By Mansoor Ijaz Judging from the abrupt dismissal of anything decided by Iran's political theocrats -- the Straits of Hormuz are once again closed after the Iranian foreign minister and Parliament Speaker declared them open on Friday -- the decision-making power clearly lies elsewhere. The agenda behind that decision-making is not peace. It's a slowly accelerating effort to mire the United States down in "Vietnamese-style" quicksand. So is it Russia? China? The mercenaries po

President Donald Trump issued a fierce warning after accusing Iran of firing on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “total violation” of the ceasefire and proof that Tehran cannot be trusted. U.S. officials say tensions are rising fast as global shipping faces renewed threats and markets react to instability in the world’s most critical oil route. Trump confirmed U.S. representatives are heading to Islamabad for urgent negotiations, but made it clear America is nego

Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is already making bold claims—warning that Iran’s navy is ready to defeat both the United States and Israel as tensions rise again over the Strait of Hormuz. But there’s a glaring problem: the rhetoric doesn’t match reality. Khamenei has not appeared publicly or released any verified video since taking power just six weeks ago, raising serious questions about leadership stability inside Tehran. At the same time, Iranian

The truth is now impossible to ignore. Iran’s latest move—closing the Strait of Hormuz yet again after briefly reopening it—is not diplomacy. It is calculated deception. Within hours, Tehran flipped its position, threatened global shipping, and escalated tensions, exposing a regime that treats negotiations as a weapon rather than a path to peace. According to multiple U.S. and international reports, Iranian forces have fired on vessels, warned they would “destroy” ships attem

In a moment that may define global leadership for years to come, President Donald Trump acted — while Europe hesitated. On Friday, as leaders from across Europe gathered in Paris to discuss a future mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, reality overtook their agenda. The United States had already forced a breakthrough. Iran announced the strategic waterway was open again, a move that immediately sent oil prices plunging and eased global panic over energy supplies. But the t

A major diplomatic breakthrough may be on the horizon as President Donald Trump declared that a U.S.–Iran nuclear deal is “very close,” with Pakistan playing a central role in bringing both sides to the table. According to multiple U.S. and international reports, negotiations are advancing toward a potential agreement that could see Iran scale back its nuclear program — including surrendering enriched uranium — in exchange for sanctions relief and economic incentives. Behind

In a stunning geopolitical turn that underscores the power of American leadership, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Iran has officially reopened one of the most critical waterways on Earth — the Strait of Hormuz — declaring it “fully open and ready for full passage.” The announcement came just moments after Iran publicly confirmed that commercial vessels could once again pass through the strategic chokepoint, a route responsible for roughly 20% of the wor

In a stunning show of American leadership, President Donald Trump announced a historic 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, marking what could be a turning point in one of the Middle East’s most volatile conflicts. Posting on Truth Social, Trump revealed that after “excellent conversations” with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both leaders agreed to halt hostilities beginning at 5 p.m. EST. The agreement comes amid weeks o

In a moment that perfectly captures the growing divide between globalism and nationalism, Vice President JD Vance stepped forward this week with a warning that sent shockwaves through political and religious circles alike: the Vatican must be careful when theology begins to drift into politics. Speaking amid escalating tensions with Pope Leo XIV, Vance made it clear that while faith matters, America’s sovereignty matters more. His message was simple—but powerful: the United S

In a decisive move that underscores the growing digital battlefield between America and its adversaries, YouTube—owned by Google—has terminated a channel linked to a pro-Iran propaganda operation that had been producing viral, AI-generated Lego-style videos mocking President Donald Trump. The platform confirmed Wednesday that the channel, tied to the Iranian media group known as Explosive Media, was removed after repeatedly posting politically charged content that ridiculed t

Donald Trump issued a public statement addressing rising tensions involving Iran, focusing on both its internal unrest and nuclear ambitions. In his remarks, Trump claimed that Iran had killed at least 42,000 innocent, unarmed protesters over the past two months, highlighting concerns about the government’s response to ongoing demonstrations. The figure has not been independently verified, but reports of protests and crackdowns in Iran have been widely covered. Trump also dir

In a decisive show of strength that signals a return to unapologetic American leadership, the United States has effectively shut down Iran’s maritime economy, enforcing a sweeping naval blockade that is already crippling Tehran’s ability to conduct trade. According to statements from the U.S. Central Command, American naval forces achieved near-total control of Iranian shipping lanes within just 36 hours of launching the operation on April 13. The result: a regime that depend

In a major geopolitical development, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran could return to the negotiating table within the next 48 hours—this time again in Islamabad, a city now emerging as the center of high-stakes global diplomacy. The president’s remarks, delivered in an interview with The New York Post, signal renewed urgency after an intense first round of talks failed to produce a deal. Trump initially described negotiations as progressing “a

In a powerful and unapologetic statement, Donald J. Trump once again demonstrated what strong American leadership looks like—sending a clear, unmistakable message to Iran and its destabilizing naval forces. Posting on Truth Social, President Trump declared that Iran’s navy has already suffered devastating losses, claiming that 158 ships have been “completely obliterated.” But more importantly, he issued a direct warning: any remaining Iranian “fast attack ships” approaching a

In a revealing clash between spiritual rhetoric and real-world leadership, Pope Leo XIV publicly pushed back against President Donald Trump on Monday, defending the Vatican’s message of “peace and reconciliation” while criticizing the direction of American foreign policy. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria, Leo suggested that President Trump’s approach does not align with the message of the Gospel. “To put my message on the same plane as what the

Donald Trump has ordered a U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian-linked maritime traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz—sending a clear message to Tehran after failed negotiations. JD Vance exited high-stakes talks in Pakistan after Iran refused to accept U.S. terms, confirming what many conservatives have long argued: the regime cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith. According to United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the blockade began April 13 and targets vessels e

Mansoor Ijaz is well-known in Washington and Islamabad power corridors – political, military and intelligence. A physicist and neuro-mechanical engineer by education and hedge fund manager and venture capitalist by profession, Mansoor has long played an unofficial “citizen diplomacy” role in some of the most intractable problems the world has faced in the past three decades. He ventured into Sudan when no nation was willing to talk to Khartoum so the US could get access to

ISLAMABAD — The United States and Iran have begun historic peace talks on April 11 in Pakistan’s capital, marking the most significant direct engagement since the Iranian Revolution—but make no mistake: this is not diplomacy born of weakness, it is diplomacy imposed by strength. Led by Vice President JD Vance, the American delegation arrived after a devastating U.S.-led military campaign and a Trump-brokered two-week ceasefire that halted weeks of conflict. President Trump ha

In a bold display of renewed American leadership under President Donald Trump, Vice President J. D. Vance has arrived in Islamabad to spearhead critical ceasefire negotiations with Iran—marking the most significant diplomatic engagement since the Iranian Revolution. Before departing, Vance delivered a message that blended strength with strategic restraint: America is ready to negotiate—but only if Iran comes to the table in good faith. It’s a clear shift from years of weak, a

In a stunning display of strength-driven diplomacy, the United States—under the leadership of Donald J. Trump—has forced Iran into negotiations, with Pakistan stepping up as a critical mediator on the world stage. After weeks of escalating conflict, a two-week ceasefire was secured—an outcome widely attributed to Pakistan’s intervention and Trump’s uncompromising pressure campaign. Now, Islamabad is preparing to host historic talks between Washington and Tehran, with top-leve