#us-iran-tensions

#us-iran-tensions

If I weren't as sure as I am that the president is deep in some private swamp of dark derangement, I'd point out that his lickety-split escalation regarding Iran resembles the production number in Duck Soup in which Freedonia, under the leadership of Rufus T. Firefly, prepares to go to war against Sylvania, lacking only a banjo number and a falling chandelier.

But first, we have to think about that extraordinary reach that they had. In 2014, they rolled in and took one-third of Syrian territory, huge parts of Iraq, created their own state. So compared to that, yes, they're territorially gone, but they're still there. There are remnants of them, as you say, mostly in the desert in Iraq and Syria, and they have been regrouping and launching more attacks.

At least one person was killed and 14 were injured in an explosion in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. State television reported that the blast hit an eight-storey building, "destroying two floors, several vehicles, and shops" in the area of Moallem Boulevard in the city. Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted the crisis management director for Hormozgan province, Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, as saying the explosion's cause was under investigation.

Behind the scenes: Israeli military intelligence chief Gen. Shlomi Binder held meetings with senior officials at the Pentagon, the CIA and the White House on Tuesday and Wednesday, two U.S. officials said. One source with knowledge said that Binder came to town to brief the Trump administration on specific intelligence it had requested about Iran.

Gold soars past $5,500 an ounce as US President Donald Trump renews threats against Iran. Gold prices have set a new record amid United States President Donald Trump's threats of military action against Iran and the weakness of the US dollar. Bullion surged past $5,500 an ounce on Thursday, extending an extraordinary rally that has seen the precious metal gain more than 20 percent in value since the start of the year.