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Trump Pursues Diplomatic Off-Ramp As Omani Delegation Arrives In Tehran: Report

Zero Rss
3 weeks 4 days ago
Trump Pursues Diplomatic Off-Ramp As Omani Delegation Arrives In Tehran: Report

Summary

  • Why Trump Reportedly Ordered Military Not To Strike In Overnight
  • US Pauses Iran Bombing Campaign As Saudi-Houthi Red Sea Front Erupts
Why Trump Reportedly Ordered Military Not To Strike In Overnight

Axios reports that President Trump called off new U.S. military strikes on Iran Friday night, signaling a potential diplomatic offramp after nearly two weeks of tit-for-tat attacks.

People familiar with the decision told the outlet that the pause coincided with the arrival of Omani officials in Tehran for negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Here's what those sources are saying:

  • Trump's order to hold fire was given several hours after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran Friday for talks on a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Two regional sources with knowledge of the negotiations said progress has been made in the talks and that an agreement between Oman and Iran could be reached over the weekend.

More color: 

  • Trump's decision reflects both his willingness to provide more space for diplomacy and a recognition that — short of a return to major combat operations — the current level of U.S. strikes has reached the limit of its effectiveness.
  • If Trump orders a return to strikes, the U.S. military can mobilize on relatively short notice.
  • The U.S. military is still preparing plans for a possible return to major combat operations, but Trump hasn't given orders to move in that direction, the sources said.

Why the Trump administration is likely finding the offramp (again) ... 

•Gas Prices Nearing Levels That Could Push Trump Towards Iran Talks, Says JPM Commodities Expert

JPMorgan's head of Global Commodities Research and Strategy, Natasha Kaneva, told clients: "In the previous round of escalations, negotiations were initiated once US gasoline prices reached $4.20 and became materially more urgent as prices neared $4.50. Oil may be a global commodity, but political tolerance for high energy prices remains overwhelmingly domestic."

US Pauses Iran Bombing Campaign As Saudi-Houthi Red Sea Front Erupts 

Brent crude surged 27% over two weeks to settle at $96.78 a barrel on Friday, briefly breaching $100 this past week as traders priced in a higher war-risk premium into energy markets amid simultaneous chokepoint threats to the Strait of Hormuz and the southern Red Sea.

Meanwhile, the US appeared to pause its 13-day campaign of daily overnight strikes against Iran. While there was no indication that the operational halt would extend into next week, the pause certainly reinforces the diplomatic signals highlighted in our US-Iran wrap on Friday.

However, there was an escalation overnight with Saudi-led strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets in Hodeida. This comes after the terror group attacked multiple Saudi-linked tankers in the southern Red Sea area.

Houthis escalate with attacks against Saudi Arabia: 

BREAKING: Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree says the group has launched two "sensitive operations" targeting Saudi Arabia, vowing that the principle of a "blockade for a blockade" will continue.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/gEqGF07kWl pic.twitter.com/IYUFD5qCva

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 25, 2026

Saudi Arabian oil refinery reportedly hit by Houthi missile: 

Smoke has been seen coming from a Saudi Arabian oil refinery in Jazan after reports of a Houthi missile attack and air defence activity.

The Iran-backed Houthis said they had launched a series of attacks on the country in retaliation to Friday’s Saudi strikes on Hodeidah. pic.twitter.com/P88heLGtOO

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) July 25, 2026

The confrontation threatens to open a second major front in the Gulf conflict. With traffic through Hormuz largely paralyzed, sustained Houthi attacks on Yanbu or ships entering Bab al-Mandab Strait could disrupt millions of barrels of Saudi exports, raise shipping costs, and further tighten physical markets.

Hormuz Traffic

Bab al-Mandab Strait Traffic

Commodity desks from JPMorgan, RBC, Goldman Sachs and others warned this past week that spreading "strait chaos" across the Gulf and widening disruptions to regional energy flows could drive further upside in crude if the conflict persists. Brent has returned to the $90s after briefly trading above $100 a barrel.

Here's what top commodity desks are saying:

•Goldman Warns Brent Could Top $120 If Gulf Chokepoint Crisis Deepens

•RBC Commodities Chief Warns "War Entering Dangerous Phase" As Chokepoint Chaos Risks Oil Above 2008 Peak

•Gas Prices Nearing Levels That Could Push Trump Towards Iran Talks, Says JPM Commodities Expert

And then there's this:

•Nine Potential Commodity Wildcards As "Once-A-Decade" Shocks Become New Normal

Red Sea disruption already materialized on Friday when a Hong Kong-flagged supertanker decided to turn away before reaching Bab el-Mandeb and to instead transit around the Cape of Good Hope, reinforcing longer freight times, higher rates, and more disruptions:

•Oil Tanker Makes Red Sea U-Turn After Houthi Threats, Reroutes Around Africa In Costly Transit

There is good news because US-allied Gulf countries are either planning or already developing new pipeline and port projects to bypass the Hormuz chokepoint entirely, which in the long run will erode Tehran's leverage on the critical waterway:

•Seven Pipeline Projects That Could Break Iran's Grip On Hormuz Chokepoint

Here are the latest overnight developments, courtesy of Bloomberg:

US Strikes & Pause

• Iran reported no US strikes overnight on Saturday, marking an apparent break after nearly two weeks of consecutive nightly US attacks.

• US strikes had progressively expanded in scope over two weeks, targeting bridges and infrastructure deeper inside Iran, following a collapsed ceasefire and renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz.

• Trump said on Friday he has not yet made a decision on whether to conduct major strikes against Iran, while noting US-Iran talks are continuing through VP Vance, Secretary Rubio, and others.

• Trump had previously told Axios he was considering a "massive attack" on Iran, saying the country "hasn't received enough pain yet" and is not ready to make a deal.

Strait of Hormuz

• Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday they stopped four ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours after firing warning shots.

• The US and UK are planning a high-level international conference in London next week focused on forming a coalition to protect maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to two European diplomats and other sources.

• An LPG tanker with 28 Indian crew members was attacked in Iranian territorial waters on Friday; India's embassy confirmed the crew is safe.

Regional Escalation

• Houthis claimed to have struck Saudi Arabia with missiles on Saturday morning, targeting southern Saudi provinces; Saudi authorities issued emergency warnings before lifting them for Jazan.

• Bahrain and Kuwait secretly sent warplanes to strike drone- and missile-storage depots inside Iran earlier this month, according to people familiar with the matter, their first such direct retaliation against Tehran.

Diplomacy & Sanctions

• China urged Iran and the US to return to implementing their ceasefire memorandum, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressing deep concern over renewed escalation at an SCO meeting in Kyrgyzstan on Friday.

• Pakistan is exploring a path toward resuming stalled US-Iran talks following a push initiated by China, according to three Pakistani sources cited by Reuters; obstacles to talks remain high.

• The US Treasury imposed new sanctions on Friday on the network of Iranian financier Babak Zanjani, targeting four individuals and nine entities linked to sanctions evasion and digital asset exchanges.

Tyler Durden Sat, 07/25/2026 - 13:35
Tyler Durden

Meltdown? The Real Reason Why The Media Hates Elon Musk

Zero Rss
3 weeks 4 days ago
Meltdown? The Real Reason Why The Media Hates Elon Musk

Some would say that Elon Musk is an enigma; a billionaire entrepreneur with a focus on green tech and environmental impact who used to support Democrat fixtures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, only to become one of the progressive establishment's biggest opponents.  What happened?

As Musk readily admits, the progressive movement changed and he did not.  One could argue that the progressive movement didn't change, it just pulled the mask off and revealed the monstrous face underneath.  Either way, anyone who saw that ugly face during the despotic insanity of the pandemic era and refused to adapt and embrace it was deemed an "enemy of democracy". 

Musk got a real good look and was clearly repulsed. 

After 2022 when Musk declared his total separation from the Democrats as the "party of division and hate", the leftist media descended like so many flying monkey's from a wicked witch's castle.  The attacks have been relentless.  When Musk made a move to purchase Twitter and fundamentally disrupt the political left's dominance of the social media landscape, they shrieked with rage and spit venom.  It was glorious.  

In a recent interview with The Economist the venom was on full display, but the tactics of media disinformation agents and provocateurs have become tired, repetitious, tedious.  You could see Musk's exasperation with the exercise.  He's heard all these leading questions and biased insinuations a thousand times before. 

Online and Swiss-owned far-left outlet Gizmodo published a hatchet job article covering the interview and described Musk as "melting down" over "normal questions".  This kind of gaslighting from the left is standard, and the projection is palpable.  Gizmodo's reaction is the true meltdown; they simply can't handle the idea of the media being exposed for their dishonesty.   

The most dishonest of people with the most nefarious of intentions often make accusations by disguising them as "questions".  The front page headline for this very Economist interview was:  "Should You Be Afraid Of Elon Musk?"  

Musk has been directly and indirectly accused of promoting racism, fascism, sexism, and even genocide.  Through DOGE and the much needed shutdown of the corrupt USAID institution, he is now accused of "killing millions" by withholding humanitarian funding. 

Liberal White Woman: "Some people loathe you. Do you understand why?"

Elon: "Maybe some people do loathe me. That's probably true. I don't care. I think a lot more people hate you and the media than you realize."

I love this man!!!!!! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/DpsZ4suVC0

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) July 23, 2026

🚨ABSOLUTE MIC DROP FROM ELON ON DOGE!!!!

Elon Musk: "ZERO died because of DOGE. Zero point zero!"

"When funding is stopped for a fraudulent organization, or for something do you think they're going to say,"Will you please keep funding the fraud!'

Or do you think they're… pic.twitter.com/OAhBLLbYiP

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) July 23, 2026

The real agenda is embedded in this line of questioning.  The global elites and the far-left present a false narrative of consensus - The notion that they represent the majority and the "majority" is very angry with Elon for his trespasses against the liberal order.  Perhaps more than Twitter, they are specifically sensitive about the closure of USAID. 

Why?  Not because they care about poor little starving children with AIDS in Africa.  It is questionable how many US dollars were actually going into these humanitarian projects versus the amount of dollars going into the hungry pockets of Democrat politicians and leftist NGOs.  The reality that the media doesn't want to address is that USAID was a central funding hub for the spread of woke ideology and propaganda around the globe. 

Without endless cash supplied by USAID fraud, the multicultural and intersectional vision of the far-left is greatly hindered.  Just look at how quickly, for example, Pride and transgender activist movements dissipated once federal funding through organizations like USAID dried up.  

What about mass immigration?  Do Americans really need to be funding shelters and services for migrants traveling through Mexico seeking to enter the US illegally?  Because this is what USAID was doing.    

DOGE dislodged an organization that was a cancer on the entire world, including the US.  This is what the media is truly upset about.  And it should be noted that the US is not responsible for the well-being of the entire world.  If people in third world countries can't survive without US subsidies, maybe they should learn how.

But Musk's most egregious crime was the leave the liberal plantation.  Leftists are radical collectivists and they see each individuals personal success as a platform to serve the interests of the greater movement.  Any individual who walks away from the collective and takes his platform with him is viewed as a traitor, but also a thief. 

Progressives see Musk as their property.  They see everything he builds as their property.  They believe that Musk owes them. 

🔥 Reporter tries LECTURING Elon Musk on being "divisive" and disliked, it BACKFIRES MASSIVELY:

REPORTER: The kinds of things you push make it worse

ELON: "I think you're the problem. The media."

"Speaking of loathing — YOU are loathed FAR more than I am, and you don't even… pic.twitter.com/oOYPpFbp5g

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 23, 2026

The assertion by Economist editor Zanny Minton Beddoes that her outlet and her comrades are "traditional liberals" promoting limited government and individual liberty is perhaps the most laughable claim a journalist has uttered in recent memory.  The Economist is a globalist news platform, and was partially owned by the Rothschild family for decades, right up until March of this year when they sold their share. 

The Economist aggressively promoted anti-freedom policies during the Biden Administration including mandatory vaccinations during Covid.  They also supported, in theory, the idea of vaccine passports, which would have resulted in the most oppressive shift away from personal liberty in modern history.  They consistently attacked people who opposed the mandates for "spreading misinformation" and defended the concept of government pressure on the public. 

Of course, none of the mandates enforced by liberal governments proved to make any difference in the spread of covid, and the Infection Fatality Rate remain relatively static at an average of 0.23%.  All that hysteria and tyranny over a virus that 99.8% of the population would easily survive. 

Traditional liberalism in the media is long dead.  It does not exist.  It has been replaced by woke authoritarianism.  

This is why, as Musk notes, no one trusts the media and most people hate them.  In 2025 over 70% of US adults said they have low trust or no trust in the mainstream media.  These companies might have incredible amounts of money behind them, but it's all irrelevant without the public trust.   

Tyler Durden Sat, 07/25/2026 - 13:25
Tyler Durden

Top NIH Official Wanted To Shut Down Research Into COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries: Emails

Zero Rss
3 weeks 4 days ago
Top NIH Official Wanted To Shut Down Research Into COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries: Emails

Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times,

Top officials with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) expressed misgivings about researchers with the agency studying people with neurological issues after they received COVID-19 vaccines, according to newly released emails.

Principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Lawrence Tabak, testifies before the Committee on Oversight and Accountability in Washington on May 16, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Dr. Avindra Nath, a senior investigator with the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, was studying people with post-vaccination neurological problems in 2020 and 2021.

In an email on April 10, 2021, he sent a draft of a paper to the institute's director, Dr. Walter Koroshetz, that outlined what he had found.

"Early recognition and treatment with corticosteroids can reverse the symptoms," Nath wrote.

The following day, the institute's director sent the manuscript to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who at the time was director of another NIH institute.

"There have been steady slow stream of reports to me of post vaccination neurologic conditions, seem to be mostly peripheral nerve disorders ... maybe an occasional spinal cord issue," Koroshetz told Fauci. "Avi has been collecting a bunch. He has a report sent out to publish. Hard to know not due to chance but are timed to the vaccination."

Another NIH employee sent the manuscript to then-NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Lawrence Tabak, a second top NIH official, and shared that the New England Journal of Medicine rejected the paper.

"What do you make of this?" Collins wrote in response. "The draft letter doesn't explain how these 32 patients were referred - leaving one to wonder whether this is common or rare."

Koroshetz told Collins that many reports had been lodged with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and that Nath had been attracting referrals because he had appeared on a podcast to discuss neurological problems following COVID-19 vaccination.

Koroshetz also said that Nath, and another employee at his institute, had suffered tinnitus after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, and that Nath had hearing loss.

Collins said the approach taken by Nath's team was "very troubling," adding, "collecting anecdotes and then trying to build a case isn't scientifically compelling - and will have the main consequence of feeding vaccine hesitancy and social media overreaction."

Tabak wrote privately to Collins, telling him, "I don't understand why Walter does not shut this down."

"While the emails do not prove that Collins, Tabak, or Fauci expressly ordered Nath to abandon the manuscript, they raise serious questions about whether NIH leadership viewed its potential effect on vaccine confidence as a compelling reason to suppress its publication," the Informed Consent Action Network, which released the missives on July 22, said in a statement.

Collins, Fauci, and Nath did not return requests for comment by the time of publication. Tabak could not be reached.

The paper was never published in a journal. It was released as a preprint, or without peer review, in May 2022, more than one year after Nath sent it to Koroshetz.

Dr. Danice Hertz, a retired gastroenterologist who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shortly after it was authorized in 2020 and suffered severe problems, was one of the patients who was examined by Nath's team.

"I have always believed that Fauci must have told Nath to stop talking to us, as we were all abruptly dismissed from Nath's care without explanation. Now I know that my suspicions were true," Hertz told The Epoch Times in an email after reading the newly released missives.

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in Washington on June 3, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times Tyler Durden Sat, 07/25/2026 - 12:50
Tyler Durden

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