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

[Meengla]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/16/us/politics/republicans-iran-war-powers-senate.html

Important to note that this time 4 Republican Senators joined the Democrats on the War Powers Act. And in the US House, 4 Republican Reps had joined Democrats on the War Powers Act. Just a few months ago, these kind of Republican defections were not happening. And of course the Democrats have been solidly voting against Israel in both the Senate and House.
Things change in a democracy. Public pressure can only be ignored for much, for so long.
-------------------------
The Senate on Tuesday thwarted Democrats’ latest attempt to force President Trump to seek authorization for the war in Iran, with Republicans largely banding together behind the president amid skepticism about a cease-fire deal he has yet to share with Congress.

The vote was 48 to 47 on Democrats’ ninth bid to force action on a measure that would direct Mr. Trump to remove U.S. troops from the conflict and win approval from Congress before continuing.

It reflected a determination among Democrats to continue aggressively pushing back on Mr. Trump’s handling of the war, and a sentiment among a few Republicans — four of whom crossed party lines in favor of taking up the resolution — to insist on a role for the legislative branch in overseeing it.

 

[KingQamaR]

Right.
Around the time this war was started, I had posted in this thread that if the Iranians fight as one nation, then they would come out ahead. And they have.
In this war, to make the Iranians capitulate would require only three routes:
1) Choking their economy until they imploded and had a civil war
2) Carpet bombing with heavy bombers for a long time and widespread area
3) Multiple nukes.

None of those options were practical. #1: Iran continued to have connections with the outside world and when Pakistan opened six trade routes to/from Iran, I understood that it was with the American blessings. #2: Huge risks of the American jets downed and prisoners taken and thus a repeat of Carter's Presidency. #3: Impossible, especially considering Iran was never a direct threat to America.

Hate to use bad language mate it was a cluster f*ck the way this US Admin conducted this illegal war on Iran . After hitting infrastructure, killing civilians, making people go without food and water, there will now be huge resentment against US. Forget regime change in Iran . And your wonderful point of Iranian unity is a lesson for Pakistani Military and civilians must learn from this appalling conflict. What Iran has shown is if there psychological centres was to became weak or was broken the country would have collapsed into chaos. Iranian country and its people have shown a very high degree of resilience and threshold to violence against them that will not break them down.

 

[Shags101]

so it’s starting to look like Trump only had one way of getting of this war if your own intelligence agencies are saying Iran has effective control over the straits regardless of what Trump was saying about ships going through what was it 30 out of a thousand Iranians are looking like they are the winners more and more everyday and trump just needed a face saving way to get out​

Report: U.S. intelligence assesses Iran gained ability to shut down Strait of Hormuz at will​

U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Iran has acquired the capacity to effectively block access to the Strait of Hormuz at any time, causing harm to the global economy as a result of the war, CNN reported, citing three sources familiar with the assessments.

Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Tuesday. Credit: AP
According to the report, intelligence assessments suggest Iran can shut down traffic in the critical waterway as it did during the war, regardless of the U.S.-Iran deal set to be officially signed on Friday.

The agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said, stipulates that the Strait will be opened ahead of further nuclear talks.

"We have now handed Iran de facto control over the strait – a weapon more powerful than any nuke," one source told CNN.

 

[VCheng]

If you listen to the actual statements of senior Iranian officials and their actual propaganda channels, their narrative is much more nuanced and indeed, makes abundantly clear that there is a class of Americans that Iranians see eye to eye with. Their leadership is routinely on record as having stated that tax paying American citizens are not blameworthy for the ills of the Israeli lobby that moves in the circles of power in Washington DC.

The actual discourse is far more selective and rational than you give it credit for and this is either disingenuous on your part, as you know full well the nature of these matters, or it is an entirely excusable lack of awareness of the reality because of what certain media channels are spoonfeeding Americans on a daily basis since 1948.

I think some Iranians probably will always rail against America in this way and certainly will against Israel in this way. But the leadership class is already attuned to and willing to work with certain Americans to uncouple Israeli influence from this dynamic once and for all.

I believe that you will even see this happen in our time. Bibi himself has accelerated this entirely logical outcome.

Please allow me to explain further:

1. The literal meaning of Marg Bar Amrika is Death to America.

2. As much as most here are convinced that Americans are dumb, they are surely are intelligent enough to understand what that means exactly as it is stated.

3. That creates a potent tool for Israel to exploit while canvassing US support for itself.

4. Iranian attempts at translating it as Down with USA and more "nuanced" explanations such as not being against the American people but only against policies of the US government does not translate as being more "selective" or "rational" because it fools no one, especially when Israel turns all those arguments around as further proof of Iranian deviousness in trying to hide their real intentions.

5. None of the above is disingenuous or due to a a lack of awareness. All of the above is stated directly and honestly.

Please note specifically that nowhere am I stating anything about whether Iran is right or wrong or justified or unjustified in pursuing such a policy. I am merely stating the effects of persisting with it for nearly half a century, and the devastatingly effective tool it provides in supporting Israel's efforts to portray Iran as the problem, and not itself.

Also note that Iran is perfectly within its sovereign rights to formulate this policy as it deems fit. If it does not want to change, then so be it.

All I can do is to describe the actual effects it has on the American people as a whole.

(No one is suggesting that this should be replaced by singing the Star Spangled Banner, for only unemployed half baked hillbillies would be impressed by such a move. )

 

[Meengla]

Watched a few minutes of this. Arnab is repulsive but I still like to watch different viewpoints. I don't know why Pakistanis go to his shows to be insulted. Both the Indian and the Israeli have jumped on this Pakistani analyst who, frankly, doesn't seem like a good one to be there in the first place. If someone from Pakistan were to go then Ahmad Hassan AlArabi would be the best.

 

[Master Chief]

Please allow me to explain further:

1. The literal meaning of Marg Bar Amrika is Death to America.

2. As much as most here are convinced that Americans are dumb, they are surely are intelligent enough to understand what that means exactly as it is stated.

3. That is creates a potent tool for Israel to exploit while canvassing US support for itself.

4. Iranian attempts at translating it as Down with USA and more "nuanced" explanations such as not being against the American people but only against policies of the US government does not translate as being more "selective" or "rational" because it fools no one, especially when Israel turns all those arguments around as further proof of Iranian deviousness in trying to hide their real intentions.

5. None of the above is disingenuous or due to a a lack of awareness. All of the above is stated directly and honestly.

Please note specifically that nowhere am I stating anything about whether Iran is right or wrong or justified or unjustified in pursuing such a policy. I am merely stating the effects of persisting with it for nearly half a century, and the devastatingly effective tool it provides in supporting Israel's efforts to portray Iran as the problem, and not itself.

Also note that Iran is perfectly within its sovereign rights to formulate this policy as it deems fit. If it does not want to change, then so be it.

All I can do is to describe the actual effects it has on the American people as a whole.

And yet, despite all this hubris and speculation on what the opinions of others may or may not be, American opinion of Israel is sliding.

Negative views of Israel, Netanyahu continue to rise among Americans – especially young people

Views of Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu have grown more negative among U.S. adults, with majorities under 50 in both parties rating them poorly.

www.pewresearch.org

It is noteworthy that this survey was most recently conducted a month into the Ramadan war, wherein chanting against USA and Israel were probably at a peak on the streets of Iran.

Most Americans say the Iran war is bad for America | Brookings

A recent poll shows that a majority of Americans say the war in Iran has impacted American interests more negatively than positively.

www.brookings.edu

American opinion regarding war against the "margh baar cultists" has also been consistently low. There was not even a "new war patriotism bounce" which is typically seen at the start of US military engagements.

Whatever Iranians are saying or not saying on the streets does not appear to be causing a desire for war against them or punitive measures against them, except in your own mind and for Israelis. The issues for Americans that influence the urge for or resistance against waging war on Iran appear unrelated to the chanting and more related to genuine concerns over wartime inflation, trade loss, reputational loss, military casualties, inability to deliver on tangible victory objectives, and probably various other factors that we can speculate further on.

If Israel was successfully deploying antagonistic chanting as a means to recruit American public opinion against Iran, we would not be seeing any of these trends that are illustrated above.

 

[Shags101]

And yet, despite all this hubris and speculation on what the opinions of others may or may not be, American opinion of Israel is sliding.

Negative views of Israel, Netanyahu continue to rise among Americans – especially young people

Views of Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu have grown more negative among U.S. adults, with majorities under 50 in both parties rating them poorly.

www.pewresearch.org

It is noteworthy that this survey was most recently conducted a month into the Ramadan war, wherein chanting against USA and Israel were probably at a peak on the streets of Iran.

Most Americans say the Iran war is bad for America | Brookings

A recent poll shows that a majority of Americans say the war in Iran has impacted American interests more negatively than positively.

www.brookings.edu

American opinion regarding war against the "margh baar cultists" has also been consistently low. There was not even a "new war patriotism bounce" which is typically seen at the start of US military engagements.

Whatever Iranians are saying or not saying on the streets does not appear to be causing a desire for war against them or punitive measures against them, except in your own mind and for Israelis. The issues for Americans that influence the urge for or resistance against waging war on Iran appear unrelated to the chanting and more related to genuine concerns over wartime inflation, trade loss, reputational loss, military casualties, inability to deliver on tangible victory objectives, and probably various other factors that we can speculate further on.

If Israel was successfully deploying antagonistic chanting as a means to recruit American public opinion against Iran, we would not be seeing any of these trends that are illustrated above.

It’s the youth that’s starting to understand the older generations don’t know where Israel is and don’t care but the youth see the vile of bibi and his cronies be they on the right or left he’s a snake whose time is long gone people deserve better leaders all over the world be it here in America Israel or any Arab or Muslim country and so on

 

[Goenitz]

what an informative interview

 

[Homajon]

I wish the best for Iran and hope for an economic revival of historic dimensions. However, I bet my bottom dollar that the stupid leadership in Tehran will not prioritise trade with its neighbors.

You mean trade like this?

Iran threat to ‘enemy oil lines’ raises fear over Azerbaijan-Turkey pipeline supplying Israel

Iran signals it may strike the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline supplying nearly 30 percent of Israel’s oil, sources tell MEE

www.middleeasteye.net

 

[Jalz]

I wish the best for Iran and hope for an economic revival of historic dimensions. However, I bet my bottom dollar that the stupid leadership in Tehran will not prioritise trade with its neighbors.

Trade makes a country weak, culturally vulnerable, and degenerate. Iran most go down the path of North Korea economically and discipline wise.

 

[Shags101]

Trade makes a country weak, culturally vulnerable, and degenerate. Iran most go down the path of North Korea economically and discipline wise.

News flash china trades with North Korea if North Korea didn’t have china it would be done for I agree all countries need a great deal of independence from outside forces but you can’t develop your country by isolating it

 

[Meengla]

Trade makes a country weak, culturally vulnerable, and degenerate. Iran most go down the path of North Korea economically and discipline wise.

In today's Law of the Jungle: Maybe empty belly with long fangs are better! But I hear North Korea is turning around in terms of its economy.
Off topic here.
PS. Maybe we will finally see the Epstein Files coming out if Trump continues on this path. By Monday?!!

 

[hussain0216]

Wow, this is huge news if true.

— / NEW: On Friday, June 19th, the U.S. Department of Treasury will issue sanctions waivers on Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical products

It will be the first time in over 7 years that Iran can freely export oil.

@Middle_East_Spectator

We need to use this time to get that pipeline built between Iran and Pakistan

 

[FarhanSiddiqui]

According to the Financial Times article it was Qatar which made most diplomatic contribution to the US-Iran agreement. While Pakistan played very important role. The Asim Munir fanboyz may not accept the real narrative,

Iran and US agree deal to open Strait of Hormuz and extend ceasefire

Adversaries to sign agreement on Friday for reopening of waterway and end to US naval blockade of Iranian ports

www.ft.com

 

[Watandar]

Trade makes a country weak, culturally vulnerable, and degenerate. Iran most go down the path of North Korea economically and discipline wise.

That would be a huge blunder, similar to the US Embassy hostages episode. North Korea has China as a neighbor, no oil and no Israel in its region. Certainly countries can borrow some pages from the North Korea playbook, but it's not a model for anyone sane.