Caine McCluskey

🇸🇦🇮🇷 Saudi’s NEOM is rolling out a new trade route linking Europe to the Gulf, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz entirely. This is how the route looks like: Ships from Europe transfer from Egyptian ports to Port of NEOM, then by truck to reach GCC countries such as UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Oman. It offers a safer way for goods to move across the region, showing that Saudi’s big connectivity plans are already taking shape. Even after the Iran war dies down, no one will ever fully trust the Strait of Hormuz again.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Everyone's talking about the blockade. Here's what it actually looks like to enforce one: The U.S. can't park aircraft carriers in a 21-mile-wide strait. Instead, it relies on guided missile destroyers in layered positions, Virginia-class submarines hunting silently beneath the surface, and robotic minesweepers to clear Iran's sea mines without putting sailors in the water. Iran's counter is a swarm of fast attack boats capable of surrounding a cargo ship from 360 degrees, coastal missile launchers hidden inside mountain bunkers, and tethered mines dropped directly in a ship's path. Mixed in with the speedboats are remote-controlled suicide vessels packed with explosives. The U.S. answer to the swarm is A-10s tearing boats apart with depleted uranium rounds and Apache helicopters firing Hellfire missiles at sea level. And if Iran's mobile missile launchers roll out of their bunkers, Tomahawk strikes are already queued up before they get a shot off. This is not a clean operation. Military analysts have called it the most complex naval challenge since World War II. Source: AiTelly

🇮🇷 The reason Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei hasn't been seen in public may be that his face was badly disfigured in the attack that killed his father. He's reportedly recovering from severe facial and leg injuries, but remains mentally ​sharp, and is taking part in meetings with senior officials on major issues, including the war and negotiations ‌with Washington. The other reason he's not been seen is probably that he's staying deep underground until he's certain Israel won't try to kill him. That could be some time. Source: Reuters

No community note It's true

🇮🇷 Today marks the 40th day since Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the Iran war. In Shia Islam, the 40th day after death is one of the most significant moments of mourning. Large crowds have gathered in Tehran and cities across Iran for the Chehlum ceremony. Khamenei ruled Iran for 36 years. He was killed on the first day of a war he spent decades preparing for but did not survive to fight. Source: Yediot News

Why do people act as if the Argentine military is so much stronger than Britain’s? This is just not the case. The Royal Navy is much stronger than the Argentine Navy and our garrison on the Falklands is much larger than what it was in 1982.