Month: September 2026

“U.S. embassies across Middle East issue security alerts for Americans,” CBS, 9-20-26.

Quote of the Day.  “The emerging reality — Iran’s allies firing on the kingdom across multiple borders while closing crucial shipping lanes — “puts the Saudis in serious danger,” said Yoel Guzansky, senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. “This is their biggest challenge since 1990, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and threatened Saudi oilfields.””  “As Iran and Houthis tighten the screws on Saudi Arabia, a potential role emerges for Israel,” Times of Israel, 9-20-26.

“Iran war updates: Tehran warns of ‘painful’ response if US launches attacks,” Al Jazeera, 9-20-26.

“Security Alert:  Iran – September 19, 2026,” U.S. Virtual Embassy Iran, 9-20-26.

“Iran-backed Houthi rebels warn against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s growing civil war,” PBS, 9-20-26.

“Egyptian president meets CIA chief, calls for agreement to resolve Iranian crisis,” MEMO, 9-20-26.

“Iran claims US preparing to resume attacks, threatens bases, supporting regional countries,” JPost, 9-20-26.

“Iran’s economy faces another blockade: Red tape and gridlock are clogging up land routes that bypass the U.S. Navy’s Hormuz stranglehold,” Fortune, 9-20-26.  “But bureaucratic hurdles, such as long customs checks, and infrastructure that wasn’t designed to handle so much volume have produced massive traffic jams. At one crossing with Turkey, 3,700 trucks were stranded on the Iranian side. Lines of trucks stretch for miles, and drivers sometimes wait more than three weeks to finally bring their cargoes across a border. During that time, perishable foods go bad, and delays for other essentials add to costs, with inflation now at 90%. A Turkish truck driver hauling used cars into Iran told the Financial Times that wait times at the border on the return trip can reach 24 days. And an Iranian trucker said he spent 23 days waiting at a crossing along the Afghanistan border in mid-June.”

“What’s behind Iranian authorities’ push for a mass mobilisation campaign?,” Al Jazeera, 9-20-26.

“Saudi-led coalition says defence intercepted Houthi missile fired at Riyadh,” Al Jazeera, 9-19-26.

“Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad, judiciary says,” Reuters, 9-19-26.

“Hundreds of thousands attend Iran’s biggest government-organized rally since the war began,” AP, 9-18-26.

“Iran Update, September 18, 2026,” ISW, 9-18-26.

“Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns,” NYT, 9-18-26.

“Iran used state machinery to crush 2022 uprising, Amnesty says,” Iran International, 9-18-26.

“Have We Lost the Iran War?,” Hoover Institution, 9-17-26.

“Mahsa Amini’s legacy, four years after her murder by Iran’s morality police – editorial,” JPost, 9-17-26

“U.S. Probes Iran Link to Cyberattacks on Texas-Bound Energy Tankers,” WSJ, 9-17-26.  “The two tankers were transiting the Strait of Gibraltar in early August when they were hit by the attacks. The ships—an oil tanker and a liquefied petroleum tanker—were making their way to ports in Texas at the time, according to tracking data and one of the officials. The location of the attacks and the destination of the tankers has raised the prospect that Iran or an Iran-aligned actor could be seeking to disrupt another key maritime chokepoint or blow up a U.S. port. Ships run on integrated systems that, if compromised, could result in an explosion, a collision or an oil spill. … Iran’s semiofficial news outlet Mehr News reported on the incident in August. Citing crew members, it said the attackers infiltrated the VL Prosperity’s engine-room systems, reduced the engine’s cooling flow, increased the engine speed, and disabled the ship’s fuel and engine-oil tank. It said no group had claimed responsibility for the incident.”

“Iran-linked drone attacks target Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq,” JPost, 9-16-26.

“Middle East latest: Iran gives Trump talks ultimatum – as Houthis say strait access ‘free for all’ except Saudi Arabia,” Sky News, 9-16-26.

“US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say,” Reuters, 9-16-26.

“Iran war updates: US says Saudi pipeline to resume as Yemen fighting rages,” Al Jazeera, 9-15-26.  The main E-W line had been shut down.

“Scoop: U.S. attacked Iranian boats trying to seize Navy drone,” Axios, 9-15-26.

“Dozens of aircraft, hundreds of buildings: US loss to Iran attacks revealed,” Al Jazeera, 9-15-26.

“Iran Update, September 15, 2026,” ISW, 9-15-26.

“Second Sunni cleric killed in Iran in less than a week,” Iran International, 9-14-26.

Amazing story.  “US Air Force colonel shot down over Iran recounts ‘modern-day miracle’,” Fox, 9-14-26.

Another IG report.  Contradict what the President and Secretary have said.  “Pentagon watchdog says Iran war has led to munitions shortfall,” NBC, 9-14-26.

“How Iran’s Hard-Liners Prevailed and Sabotaged U.S. Peace Deal,” NYT, 9-13-26.  “Opponents derailed the agreement with a clandestine effort to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, regime insiders say. Iran’s president was furious when he found out.”  Who are they?  “the cleric Hossein Taeb, an influential spymaster” and head of the Basij militia.  Why won’t the President insist on seeing if the Leader is alive?  He is being prevented.  This gives new meaning to “shadow government.”  I think we have to assume the Supreme Leader is not alive.  The NYT says this: “In May, Mr. Pezeshkian said he met with Ayatollah Khamenei but did not say when or where. Two Iranian officials and a former official said the circumstances of the encounter were bizarre. They said an ambulance with blacked-out windows was used to drive Mr. Pezeshkian around, while a secure video connection was established. A person who said he was an interlocutor for Ayatollah Khamenei appeared on a monitor and purportedly passed messages between the two men. Mr. Pezeshkian confided to a close ally that he was unsure whether he had actually been communicating with the supreme leader, according to the officials with knowledge of the meeting.”

“Widening Mideast Instability Squeezes Global Oil Supplies,” WSJ, 9-13-26.  “Houthi offensive in Yemen has put a second vital energy corridor in the region under the sway of Iran and its allies.”

“Iran regime used Claude to expand surveillance of dissidents, Anthropic says,” Iran International, 9-13-26.  Creative.  And dangerous to others.

“Badly wounded U.S. Air Force officer climbed 7,000 foot Iranian ridgeline to hide after being shot down,” CBS 60 Minutes, 9-13-26.

“Iranian cargo ship is struck, and talks between Tehran and its neighbors are postponed,” AP, 9-13-26.

“Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route,” Guardian, 9-12-26.

“Iran’s Second Front:  The Houthis’ Bold Advance Has Transformed the Middle East’s Wars,” Foreign Affairs, 9-11-26.  I don’t need to revisit the Regime’s connections to Bin Laden and AQ today, but here will start with the Houthis.

“Strikes shut down key Saudi pipeline as Iran-backed Houthis tighten grip on crucial shipping lane,” NBC, 9-11-26.

“Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base,” BBC, 9-11-26.  Iran assisted with the construction of this tunnel complex near northern Israel.

“Iraq orders closure of Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, two sources say,” Reuters, 9-11-26.

“Saudi Arabia tells Trump now is the time for military action as Iran-backed Houthis advance,” Fox, 9-11-26.