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President Donald Trump said Friday that recent U.S. actions against Iran have dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East, declaring that Tehran no longer holds its longstanding position of dominance in the region.

Speaking at the FII Priority Summit in Miami, Trump said the region is now on the verge of a major transformation.

“Tonight, we’re closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror,” Trump said. “For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East – but they are not the bully any longer.”

.@POTUS at the FII Priority Summit in Miami: "Tonight, we're closer than ever to the rise of the Middle East that is finally free at last from Iranian terror… For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East — but they are not the bully any longer." pic.twitter.com/rFLJ9Gicyg

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 27, 2026

Trump also pointed to his earlier decision to eliminate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, suggesting that even Iran’s leadership may have quietly welcomed the move.

“He was so powerful that I really think that the leadership of Iran was extremely happy when I took him out, but they don’t say that – but nobody’s going to be asking them anymore because they’re not here either,” Trump said.

Addressing ongoing diplomacy, Trump said negotiations with Iran are currently underway, while making a tongue-in-cheek remark about the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re negotiating now, and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it up. They have to open up the Strait of Trump, I mean Hormuz… the fake news will say that I said it accidentally. There are no accidents with me,” Trump said.

Trump also made pointed comments about Iran’s leadership, asserting that former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is no longer in power and casting doubt on the status of his successor.

On the military front, Trump indicated that U.S. operations in Iran are ongoing and far from complete.

“We have another 3,554 targets left, and they will be done pretty quickly.”

Earlier at the same event, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the administration is awaiting a response from Iran to a comprehensive proposal aimed at ending the conflict, and expressed optimism that talks could begin soon.

“My definition of real negotiating would be right here, and we don’t live until we’re done. And we’ve offered that, we think there will be meetings this week. We’re certainly hopeful for it. The President wants a peace deal,” Witkoff said at the FII Priority summit in Miami.

“We have a 15-point deal on the table that the Iranians have had for a bit of time. We expect an answer from them and it would solve it all,” he stated.

{Matzav.com}

The United States has expended a large number of Tomahawk cruise missiles during the opening weeks of its war with Iran, prompting concern among military officials about dwindling supplies and the pace at which they can be replaced.

Reports indicate that more than 850 Tomahawk missiles have been fired within the first month of the conflict, reflecting an intense reliance on precision-guided weapons in ongoing operations.

The rapid rate of use has sparked unease inside the Pentagon, where officials are closely tracking how quickly inventory is being depleted and what that could mean for future missions.

Tomahawk missiles, launched from both naval vessels and submarines, have been a cornerstone of U.S. strike capabilities for decades. However, annual production is limited to only a few hundred units, making it difficult to quickly rebuild reserves once they are used at such a high rate.

Officials say that continued usage at current levels may require diverting missile stockpiles from other global regions, alongside longer-term efforts to ramp up manufacturing. At the same time, defense leaders are evaluating how consumption trends could affect operational readiness going forward.

One official described stock levels in the Middle East as “alarmingly low,” while another warned that without immediate steps, the military is approaching a “Winchester” state – a military term for running out of ammunition. However, a Pentagon spokesperson told the Washington Post that the military “has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President’s choosing and on any timeline.”

Administration officials have pushed back on concerns about shortages, insisting that U.S. forces retain sufficient weaponry to sustain combat operations. The report also noted that more than 1,000 interceptor missiles have been deployed to defend against Iranian counterstrikes, placing additional strain on available supplies.

Much of the missile usage occurred during the initial phase of the campaign, according to estimates. With each Tomahawk costing roughly $3.6 million and taking up to two years to produce, replenishing the stockpile presents a significant logistical and financial challenge.

[COMMUNICATED]

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital system, accusing it of leveraging its dominant position in New York City to push insurers into accepting significantly higher prices and limiting access to more affordable health coverage.

According to the complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, the hospital system allegedly entered into “unlawful contracts” with insurance companies that restrict patients from being offered lower-cost insurance plans.

“Americans deserve the benefits of vigorous competition,” the lawsuit states, arguing that the hospital system’s “anticompetitive conduct” has left families with fewer choices and higher costs.

Federal prosecutors are seeking to halt these practices and reestablish “access to budget-conscious health insurance plans.”

The filing notes that NewYork-Presbyterian controls roughly 30% of the hospital market in Manhattan and operates more than 4,000 inpatient beds across eight campuses throughout the city.

Because of its size and reach, the lawsuit argues that insurers “cannot viably do business in New York City” without including at least some of the system’s facilities in their networks.

However, instead of allowing insurers to selectively include certain hospitals, NewYork-Presbyterian is accused of insisting on “all-or-nothing” agreements. Under these arrangements, insurers must include every facility in the system — including the most expensive ones — if they want any access at all, the lawsuit claims.

This approach comes despite allegations that the system’s prices are higher than those charged by competitors such as NYU, Mount Sinai, and Northwell.

The DOJ argues that these restrictions shield the hospital system from “price competition,” leading to “reduced choice of insurance plans, higher healthcare costs and less competition for high-quality healthcare for employers and patients who purchase healthcare in New York City,” the suit claims.

“Rather than offer consumers choice, New York-Presbyterian uses its market power to protect its margins, impede competition from rival hospitals, and prevent employers and unions from creating these plans,” said Omeed A. Assefi, acting assistant attorney general from the DOJ’s anti-trust office.

The lawsuit also includes a specific example in which NewYork-Presbyterian allegedly intervened to block an insurer from shifting outpatient colonoscopy procedures to a less expensive provider.

“NYP observed that even stopping a single payor from moving outpatient colonoscopies out of NYP’s hospitals was ‘worth ~250k [dollars] to [a physician group in NYP’s system] and multiples more to [NYP],’” the suit claims.

In addition, the filing references a “recent strategic planning document” in which the hospital system allegedly expressed concern that offering patients lower-cost alternatives could create “pricing pressure” and negatively “impact [NYP’s] margins.”

In response, NewYork-Presbyterian said it was “disappointed” by the lawsuit and rejected the allegations, stating that the claims are “without merit” and noting that discussions with the DOJ had already been underway.

“We do not seek to exclude any other hospital from any insurer’s network,” said hospital spokesperson Angela Karafazli. “Nor do we require more favorable treatment than any other hospital.”

“The obligation of insurance companies is to their shareholders, while ours is to our patients,” she said. “We believe all New Yorkers should be able to choose their health care provider.”

President Donald Trump announced new loan guarantees for farmers and food suppliers, a bid to bolster US agricultural communities squeezed by the impact of the Iran war, tariffs and other challenges.

Trump said the loan guarantees would cover farmers and food suppliers, including vegetable, grain and seed farmers, cattle, pig and poultry producers, as well as grocery wholesalers and others. The Small Business Administration will administer the guarantees, according to a White House official who provided details on the plans ahead of the formal announcement.

Trump did not specify a dollar amount for the guarantees. The White House argued that the moves will help reduce input costs for growers and wholesalers and bring down grocery costs for American consumers.

“You’re very, very special people,” Trump said Friday at the White House, where he hosted a group of US farmers to celebrate National Agriculture Day. “You voted for me. I will never forget that.”

American farmers have been one of the president’s most loyal constituencies, but their businesses have been rocked by volatile market conditions that have been caused in part by Trump’s own policies. The administration’s efforts are aimed at shoring up their support ahead of November midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Trump on Friday said his administration would also update renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027, a boost to biofuel producers. He said the new standards will “generate over $10 billion of rural economic benefit, create an estimated 100,000 new jobs and massively increase our nation’s energy supply.”

“What they’ve done to the country is just incredible,” Trump said. “The environmentalists, I mean, they are terrorists.”

The president also touted new guidance for the Diesel Exhaust Fluid requirement, which affects diesel trucks and other agricultural equipment. The president called existing DEF rules “ridiculous” and said his changes would be “saving farmers and consumers billions and billions of dollars.” And he said he had spoken to Deere & Co., manufacturers of John Deere farm equipment, to work on producing cheaper tractors.

The guidance is aimed at making it easier to switch sensors for those vehicles, according to the White House, cutting costs. The SBA estimates the switch will help save Americans $13.8 billion.

The Iran war, which is nearing its one-month mark, has sent the costs of fertilizer and fuel — both crucial inputs for growing crops — skyrocketing. Those challenges come with growers already worried that a record corn crop and disruptions in export markets spurred by Trump’s tariff agenda will weigh on profits.

Any erosion of support among rural voters threatens to have damaging consequences for Republicans who are already facing an uphill battle in an election dominated by public discontent over Trump’s economic policies, specifically the cost of living. Added expenses for farmers could ripple through the rest of the economy as well, potentially leading to rises in food costs.

Among the industries that will be eligible to access the loan guarantees Trump is announcing Friday are oilseed, grain, vegetable, melon, fruit and tree nut farmers, as well as cattle ranchers, hog, pig, sheep and goat farmers and poultry and egg producers. The loans will also be accessible to those in fishing as well as wholesalers of farm and garden machinery, refrigerated truckers, and those dealing in warehousing and storage.

The administration has already been trying to curb price spikes for fertilizer. The agriculture industry has been warning that a lack of availability and rising costs for the vital crop nutrients are hitting farmers just as growers are starting to plant crops for the year. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in an interview earlier this week that officials are “looking at every single tool” to alleviate the stress on farmers.

That includes steps to temporarily waive a shipping mandate so foreign-flagged vessels can carry fuel, fertilizer and other goods between US ports. Farm groups are lobbying to remove duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco, which holds some of the world’s largest reserves.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has also urged Trump to deploy the US Navy to escort fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday said a US insurance program meant to boost shipping through the strait, a crucial waterway that has been effectively shuttered since the start of the war, will be ready soon.

Trump has previously thrown his support behind expanding sales of higher-ethanol E15 gasoline. The industry has been working to pass legislation that would allow year-round, nationwide sales of the fuel for more than a decade. This week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency announced it will waive E15 from US volatility requirements this summer but farm groups still say they need permanent legislation.

The US Department of Agriculture has been tapping a $12 billion aid program to bring relief to farmers.

Dissatisfaction with Trump’s agenda has been simmering within the agriculture community throughout the president’s second term, particularly over tariffs that restricted access to key economies like China, a major export market for soybeans.

Beijing had avoided buying US soybeans as a tariff fight between the countries escalated last year and began resuming purchases after a trade detente. Trump is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in May with trade a focal point of those talks.

(c) Bloomberg

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the United States is on track to achieve its military goals against Iran without deploying ground forces, even as additional American troops are being sent to the region.

“We are going to destroy their navy, we are going to destroy their air force, and we are going to significantly destroy their missile launchers so they can never hide behind these things to get a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, as quoted by CNN. “We are achieving all of those objectives, we are ahead of schedule on most of them, and we can achieve them without any ground troops, without any.”

Marco Rubio on Iran:

This is not going to be a prolonged conflict.pic.twitter.com/QsjLw6XZ0J

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2026

Addressing the recent decision to send more than 1,000 additional U.S. service members to the Middle East, Rubio said President Donald Trump must be ready for different possible scenarios, though he did not elaborate on what those might entail.

Rubio also predicted that the conflict would wrap up relatively quickly.

“As the Department of War has consistently outlined, we are on or ahead of schedule in that operation and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here, in a matter of weeks, not months,” Rubio said.

Following a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France, Rubio urged allies in Europe and Asia to prepare for securing the Strait of Hormuz after the war ends.

“Immediately after this thing ends and we are done with our objectives, one of the immediate challenges we are going to face is an Iran that may decide that they want to set up a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. Not only is this illegal, it is unacceptable, it is dangerous to the world, and it is important that the world have a plan to confront it,” Rubio said.

He emphasized that while the United States will play a role in maintaining stability, other nations also have a major interest in the outcome.

Rubio said the U.S. would be a “part of” the effort but stressed that countries in Europe and Asia “have a lot at stake and should contribute greatly,” adding that allies appeared receptive to his appeal.

On the diplomatic side, Rubio said Washington is still waiting for a formal Iranian response to the Trump administration’s 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war.

“We haven’t gotten it yet,” Rubio told CNN. “Look, we’ve got messages. We’ve had an exchange of messages and indications from the Iranian system, whatever is left of it, about a willingness to talk about certain things.”

He noted uncertainty over who would represent Iran in any negotiations, following strikes by the United States and Israel that eliminated key figures in the Iranian leadership.

“Who was it that we would be talking to? What will we be talking about, and when? When will we be talking?” Rubio said.

He added that clarification could come soon, possibly within days.

Rubio said Iran would need to demonstrate seriousness by identifying its representatives, outlining the topics for discussion, and setting a timeline for talks.

Meanwhile, President Trump announced Thursday that planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure would be delayed for another 10 days to allow negotiations to continue, setting a new deadline of April 6.

“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

In an interview with Fox News later that day, Trump said Iranian officials had asked for more time through intermediaries ahead of a potential escalation.

“They asked for seven, and I gave them 10,” he said, adding that talks were ongoing and “going fairly well.”

Trump warned that if Iran does not meet U.S. demands, additional strikes could target key infrastructure, including power plants.

He also said that U.S. forces have already dealt a significant blow to Iran’s military capabilities.

Trump told Fox News that the United States “knocked out” most of Iran’s missile capabilities and key military systems during the strikes.

Earlier Thursday, Trump described the progress of Operation Epic Fury during a cabinet meeting, emphasizing the scale of the campaign.

“Over the past three weeks, we’ve been hitting Iran’s military capabilities at a level that few people have ever seen before. It’s a display of force and precision and skill like nothing the world has really witnessed.”

“We’re crushing their missile and drone stockpiles, destroying their defense industrial base, we’ve wiped out their navy completely, their air force completely. We’ve wiped out a large percentage of their missiles and missile launchers. Without the launchers, the missiles don’t do any good. We’ve wiped out probably close to 90 percent of the launchers [and] probably, more than 90 percent of the missiles themselves,” he added. “We’ve also destroyed a lot of the factories where they manufactured the drones and the missiles.”

Trump further stated that Iran is “begging to make a deal, not me. They’re begging to make a deal. And anyone who saw what was happening over there would understand why they want to make a deal.”

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned Friday that Israel will face serious consequences following strikes on major Iranian nuclear-related facilities.

In a social media post, Araghchi said the attacks targeted critical infrastructure and accused Israel of acting alongside the United States. “Israel has hit 2 of Iran’s largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S.,” he wrote, adding that the “attack contradicts [President Trump’s] extended deadline for diplomacy.”

He further declared, “Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.”

The warning came after the IDF confirmed that Israeli forces carried out strikes on a heavy water facility in Arak and a uranium extraction plant in Yazd.

According to the IDF, the Arak site had previously been targeted during Operation Rising Lion last June, and intelligence had since detected attempts by Iran to rebuild the facility. “repeated reconstruction attempts by the Iranian terror regime have been identified. Therefore, the IDF has now struck the facility once again.”

Regarding the facility in Yazd, the IDF said it plays a key role in processing raw materials that are later used in uranium enrichment, an essential step in nuclear development.

The escalation comes as President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States would delay planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for an additional 10 days to allow more time for negotiations, setting a new deadline of April 6.

“As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Trump said the extension was granted after Iranian officials sought more time through intermediaries ahead of a potential escalation.

“They asked for seven, and I gave them 10,” he said, adding that talks were ongoing and “going fairly well.”

Trump cautioned that if Iran does not meet U.S. expectations, additional strikes could be carried out, including against key infrastructure such as power plants.

Transportation Security Administration employees are expected to begin receiving overdue pay as early as Monday, according to the Department of Homeland Security, following emergency action taken by President Donald Trump.

The payments come after Trump signed an order on Friday invoking emergency powers to ensure TSA personnel are compensated after weeks without pay during the ongoing funding standoff.

A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the process to issue payments is already underway and that funds will begin reaching workers shortly.

“Today, at the direction of President Trump and the Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, TSA has immediately begun the process of paying its workforce. TSA officers should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday, March 30,” a DHS spokesperson told The NY Post.

The department also expressed appreciation for the move, noting the impact it will have on workers who continued reporting to duty despite not receiving pay.

“TSA is grateful to the President and Secretary for their leadership to put money back into the pockets of TSA employees who worked without pay during the ongoing Democrat DHS shutdown.”

{Matzav.com}

One who studies this letter will develop a unique appreciation for the Haggadah, and is promised incredible reward by HaRav Shimshon zt”l

View the full PDF HERE or below.

House Republicans on Friday blocked a Senate-approved measure to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, extending a six-week shutdown as they push for legislation that would fully restore funding to the entire agency.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said lawmakers would act quickly to advance a temporary funding bill that would cover DHS for 60 days, after the Senate proposal allocated “zero” funding for federal immigration enforcement.

“It is unconscionable to me that the Democrats would force some sort of negotiation at three o’clock in the morning and try to foist this upon the American people and then get on their jets and go home for their holiday — and pretend and think that we’re going to go along with that,” Johnson fumed.

“It can’t be the case that every Senate Republican read this bill,” he added.

Johnson said President Donald Trump supports the House approach and is separately moving forward with an executive order to ensure Transportation Security Administration agents receive full pay, aiming to ease weeks of disruption at U.S. airports.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Chip Roy said the Senate compromise would not pass in its current form, calling it “not going to pass as it is,” and describing it as “absolutely offensive” to Border Patrol personnel and other federal workers who have gone without pay.

Another Republican lawmaker criticized the Senate for leaving Washington for a two-week Easter and Passover recess before sending a final bill to the president.

“PSA to senate schedulers: may want to book a return flight for your boss,” Rep. Lauren Boebert posted on X. “Our work here isn’t finished.”

The Senate-passed bill would have funded all DHS operations except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.

Republicans note that those agencies already received billions in funding under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law in July, though some lawmakers are seeking additional funding through a future reconciliation package.

Senate Democrats have delayed DHS funding for 42 days in response to fatal shootings earlier this year in Minnesota involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers.

“They ended up getting no reforms but, you know, we’re going to have to fight some of those battles another day,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of Democrats.

Amid the stalemate, the administration has taken steps to address staffing shortages at airports. Earlier this week, Trump ordered ICE agents to assist at airports to compensate for missing TSA personnel, and he announced plans to use emergency authority to ensure TSA workers are paid.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats had prevailed in the standoff, declaring that they “held the line” against providing a “blank check” to what he described as “lawless” ICE and CBP.

The impact of the shutdown has been severe. More than 480 TSA officers have resigned, and absentee rates at some airports have reached as high as 50%, a senior TSA official told Congress on Wednesday. Some agents, struggling without pay, have resorted to selling blood or sleeping in their cars.

Travelers have faced the longest security wait times in the agency’s 25-year history, the official added, with warnings that smaller airports could be forced to shut down if the funding impasse continues.

Even former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr was seen Wednesday waiting alongside thousands of passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where delays have stretched to four hours or more.

{Matzav.com}

A new U.S.-backed proposal presented to Hamas outlines a phased disarmament process over eight months, requiring the group to dismantle its extensive tunnel system and surrender its weapons as part of a broader plan to stabilize Gaza.

The proposal, put forward by President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” sets out a structured timeline beginning with a U.S.-supported body of Palestinian technocrats assuming control of Gaza’s security, and ending with a full Israeli withdrawal contingent on “verification that Gaza is free of weaponry.”

Efforts to implement the plan are complicated by Hamas’ longstanding refusal to disarm, a central obstacle in negotiations aimed at solidifying an October ceasefire that ended two years of intense conflict. Much of Hamas’ arsenal is believed to be stored within its underground tunnel network, and Israel has insisted it will not withdraw unless Hamas relinquishes its weapons.

A Palestinian official involved in the discussions described the proposal as flawed, saying it was “unfair,” and predicted Hamas would demand changes.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, the official also warned that the plan lacks assurances that Israel will fulfill its commitments. He added that tying reconstruction and humanitarian improvements to political conditions such as disarmament could risk reigniting the conflict.

The full proposal, initially reported by Al Jazeera, was shared with Reuters by two Palestinian officials participating in the negotiations, and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity.

According to those familiar with the matter, the plan was formally presented to Hamas last week.

Hamas has not issued an official public response, though a representative said the group is reviewing the details. On Thursday, three additional Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, released statements criticizing the plan, arguing it places too much emphasis on disarmament while neglecting key issues such as rebuilding Gaza and securing an Israeli withdrawal.

The proposal is divided into two main parts: a 12-point framework titled “Steps to Complete the Implementation of Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza,” and a five-phase schedule for disarmament over an eight-month period.

The document stipulates that all armed factions in Gaza, including groups like Islamic Jihad, must participate in the disarmament process under the supervision of a civilian administrative body known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

“Gaza will be governed under the principle of one authority, one law, one weapon, whereby only individuals authorized by [NCAG] may possess weapons, and all armed factions will cease military activities,” the document says.

Oversight of the disarmament effort will be carried out by a body identified as the Weapons Collection Verification Committee, which the plan says will be established by Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s chief envoy.

The plan also specifies that reconstruction will only proceed in areas designated as demilitarized zones.

Following the October ceasefire, Israel maintains control over more than half of Gaza, while Hamas continues to govern the remainder of the territory and its roughly 2 million residents, most of whom have been displaced by prolonged fighting.

While Hamas has publicly rejected disarmament in recent months, sources indicate that in private discussions, some within the group have shown willingness to consider it as part of a broader political process leading to Palestinian statehood. However, the current proposal does not address the issue of independence or the establishment of a state.

Under the proposed timeline, the first phase, lasting 15 days, would involve the National Committee assuming control over Gaza’s security and administrative functions while preparing for the collection of weapons.

In the second phase, Israel would remove heavy military equipment from areas under its control, including artillery and tanks, while an international security force would be deployed.

The third phase represents the most significant step, requiring Hamas to surrender its heavy weapons and equipment to the governing committee and “will allow the destruction of all tunnels, explosives, and military infrastructure.”

During the fourth phase, police forces under the committee would collect and register all remaining small arms, including rifles and handguns, as Israeli forces begin a gradual withdrawal.

The final phase calls for complete disarmament verification, after which “Israeli forces withdraw completely from Gaza, except for a presence in a security perimeter, and the start of comprehensive reconstruction efforts.”

Iran is advancing plans to formalize a system that would charge ships up to $2 million for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources connected to the shipping industry, marking a significant shift in control over one of the world’s most vital maritime routes.

Officials familiar with the proposal believe that once fully implemented, the toll structure could bring in as much as $80 billion annually, turning the strategic waterway into a major source of income as Iran continues to face economic pressure from international sanctions.

The move reflects a broader effort by Tehran to tighten its grip on the strait, a key chokepoint that previously handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, as detailed in a recent report.

President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran may have offered concessions in the form of limited access, describing it as a “gift” of safe passage for a select number of vessels.

However, industry insiders say the reality on the ground is far different, with access now heavily restricted, expensive, and influenced by political considerations.

Before tensions escalated between Iran, the United States, and Israel, roughly 135 ships were passing through the strait each day.

That number has since dropped sharply.

Figures cited in the report show that only 116 vessels made the journey between March 1 and March 25 — representing a dramatic 97% decline from the previous month.

As a result, thousands of ships remain stuck in the Gulf, either unable or unwilling to attempt passage without explicit authorization from Iranian authorities.

Central to the new system is a requirement that vessels be classified as “non-hostile” and coordinate directly with Iran before entering the strait.

This involves communication between governments, detailed screening of cargo and crew, and the issuance of a special authorization code that ships must transmit as they approach the waterway.

Only after completing this process — and, in certain cases, paying substantial fees — are vessels allowed to proceed.

Iranian officials have portrayed the policy as both a wartime necessity and part of a longer-term strategy.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has suggested that Tehran intends to maintain a new “order” in the strait even after hostilities end, asserting Iran’s control over the route despite its international status.

Lawmakers in Tehran have gone even further, openly referring to the development of a “new regime” governing maritime traffic.

Iranian policymakers have also drawn comparisons to historic toll systems and modern examples such as the Suez Canal.

Still, the plan raises serious legal and geopolitical questions.

Under commonly accepted interpretations of international maritime law, including principles from the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal nations may regulate navigation for security purposes but are not permitted to arbitrarily block or charge for “innocent passage.”

Critics argue that Iran’s approach could violate these norms, even though both Iran and the United States have, at times, taken selective positions regarding such legal frameworks.

The United States has struggled to effectively counter Iran’s tightening control over the strait.

Despite repeated warnings and threats of military action targeting Iranian infrastructure, there has been little evidence of a sustained campaign to reopen the route.

This inability to ensure free navigation has unsettled allies and highlighted the challenges faced by U.S. forces operating in the narrow and complex geography of the region.

Shipping companies have begun adjusting to the new reality.

Some vessels are reportedly reflagging under neutral or less politically sensitive countries in hopes of improving their chances of receiving clearance.

Others are turning to informal or opaque financial channels, utilizing networks similar to those Iran has used for years to bypass sanctions on its oil exports.

Trade patterns are also shifting.

Recent shipments moving through the strait have primarily been headed toward Asian markets, especially China and India, with little traffic bound for Europe or the United States.

This shift suggests that Iran’s growing control over the passage could reshape global energy flows, benefiting some regions while limiting access for others.

Over time, analysts warn the strategy could have unintended consequences.

By turning the strait into a tightly controlled and monetized corridor, Iran may accelerate efforts by Gulf nations and global energy producers to develop alternative routes, such as pipelines that bypass the strait altogether.

The situation also raises the possibility of a prolonged conflict, including scenarios in which U.S. ground forces could be deployed to Iran’s coastal areas in an effort to secure the critical waterway.

{Matzav.com}

Newly released letters from several prominent kashrus authorities affirming that xanthan gum is permitted for use on Pesach, addressing widespread uncertainty surrounding the ingredient.

CRC Kashrus responded directly to inquiries regarding xanthan gum and confirmed its permissibility for Pesach when produced under proper supervision.

A letter from Rav Yechiel Babad states clearly that xanthan gum does not fall into the category of chometz and may be used on Pesach, explaining that its production process does not involve any of the five grains that could create a chometz concern.

Similarly, Rav Menachem Meir Weissmandl writes that despite xanthan gum being produced through fermentation, it is not considered chometz, and there is no halachic basis to prohibit it for Pesach use.

Rav Benyumin Gruber also addresses the issue directly, concluding that xanthan gum is permitted, and reiterating that its manufacturing process does not introduce any chometz-related issues.

An additional letter from the Nirbater Rov reinforces the same position, ruling that xanthan gum is acceptable for Pesach and does not present a halachic concern.

Across the various letters, the rabbonim emphasize a consistent point: although xanthan gum is created through a fermentation process, it is not derived from chometz sources and therefore does not fall under Pesach restrictions.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on key Iranian nuclear-related sites on Friday, hitting a heavy water facility in Arak and a uranium extraction plant in Yazd, in operations based on IDF intelligence, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced.

According to the IDF, the Arak site produces heavy water, a specialized substance used in nuclear reactors, including the now-inactive Arak reactor, which was originally intended to enable the production of weapons-grade plutonium. The material can also serve as a neutron source in the development of nuclear weapons.

The military added that the facility also held economic significance for Iran, functioning as a revenue-generating asset for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and bringing in tens of millions of dollars annually for the regime.

“Despite explicit international commitments, foremost among them the nuclear agreement, the Iranian terror regime has systematically avoided converting the reactor so that it would not enable the production of weapons-grade plutonium, and even deliberately ordered that the conversion not be completed,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

The Arak facility had previously been targeted during Operation Rising Lion last June. Since then, the IDF said it had identified multiple attempts by Iran to rebuild the site, prompting the latest strike.

“repeated reconstruction attempts by the Iranian terror regime have been identified. Therefore, the IDF has now struck the facility once again.”

“The IDF will not allow the Iranian terror regime to continue its efforts to advance its nuclear weapons program, which poses an existential threat to the State of Israel and the entire world,” the statement stressed.

In a separate operation, Israeli forces struck a uranium extraction facility in Yazd, also in central Iran, again acting on intelligence gathered by the IDF.

“This plant is the only one of its kind in Iran, where raw materials mined from the earth undergo mechanical and chemical processing so that they can later be used as raw materials for uranium enrichment,” said the IDF.

The military emphasized that this stage is a critical early step in the nuclear development process.

“This is a highly significant process for the nuclear weapons program advanced by the regime and constitutes the beginning of the value chain required for producing nuclear weapons.”

According to the IDF, the strikes focused on infrastructure essential to these specialized production processes. Since enriched uranium is a key component in building nuclear weapons, disabling the facility disrupts Iran’s ability to produce the necessary materials and weakens its overall program.

“The IDF will not allow the Iranian terror regime to continue its efforts to advance its nuclear weapons program, which poses an existential threat to the State of Israel and the entire world,” it clarified.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet narrowly avoided being shot down during a recent mission over Iran, as newly deployed Iranian surveillance technology presents a growing operational challenge, according to a report.

Iran has established a widespread network of cameras across the country—particularly in key locations and along commonly used and sensitive flight routes—connected to an advanced artificial intelligence system capable of detecting aircraft movements in the sky. The system is now seen as a significant obstacle for both Israeli and American air operations.

According to reporting by Amir Bohbot in Walla!, the system combines civilian and military cameras that continuously scan designated airspaces. As a result, the skies have become increasingly dangerous. To avoid detection, the Israeli Air Force has been forced to operate in densely populated areas, both day and night, while constantly adjusting its tactics.

“The Iranians are studying us well. The methods and the technology, and they are testing the IDF in defense and in attack,” a senior security official said.

The report revealed that this effort nearly resulted in a major incident that had not previously been made public. During an operational sortie, Iranian forces came very close to downing an Israeli fighter jet in what was described as an extremely dangerous encounter.

The Israeli Air Force is said to possess video footage of the incident, classified as “top secret.” According to the documentation, a combination of the pilot’s quick thinking, coordinated formation flying, and advanced onboard systems prevented the aircraft from being shot down.

The incident is still under investigation, but the footage is already being used as a training tool for future missions over Iran. This comes amid assessments within Israeli military intelligence that Iran may possess additional defensive and offensive capabilities that have not yet been uncovered by Israeli or U.S. intelligence agencies.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Israeli Air Force reservist is facing serious charges after allegedly passing classified information about the timing of a planned strike on Iran to a friend, enabling him to place profitable bets on a prediction platform and win large sums of money.

A Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday cleared for publication details of the indictment against the reservist, who served in a sensitive role, and a civilian accomplice. The two are accused of using inside information to wager on the timing of Israel’s strike on Iran during Operation “Am KeLavi” through the digital betting platform Polymarket.

The reservist is charged with transmitting classified information, accepting bribes, and obstructing justice, while the civilian faces charges including transmitting classified information, aggravated espionage, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Both have been in custody since late January. The reservist, a major in the Air Force reserves, has served since 2009 and worked alongside the civilian in the alleged scheme.

According to the indictment, the reservist took part in a classified briefing about the operation, during which the launch date was disclosed, and he signed a confidentiality agreement. Despite that, he allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to his friend stating that the strike would take place on the night of June 12.

The friend then placed a bet on Polymarket predicting that the strike would occur before July, and the reservist encouraged him to significantly increase the wager. After receiving the tip, the friend shared the information with five additional individuals. As a result of the bet, he won $162,663. The indictment further states that he later made another profit by betting on the timing of the operation’s conclusion.

Two days after the operation ended, the friend contacted the reservist and the two agreed to split the winnings. The friend created a digital wallet for him and transferred cryptocurrency, which the reservist later sold for a profit of approximately 200,000 shekels.

According to the charges, their collaboration continued and led to additional bets on Polymarket. For example, in September 2025, the reservist allegedly passed along information about a planned Israeli strike in Yemen, allowing the friend to bet successfully and win about $5,000.

The two also allegedly planned to repeat the scheme ahead of the current conflict. At the beginning of January, the reservist reportedly informed his friend that tensions with Iran were escalating and that a strike was imminent. The friend then placed two bets on the platform—one predicting an Israeli strike before the end of January and another before the end of March.

However, according to the indictment, reports of an investigation into the betting activity prompted the friend to change his username on the site and cancel one of the wagers. As media coverage increased, the two allegedly deleted their WhatsApp correspondence and any related images they had shared.

The reservist is charged with transmitting classified information, accepting bribes, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors have filed additional charges against the civilian, including two counts of transmitting classified information, bribery, aggravated espionage, and obstruction of justice.

Two Israeli women were detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after relying on incorrect guidance from ChatGPT, in an incident that has prompted a warning from Israeli officials against depending on artificial intelligence for travel decisions.

The two young women, who were en route to a vacation in the Philippines, were stopped on Wednesday during a layover in Malaysia’s capital, according to a report. They had arrived on a connecting flight from Thailand after checking in advance—using AI technology—whether it was safe for Israelis to transit through the country.

Despite not speaking English and traveling solely with Israeli passports, they relied on a response indicating that passage through Malaysia would be safe.

In reality, the situation was very different. Upon landing, they were immediately detained by Malaysian authorities. At the same time, two additional Israeli men traveling with them were also held for questioning.

The incident triggered a diplomatic emergency response, with Israel’s ambassador to Singapore, Eli Vered Hazan, and consul Naama Avnat working directly with relevant officials to secure the Israelis’ release.

Efforts to resolve the situation took time, as Israel and Malaysia do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, and Malaysia is considered one of the most hostile countries toward Israel—a stance that has intensified significantly since the events of October 7.

According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, this was not an isolated case. In recent months, at least eight Israeli citizens have been detained at Kuala Lumpur’s airport, some traveling only with Israeli passports and others holding dual citizenship.

Hazan explained that these detentions, which typically last between 24 and 48 hours, are not the result of any criminal wrongdoing but are instead acts of deliberate targeting based solely on nationality. He noted that Malaysian authorities are aware of the financial damage and distress caused to travelers, who often face thousands of dollars in costs due to canceled flights and legal complications.

In some instances, deportation from Malaysia has also led to entry denials in other countries in the region, further complicating matters and raising security concerns.

The ambassador concluded with a stark warning to travelers, stressing that artificial intelligence tools should not be relied upon in life-and-death matters, and urged Israelis to avoid entering Malaysia altogether—even for brief transit connections.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has reportedly reduced the minimum age for participation in support roles within its military framework to just 12, according to an opposition-linked report, in a move that has sparked concern over the use of minors in conflict-related activities.

The report, published Thursday by the opposition outlet Iran International, cited remarks by a senior Revolutionary Guard official in Tehran, Rahim Nadali, who said the change was being implemented openly and had even been referenced in Iran’s state media.

According to the report, a new initiative known as “For Iran” is recruiting children and teenagers for non-combat roles tied to the war effort, including patrols, checkpoint staffing, and logistical support. Nadali explained that due to “high demand from young people,” the decision was made to lower the minimum age for participation to 12.

Iran International noted that Iran is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of minors in military activity. Despite this, the new program—referred to in Tehran as “Defenders of the Homeland of Iran”—appears to move in the opposite direction and has raised serious concerns among human rights advocates.

The report adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting the recruitment of minors in recent years, but highlights that this instance is notable for being an explicit and public statement by a senior regime official. The fact that the remarks were also carried by state media is being viewed as an indication of a broader policy shift.

The development has drawn sharp international criticism, particularly given the already tense security situation in the region and fears that children may be exploited for military purposes under the guise of volunteer service.

{Matzav.com}

The Senate approved a compromise measure early Friday to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security through the end of September, moving closer to ending a 42-day partial shutdown that has disrupted air travel nationwide and driven hundreds of airport security workers to quit after missing paychecks.

The agreement was passed by voice vote before senators left Washington for a two-week recess and is expected to be taken up by the House later Friday.

The deal does not include any of the conditions Democrats had pushed for regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including proposals to prevent agents from wearing masks and to impose stricter warrant requirements for detaining illegal migrants.

It also does not allocate new funding for ICE or Border Patrol. However, both agencies had already received billions in funding under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump in July, allowing immigration enforcement operations to continue despite the shutdown.

Even so, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed a political victory for Democrats.

“In the wake of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Democrats were clear: No blank check for a lawless ICE and Border Patrol,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the shortcomings of the agreement while emphasizing the urgency of reopening government functions.

“The Dems wanted reforms,” Thune said, according to Politico. “We tried to work with them on reforms. They ended up getting no reforms but, you know, we’re going to have to fight some of those battles another day.”

“We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there,” he added.

The Senate action came just hours after President Trump said he would intervene to ensure Transportation Security Administration agents receive paychecks, as many were on the verge of missing a second full pay period.

That announcement followed another failed Senate vote, where most Democrats again blocked consideration of a DHS funding bill.

“Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” Trump wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post.

“I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!,” he wrote.

Trump had indicated earlier in the week that he might take more aggressive action if the stalemate in Congress continued, including potentially deploying the National Guard to assist at airports.

According to a senior administration official, the planned order would use funds from Trump’s 2025 tax legislation to temporarily pay TSA personnel.

If the House approves the Senate measure and it is signed into law, the emergency action may no longer be necessary.

The impact of the shutdown has already been severe. Nearly 500 airport screeners have resigned since Feb. 14, while absentee rates have surged into the double digits—far above the roughly 2% rate seen before funding lapsed, according to acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.

As a result, some airports have seen security wait times stretch beyond four and a half hours, the longest in the agency’s history.

It remains unclear how quickly conditions will improve if funding is restored.

To help manage the backlog, ICE agents have been deployed to more than a dozen airports, assisting with ID checks and crowd control, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

{Matzav.com}

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett sharply criticized Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Thursday, downplaying Israel’s recent operations against Iran and arguing that the government’s overall performance in the war has fallen short.

Speaking during an interview on Channel 12, Bennett said Netanyahu has done very little when it comes to confronting the Iranian threat, despite ongoing military efforts.

Although Israel has carried out significant operations, including Am KeLavi and the current campaign, Bennett declined to credit Netanyahu for those achievements, maintaining that they do not amount to meaningful progress.

“We are not winning on any front. Not in Gaza, not in Lebanon, and in Iran we will still see.”

He went further, accusing Netanyahu of excessive rhetoric without sufficient action on Iran. “I stand behind every word in my claim that there has never been anyone who talked so much and did so little on the Iranian issue like Netanyahu.”

During the interview, Bennett also addressed warnings from the IDF chief of staff regarding the military’s condition, saying the government has ignored repeated concerns. He told anchor Yonit Levi that “The government has no shame. For a year the chief of staff has been crying out, ‘I don’t have soldiers’. It is the chief of staff’s duty to raise a red flag, and the political leadership is preventing the IDF from winning.”

Bennett argued that the true measure of success in the conflict will depend on long-term strategic outcomes, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and missile programs. He questioned whether enriched uranium would be removed and whether Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be permanently dismantled.

“We need a strategic resolution, otherwise we will reach another round and another round.”

He also made clear that he would not serve under Netanyahu in any future government and revealed that he had offered former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot the position of his number two.

“In the meantime, he is delaying,” Bennett said.

{Matzav.com}