“Meet ‘Castle Breaker,’ Iran’s missile wreaking havoc in US war,” USA Today, 8-31-26. Kheibar Shekan, or “Castle Breaker,” which has a range of 900 miles and a satellite-guided, maneuverable warhead. … the Kheibar Shekan can quickly change course in the final phase of its descent, potentially slipping past air defenses and hitting targets with devastating precision, those sources said. Mounted on mobile launchers, the solid-fuel missile is extremely difficult to detect and destroy before launch, allowing it to survive American bombardment campaigns.” … Since 2024, Iran has stacked on incremental improvements – likely with the help of Chinese and Russian technology. The updates include improved satellite guidance, altered launch trajectories that are harder for missile-defense radar to predict, better resistance to electronic jamming and coordinated barrages that mix ballistic missiles with swarms of drones.”
“US forces strike Iranian launchers on Larak island in Strait of Hormuz,” inboxEU, 8-30-26. Who shot first? Iran loaded sea mines, the U.S. had told them no. After the limited strikes at Larak, Iran shoots ballistic missiles at Jordan (U.S. bases there). So who shot first? Iran. I wish the media would make this clear.
“CENTCOM Commander: Iranian Government Has Not Exported Any Oil Since Resuming Naval Blockade,” Iran International, 8-27-26.
“Iran threatens 45 tankers with fines, confiscation in Hormuz escalation,” Reuters, 8-24-26.
And can’t use U.S. currency or banking system. “Treasury Launches Unprecedented Campaign Against Iranian Regime on Economic D-Day,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, 8-24-26. Beyond the Barbary Pirates strategy in the early 1800s (we aren’t sending in troops today), and the long-standing Freedom of Navigation program worldwide run by the U.S. Navy, economic sanctions are another choice. Treasury’s plan is something that the U.S. is apparently choosing long-term (dividing countries as they have to choose), along with at least the blockade at Hormuz. Stay tuned.
“Iranian state television broadcasts report of a $10 million reward to kill Barron Trump,” i24, 8-24-26. “Iran’s state television broadcast a report describing ways to reach the son of US President Donald Trump, Barron, with reference to a $10 million reward. In the report, which lasts about three minutes, attempts were presented to identify ways to reach Barron Trump, using graphics depicting surveillance, online activity, and people in his surroundings. The broadcast showed locations and online platforms supposedly linked to the effort, as well as attempts to map the social connections around the president’s son and to infiltrate the Secret Service’s security layers.”
Score one for the West, and against the iron grip Iran had over Syria for four decades. “US removes Syria from terrorism sponsor list, lifting major investment obstacle,” Reuters, 8-24-26.
“U.S. to unveil ‘greatest financial offensive’ against Iran as Tehran threatens ship seizures,” CNBC, 8-23-26.
If Iran declares war on these countries, let’s see if they declare war in return. “Iran official says support for new sanctions would be ‘act of war’,” AP, Politico, 8-23-26. This is in response to the still undefined threat by the U.S. of an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare. See “Iran official says support for new sanctions would be ‘act of war’,” AP, 8-23-26.
“Iran’s security chief sharpens warning to neighbors,” Politico, 8-23-26. “The hard-line leader of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, issued his latest warning on X, with the comments quickly shared by Iranian state media. It came a day after Rezaei’s most extensive public comments since being named to the post this month. “If (Trump) wants to do something, we will retaliate in a seismic manner,” he had told the state broadcaster in an interview that aired late Saturday. He said Iran would target other oil-shipping routes from the Persian Gulf — alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei, a former Revolutionary Guard commander and military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was part of senior appointments widely seen as hardening Tehran’s political and military stance.” Reminder, we have yet to see the new Ayatollah.
“Iranian president wants to move past ‘neither war nor peace’,” AP, 8-23-26. “Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier Sunday said the memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June was the best way to move beyond a situation of “neither war nor peace,” adding that Tehran can’t attract investment nearly six months after the war began. “There is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation,” Pezeshkian said in a speech published by state-run IRNA. “The supreme leader sets the policies, and we will follow that path.” The interim deal opened a 60-day period for talks aimed at ending the war and reaching an accord on Iran’s nuclear program. That period ended last week with no signs of compromise or extension.”
“Iran claims neighboring states seek new security order after US risked allies ‘for sake of Israel’,” i24, 8-22-26. “Parliament speaker says Tehran received “numerous messages” but names no countries; remarks follow Baghdad visit promoting a regional order without foreign powers.”
This article is included here because of China’s enabling of Iran. “See How China Weathered the Iran Oil Shock,” WSJ, 8-21-26.
“Iran crude loadings plunge to one-seventh of pre-war level as blockade bites,” Iran International, 8-21-26.
“Canada imposed sanctions Friday on five Iranian officials over activities it said obstructed navigation rights in and around the Strait of Hormuz and undermined international peace and security, Global Affairs Canada said in a news release.” And “Nine European countries have aligned themselves with an EU decision imposing sanctions on six Iranians over serious human rights violations, the Council of the European Union said Friday.” See “Trump says US will hit Iran economically as Iran has ‘not a lot’ of missiles, drones left,” Iran International, 8-20-26.
“The End of the American Middle East: Iran and the Last Gasp of a Failed Order,” Foreign Affairs, 8-20-26. “The American Middle East is finished. The regional order that has prevailed since 1991 has been one of the many casualties of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The American and Israeli failure to dislodge the regime in Tehran has proved the bankruptcy of decades of sanctions and violence. The inability of the United States to protect its Gulf allies from Iranian attacks or to keep the Strait of Hormuz open has fatally undermined the core security bargain that justified its network of military bases in the region. And Israel’s increasingly threatening posture and abandonment of any pretense of interest in reaching an accommodation with the Palestinians have ended Washington’s decades-long mission of bringing its Arab allies and Israel together into an enduring security partnership.”
“IRGC Threatens More Destructive Weapons in Potential Conflict,” IranWire, 8-20-26.
Bulgaria? Cyprus? “Iran weighs attacks on military targets in Europe – FT,” Iran International, 8-19-26.