Iran - Israel/US War: Israel-US declare war on Iran, Iran responds

[Musings]

They are no different to international pirates

 

[Mobius]

How quaint. Her theatrical lament about Pakistan being “sold on the cheap” is touching — but utterly simplistic. She assume Pakistanis are mere pawns to be rented out, when in fact Pakistan have a comprehensive geopolitical calculus that clearly escapes her immaginations. This isn’t desperation; it’s timing. And time, as it happens, is now standing with Pakistan, not against it. So spare us the melodrama about golden palaces and cheap blood. Pakistan is not being sold — it is playing a longer, sharper game than her cartoonish outrage can comprehend.

That's BS. She makes a very valid point in that Pakistan could have leveraged it's position to maximise it's gains. In the grand scheme of things, $5Billion deposit/loan is a bloody joke! Tens of billions worth of investment is what's needed, or even a grant to buy Pakistan additional advanced weaponry so our resources aren't stretched protecting their thrones.

 

[Goenitz]

I didn t know Omani are tough to deal with...its spit on UAE face.

I mean UAE should be, but discreetly. One should only show hostility so openly if a war is imminent or it gets difficult next time for both to be together in public.

 

[hasn2009]

Doesn't look AI to me?

 

[Olympus81]

Its time Iran stays unemotional about it.

Make a deal. Keep the regime intact, extract waiver of sanctions, suspend enriching uranium, and a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Go back to the drawing board, beef up your defense and offensive capabilities.

Do not doubt for one moment there will not be a round 3.

In a larger realm this is good for Iran.

 

[Goenitz]

Doesn't look AI to me?

He has to say that to show that IRAF is intact in numbers and capacity.

 

[Corax]

How quaint. Her theatrical lament about Pakistan being “sold on the cheap” is touching — but utterly simplistic. She assume Pakistanis are mere pawns to be rented out, when in fact Pakistan have a comprehensive geopolitical calculus that clearly escapes her immaginations. This isn’t desperation; it’s timing. And time, as it happens, is now standing with Pakistan, not against it. So spare us the melodrama about golden palaces and cheap blood. Pakistan is not being sold — it is playing a longer, sharper game than her cartoonish outrage can comprehend.

No, she's right. The Gulf states have lots of oil and money, but that's all they have. They're used to buying everything.

 

[Olympus81]

Pakistan on the other hand is having to walk a tightrope.

Defense pact with Saudis, relation with Iran, relations with US after the Orange man, deteriorating relations with UAE, India on the east doing its thing, and an economy that is showing no signs of improving.

I’d suggest Pakistan gains confidence from this episode and looks at GCC as an equal and demand compensation for its role as a security guarantor. One is the Iranian Pakistan pipeline. Second is investment in Gwadar. Third is Pakistan’s defense equipments finding its way into the GCC market.

Pakistan needs to resort to unconventional measures.

 

[UndercoverJIX]

Of course. That is what I have said all along, but the aftermath will arrive. It is just a matter of when, and come that time, my comment applies, hence the reason I made it.

Mathing of math is mathing unviersally, so your comments applies at whole universe....

Please enlighten us based on the current development of events, Iran US performance so far, and most likely outcome based on the capabilities demonstrated and not revealed so far.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Meengla]

negotiations and peace talks were a ploy. On Israeli instructions, Americans are rejecting every proposal from Iran and making impossible demands they know Iran cant accept as a sovereign nation.
the invasion and attacks will start. I guess this time UAE and some other GCC countries will also participate. because peace is specially bad news for Israel and UAE.

while Pakistani soldiers will be expected to protect the royal family in the name of Mecca Madina once the chaos starts. their best protection will be preventing Americans and Israelis from using Saudi soil and air against Iran.. but thats laughable expectation. they will see first hand their neighbor being bombed with help of fellow Muslim country and Pakistan is paid a hush money to look the ither way.

Except for the bolded part, I am finding the events are leading to an extended ceasefire, if not some kind of agreement for 'peace'.
Americans want out. Forget an 'invasion'. The attack on Isfahan some days ago where multiple American aircrafts were downed showed what would an invasion look like.

 

[PakAl]

China cannot openly support Iran.

Jews control almost all Western media, and the United States also has public opinion hegemony. If China openly supports Iran, Western media will definitely attribute the blame for blockading the strait and damaging the global economy to China.

This will give some politicians controlled by Israel an excuse to help the United States invade Iran.

Usa has Canada, South America, EU, Nato, GCC, Quad, India as allies, in another words they control the world, its financial system and economy. How can people expect China to fight against this for the sake of Iran or anyone else such as Russia. Also China does not have any military or defence alliance with Iran but only economic/trade interests and the western powers will protect this incase of regime change, the same way China trades with Iraq, even more than the Usa.

The only way forward is for Iran to accept Usa demands, for Usa to back off or for China Russia to send a force to the middleeast in the name of protecting the trade route, restoring order and stop this war but the issue again is the western world, GCC and everyone else will turn against Russia China and call them invaders, this will harm Chinese interests in the world and their future growth. For example the Syrian government requested Russian air support to fight against the terorrists and Russia helped them but the Muslim zionist with big beards called Russia evil, the same way they will label China as evil force, all for the sake of their western masters. China is making the right decision, use the back channels to support Iran, support Pakistan effort for a ceasefire and a deal, if both sides decide not to take it then they will fight it off like in Syria until one side surrenders.

 

[Meengla]

How quaint. Her theatrical lament about Pakistan being “sold on the cheap” is touching — but utterly simplistic. She assume Pakistanis are mere pawns to be rented out, when in fact Pakistan have a comprehensive geopolitical calculus that clearly escapes her immaginations. This isn’t desperation; it’s timing. And time, as it happens, is now standing with Pakistan, not against it. So spare us the melodrama about golden palaces and cheap blood. Pakistan is not being sold — it is playing a longer, sharper game than her cartoonish outrage can comprehend.

Right!
And that Tweet was posted here as a sneaky attempt to bring Pakistan's domestic politics into this thread. I wish they stop at least in this thread.
If anything, Pakistan is working with several regional countries to form an alliance against Israel!

 

[ghazi52]

China steps up Iran diplomacy while seeking smooth summit with Trump​

China’s cautious war stance preserved leverage, with Trump crediting Beijing for bringing Iran to Pakistan talks

Reuters
April 17, 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 12, 2026. REUTERS

China is accelerating its efforts to end the Iran war, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it prepares for a summit next month with US President Donald Trump while trying not to alienate Tehran.

President Xi Jinping's mid-May meeting with Trump is shaping Beijing's approach to the Middle East conflict even as the world's top crude oil importer, reliant on the Middle East for half its fuel, seeks to safeguard its energy supplies, analysts say.

China's modulated approach to the war has protected its back-channel leverage enough that Trump credited Beijing with helping to get Iran to last weekend's peace talks in Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

Flurry of Middle East diplomacy

"You've heard President Trump repeatedly mention how the Chinese talked to the Iranians," said Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of the China-Global South Project, an independent organisation that analyses China’s engagement in the developing world. "That puts them in the room with negotiators, even if it's not a seat at the table."

Considering Trump is transactional and susceptible to flattery, China is seeking to advance its goals on trade and its claims on Taiwan at the summit, people familiar with China's thinking told Reuters.

The dominant view in Beijing is to "butter him up, give him a red-carpet welcome and preserve strategic stability", one person said.

China's Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about its diplomacy ahead of the summit, the first visit by a US president in eight years. Trump says it will take place on May 14 and 15.