Straits of Hormuz Trump says the US is now in “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran continues to insist the waterway will remain closed until the US war and blockade end. The immediate confrontation escalated when a US helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the steering gear of the Panama-flagged Vela Nova after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to reach an Iranian port. The US says the vessel was disabled without reporting casualties, while Iran has demanded an end to the blockade, the release of frozen assets and a regional ceasefire before reopening the strait. At the same time, Oman is reportedly making progress in talks with Tehran, Pakistan has sent its interior minister to Tehran as part of mediation efforts, and the Houthis claim to have attacked a Saudi-linked cargo ship in the Bab al-Mandeb. So, despite Trump's claim of “total control”, Hormuz remains very much the central unresolved issue. SOURCE Iran reshuffles its military command Iran's Supreme Leader has carried out a major reshuffle of the country's military and security leadership, bringing several veteran commanders into key positions across the General Staff, Revolutionary Guard, IRGC Navy and Basij. Iranian hardliners are presenting the changes as evidence that Tehran is rebuilding a more unified and potentially more offensive military structure after the recent war, with new IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi instructed to prepare for “powerful offensive operations against the enemy”. But the reshuffle does not necessarily mean Iran has abandoned diplomacy: some Iranian commentators argue that putting experienced military figures at the centre of the security establishment could actually strengthen Tehran's negotiating position by allowing it to deal with Washington from a position of greater military strength. The restructuring also appears designed to tighten the chain of command between strategic planning and battlefield operations while giving the Basij a potentially greater role in domestic intelligence and security. In other words, Khamenei appears to be preparing Iran for both another fight and another round of negotiations. SOURCE Is America really preparing for ground operations? The Pentagon has moved roughly 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division into the region, alongside several thousand Marines and sailors aboard the USS Tripoli, giving Washington additional options if the conflict escalates. But this is not evidence of an Iraq-style invasion, according to the military experts cited by Fox News; there simply aren't enough troops for that. Instead, the forces could theoretically be used for short-duration missions against specific targets, to secure positions near the Strait of Hormuz, or potentially to protect nuclear material after airstrikes. Experts also warn that occupying territory such as Kharg Island would make American troops vulnerable to Iranian missiles, drones and mines. The White House says the deployments are about maintaining flexibility, while US officials have not confirmed any decision to launch ground operations. SOURCE The Houthis open another frontThe Houthis claim they struck a cargo vessel carrying Saudi military equipment in the Red Sea, while Yemen's internationally recognised government says six people were killed and 10 wounded. If confirmed, it would be the first deadly Houthi attack on a ship since the current war began and would underline the danger that the wider conflict could continue spreading beyond the Gulf. With Hormuz already disrupted and the Bab al-Mandeb now again under threat, the latest incident gives Iran another potential pressure point against regional shipping without Tehran itself having to fire the shot.
