03 World

Trump Called on US Allies to Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz. This Is How They Responded.– townhall.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump is pressing U.S. allies to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces shut down large swaths of commercial traffic through the region.

In a Saturday post on Truth Social, the president noted that countries “who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait” would be sending ships to the area “to keep the Strait open and safe.”

He explained that while the U.S. has “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability,” it is “easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway.”

He said he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others would also lend their naval support to the effort to reopen the Hormuz Strait.

Israel says it has plans for at least three weeks of war as airstrikes pound Iran– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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OIL SLIPS ON BESSENT SHIPPING COMMENTS

Despite the turbulence, oil prices, which had been above US$100 a barrel, fell sharply and stocks rallied after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC the US was “fine” to let some Iranian fuel vessels sail through the strait, and believed Indian and Chinese tankers had also passed through.

Ship-tracking data showed a Pakistan-bound oil tanker had passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, indicating that some countries are able to negotiate safe passage for their vessels.

On Sunday, Trump had demanded that countries relying heavily on oil from the Gulf should help protect the strait, and said he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would participate.

However, many – including Germany, Italy, Greece, Japan and Australia – said they would not send warships.

Massive “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN” Rally in NYC Backing Trump Administration’s Strikes on Iran– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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Massive march in NYC, backing the Trump Administration’s strikes on Iran.

The Democrat media axis is lying to you. About everything.

Trump Vows to Secure Strait of Hormuz as Warships Deploy, Coalition Grows– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Trump put fire under the broader community of concerned nations: the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT! The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be (Truth).

That message continued through the weekend. New York Sun: President Trump pledged Saturday to quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz with help from a multinational naval coalition, even while claiming to have “destroyed 100%” of Iran’s military capability in a two-week campaign that has disrupted global oil supplies and raised fears of a broader regional confrontation. “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. He called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to contribute vessels, saying those nations have been harmed by what he described as “this artificial constraint” (New York Sun).

President Trump Made a Courageous and Correct Call on Hormuz and Iran’s Actions Prove It – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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One thing the Iran War has demonstrated is that the overwhelming majority of journalists and commentators on the war are blindingly ignorant of the basics of military operations, they are unacquainted with the staff process, and they are so eaten alive by the all-devouring TDS virus that they have lost the ability to reason when Trump is involved.

The purpose of this post is not to declare victory, but to demonstrate that President Trump is leading a top-shelf strategic team put together by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. He is getting good advice, he’s listening, and he’s making good decisions.

Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported what I think is a blindingly obvious example of how command and staff relationships work and how the commander-in-chief handles those relationships, and tried to portray it as a scandal or an example of recklessness.

Before the U.S. went to war, Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told President Trump that an American attack could prompt Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Caine said in several briefings that U.S. officials had long believed Iran would deploy mines, drones and missiles to close the world’s most vital shipping lane, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.

Trump acknowledged the risk, these people said, but moved forward with the most consequential foreign-policy decision of his two presidencies. He told his team that Tehran would likely capitulate before closing the strait—and even if Iran tried, the U.S. military could handle it.

Now, two weeks into the war, Iran’s leaders have refused to back down, and the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as Tehran’s most potent leverage point.

People ‘high up’ in the White House are against war with Iran, Trump ally turned foe tells CNN– www.independent.co.uk

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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Iranian foreign minister says “we don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans”– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that “we don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans” as President Trump has claimed Iran is seeking a deal to end the war between the U.S. and Iran.

“We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” Araghchi said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

As the war entered its third week, Mr. Trump has claimed in recent days that Iran wants to reach a deal. The president said in a post on Truth Social late Friday that Iran “is totally defeated and wants a deal – But not a deal that I would accept!” On Saturday, he told NBC News that “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet.”

But Araghchi said “we are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” saying “this is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory.”

China urges US to correct ‘erroneous ways’ over trade probes ahead of Paris talks– www.france24.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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Beijing said on Monday it has “lodged representations” and urged Washington to “correct its erroneous ways” after the US launched new trade probes last week, with negotiators from both countries meeting in Paris.

Washington’s trade investigations target 60 economies including China and will look into “failures to take action on forced labor” and whether these burden or restrict US commerce.

Those investigations came a day after a separate set of US probes centred on excess industrial capacity that target 16 trading partners including China, which Beijing’s foreign ministry criticised as “political manipulation”.

“We urge the US side to immediately correct its erroneous ways, meet China halfway… and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations,” Beijing’s commerce ministry said in a statement.

Trump says talks with Cuba ongoing, action possible after Iran– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (Mar 15) that the United States could soon reach a deal with Cuba or take other action, signalling that developments in the long-strained relationship may come quickly.

“Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do,” Trump said to reporters on Air Force One. “We’re talking to Cuba, but we’re going to do Iran before Cuba.”

The comments come as tensions between Washington and Havana remain elevated following years of sanctions, diplomatic friction and disputes over migration and security, with regional allies and investors watching closely for signs of a policy shift.

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Friday that the country opened talks with the United States as the island faces one of its most severe economic crises in decades.

UK ‘will not be drawn into wider war’ over Iran, says Starmer as he announces £53m to help with heating oil costs – UK politics live | Politics– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

Keir Starmer is speaking at his press conference.

The war is entering its third week, he says.

He says he has been clear in his objectives.

First, we will protect our people in the region.

Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.

And third, we will keep working towards a swift resolution that brings security and stability back to the region and stops the Iranian threat to its neighbours.

Trump-Xi China summit may be delayed if Trump wants to stay in Washington for Iran war: Bessent– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese Leader Xi Jinping could be delayed for logistical reasons during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

Trump suggested on Sunday that the summit could be delayed as the U.S. pressures China to help the U.S. reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Bessent walked those comments back on Monday, arguing the summit would be delayed if Trump chooses to stay in Washington to coordinate the war effort in Iran.

“If the meetings are delayed, it wouldn’t be delayed because the president demanded that China police the Strait of Hormuz,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC’s Brian Sullivan in Paris. “If the meeting, for some reason, is rescheduled, it would be rescheduled because of logistics.”

Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran’s ‘Crown Jewel’: ‘Locked & Loaded’– slaynews.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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President Donald Trump has warned that the United States has the capability to wipe out the Iranian regime’s most critical oil export hub within minutes, and the U.S. military is “locked and loaded” and ready to do so with a moment’s notice.

However, Trump says he has deliberately chosen not to pull the trigger – yet.

Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said U.S. forces are fully prepared to destroy Kharg Island, the regime’s primary oil export terminal and a vital economic lifeline for Tehran.

“We can do that on five minutes’ notice,” Trump said.

“We have it all locked and loaded and ready to go if we want to do it.”

Trump Issues Warning to NATO Allies: Help Secure Strait of Hormuz or Face Consequences– slaynews.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

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President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), urging allied nations to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and cautioning that failure to do so could have serious implications for the alliance.

Speaking in an interview with The Financial Times, Trump said NATO members that rely on the critical shipping route should share responsibility for protecting it.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the Strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said.

“If there’s no response, or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

Trump Presses Allies and China to Secure the Strait of Hormuz – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump wants the world to act quickly to stop Iran from threatening shipping in the Straits of Hormuz. Iran has used mines, drones, and naval harassment to disrupt traffic through the narrow channel between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. About one-fifth of global oil shipments travel through that route, and a shutdown would send fuel costs climbing across the world within days. Trump’s message to allies and rivals alike remains simple: help reopen the waterway and keep global commerce moving.

Trump already ordered American forces to strike all remaining Iranian maritime assets and energy facilities tied to the effort to block shipping. U.S. forces destroyed over 30 Iranian mine-laying vessels and carried out strikes against an oil hub on Kharg Island. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth supports the campaign and has kept naval forces in the region on alert.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded with warnings that Iran would increase retaliation if attacks continue. Trump still calls on allied navies to join the effort and escort tankers through the strait.

DEVELOPING: KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Goes Down in Iraq– wltreport.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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This is a developing story.

A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft has gone down in Western Iraq.

Recovery efforts are underway.

Right now, it is not believed that the crash was caused by hostile or friendly fire.

Here’s what we know so far:

Iran may be losing militarily — but the propaganda war just began– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

Blurb:

There is little doubt that U.S. and Israeli strikes on military targets inside Iran have dealt a severe blow to the country’s capacity to wage war. The campaign has eliminated the first and second tiers of Iran’s leadership, destroyed more than 60 naval vessels, degraded its weapons stockpiles, and dismantled key air-defense systems — leaving large portions of the regime’s political and command infrastructure in disarray.

Yet despite the devastation, Iran’s leadership shows no sign of capitulation. Instead, it remains defiantly entrenched. As the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps exhausts its remaining military options, it has increasingly turned to another weapon: a coordinated propaganda campaign waged through its state-controlled media. And, as so often happens, the anti-American foot soldiers of the U.S. legacy press have proven more than willing to amplify it.

Trump Says New Ayatollah Still Alive ‘In Some Form’– www.westernjournal.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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President Donald Trump said the replacement for the deceased Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, hasn’t been killed, although he implied he was seriously injured.

The statement, made in an interview with Fox News set to air on Friday morning, was first reported by Fox and other sources on Thursday night.

The announcement comes after much speculation that the new supreme leader had also been killed in one of the airstrikes that led off the joint U.S./Israeli campaign against Iran on Feb. 28.

MIKE CONAWAY: As China’s Espionage Threat Widens, America Must Lock Down Its Own House– dailycaller.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stands a respectable 5’8”, but during his recent visit to China he was — as the kids say — “mogged.”

Soldiers of the People’s Republic’s honor guard, all more than six feet tall, towered over him on both sides.

The optics were hard to miss. The empire that once humiliated China into opening its ports and surrendering Hong Kong now approached Beijing like Oliver Twist asking for more gruel.

Precision Strikes, Clear Objectives, and a Swift Return to Peace › American Greatness– amgreatness.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump campaigned on ending endless wars, not starting them. Just over a year into his second term, he is delivering this on his terms. The U.S.–Israeli 2026 military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which began following Iran’s reckless provocations in the wake of the 12-Day War, has already achieved its strategic goals. With only a small number of remaining nuclear facilities left to neutralize and the Strait of Hormuz on track to be fully secured within the coming weeks, the United States stands ready to proclaim mission accomplished and swiftly conclude major combat operations.

Trump says US is ‘destroying’ Iranian regime and warns ‘watch what happens’ today– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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President Donald Trump blasted the New York Times early Friday morning for its coverage of Operation Epic Fury, claiming that it showed that the U.S. was “not winning.” The president provided a list of military accomplishments so far and teased that something would be occurring “today.”

“We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.”

Chip Roy Demands Probe Into Leftist Groups Meeting With Cuba– www.dailysignal.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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Rep. Chip Roy is demanding an “immediate” investigation into the leftist network of activist groups organizing protests against President Donald Trump’s intervention in Iran after some of the network’s leaders met with the Cuban Communist Party’s Politburo earlier this week.

“That this group would openly meet with Cuba tells you how urgent it is for the administration and state law enforcement entities, including attorneys general, to immediately investigate these groups and the myriad other groups that are clearly acting against our national security interests,” the Texas Republican told The Daily Signal in a phone interview Thursday.

ABC News Spins Murderous Trans Shooter Into ‘Former Family Member’– www.newsbusters.org

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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ABC News, already the worst among the Elitist Media broadcast network evening newscasts, may have plumbed a new low. A story subject’s murderous, transgender father was hit with Disney pixie dust and spun into the more anodyne “former family member.”

Watch the report in its entirety, as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Thursday, March 12th, 2026:

US Military Plane Lost Amid ‘Operation Epic Fury’: US Central Command– www.westernjournal.com

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

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U.S. Central Command has confirmed that the military lost a plane as “Operation Epic Fury” continues in the Middle East.

CENTCOM put out a statement on Thursday and shared the news on X:

Trump raises China stakes with Section 301 trade probe before Beijing Xi meeting– www.cnbc.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

With a high-stakes summit in Beijing less than three weeks away, the U.S. has launched sweeping trade investigations that put China squarely in its crosshairs, adding a new layer of friction to an already complicated relationship.

The probes, which will be conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, aim to identify unfair trade practices, particularly structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.

While casting a wide net over a dozen trading partners, the move takes a clear aim at China, given its well-documented issues such as overcapacity and forced labor, said Dan Wang, China director at the political consultancy Eurasia Group.

As Trump’s negotiating position has been weakened by the military aggression in Iran, “U.S. needs to establish credible threat on tariffs as it remains Trump’s top pressure tool,” Wang said, although Beijing was likely unsurprised by the escalation.

“Maximizing leverage before major bilateral meetings seems to be a standard move now,” she said.

The probes followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to strike down Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, which curtailed his ability to deploy tariffs at will, giving China a boost in leverage ahead of the summit.

The Trump administration is “pivoting to its other tools to continue its tariff agenda … [tariff] is clearly a card that Trump wishes to have in his pocket for negotiations,” said Lynn Song, chief economist at ING Bank.

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Skips His Own Succession Rally as Trump Calls Him a ‘Lightweight’– slaynews.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed supreme leader of Iran, was notably absent from a rally held in Tehran celebrating his appointment, raising fresh questions about the stability of the regime following the recent war with the United States and Israel.

Thousands of supporters gathered Monday at Enghelab Square for the event, which was organized to mark the transition of power after the death of longtime ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

But the man the crowd came to celebrate never appeared.