Operation Epic Fury’ — “I Think One of the Things That the American People Wanted When They Reelected President Trump was a Commander-In-Chief That Lives Up to his Redlines” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This guy ran the US’s premier federal law enforcement agency…
Fired FBI Director James Comey released a bizarre video message on his Substack on Sunday, recalling the good old days at the bureau.
Comey recounted a time in which he sang a Beyoncé song to a table full of agents during an important briefing.
“The briefer started by saying the operation was codenamed Sandcastles…” Comey said.
“So I said, ‘Oh, like the Beyoncé song.’ Blank stares all around the FBI conference room. So I did the natural thing, I sang,” Comey said.
Comey actually began singing a Beyoncé song in his Substack video message.
WATCH:
!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src=”https://rumble.com/embedJS/u4ni4cs”+(arguments[1].video?’.’+arguments[1].video:”)+”/?url=”+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+”&args=”+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, “script”, “Rumble”);

Rumble(“play”, {“video”:”v74zehi”,”div”:”rumble_v74zehi”});
A grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia indicted former FBI Director James Comey in September. He was indicted on two counts – false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding.
The charges were related to Comey’s testimony to Senate investigators in September 2020 about whether he authorized leaks to the media.
Newly released November 2016 emails revealed that James Comey was guiding his media mole, Daniel Richman, and authorized leaks to the media.
Comey’s case was thrown out after a Clinton judge dismissed the case based on the Appointments Clause.
James Comey also created a media firestorm last May after he posted a cryptic message to his Instagram account and spelled out in seashells: “86 47”
“Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” Comey said in his caption.
Comey Trump assassination social media post (Screenshot via @Comey on X)
James Comey deleted the assassination threat and updated with an obvious lie.
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,” Comey said on Instagram.
The post WATCH: Comey Releases Bizarre Video Message Revealing He Started Singing a Beyoncé Song to a Table Full of Agents During an Important Briefing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump speaks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews (Photo by Jordan Conradson)
President Trump on Friday told reporters that the US and Israel have “different” objectives on ending the war in Iran.
Over the weekend, Trump also revealed that he turned down a deal with Iran to end the war, saying, “the terms are not good enough yet.
Trump told NPR’s Franco Ordoñez on Friday that Israel’s objectives in terms of ending the war “might be a little different,” but did not specify how. “They’re a different country than we are,” he added.
Trump further said he’s been speaking with Netanyahu “a lot,” but declined to say how regularly.
This comes after War Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Israel was pursuing “different objectives” in an attack on Iranian oil depots, which US officials said Trump was not in favor of. “The president doesn’t like the attack. He wants to save the oil. He doesn’t want to burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices,” a Trump advisor told Axios earlier this month.
The President has faced criticism over the war, with some suggesting that he is acting on behalf of Israel and not the United States. Americans are also paying higher gas prices due to the war and Iran’s threats on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Jeff Mason of Bloomberg then asked Trump how long the war is expected to last, to which Trump responded, “can’t tell you that. I mean, I have my own idea.”
Trump has said numerous times that the US has already won the war but has not clarified when it will be over.
In an interview on Thursday, Trump told Fox’s Brian Kilmeade, “I don’t think it’s going to be long” until US operations in the region end, but did not specify what he meant. Asked when it will be over, Trump said, “When I feel it in my bones.”
WATCH:
!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src=”https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2vbt6g”+(arguments[1].video?’.’+arguments[1].video:”)+”/?url=”+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+”&args=”+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, “script”, “Rumble”);

Rumble(“play”, {“video”:”v74xu2g”,”div”:”rumble_v74xu2g”});
“It’ll be as long as it’s necessary. They’ve been decimated,” Trump said on Friday. “I won’t give you a time, but we’re way ahead of schedule.”
WATCH:
Ordoñez: How regularly are you speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and are your objectives the same in terms of ending the war?
Trump: They might be a little different, I guess. You know, they’re a different country than we are. But he will tell you, there’s never been a power like the power of the United States. I built our military in my first term, continue to do so, but I built our military and rebuilt it. It was in bad shap, just like the wall, just like the border, just like everything else in our country.
It was all in bad shape. But I rebuilt the military in my first term, and we’re using it in this term to, you know, really, for the sake of good, for the sake of peace and for the sake of safety and good.
Ordoñez: Daily, do you speak with Netanyahu daily?
Trump: I speak to him a lot, yeah.
Mason: How long now do you think the war is likely to last?
Trump: I can’t tell you that. I mean, I have my own idea. But what good does it do? It’ll be as long as it’s necessary. They’ve been decimated. The country is— their country’s in bad shape. The whole thing is collapsing. If you read some of the fake news, it’s like, oh, they’re doing wonderfully. They’re not doing wonderfully. They’re doing the opposite. They’re doing as bad as you can have. I would say this, I won’t give you a time, but we’re way ahead of schedule.
!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src=”https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2vbt6g”+(arguments[1].video?’.’+arguments[1].video:”)+”/?url=”+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+”&args=”+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, “script”, “Rumble”);

Rumble(“play”, {“video”:”v74z8yq”,”div”:”rumble_v74z8yq”});
This was just moments before Trump announced that US forces executed the “most powerful bombing raids” in the history of the Middle East on Iran’s critical oil hub of Kharg Island in response to Iran’s threats and targeting of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil arteries.
Trump later said the US has “beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way,” while calling for countries affected by the Strait’s closure to send additional warships to ensure the safe passage of ships and oil tankers.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” Trump added.
JUST IN: Trump Declares Victory in Iran, Says “Many Countries” Will Send War Ships to Strait of Hormuz – Urges China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others to Send Ships as US Continues “Bombing the Hell Out of the Shoreline”
/*! This file is auto-generated */!function(d,l){“use strict”;l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&”undefined”!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll(‘iframe[data-secret=”‘+t.secret+’”]’),o=l.querySelectorAll(‘blockquote[data-secret=”‘+t.secret+’”]’),c=new RegExp(“^https?:$”,”i”),i=0;i

Mojtaba’s condition is a hot geopolitical topic.
Where is the new Ayatollah?
Depending on who you chose to trust, the new Iranian Ayatollah, Mojtaba Khamenei, is: well and in control of his country; slightly wounded with a broken leg and facial lacerations; badly wounded, lost a leg and is ‘disfigured’; in a coma; or, as US President Donald J. Trump put it, ‘not alive’.
There is rampant speculation over the situation involving the new Supreme Leader of the embattled Islamic Republic of Iran, supposed to be leading the fight for the survival of his regime, but actually nowhere to be seen.
Now, a new report has arisen, with media in Kwait claiming ‘he has been rushed to Moscow for emergency leg surgery’.

BREAKING: Iran’s new leader Mojtaba Khamenei was secretly flown to Moscow for surgery after being injured in U.S.–Israeli strikes – Arab media pic.twitter.com/loXPNbCfyv
— Anonymous TV (@YourAnonTV) March 15, 2026

Daily Mail reported:
“Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his assassination on February 28, but a string of reports have said he has been in a coma following an airstrike with some observers, including President Donald Trump, suggesting he is dead.”

BREAKING: President Trump says he’s hearing that Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is DEAD, and that Iran desperately wants a ceasefire deal
“I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender!”
“Iran wants to… pic.twitter.com/XHYKrtYoMp
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 14, 2026

Some go as far as saying that Khamenei is unaware that there is a war on and also that he is the country’s new leader.
“His injuries have required him to be flown to Russia for an operation ‘personally offered by Putin’, according to news outlet Al-Jarida.
The mission to sneak the new Ayatollah out of the country was intended to be top secret and involved him boarding a Russian military aircraft. He then headed to one of Putin’s presidential palaces where he underwent ‘successful’ surgery.
The report remains unconfirmed, but Al-Jarida claims it received its information from a ‘high-ranking source close to the new Iranian Supreme Leader’.

Ayataollah Mojtaba Khamenei flown to Moscow for surgery pic.twitter.com/hmDCEwkUAI
— Hold My Beer News (@holdmybeernews) March 15, 2026

Read more:
THE INVISIBLE AYATOLLAH: Mojtaba Khamenei Still Nowhere To Be Seen, as Reports Suggest He Has ‘Lost a Leg’ and Is ‘In a Coma’
/*! This file is auto-generated */!function(d,l){“use strict”;l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&”undefined”!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll(‘iframe[data-secret=”‘+t.secret+’”]’),o=l.querySelectorAll(‘blockquote[data-secret=”‘+t.secret+’”]’),c=new RegExp(“^https?:$”,”i”),i=0;i

Screenshot:Jay Carey for Congress
The Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has filed a motion to dismiss all charges against an Army veteran who deliberately torched the Stars and Stripes in Lafayette Park right outside the White House, just hours after Trump signed an executive order directing the feds to prosecute flag burners.
On Friday, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the federal charges against Jay (Jan) Carey, a 55-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Arden, North Carolina.
The filing did not provide a specific explanation for the decision to drop the case.
On August 25, 2025, Carey was arrested after setting fire to an American flag in Lafayette Park, directly across from the White House.
The protest occurred on the same day President Donald Trump’s bold new order was meant to finally put an end to the left’s disgusting war on the American flag, the very symbol that countless real heroes fought and died for.
“Our great American Flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America, and of American freedom, identity, and strength,” the order reads.
“Desecrating it is uniquely offensive and provocative. It is a statement of contempt, hostility, and violence against our Nation — the clearest possible expression of opposition to the political union that preserves our rights, liberty, and security. Burning this representation of America may incite violence and riot.”
While the Supreme Court has previously ruled that flag burning is a form of political expression protected by the First Amendment, the executive order asserted that it could be prosecuted if it amounts to “fighting words” or is likely to “incite imminent lawless action.”
More from WSLS:

Carey was charged with two misdemeanors that aren’t focused on the act of burning a flag: igniting a fire in an undesignated area and lighting a fire causing damage to property or park resources. He pleaded not guilty in September. Friday’s filing did not explain the decision to move to dismiss and the U.S Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia did not immediately respond on Saturday to an email seeking comment.
[…]
“I set out to demonstrate that the First Amendment is sacred and that no administration has the right to supersede our constitutional rights,” Carey said in a statement from the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund. “I was targeted for federal prosecution because of that. I am glad to stand with all those who are fighting for our fundamental rights and hope that this victory can help the next person who takes a stand.”
It shows people that “the Constitution still matters,” Carey said when reached by telephone on Saturday.
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, one of Carey’s lawyers and fund co-founder, said the prosecution shouldn’t have been brought.
“The government’s attempt to criminally punish a protestor based on expressive conduct targeted for prosecution by presidential order posed a grave threat to First Amendment freedoms,” Verheyden-Hilliard said in a statement. “The government’s about-face is a critical vindication of those rights. This case also lays the groundwork for defending those across the country who are targeted for vindictive prosecution by the Trump Administration in an effort to silence and punish viewpoints it doesn’t like.”
The post DOJ Moves to Dismiss Charges Against Disgraced Army Veteran Who Burned American Flag in Front of White House to Spit on President Trump’s Executive Order Cracking Down on Flag Desecration appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Senator Dave McCormick was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo to talk about the success of ‘Operation Epic Fury’.
Senator McCormick also emphasized the importance of the SAVE Act to secure federal elections, which will require proof of citizenship with ID.
“What do you want to tell us about this ‘Operation Epic Fury’ right now?” Bartiromo asked.
“American companies are getting impacted in the Middle East. Your reaction?” Bartiromo asked.
“First, I think stepping back. On day one of this operation, if you would imagine where we are on day 15. It’s been a remarkable military focus and success in destroying missiles, drones, missile launchers, manufacturing capability and really accomplishing the President’s military objectives,” McCormick said.
“We’re not done yet, but we have made enormous progress on that, and the American people should take great pride in their military,” McCormick continued.
“The other thing we have seen is Iran has made the miscalculation of attacking our Gulf allies and its neighbors in the region. That was a strategic miscalculation,” McCormick continued.
“For those businesses in the region, I think they should know that we are probably closer to the end than the beginning of this military conflict,” McCormick explained.
“Let’s not forget the fight at home. At the same time, we absolutely need to pass the funding for DHS,” McCormick said.
“Let’s get the funding at home in the hands of those who are protecting us. Americans are at greater risk than they have been,” McCormick warned.
“Senator, what about the SAVE Act? What are you expecting next week?” Bartiromo asked.
Senator McCormick explained the importance of protecting election integrity and said both of his political races were decided by very close margins.
“You are looking at a guy who lost his first race by 900 votes, won his second by 15 thousand of 7 million. Every vote has to be legitimate and count,” McCormick said.
Watch:

Today, exclusively on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, Senator Dave McCormick @DaveMcCormickPA @SenMcCormickPA spoke about Democrats vowing to use the filibuster on the SAVE America Act. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/FOIbcLUL7s
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) March 15, 2026

The post Senator Dave McCormick on ‘Operation Epic Fury’ – “It’s Been a Remarkable Military Focus and Success” (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.