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U.S. President Donald Trump poured cold water on reports that Washington was preparing new strikes against Iran before the November midterms, announcing that the U.S. would not launch new strikes in the short term.
In a Truth Social statement, the president hinted at a possible diplomatic breakthrough with Iran, citing productive discussions with officials in Tehran.
B-2 Bomber Dropping Bomb. Image Credit: DOD.
The war, however, is far from over.
Veterans looking to find a dentist through Department of Veterans Affairs health clinics waited nearly two months for a first appointment, according to new figures provided by the VA to Task & Purpose. That delay is about three times as long as the typical time a returning patient can expect to get dental care in the VA system.
Established patients, who accounted for more than 90% of VA dental appointments, wait an average of 14 days, VA officials told Task & Purpose, compared with an average wait of 51 days for new patients.
The Strait of Hormuz is not the whole map; it is only one part of the broader 2026 U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, although it is a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG transited before the conflict began.
U.S. airstrikes have spanned far beyond the strait, including strikes by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on military targets across Iranian territory such as Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.
F-14 Tomcat like flown by Iran. 19FortyFive.com photo taken by staff.
Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Iran has “lost complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, as he touted what he believes to be the return to normalcy of the world’s oil supply routes, particularly to the US, where the ongoing conflict has seen pump prices rise sharply over the last couple of months.
Nuclear Capabilities are Unacceptable
Donald Trump. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Donald Trump in 2023. Image Credit: Gage Skidmore.
Only 26 days remain until the midterm elections on November 3. The situation in Iran looms large over the entire election.
The White House wants everyone to believe the president controls the clock. A White House official told The Hill that “the president holds options.”
A-10 Warthog. National Security Journal Photo Taken on 9/26/2026.
“The Commander-in-Chief has all options available at any time.
The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing,” the official said.
An oil tanker in the Gulf reportedly came under fire from “multiple projectiles,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported.
The attack also caused casualties, and the tanker was identified as the Acers, which flies the Antigua and Barbuda flag.
War in Iran Causing Heightened Attacks
U.S. Navy Diagram. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 9, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transits the Pacific Ocean. John C. Stennis is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility while on a seven-month deployment. (U.S.
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby approved a departmentwide instruction that went into effect this week and details how the Pentagon will award action-based financial bonuses to innovative cyber warriors.
The directive, approved on Sept. 30 and effective Oct. 5, establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for the “Cyber Operations-Peculiar Awards” program authorized by Section 1124a of Title 10 U.S.C.
The US may soon see the resumption of large-scale attacks against Iran in the coming weeks, as the country also prepares for the midterm elections in November.
What’s On the Table?
U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin “BEO” Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, flies an F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 421st Fighter Generation Squadron during Naval Air Station Key West 2023 Southernmost Air Spectacular over Boca Chica Field in Key West, Florida, April 14, 2023. The F-35 demonstrated its capabilities during the airhshow, along with the U.S.
Air Force bases in Florida are prepping for Hurricane Isaias, issuing evacuation orders and moving aircraft ahead of the storm’s potential landfall on Friday.
On Wednesday, the 1st Special Operations Wing commander directed residents in private military housing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and an RV site associated with the base to evacuate “out of an abundance of caution.” About 1,000 residents were ordered to evacuate by 5:00 p.m. Thursday.
Washington’s Difficulty in Enforcing its Economic Sanctions on Iran – The United States is expanding its crackdown on Iran’s shadow fleet, targeting not only the tankers that move sanctioned oil but also the maritime companies that fuel, repair, and guide them through some of Asia’s busiest shipping lanes.
Under heavy sanctions that severely limit its ability to export oil, Iran is using ship-to-ship cargo transfers to sell millions of barrels of sanctioned oil to trading partners.
F-35. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin.
SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan.