Anجie

Giving unfiltered takes on the dumpster fire we call world politics, with a splash of sarcasm.

[Middle East Eye @MiddleEastEye]

Israel is prepared to “return Iran to the Dark Age” according to Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday.

He said Israel is “ready to resume the war on Iran” and is only “waiting for the green light from the US”

[Iran News 24 @IRanMediaco]

The moment the US Navy opened fire on the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska in the Sea of Oman.

The Touska served as a regular China-Iran shipping link and is part of the broader bilateral trade between the two countries that has continued despite Western sanctions.

[Iran News 24 @IRanMediaco]

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei:

At the moment, we have not decided on our participation in the next round of negotiations.

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

#BREAKING| IRGC: Armed forces will respond quickly to America's seizure of an Iranian cargo ship.

[القاهرة الإخبارية - AlQahera News @Alqaheranewstv]

#عاجل| الحرس الثوري: القوات المسلحة سترد سريعا على احتجاز أمريكا سفينة شحن إيرانية
#تابع_سوشيال_القاهرة

[Seyed Mohammad Marandi @s_m_marandi]

Without the full cooperation of these proxies in the Persian Gulf, Trump would not be able to wage war against the Iranian people. Supporters of these despots believe that these regimes should be allowed to help destroy Iran's critical infrastructure, but that Iran must not retaliate. That is a position that is neither rational nor moral, and it simply invites further aggression. They also misrepresent me, claiming I threatened civilians, whereas I clearly threaten the regimes in order to pressure them to end this satanic collaboration. I call on people to evacuate because if the Epstein coalition - which includes these regimes - carries out their threats, they (the people) will not be in harm's way. 3,375 Iranian citizens have been murdered so far. In all these regimes combined, no more than a handful of citizens have died. So, who is the humane side that is careful not to target civilians?

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

Iranian Foreign Ministry: The United States has betrayed diplomacy many times.

[القاهرة الإخبارية - AlQahera News @Alqaheranewstv]

🔴 الخارجية الإيرانية: الولايات المتحدة خانت الدبلوماسية مرات عديدة
#تابع_سوشيال_القاهرة
#القاهرة_الإخبارية

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

Iranian Foreign Ministry: Our armed forces will respond with all decisiveness and strength to any American-Israeli attacks.

[القاهرة الإخبارية - AlQahera News @Alqaheranewstv]

الخارجية الإيرانية: قواتنا المسلحة سترد بكل حسم وقوة على أي هجمات أمريكية إسرائيلية
#تابع_سوشيال_القاهرة
#القاهرة_الإخبارية

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska. The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period.

[Reza Amiri Moghadam @IranAmbPak]

You cannot keep violating the international law, double down on your blockade, threaten Iran with further war crimes, insist on unreasonable demands, pace out with rethorics and pretend to be pursuing "Diplomacy".

As long as the naval blockade remains, faultlines remain.

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

UPDATE:
Iran's Mehr News Agency is out with a counter-account and, as usual, it's a direct contradiction.
Mehr says US forces fired on an Iranian merchant ship in the Sea of Oman to force it back to Iranian waters.
So far, consistent with Trump's account.

Here's where it splits:
Mehr says IRGC naval units responded, forcing the Americans to "retreat and flee the area."
No mention of a seized vessel, no Marines in custody, no hole in the engine room.

Two things to note. Mehr does not name the ship, so we cannot confirm this is the TOUSKA or a separate incident.

What we now have: Trump claiming full custody of a seized Iranian vessel. Iran claiming the Americans were driven off. CENTCOM still silent.

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

🚨 USS SPRUANCE / TOUSKA; DEVELOPING ⚠️

Trump says US Marines have custody of the Iranian-flagged TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after the USS Spruance "blew a hole in the engine room" when the crew refused to stop.

Marines boarding Iranian ships has been in the works; WSJ and Fortune reported it days ago. A former Navy JAG officer confirmed to ABC News that "disabling fire" on engine rooms is an authorized tactic. None of this is implausible.

But right now, this report lives in one place: a Trump Truth Social post, picked up by Fox News; which is citing Trump, not CENTCOM.
CENTCOM has publicly confirmed every single blockade enforcement action this week, but there is no CENTCOM statement on the TOUSKA and that silence matters.

This is a developing story; I'll update as it's confirmed or contradicted. Also, with any new developments.

[Esmaeil Baqaei @IRIMFA_SPOX]

Oh, that 'international law'?! The one that the EU dusts off to lecture others while quietly green-lighting a U.S.-Israeli war of aggression—and looking the other way on atrocities against Iranians?!

Spare the sermons; Europe’s chronic failure to practice what it preaches has turned its 'international law' talk into peak hypocrisy.

No rule of international law forbids Iran, the coastal State, from taking necessary measures to stop the Strait of Hormuz being used for waging military aggression against Iran.

And 'unconditional transit passage' in Hormuz? That fiction sailed the moment U.S./Israeli aggression brought U.S. military assets into the strait’s backyard.

[Iran Talks @theirantalks]

What really happened in Islamabad talks?
Mr. Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf ), Head of the Iranian Delegation, explains.

Full Interview - En Sub

[Explosive Media @ExplosiveMediaa]

Noob
Noob
Noob

Waiting for your white flag...

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

According to Israeli Channel 14, Israel is gearing up for another phase of heavy military operations in the Gaza Strip, which could start as early as next month.

Plans for escalation come in response to Hamas’s ongoing refusal to disarm or give up control of the Strip, with Israeli officials setting an early May deadline as the final chance for compliance before stepping up action.

[Anجie @AngieSoliman_]

Intensive activity of American military cargo aircraft in the direction of the region.

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

NEW: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi and members of his inner circle have likely secured at least temporary control over not only Iran’s military response in this conflict but also Iran’s negotiating position and approach within the past 48 hours. The IRGC Navy attacked several commercial vessels on April 18 and declared that no vessel of “any type or nationality” is permitted passage through the strait, a reversal of Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi’s announcement on April 17 that the strait was “completely open” to commercial traffic. IRGC-affiliated media also announced on April 18 that Iran has not agreed to participate in another round of negotiations with the United States due to “excessive” US demands.

Other Key Takeaways:

Vahidi and individuals close to him may have effectively controlled the negotiations process throughout the war, which is traditionally a role reserved for political leaders. Vahidi likely intended to impose IRGC oversight over the recent US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The IRGC continued to play an outsized role in Iran’s negotiations after the Islamabad talks.

The IRGC’s consolidation of control over Iranian decision-making indicates that the Iranian political officials currently negotiating with the United States do not have the authority to independently determine Iran’s negotiating positions. The IRGC appears to have sidelined more pragmatic figures with whom the United States has negotiated.

The IRGC attacked several commercial vessels and halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, likely in order to both gain leverage over the United States and consolidate the IRGC’s control over Iran’s negotiations policy as part of an internally-motivated maneuver. The IRGC likely aims to secure leverage over the United States by halting traffic and driving up shipping and oil prices to impose economic pressure on the United States. The IRGC’s actions are also likely intended to be an internal demonstration of power designed to exhibit the IRGC’s control within the regime, and in particular, its control over Iran’s negotiations policy.

The US Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports remains in place as of April 18. US CENTCOM said that it forced two ships to turn around and return to Iran between April 17 and 18. The US Navy has forced 23 ships to turn back since the United States began the blockade. No Iranian vessels have attempted to approach or test the blockade line as of this writing.

[Seyed Mohammad Marandi @s_m_marandi]

Leave UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait immediately. Iran will retaliate, destroying everything. These regimes are guilty partners in the genocidal Epstein Coalition and won't be forgiven. The rising temperatures in the Persian Gulf will soon make them uninhabitable.

[Middle East Eye @MiddleEastEye]

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a direct message to Washington, arguing that while the United States clearly holds greater military power, resources and global experience from decades of invasions, that advantage has not translated into victory.

He said Iran faced a stronger opponent in terms of equipment and funding, but still gained the upper hand through asymmetric warfare, planning and understanding of its own people.

Ghalibaf described Israel as a servant and agent of the US in the region, claiming American decisions are shaped by Israeli misinformation despite slogans about “America First.”

He rejected claims that Iran had completely destroyed its enemies, instead framing the outcome as a strategic advantage that forced the US toward ceasefire discussions.

Recalling a direct exchange with US Vice President JD Vance, he said he openly told him there was “zero trust,” insisting Washington must rebuild credibility before expecting any progress.

[Soureh 🟩☫🟥 @Soureh_design2]

Bahrian was being rude so Dr Mottaki, scolded him on behalf of Iran.. added subtitles 🔥

It's the 152 Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul.. yesterday