Lest there be any doubt that Iran controls the Houthis (money, missiles, arms, advisors, etc.)(and despite the claims of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei)—don’t attack the U.S., keep attacking Israel was the direction.  “Two Iranian officials, one from the foreign ministry and the other from the Revolutionary Guards, said that Iran had persuaded the Houthis to stop their attacks on US assets as part of the Omani [nuclear program] mediation efforts, The New York Times reported. Oman later revealed it had mediated the ceasefire deal, according to which neither side will target the other, including US vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.”  See “Reports: Iran pressed Houthis into truce with US to build ‘momentum’ in nuclear talks,” Times of Israel, 5-7-25.

“Reports: Iran pressed Houthis into truce with US to build ‘momentum’ in nuclear talks,” Times of Israel, 5-7-25.

Planned?  Inevitable.  And will continue.  “Power outage to hit Iran gov’t offices,” JPost, 5-7-25.

“Iran furious at Trump ‘renaming’ Persian Gulf ‘Arabian Gulf’,” New Arab, 5-7-25.

“Iran has ‘assassination list’, ex-US security adviser says – and reveals its most valued target,” Sky, 5-7-25.

Message to Iran.  “Israel says it has disabled Yemen’s main airport with airstrikes against rebels,” AP, 5-6-25.

Another message to Iran.  “Oman says it mediated a ceasefire between U.S., Yemen’s Houthis,” NBC, 5-6-25.  Pres. Trump announced that the Houthis had declared they will stop attacking the shipping lanes adjacent to Yemen, and that the U.S. will thus stop its bombing of the Houthis.

“Iran Update, May 6, 2025,” ISW Press, 5-6-25.

“Iranian arrested in UK over terror plot ‘very well connected’ to Tehran regime – report,” JPost, 5-6-25.

A story that won’t go away, Turkey helping Iran avoid U.S. sanctions.  “Turkish bank appeals Iran sanctions decision to US Supreme Court,” Reuters, 5-6-25.

“Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack,” Sky, 5-5-25.

“U.S. and Iran to Hold Nuclear Talks on Saturday,” NYT, 5-5-25.

“Reports: Arrested Iranian suspects may have been ‘hours away’ from ‘major attack’ on UK synagogue; no confirmation,” Times of Israel, 5-5-25.

“Iran denies ordering Houthi attacks, as Yemen group reports wave of US airstrikes,” Times of Israel, 5-5-25.

How much is Turkey acting in conjunction with Iran, or for its own purposes?  “Turkey accused of financing Hezbollah’s resurgence in Lebanon, sending planes loaded with cash,” Nordic Monitor, 5-5-25.

“Iran rocked by explosions in Mashhad and Karaj – report,” JPost, 5-4-25.

“Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200-km range,” AFP, 5-4-25.

These attempts in other countries never stop.  “UK police arrest Iranian men over alleged attack plot in major counterterror operation,” AP, 5-4-25.

“U.K. probing possible link between two suspected state-sponsored Iranian plots,” NBC, 5-4-25.

“Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200-km range,” AFP, 5-4-25.

“Iran’s FM: Tehran has the right to ‘possess the full nuclear fuel cycle’,” JPost, 5-3-25.

From the 4.0 earthquake?  “Witnesses hear explosion at power plant in Karaj, Iran – report,” JPost, 5-3-25.

“Iran must ‘walk away’ from all uranium enrichment, Rubio says,” Reuters, 5-2-25.

“Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis launch two missiles towards Israel,” Reuters, 5-2-25.

Not a bad article, but misses that Iran is desperately trying to figure out how to (short and long-term) rebuild is proxy forces.  This is one of its biggest goals because it always wants to throw blame somewhere else if possible for terror/violence.  “5 key factors shaping Iran’s foreign policy calculus,” Middle East Institute, 5-1-25.

“Trump’s choice: Destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities or negotiate fruitlessly,” JNS, 5-1-25.

Thanks to the Times of Israel reporter who included this for context:  “Tehran claims the Houthis—whose slogan calls for “death to America, death to Israel, and a curse on the Jews” — act independently.”  See “US-Iran nuclear talks postponed, Iran says next round ‘depends on US approach’,” Reuters, Times of Israel, 5-1-25.

“Iran had imperial ambitions in Syria. Secret embassy papers show why it failed,” Reuters, 5-1-25.

Thank you Associated Press for showing the timing here.  Iran again (as it has historically) delays, so the U.S. threatens to penalize.  It is not tit for tat, it is the possible penalizing bad action by Iran.  If Iran says it will negotiate, it needs to negotiate.  “Trump threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil after US-Iran nuclear talks are postponed,” AP, 5-1-25.

Against the grain, but we post.  “Misery loves company: Iraq and Iran’s electricity and gas dependencies,” Clingendael, 5-1-25.

Iran misread history—the Marshall Plan was to save Europe, not make it dependent.  “Document shows Iran had imperial plans in Syria that were foiled by Assad’s collapse,” Times of Israel, 5-1-25.

“Pentagon chief warns Iran of consequences for supporting Houthis,” Reuters, 4-30-25.

“Iranian journalists say they are being muzzled over reporting port explosion,” Guardian, 4-29-25.  This is the first I’ve seen about a second explosion, on Tuesday, in Isfahan.  But it is not surprising that criminal charges have been threatened against media outlets.  This is attempts to control and coverup, but of course makes the long-term problems of trust and governance worse.

“Katz threatens to attack Iran as Trump tries to cut a contested nuclear deal,” JPost, 4-28-25.

“Iran accuses Israel of seeking to disrupt nuclear talks with US,” Al Jazeera, 4-28-25.

We may never know publicly what caused this at Bandar Abbas.  So many accidents, so much mismanagement, so much corruption.  Corners cut due to time pressure, restricted budgets due to support of terrorism and not building out the port in a sufficient way, and of course opaqueness to not let its opponents know what is happening.  But let’s not forget that missile fuel was involved, something that no one says Iran needs to defend itself.  These are offensive weapons.  “Fires extinguished at key Iran port as explosion death toll rises to 70,” Al Jazeera, 4-28-25.