Middle East OSINT

@shelbyholliday @mgordonwsj @CostasParis I hope no one was counting on a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

NEW: The U.S. military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in the coming days, according to U.S. officials. W ⁦@mgordonwsj⁩ ⁦@CostasParis⁩ wsj.com/world/middle-e…

@gCaptain That is one effective way to deny claims made by Trump.

Fresh Attacks Shatter ‘Open Hormuz’ Narrative as Iran Pushes New Maritime Regime gcaptain.com/fresh-attacks-…

@Hassan73525137 @HormuzLetter That would make a lot more sense, yes.

@HormuzLetter They're referring to the tweets of trump, idiot.

BREAKING: The IRGC Navy is publicly calling Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi an "idiot" on international maritime Channel 16, broadcasting that the Strait of Hormuz "is still closed" and "we will open it by the order of our leader Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiot." He added "All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass."

This is not a "denial". Hezbollah has not "denied" a single accusation. | Screenshot via @AP

@Amena__Bakr OK, but now they are actively shooting at vessels.

Despite all the grand headlines… it was never opened.

@phildstewart The ceasefire in Lebanon is not going well, either.

Reuters is reporting that Iran is broadcasting this VHF message: "Attention all ships, ​regarding the failure ⁠of the U.S. government to fulfil its commitment in the negotiation, Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz completely ​closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality ​is allowed ⁠to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”

@flightradar24 For anyone who wants to feel stressed, watching this video is a great opportunity.

Chicago-O’Hare was brought to a standstill for a short while last night due to severe weather, but here’s what a normal afternoon looks like at the world’s busiest airport compressed into ~90 seconds.

The latest updates, from Israeli media: ● Less than a day after Trump announced that he was “banning” Israel from bombing Lebanon, the IDF, responding to the violations, stated: “We are not restricted in our right to self-defense.” ● A Hezbollah MP: “We have contacted the leadership in Tehran.” A senior Hezbollah official: “We will not return to March 2.” ● A French soldier from the UNIFIL force was killed by gunfire in southern Lebanon; Macron: “The evidence indicates that Hezbollah is responsible.”

@infraa_ @BarakRavid The two sides are definitely heading straight for a collision.

@BarakRavid I guess we're going back to war Was a nice break while it lasted x.com/infraa_/status…

A U.S. defense official claims the IRGC has conducted at least three attacks on commercial ships in the strait of Hormuz since Saturday morning

@danielaatomica @BarakRavid We all are.

@BarakRavid Iran playing with fire

@HTWardish @phildstewart The practical situation is that the Strait remains closed.

@phildstewart “Iran’s navy.” Lmfao, you’re a funny one Stewart.

!! (Reuters) - Merchant vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio ​messages from Iran's navy telling them they were not allowed ‌to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire, shipping sources said.

@pforce810 @DeItaone Statements from both sides have to be "understood".

@DeItaone If you believe Iran over Trump then you are fucking retarded. This is just Iran going long/short on oil.

NO DATE SET FOR NEXT ROUND OF IRAN-US TALKS: IRAN DEPUTY FM TRUMP 'TWEETS A LOT, TALKS A LOT', IRAN'S DEPUTY FM SAYS

@ms_xph @DeItaone On both sides, yes.

@DeItaone They’re saying it’s ‘shut again’… so they did open it, and now they’re closing it? Reeks of market manipulation

MERCHANT VESSELS RECEIVE RADIO MESSAGE FROM IRANIAN NAVY SAYING STRAIT OF HORMUZ SHUT AGAIN, NO SHIPS ARE ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH, SHIPPING SOURCES SAY

@researcher93986 @DeItaone So we are locked in a stalemate.

@DeItaone Given that the United States has resorted to military action against Iran by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, it cannot be expected that Iran would keep the strait open.

@TankerTrackers "With friends like these....." What if they are your least-worst option?

According to two Channel 16 audio recordings captured today, two Indian vessels were forced back west out of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran's Sepah (IRGC) Navy. Firing was involved. One of the vessels is an Indian-flagged VLCC supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil. Meanwhile, India is still importing Iranian oil. With friends like these..... #OOTT #Tankers #IranWar

@HormuzLetter @grok Where was that originally reported?

BREAKING: At least 2 vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz are reporting gunfire, with UKMTO saying a tanker captain being approached by two IRGC gunboats.

Despite unequivocal warnings from the IDF spokesman to residents of southern Lebanon who had fled their homes not to approach their villages due to continued IDF operational activity, in the past 24 hours there has been a massive movement of Lebanese returning south. This move poses a direct security challenge to Israeli forces operating in the region. Via "C14" (Israel)

@JavierBlas "Our blockade is because of their blockade, and their blockade is because of our blockade."

Iran has rowed back on its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit through the hugely important waterway as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

"Our blockade is because of their blockade, and their blockade is because of our blockade." ────────────── Iranian military officials said Saturday that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz have reverted to "strict control," citing the continued U.S. blockade of its ports, just one day after declaring the waterway “completely open.” “Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control of the armed forces,” a spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said. “Until America allows full freedom of navigation for vessels traveling from Iran to destinations and vice versa, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and in its previous condition,” the statement added. nbcnews.com/world/iran/ira…