Whether To End It.
How to end it.
For those of you who are new to News Items, here’s how it works:
We distribute the morning note by ~6:30am (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. The Weekend Edition is posted on Sundays, by ~9am (ET). Saturday, generally speaking, is “contributor day.” We post reporting or commentary or analysis from outside contributors that we think merits your attention.
Today’s Saturday edition is comprised of two news stories and excerpts from smart essays/columns/Substack posts about the Iran War.
Two news reports:
President Trump:
Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island. Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision. During my First Term, and currently, I rebuilt our Military into the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World. Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack — There is nothing they can do about it! Iran will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World! Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP (Source: truthsocial.com)
The Wall Street Journal:
The Pentagon is moving additional Marines and warships to the Middle East, as Iran steps up its attacks on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. prepares to escort tankers through the waterway.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved a request from U.S. Central Command, responsible for American forces in the Middle East, for an element of an amphibious-ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit to head to the region, according to U.S. officials.
Two ships from the Japan-based USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are now headed for the Middle East, one of the officials said. Marines are already in the Middle East supporting the Iran operation, and several more flights of Marines have moved into the theater in recent days, according to flight tracking data and U.S. officials.
The move comes as Iran’s attacks on the strait have paralyzed traffic through the strategic waterway since the start of the war, disrupting the global economy, driving up gas prices and posing a major military and political challenge for President Trump. The U.S. announced it will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a rare emergency measure aimed at bringing down crude prices. (Source: wsj.com)
3. Vali Nasr:
In war, geography matters as much as technology. Iran commands the entire northern shore of the Gulf, looming large over energy fields on its southern shore and all that passes through its waters. Its Houthi allies are perched at the entrance to the Red Sea and along the passage to the Suez Canal; Iran is thus perfectly positioned to squeeze the global economy from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula.
Those in command of Iran today are veterans of asymmetric wars in Iraq and Syria. They are now applying the same strategy to fighting the US on the battlefield of the global economy. Drones, short-range missiles and mines setting tankers and ports on fire can have the same effect IEDs had in Iraq, only with greater impact — disrupting global supply chains and sending oil prices higher.
Iran’s missile attacks against a depleting stock of Israeli interceptors helped push the US and Israel towards a ceasefire the last time the two attacked in June 2025. Waging war on the global economy could, however, produce a different outcome this time.
Iran could sustain its counteroffensive more easily and for far longer. Furthermore, a ceasefire alone will not lift the shadow of risk that Iran has imposed over the Gulf, which is now experiencing its nightmare scenario. That is why Iranian leaders are saying they will not accept a ceasefire until Washington fully grasps the global economic cost of waging this war. Businesses, investors and tourists may not return to the Gulf states if they assume that war could resume again.
