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Conflict in the Middle East
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TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 14:43

RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 14:13

Not a great advert coming from the fella who should have been involved in writing it.

Did he mention how they did interprete it ?

He only said that the MOU didn't allow the right to launch drones and missiles

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TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 14:43

Trump TS

"From this point forward, any time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the US will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran."

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RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 14:48

My guess is that guessing is not a very good way to do peace deals.

And that when you have a guy that supposedly wrote a book about "the art of the deal", I would have expected him to write a deal that did not involve guessing.

But I am, you guessed it, just guessing here.

The MOU was pretty clear to me. Iran controls the SoH for 60 days.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 14:58

RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 14:48

My guess is that guessing is not a very good way to do peace deals.

And that when you have a guy that supposedly wrote a book about "the art of the deal", I would have expected him to write a deal that did not involve guessing.

But I am, you guessed it, just guessing here.

The MOU was pretty clear to me. Iran controls the SoH for 60 days.

We're all guessing aren't we.

You would interpret the MoU the same way that Iran apparently did because you seem to see everything through their eyes.

Equally, you could say I would interpret the MoU the same way that the US apparently did because I seem to see everything through Western eyes.

To me it was logical that both sides would not rock the boat by attacking anything for at least the duration of the 60 days, especially the side that people were insisting had got the better end of the deal. Why would Iran sabotage the deal? Though personally I put that down to different factions and the more extreme element not wanting to do a deal at all.

RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 15:11

As has been said repeatedly here, the MOU was for Iran to do it. A PP even posted the links to the Notice To Mariners. We discussed the instructions that Captains were to follow, at length. Posters posted maps of the water lanes. We have covered it all.

And then the US, for some reason known only to themselves, decided to send ships through in alternate lanes, contrary to the publically stated rules.

What would be nice I suppose, is for Rubio ( or someone), to talk us through their "guess" as to what the paragraph below means.

Because yes, when Iran is telling ships to follow instructions or be fired on, it really is no surprise that ships ignoring the instructions are fired on. In an active war zone.

5. Upon the signing of this MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 15:59

Another feature of Trumpism is hand waving away. Trump is a master. From the CNN feed -

"President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that “Americans aren’t against” the US war with Iran, arguing that public concerns are about gas prices rather than the military campaign itself.

“Americans aren’t against the war,” Trump told reporters before departing for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where he is set to attend the dignified transfer of US service members killed in the war.

“A poll, a poll just came out, Americans don’t want high gasoline prices, but they’re not against the war,” Trump added.

Trump’s comments come as recent polling suggests otherwise. In a Washington Post-Ipsos survey released last week, 68% of Americans said the war was not “worth fighting,” while 28% said it was. (That negative 40-point split was worse than for either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars in Washington Post-ABC News polling.)

That survey was among the latest to show a majority of Americans opposing the war, which Trump launched in late February."

Facts really do not matter. He has an alternate reality in his head.

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 16:06

He also said on fallen US troops: "All of them said very strongly, 'We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.'"

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BelleHathor · 22/07/2026 16:10

rainingsnoring · 22/07/2026 10:01

That's really interesting, thanks. As you say, he is a very smart and experienced guy who has a very good understanding of the situation 'on the inside'. He is careful not to be overly critical of his ex colleagues so he is probably trying to stay on side to a degree. I'm sure he understands that things are far more nuanced but perhaps he is trying to keep the message simple so that people understand, as is MTG. I hope he can have some positive influence.

@rainingsnoring Yes, Joe Kent is one of the good guys, I fully support him trying to get his brothers and sisters home from the region, it's not America's war, arguably Afghanistan was the only remotely justifiable action after 9/11.

I follow someone on social media whose daughter is currently stationed in Jordan (soldiers have little to no choice when they are deployed), the conditions are under in terms of Air Defence (which we knew were depleted and some destroyed) are dire, they get little to no warning of impending attacks.

Joe Kent will know this too as his deployed friends will be telling him, if "talking" to Trump via not critising him works then wonderful, many lives will be saved.

Here is a good interview with Joe from yesterday with Lieutenant Daniel Davis, basically the soldiers on American bases are sitting ducks.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiRYf5Clp4Q

BelleHathor · 22/07/2026 16:14

rainingsnoring · 22/07/2026 10:03

I meant to link this for you @BelleHathor and anyone else who might be interested. Col Baud is so intelligent, knowledgable and moderate in his delivery. I particularly enjoyed the Sun Tzu quote at the end.

Thanks, I haven't watch this weeks interview yet.

Fun fact - Nima the host is Iranian (who lives in Brazil) and was actually visiting Iran when the unprovoked aggression started on the 28th February.

Jacques Baud is a treasure and also a Veteran, I have some of his books on my reading list. Unfortunately the EU has sanctioned him and frozen his bank accounts as he has accurately been reporting on the Ukraine conflict.

Perhaps one day we'll be allowed to have intelligent, experienced people in positions of power.

ByRareLemonCritic · 22/07/2026 16:47

BelleHathor · 22/07/2026 16:10

@rainingsnoring Yes, Joe Kent is one of the good guys, I fully support him trying to get his brothers and sisters home from the region, it's not America's war, arguably Afghanistan was the only remotely justifiable action after 9/11.

I follow someone on social media whose daughter is currently stationed in Jordan (soldiers have little to no choice when they are deployed), the conditions are under in terms of Air Defence (which we knew were depleted and some destroyed) are dire, they get little to no warning of impending attacks.

Joe Kent will know this too as his deployed friends will be telling him, if "talking" to Trump via not critising him works then wonderful, many lives will be saved.

Here is a good interview with Joe from yesterday with Lieutenant Daniel Davis, basically the soldiers on American bases are sitting ducks.

Of course, anyone who doesn't like Israel is "one of the good guys" to you. Who cares about all the conspiracy theories about covid or the January 6th riots or his echoing of pro-Kremlin talking points, as long as he is also going on about how Israel assassinated Charlie Kirk to start the Iran war he must be a good 'un.

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:04

You created a name just to post that Confused

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Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 17:26

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:04

You created a name just to post that Confused

I don't know who @ByRareLemonCritic is either.

But I didn't see you commenting on a new username when @trumpredcard joined the thread ...even though their first few posts were just laughing emojis at everything I said. They may not have been completely new to CITME board either but as you know, it's ok for people to change usernames for any reason they choose to.

Be consistent at least if you are going to comment that someone created a name just to post that

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:36

Yes dear Twiglets Confused

eta, I checked trumpredcard's first post and it was nothing like that.

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Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 17:36

You can repeat it as often as you like @RedTagAlan but the MoU was interpreted differently by the 2 sides.

I can see where there was ambiguity. So can many reporters and analysts who have discussed the MoU. Even some people on this thread have said that it was badly written and that contributed to the confusion.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 17:42

ByRareLemonCritic · 22/07/2026 16:47

Of course, anyone who doesn't like Israel is "one of the good guys" to you. Who cares about all the conspiracy theories about covid or the January 6th riots or his echoing of pro-Kremlin talking points, as long as he is also going on about how Israel assassinated Charlie Kirk to start the Iran war he must be a good 'un.

It is a good point that anyone who doesn't like Israel is automatically "one of the good guys" to some people regardless of whether they actually are a good guy by more objective measures.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 17:43

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:36

Yes dear Twiglets Confused

eta, I checked trumpredcard's first post and it was nothing like that.

Edited

Check their first posts. All were challenging me and then a few laughing emojis and then some deleted posts ... not a great start but nothing questioned of course.

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:44

A source close to the Houthis said that the group has completed preparations to target shipping at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. They’ve deployed missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and are awaiting orders to act.-CNBC

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RedTagAlan · 22/07/2026 17:54

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 17:44

A source close to the Houthis said that the group has completed preparations to target shipping at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. They’ve deployed missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and are awaiting orders to act.-CNBC

I wonder if the Iranian plane SA reported, and bombed them for, was delivering missiles or drones ?

I followed the Houthi stuff, and the reports at the time were they were using older PRC made missiles that the Houthi had captured in the war with the Yemeni government.

I supported the UK, French and US action against the Houthi at the time. And I still do. We do not need them sticking their nose in.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 21:49

BBC breaking news: US and Saudi Arabia reach nuclear cooperation deal.

US Secretary of Energy and Saudi Minister of Energy signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement, the US Department of Energy says.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 22:00

The US Department of Energy says the deals lay the “legal foundation” for a “decades long, multi billion dollar partnership”.

It says it will “reinforce global nonproliferation standards”.

“The agreement will now be transmitted to Congress for review”, it adds.

Twiglets1 · 22/07/2026 22:20

The Financial Times say … the Iran conflict has badly battered Saudi Arabia and its neighbours, as Washington’s allies across the region have come under fire from Iranian missiles and drones.

Iran’s retaliatory stranglehold on the SoH, a critical export route for Gulf oil and gas, has added to Riyadh’s challenges while straining global oil reserves and driving up petrol prices.

The deal to help Riyadh develop an alternative framework for the country’s
electricity would give US companies a leading role in its nuclear energy programme over 30 years, including the possible American - led construction of an uranium- enrichment facility following a joint study, said two people familiar with the agreement.

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 23:00

The UK has withdrawn embassy staff from Iran following Trump’s threats. For now they’ll operate remotely.

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Ihatetomatoes · 22/07/2026 23:06

TopPocketFind · 22/07/2026 23:00

The UK has withdrawn embassy staff from Iran following Trump’s threats. For now they’ll operate remotely.

I don't blame them.

Trump says each time Iran fire anything at a boat attempting to go through the SOH they will bomb a bridge or other place. I cannot see Iran not targeting boats in the SOH so there will be lots of bombing. It feels like who's going to give in first, Trump or the Iranian regime to protect their people. Not sure either cares about the people of Iran who will likely get caught up in this.

RedTagAlan · 23/07/2026 04:15

Ihatetomatoes · 22/07/2026 23:06

I don't blame them.

Trump says each time Iran fire anything at a boat attempting to go through the SOH they will bomb a bridge or other place. I cannot see Iran not targeting boats in the SOH so there will be lots of bombing. It feels like who's going to give in first, Trump or the Iranian regime to protect their people. Not sure either cares about the people of Iran who will likely get caught up in this.

Quote : " I cannot see Iran not targeting boats in the SOH so there will be lots of bombing"

It has already been established that we know now how Iran interpreted the MOU, and it that the ships Iran targeted were not following it for some reason.

The issue appears to be that the US interpreted it differently, but they are not saying how they interpret it. And nor are they saying what was verbally discussed.

It looks to me as if Trump tried to sell the MOU, signed it, then went back on the whole thing. And yes, we are now tit for tat. So at the moment, another forever war.

Twiglets1 · 23/07/2026 05:50

Yemen’s Houthi rebel group said it attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. It reportedly said the tankers were targeted after violating the naval blockade in the sea.

If we can’t sell oil … then nobody can. That’s the message from Irans top negotiator Ghalibaf, who also warned the SoH will not return to its pre war state.

US Central Command has announced its finished its latest round of strikes against Iran. It said that Iranian military targets have been struck including “maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defence assets”.

Source: Sky News.