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As the war with Iran continues, the country’s Jewish community—estimated at roughly 15,000 people—is navigating a tense and uncertain reality while trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

Sources familiar with the situation say that, for now, conditions for Jews across Iran remain relatively stable. Community members are deliberately keeping a low profile in public and avoiding activities that might draw attention during the wartime period. At this stage, those monitoring the situation say there has been no unusual escalation in the regime’s treatment of Jews.

Individuals closely following the circumstances of the Jewish communities emphasize that the greatest concern now is simply their safety. “At this moment, all that remains is to pray that no harm comes to the Jews,” those familiar with the situation say, adding that discretion is essential under the current conditions.

According to sources with knowledge of the community’s internal decisions, all weddings and large gatherings within the Jewish community in Iran have been canceled. Community leaders believe it would be inappropriate to hold celebrations at a time when the country is under military attack.

Jewish community figures in several countries abroad who are in contact with those monitoring the situation have also issued a specific request to Israelis: they urge people not to attempt to communicate with Jews inside Iran, warning that such contact could put them in danger.

Last week it was reported that Iran’s Jewish community publicly condemned the Israeli and American strikes that resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish representative in the Iranian parliament, issued a statement praising the late leader.

“The leader was busy managing the affairs of the state until his last drop of blood and unjustly sacrificed his life for the Iranian nation,” Sameh said.

Sameh also released a condolence message following what he described as the “unjust death” of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the message he blamed the killing on what he called the “Zionist regime,” saying the event had brought deep sorrow to Iran.

“The Iranian Jewish community sends its sincere condolences to the noble Iranian nation, to his family, and to all lovers of the Islamic Revolution over this heartbreaking and painful loss. There is no doubt that dear Iran mourns the death of a wise, patient, and compassionate leader — a personality who dedicated his blessed life to the path of independence, dignity, and pride of this land, and who always emphasized national unity, empathy, and peaceful coexistence among followers of the divine religions.”

{Matzav.com}

Major storms whipped up tornadoes in parts of Illinois and Indiana that leveled homes, killing at least two people and injuring others, and another round of rain, hail and strong winds made its way through the region Wednesday, authorities said. “Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Newton County Sheriff […]

Iran’s parliament speaker declared Tuesday that Tehran has no interest in pursuing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, insisting instead that those he called the “aggressor” must face consequences.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks in a message posted to social media, making clear that Iran intends to continue fighting rather than seeking a pause in the hostilities.

“Certainly we aren’t seeking a ceasefire,” Ghalibaf wrote in a post on social media.

“We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again,” he added.

His comments followed a statement issued Monday by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps responding to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that the war with Iran could conclude in the near future.

In remarks cited by Reuters, the IRGC said they would “determine the end of the war”, while warning that Iran could take steps to halt oil shipments from the region if attacks by the United States and Israel continue.

The statement added that Iran would not permit “one liter of oil” to leave the region under such circumstances.

Trump responded to the warning with a message posted on his Truth Social platform, cautioning Tehran against interfering with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”

He continued with an additional warning directed at Iranian leadership.

“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again – Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them – But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen! This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation Tuesday, saying the United States will not permit any disruption to maritime traffic or energy shipments in the region.

The US is acting so that “the United States and all our allies can receive their energy needs. President Trump will not allow rogue Iranian terrorists to strop the freedom of navigation and the free flow of energy,” Leavitt said in a statement.

“If they (Iran) do anything to stop the flow of oil or goods within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the world’s most powerful military 20 times harder than they have been hit thus far,” she threatened.

Leavitt also sought to reassure Americans concerned about rising fuel costs, saying the price increases would not last.

She added that “the increase in gas prices is temporary and in the long term prices will fall. Once the military goals are achieved, we will live in a world where Iran can no longer threaten.”

At the same time, CBS News reported that US officials believe Iran could be preparing to place naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would threaten one of the world’s most important shipping corridors.

Trump addressed the report on Truth Social, warning Iran not to take such a step.

“If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have no reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction!” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}

North Korea announced Wednesday that it supports the Iranian people’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the death of his father in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes last weekend.

Mojtaba Khamenei was selected earlier this week to take over leadership after his father was killed during the coordinated military operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran on Saturday.

North Korea’s official news agency KCNA reported that the country’s foreign ministry also issued a sharp condemnation of the attacks carried out by Washington and Jerusalem. The ministry criticized what it called the US and Israel’s “illegal” attacks against Iran, warning that such actions undermine global peace and contribute to rising instability.

Iran and North Korea have long maintained ties in the development of ballistic missile technology.

In 2013, reports surfaced indicating that the two nations had pledged to continue working together on the advancement of nuclear-capable missile systems.

A United Nations panel of experts later stated in 2021 that cooperation between the two countries on long-range missile programs had resumed the previous year, including the transfer of key components used in missile development.

{Matzav.com}

Centuries of British political tradition will end within weeks after Parliament voted to remove hereditary aristocrats from the unelected House of Lords. On Tuesday night members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their […]

A significant development in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s pardon request occurred on Wednesday when the Justice Ministry announced that the Pardon Department submitted its opinion on the request to Minister Amichai Eliyahu, bypassing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who requested that the transfer be delayed until she issues her own opinion. i24NEWS reported on Tuesday that […]

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The IDF announced that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held a situational assessment on Wednesday following various developments amid Operation Roaring Lion and ordered that the Northern Command sector be reinforced. Zamir ordered the transfer of the Golani Brigade from the Southern Command to the Northern Command. It was also stated that, following further […]

Israeli government ministers said on Tuesday that although war against Iran may end soon, any process of regime change will be lengthy and will require the active involvement of the Iranian public, Kan News reported. According to the report, ministers—speaking after a security briefing—said that “it may take about a year for the Iranian regime […]

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Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said. The Dubai Media Office, which issues statement on behalf of the city-state’s government, said the attack caused “minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national.” It said flights […]

The U.S. said it destroyed 16 minelaying Iranian vessels on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz. “U.S. forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz,” a US. Central Command spokesperson said. “U.S. forces are degrading the Iranian regime’s ability to project power at sea and harass international […]

Podcaster Joe Rogan said many supporters of President Trump feel let down by the ongoing war with Iran, describing the conflict as “insane” and questioning how it fits with the president’s earlier campaign promises.

Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, Rogan suggested that the military action has left some of Trump’s backers uneasy because they believed he would avoid new foreign conflicts.

“Well, it just seems so insane, based on what he ran on. I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right?” Rogan said during the latest episode of his podcast. “He ran on, ‘No more wars,’ ‘End these stupid, senseless wars,’ and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly define why we did it.”

Concerns about the war potentially expanding into a lengthy military commitment have also surfaced among several Republican lawmakers. Some members of the GOP have warned that the United States could risk becoming tied down in another prolonged overseas conflict after spending two decades fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last week, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) cautioned that the current operation against Iran could evolve into what he described as another endless war, urging Trump supporters to remain attentive.

“I would say stay concerned,” Burchett told a reporter after being asked if he had a message for Trump supporters. “I mean, be concerned. Be vigilant. Hold our feet to the fire. Keep us honest on that issue.”

Public opinion surveys indicate that many Americans expect the confrontation with Iran to continue for some time. A recent Quinnipiac poll found that nearly three-quarters of respondents believe the fighting will last months or longer.

According to the survey, 71 percent of voters said they expect the war to continue for “months,” “about a year” or “longer than that.”

President Trump, however, offered a much more optimistic timeline earlier this week, suggesting that the conflict is nearing its conclusion.

“This was just an excursion into something that had to be done. We’re getting very close to finishing that too,” Trump said during a press conference Monday.

Trump’s remarks came only days after he made clear that the United States would settle for nothing less than “unconditional surrender” from Iran’s leadership.

{Matzav.com}

Democrat Harris and Republican Clay Fuller advanced to a runoff for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former U.S. House seat in Georgia after no candidate won a majority in Tuesday’s special election. President Donald Trump in February endorsed Fuller, a district attorney who prosecutes crimes in four counties, to succeed Greene in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Greene, […]

Pure teachings on the Chumash and festivals, and guidance for upright conduct, by Rabbi Avraham Twersky of Trisk, son of Rabbi Mordechai of Chernobyl.     The sefer was published in the author’s lifetime, and opens with his own introduction. There, he alludes to the power of his blessings and writes:

A small island in the Persian Gulf that is only about one-third the size of Manhattan has become a focal point in discussions about how the conflict with Iran could unfold, as analysts say its control could dramatically affect Tehran’s finances and influence President Trump’s strategy toward the regime, the NY Post reports.

Kharg Island sits roughly 16 miles from Iran’s coastline in the Persian Gulf. Because of its exposed position, experts say it could be difficult for Iran to defend while also being relatively easy for adversaries to isolate — factors that have reportedly attracted attention from planners within the administration.

“Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Take it out, and this means cutting off the military budget in addition to pulling the plug on the basic services that keep Iranian society functioning,” said Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the DC-based Middle East Institute.

Soliman explained that even a temporary disruption of activity on the island could send shockwaves through Iran’s economy and internal stability.

“Losing Kharg for even a few weeks will create a security and societal crisis in Iran at the same time. Tehran doesn’t get to choose which one to deal with first,” said Soliman, author of “West Asia: A New American Grand Strategy in the Middle East.”

“The revenue shortfall would run into the billions monthly. You’d see the currency collapse further, inflation spike, subsidies buckle, and this will add more pressure on the country with no quick way to stop the bleeding.”

According to a source familiar with administration thinking, the question surrounding a move to seize the island is less about whether it will happen and more about the timing, given its strategic importance in the wider conflict.

The source said the Israel Defense Forces would prefer to capture the island sooner, while American commanders are believed to favor continuing strikes against Iran’s offensive capabilities before turning attention to Kharg.

Under that approach, taking control of the island would occur only after Iran’s military power had already been severely weakened, allowing the move to deliver maximum strategic pressure on the regime.

Although Iranian oil exports face heavy American sanctions, most crude shipped from Kharg ultimately ends up in China.

Since the war began on Feb. 28, oil shipments moving through the Persian Gulf have slowed dramatically. The disruption has rattled global markets, prompting sharp fluctuations in trading as Trump attempts to encourage commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz by offering a new reinsurance plan along with U.S. naval escorts.

JP Morgan warned in a statement Monday that “a direct strike [on Kharg Island] would immediately halt the bulk of Iran’s crude exports, likely triggering severe retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz or against regional energy infrastructure.”

Axios was the first to report that Washington was considering a mission aimed at capturing Kharg Island.

Former administration official John Ullyot, who previously served in defense roles including at the National Security Council during Trump’s first term, said the island’s central role in Iran’s economy could provide the United States with major leverage.

Ullyot described the prospect of a military operation to take the island as a risky move that could nonetheless deliver major strategic benefits.

A US raid to capture Kharg would be “high-risk, high-reward,” Ullyot said.

“To take such a high percentage of the Iranian oil supply off the table would cripple the regime and would also give the US, as it has in Venezuela, a big say on where Iran’s oil supply would go,” he said.

“This is the whole source of their economy.”

Since launching the war with Iran, Trump has frequently pointed to events in Venezuela, telling audiences how he removed dictator Nicolas Maduro and replaced him with vice president Delcy Rodriquez, who later agreed to direct oil exports toward the United States and allow American companies into the country’s energy sector.

Ullyot said Trump appears aware of the dangers that come with occupying territory inside Iran itself, suggesting that large numbers of American troops may not be necessary because of Kharg Island’s geographic position.

“One option would be to do a naval blockade of the island,” he said.

“President Trump can essentially seize the island by having an aggressive blockade of the island, [which] he could use down the line to essentially make the Iranian oil supply subject to his call… It would also give him leverage to influence who would be, ultimately, the next leader or interim leader of Iran.”

Speaking Monday afternoon, Trump said he expects the conflict to conclude soon.

“I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” the president said.

“So the rest is going to be a determination as to my attitude, along with the people in the Trump administration, what we want to do.”

{Matzav.com}

FLATBUSH: One person was killed and ten others were injured in a chain-reaction crash Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. when an FDNY vehicle traveling on Avenue S was struck by a van heading north on West 11th Street, causing the FDNY truck to crash into an Access-A-Ride van, which then struck a […]

A public dispute between Sen. Ted Cruz and commentator Tucker Carlson intensified again this week as the two prominent conservative figures exchanged sharp criticism over Israel, antisemitism, and the war with Iran.

Speaking Tuesday at an antisemitism symposium in Washington organized by the Republican Jewish Coalition and National Review, the Texas Republican delivered a blistering attack on Carlson and vowed to confront the podcast host directly.

“I believe Tucker Carlson is the single most dangerous demagogue in this country,” Cruz said. He added that antisemitism has become increasingly visible on the political right in recent months. “I have seen more antisemitism in the last 18 months on the right than at any point in my lifetime,” Cruz continued. “It is being spread by loud voices, the most consequential of whom is Tucker Carlson.”

Cruz’s comments came days after Carlson mocked Cruz and others who rely on Israeli intelligence assessments during a recent episode of his podcast.

During the March 2 broadcast, Carlson ridiculed what he described as blind trust in Israeli intelligence. “No offense to Ted Cruz or all the other dumbos who are always saying, ‘we get all this actionable intelligence, it’s so important, we need [Israel] so desperately,’” Carlson said. “Really? Let’s evaluate the quality of that intelligence.”

The conflict between the two men reflects a broader divide among conservatives over U.S. policy toward Israel and Iran. Both figures host widely followed podcasts and are frequently mentioned as possible contenders in the 2028 presidential race, making their rivalry a potential preview of future political battles within the Republican Party.

Carlson, who remains one of the most influential voices in conservative media and maintains ties to the White House, is often discussed as a possible presidential candidate despite criticism from many Republicans. Cruz, who finished second to President Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, is also viewed as a potential 2028 contender.

Asked Tuesday to respond to Cruz’s latest remarks, Carlson brushed off the criticism in a brief text message. “Pretty funny,” he said. “He’s running for president against me, which I find amusing since I’m not in the race.”

Cruz has repeatedly attacked Carlson in recent months, including over Carlson’s decision to host white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast without challenging Fuentes’ claim that the “big challenge” to unifying the country is “organized Jewry.”

The Texas senator has suggested that opposing antisemitism and strengthening support for Israel could be key elements of a possible presidential campaign. Speaking at the symposium Tuesday, he warned that the political landscape could shift in troubling ways if voices like Carlson’s gain greater influence.

“I don’t want to wake up in five years and find myself in a country where both major political parties are unambiguously antisemitic,” Cruz said. “I think that is a real possibility, if Tucker and his minions prevail.”

The two men have clashed repeatedly over Middle East policy and have been sparring publicly for months.

In June 2025, Carlson invited Cruz onto an episode of “The Tucker Carlson Show,” one of the most widely streamed podcasts on Spotify. During the interview, the two argued intensely about Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of lacking knowledge about the country.

Carlson said Cruz didn’t “know anything” about “the country you seek to topple.”

Cruz fired back during the exchange, suggesting Carlson’s criticism of Israel echoed antisemitic arguments.

“You’re not talking about the Chinese, you’re not talking about the Japanese, you’re not talking about the British, you’re not talking about the French,” Cruz told Carlson. “You’re asking, ‘why are the Jews controlling our foreign policy?’ That’s what you just asked.”

After the interview aired, Cruz used his own podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” to defend his performance and criticize Carlson’s conduct, saying the commentator had gone “off the rails.”

Later in November, while addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition’s leadership summit in Las Vegas, Cruz escalated the rhetoric further by calling Carlson a “coward.” Speaking days afterward at a Federalist Society event in Washington, he said some Republicans hesitate to challenge Carlson publicly because “he has one hell of a big megaphone.”

At Tuesday’s symposium, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas appeared to dismiss the influence of what he described as internet personalities promoting antisemitic views. Although he did not mention Carlson by name, Cotton referred to “so-called influencers” spreading such ideas and minimized their impact.

“They are not influential,” Cotton said. “They are at least not influential with Donald Trump, who continues to reject their kooky advice.”

Despite criticism from many Republican leaders, Carlson’s views about Israel have gained traction among segments of younger conservatives. Recent polling highlights shifting attitudes, with a Yale Youth Poll showing Americans under 35 significantly more likely than older generations to believe that U.S. Jews “have too much power.” A Pew survey last year also found that the share of Republicans under 50 holding unfavorable views of Israel increased from 35 percent to 50 percent over the previous three years.

When asked whether he might seek the presidency in 2028, Carlson responded with a quip aimed directly at Cruz.

“Only if it’s against Cruz.”

{Matzav.com}

Americans are divided along party lines on U.S. military action against Iran, according to polls conducted since the war began, with most polls showing opposition is higher than support. Polls suggest that many Americans are worried the military action is making the U.S. “less safe,” even as they see Iran as a threat to U.S. […]