The big news today (17th August 2026) is that Iran, shifting its posture “from defensive to fully offensive”, has turned the tables and apparently issued an ultimatum to the Outlaw US Empire1, as per Middle East Spectator (MES) and Al Mayadeen, citing a senior Iranian official, who, speaking to Reuters said:
Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement's provisions must be implemented by the US. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US.
Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions.
At around the same time, The Wall Street Journal has also reported that Iranian leaders are preparing for a larger conflict with the Outlaw US Empire (see also MES):
Now, it is true that you cannot rely on Western mainstream media (MSM), however, in the recent past Iranian officials have indeed said that they are changing the posture from defensive to offensive. Even over the last couple of days there have been remarks indicating that Iran is now taking the lead in the war.
Just imagine that, during a speech delivered yesterday (Sunday 16th August 2026), Major General Amir Hatami, Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army, offered a $30,000 reward to any Iranian who captures or kills a US soldier, doubling the amount in case it is a woman to hand over the American aggressor (sources: Al Mayadeen, IRNA, Fars, Mehr and Fotros Resistance):
With the participation of the people, if any Iranian force manages to capture or kill an American aggressor force, they will receive a $30,000 reward from the people of Iran.
…adding that the Army will purchase the weapon used in the operation at twice its market value and display it in a dedicated museum, while Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran's parliamentary National Security Commission, tweeted (see also Mehr):
ابراهیم عزیزی@Ebrahimazizi33
The U.S. President ought to worry about his own security rather than his endless bluffing regarding the Strait of Hormuz; before he ends up hiding in a food truck.
8:49 PM · Aug 15, 2026 · 59.8K Views
231 Replies · 139 Reposts · 953 Likes
Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, Deputy Political Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), said that, while Iran’s military stance has remained strictly defensive since the outbreak of the war on 28th February 2026, Iran’s Armed Forces are ready to adopt an offensive posture if necessary, adding (sources: Fars and Mehr - emphasis added):
We have never been the ones to start a war, but since we are in the middle of a war and the enemy is seeking opportunities, the enemy should learn from these decrees and their messages that our armed forces will adopt transformational approaches.
The enemy should know that it cannot catch us off guard. Instead, it is the enemy that must anticipate strategic surprises.
In a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Mohsen Rezaei congratulated the newly appointed commanders (see here) and said that the…
wise action in appointing six high-ranking commanders to the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)…disrupted the calculations of the enemies of Islamic Iran, especially the rulers of the United States and the Zionist regime.
…as quoted by Al Mayadeen, IRNA and Mehr.
Speaking at a ceremony today, Major General Mostafa Izadi, IRGC Deputy Commander-in-Chief, stated that…
The number of enemy aircraft that have been shot down following our endeavours in the soft and cognitive domains alone has exceeded 200, and it has also had repercussions and consequences at the regional and global levels.
In practice, it is the enemy itself that is on the path to fall.
The greatest military power in the world entered a war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, but this system demonstrated extraordinary resilience.
The system based on Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) managed a war at one-hundredth of the enemy’s cost, the outcome of which was the victory of the Islamic Republic’s fighters. [All emphasis mine]
…as reported by Fars, Tasnim and Mehr, while Farzaneh Sadeq, Iranian minister of roads and urban development, acknowledged that…
During the war, we lost 100 [civilian] aircraft.
…in addition to damages to airport infrastructure, electricity and water facilities targeted by the Outlaw US Empire during the war, as per Tasnim.
Responding to US President Donald J. Trump’s claims about backchannel talks, IRGC Spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said (sources: Al Mayadeen, Fars, Tasnim and Mehr (1 and 2) - all emphasis added):
There is no dialogue taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans.
Trump’s mental fantasies will not help him on the field.
The sooner and faster the Americans accept their failure and make decisions accordingly, the more they can save their country from greater and heavier losses.
This war was not limited to the military arena; it had different dimensions and arenas, one of the most important of which was the media arena and the war of narratives.
Media professionals in this critical period carried out their responsibility and mission well and played an effective role in narrating and explaining the various dimensions of this war.
…whereas Iranian Deputy Police Commander General Qassem Rezaei praised Kurdish people for thwarting enemy efforts to create unrest and insecurity in the Iran’s Kurdish-populated areas (source: IRNA):
Kurds are a brave and vigilant people and will not allow enemies to achieve their goals by creating unrest and insecurity.
There is no difference between Kurds, Lurs, Persians, Turks, Baluch and Arabs.
In a meeting with Iran’s Air Force veterans held as prisoners of war during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, Iran’s Air Force commander, Brigadier General Bahman Behmard praised young personnel for continuing the veteran’s legacy (source: IRNA):
We are students of your students, and we always bow before the greatness and steadfastness you demonstrated.
In the recent war as well, your students created scenes of Ashura and Karbala.
On occasion of the anniversary of the return of Iranian prisoners of war from the Iran–Iraq War, yesterday the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran pledged to continue resistance against the Anglo-Zionists until their final defeat (sources: Al Mayadeen, IRNA (1 and 2), Fars and Mehr (1 and 2) - emphasis added):
In the calendar of the nation’s epic achievements and honors, some dates serve as a “roadmap” for preserving dignity. The anniversary of the return of the prisoners of war marks the convergence of strategic patience, unwavering faith, and the absolute triumph of the will over the chains of captivity.
The return of the prisoners of war was not merely a physical homecoming, but a manifestation of an unyielding will on the sacred soil of Iran. These combatants, who endured the harshest conditions of captivity, redefined the meaning of steadfastness and proved to the world that the military uniform, even in the absence of a weapon, is an armor of dignity and honor.
Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, drawing on the legacy of the martyrs who followed the path of truth and the invaluable experience of its veterans and distinguished prisoners of war, has attained a level of strength and authority at which any threat will be rendered ineffective against the defensive barrier of faith and expertise.
We will not back down from the legitimate demands of the Iranian people and the Leader until the US-Israeli enemies are fully defeated in the region, the rights of the Iranian nation are upheld, and the enemy surrenders.
The IRGC issued a similar statement too (see IRNA, Fars and Mehr).
Responding to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s new threats, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref vowed that Iran will fight back against US economic war (sources: Al Mayadeen, IRNA (1 and 2), Fars and Mehr):
The enemy now wants to make up for its defeat on the military front in an economic war, and the government must stand against this approach with proper planning.
In such circumstances, factional, political, and partisan perspectives must be set aside in favor of the national interest.
Just as we defeated the enemy in the two recent imposed wars [waged by the US and Israel in June 2025 and late February 2026] by relying on national cohesion and unity, we can also overcome it in the economic war.
The government must be prepared for all scenarios through operational and innovative plans, while preserving social capital.
…while Abbas Baqerpour, director general of Legal Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, was quoted by IRNA as saying that the Memorandum of (Mis)Understanding or MoUMoM is not dead, but rather in a coma, adding:
Undoubtedly, Iran is prepared for any option. If this path does not yield results, Iran has repeatedly proven that it is ready to defend itself decisively.
Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, posted a tweets (1 and 2) on X mocking US officials (see also IRNA, Tasnim and Mehr):
On the eve of the 73rd anniversary of the 19th August 1953 coup in Iran, 73 years have passed, yet the rhetoric remains unchanged:
The US Treasury Secretary speaks of economic sanctions against Iran; the President says “all options are on the table”;yet Senator John Cornyn warns of rising prices and the cost-of-living pressures facing Americans. Whatever options may be on the table, America’s future will be decided at the family kitchen table—not around the war-room table.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also mocked US State Secretary Marco Rubio and Donald Trump in the tweet below (see also IRNA):
Esmaeil Baqaei@IRIMFA_SPOX
Marco Rubio: “Imagine an Iranian regime who, instead of spending billions of dollars supporting terrorist groups and building up all of these weapons, had invested that money into Iran, for the people of Iran, ” Donald Trump: “It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare,
12:59 AM · Aug 16, 2026 · 217K Views
151 Replies · 1.52K Reposts · 6.77K Likes
…and, at his weekly presser today, he touched upon various matters (sources: Al Mayadeen, IRNA (1, 2 and 3), Fars (1, 2 and 3), Tasnim (1 and 2), Mehr (1 and 2) - all emphasis mine):
The countries of the region came to the conclusion that the United States is an unreliable and untrustworthy partner and that the US military presence in the countries of the region has only been a burden, not a factor creating security.
These two factors have caused many countries in the region to reach the conclusion that we have discussed and invited them to for years: that the countries of the region should rely on themselves and, by strengthening mutual trust, try to create an indigenous security mechanism.
From the beginning, this imposed war had no basis or reason other than satisfying the ambitions of an occupying regime in our region.
At one point, they referred to the danger of Iran’s nuclear bomb; a bomb they have been talking about for 30 years; a big lie.
If we want to name a war whose main basis was a big lie, it is certainly the imposed war by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran.
The best thing for the United States, before it is too late and before it further puts itself in trouble and exposes the world to the consequences of this costly miscalculation and the crimes it has committed, is to get itself out of this situation as quickly as possible.
Accepting a mistake can be the prelude to making the right decision, but, of course, we doubt that many of the American decision-makers have such courage.
We did not start any negotiations at all, and the US violated the understanding from the very beginning; therefore, the 60-day issue is not relevant.
In the text of the Islamabad understanding, there is nothing under the title of a 60-day deadline. Iran is not a party that makes decisions under pressure, ultimatums, or time constraints.
Our Armed Forces are keeping a watchful eye on any movement.
Insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz was imposed on us, the region, and the entire world. This is a highly complex issue, and for the first time a mechanism is to be established that both safeguards the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the two coastal states (Iran and Oman) and ensures the safe passage of commercial vessels through this waterway.
[On the matter of the Iranian pilots that may have been captured by Qatar (see my previous update for more context)] I state very clearly that pursuing the situation of these four pilots has been on the agenda from the very first days. They were en route to a defensive operation.
As long as their status has not been clarified, the assumption is that they have been captured, and we are using all capacities to determine the status of the pilots.
The mediator is Pakistan, and Qatar is also making efforts. It is natural for European officials to express their views. Fundamentally, the issue between us and the United States is not about mediation; it goes back to America’s approach and the miscalculation in methods that have failed hundreds of times.
How can any nation claim to uphold the principle of good neighborliness when it places its soil and resources at the service of the Zionist regime and America to strike a neighboring Muslim country? Is that what respect for a neighbor looks like?
Notice that Baghaei said that “Iran is not a party that makes decisions under pressure, ultimatums, or time constraints”, contrary to the Reuters report we discussed at the beginning of this article!
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi tweeted the following statement blasting Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his recent genocidal remarks (see IRNA, Fars, Tasnim and Mehr):
Israel's Zionist regime National Security Minister has set a “nightly quota” for the massacre in Gaza: 30 to 40 people. This Zionist criminal simultaneously speaks of expelling Palestinians and settlement construction throughout Gaza. These confessions must be recorded and preserved for the day of reckoning and trial of these criminals.
…whereas Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted (see also Mehr):
Seyed Abbas Araghchi@araghchi
Nothing justifies the reckless attack on PM Barzani's office. Kurdish friends should be vigilant against false-flag ploys to sow discord between neighbors. We protected our Kurdish friends against Saddam and DAESH, and we're thankful for security they've provided on our border.
6:35 PM · Aug 17, 2026 · 165K Views
167 Replies · 497 Reposts · 3.27K Likes
…in reference to a drone attack on Iraqi Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister's office last night - see also MES (1 and 2) and Al Mayadeen.
In other news, it is worth reporting that earlier today Iran seized an Emirati oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz (source: MES) and executed a man convicted of running over 7 policemen during the USraeli-backed riots on 8th January 2026 (source: Mehr).
In the meantime, former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted an alarming tweet saying that the US administration is seriously considering nuking Iran:
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸@FmrRepMTG
They are discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings. Yes you read that correctly. It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know. And it’s pure evil. The last time a nuclear weapon was used was August 6th and 9th of 1945 on two cities in Japan, Hiroshima and
7:19 PM · Aug 16, 2026 · 4.63M Views
7.69K Replies · 14.8K Reposts · 57.1K Likes
…while the President of the corrupt Outlaw US Empire and Paedophile in Chief of the Epstein regime2 and anti-Christ3, Donald J. Trump threatened once again to bomb Oman, if it interferes with the US naval blockade on Iran (sources: Al Mayadeen, Tasnim and MES):
If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them!
In a tweet on his Truth social yesterday, he welcomed the new Mecca Joint Defence Agreement recently signed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Turkey and Pakistan (see my article here and POLITICAL SONAR’s opinion piece here), as reported also by Al Mayadeen:
At the same time, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group has departed the Pacific to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln currently deployed in the Arabian Sea, following reports on broken plumbing, sanitation problems, shortages of fresh food and severe mental health concerns for the sailors onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, who have been at sea for more than 240 days, including 200+ days in a row without a port call - see Al Mayadeen (1 and 2).
Moving briefly to Lebanon, Little Satan (a.k.a. Israel) has continued bombing the south of the country, targeting Ali al-Taher and al-Dabsha in the Nabatieh district, the town of Kfar Roummane toward the al-Dabsha heights, the town of al-Mansouri in the Tyre district, the town of Al-Qantara in the Marjayoun district, the town of Kafra in Bint Jbeil district, as per Al Mayadeen, Al Manar and Mehr, with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) reporting that…
The past two weeks have seen a marked increase in Israeli military activity in south Lebanon. Between 5th and 16th August [2026], UNIFIL recorded an average of 137 projectiles per day, including 208 on Saturday [15th August 2026] and 185 on Sunday [16th August 2026].
…as quoted by Al Mayadeen and Al Manar.
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Moving to Yemen, the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah and the Yemeni Foreign Ministry issued separate statements condemning the brutal Israeli massacres in southern Lebanon and reaffirming its solidarity the Palestinian and Lebanese people, as per Al Mayadeen, which also reported on the Yemeni government tying “the lifting of restrictions on Saudi shipping toa halt in military operations”, stressing that Yemeni strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities and other targets are defensive in nature and that “it will continue its military operations regardless of international pressure”.
In fact, yesterday the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) carried out drone and missiles strikes on Saudi troops concentrations in the governorates of Mocha and Marib (sources: Al Mayadeen and MES). Today the YAF also targeted a Saudi military landing ship and 4 escorting warships off the coast of Al-Mokha in the Red Sea with several ballistic missiles, setting the ships ablaze or sinking them, as reported by Saba, Al Mayadeen, IRNA, Mehr and RNN Mirror, citing YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, while the Yemeni Foreign Ministry issued a new statement saying that Yemen “will meet any Saudi escalation with corresponding actions, while also accusing Riyadh of imposing an unprecedented blockade and mobilizing forces on Yemeni soil”, as per Al Mayadeen and Saba.
In order to circumvent the Yemeni blockade, KSA is now relying on secrecy (e.g. with vessels switching off their AIS4 transponders) and alternative shipping routes (e.g. the Suez Canal or Egypt's Sumed pipeline at the Ain Sukhna port) to move crude oil from its western coast, as per Al Mayadeen, which also reported that “Asian refiners are pushing back against Saudi Aramco’s plans to load more crude from the Red Sea port of Yanbu”, requesting instead to load their cargo from Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Sidi Kerir, in order to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait controlled by the Houthis (a.k.a. Ansar Allah).
I will conclude this article with the following caricature by Kamal Sharaf from Cartoon Movement:
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For this descriptor, see my commentary and the poll at the end of this translation
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