Mayor calls for ‘nationwide pause’ on Flock cameras: 'UNCONSTITUTIONAL'
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss why he blocked a $1 million deal for Flock Safety surveillance cameras.
5:10
https://youtu.be/ddHS3ijbauA
Media Fawning of Senate Candidate Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed Begins
August 9, 2026 | Sundance |
Extreme leftists and white, female, overeducated,urban communists have one primary prism: how Obama-ish is their candidate?
Both El-Sayed and Barack Obama are supported by the Muslim Brotherhood directly. Both El-Sayed and Barack Obama campaigned for Senate in the mid-term election (BO ’06, ES ’26), and both Barack Obama and El-Sayed planned to run for higher office in 2nd year of their freshman term as senator.
The media now begin their fawning endeavor as the Muslim Brotherhood backed Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed tries to moderate himself in the image of Barack Hussein Obama. I find it a little revealing that El-Sayed’s wife is a doctor who refuses to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients (cash only), as El-Sayed campaigns on Medicare for all.
Of course, don’t look for the media to point this out during questioning.
Notice also the Middle East nations that El-Sayed criticizes (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan) are the Mid-East nations who have pushed back or banned the Muslim Brotherhood. This is very revealing for those who walk the political deep weeds.By the way, he’s a paper doctor; a Phd, not an MD. WATCH:
Abdul El-Sayed reacts to Trump's attacks after primary win: Full interview
In an interview with Meet the Press, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed discusses his message to moderate Democrats and how he’s handling attacks from Republicans heading into the general election.
17:16
https://youtu.be/wacRksAPl4s
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/08/09/media-fawning-of-senate-candidate-abdulrahman-mohamed-el-sayed-begins/
Sunday Combat: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya -vs- Margaret Brennan
August 9, 2026 | Sundance |
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much”…
Slowly she builds her performance outrage, methodically working through the talking points afore her.Full dramatic acting on display. Lips pursed, bladed eyebrows angled, contempt tone triggered and the intent obvious.
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya appears on CBS Face the Nation to discuss Mexican poop lettuce, Mexico poop peppers, Illegal Alien measles spread and the weaponized information from health ‘administrators’ around the COVID-19 vaccine.Obviously, with Media Patron Saint Anthony Fauci facing scrutiny, Margaret Brennan defends Fauci as she would if the Lightbringer, Chicago Jesus was disrespected. Combative video and Transcript below:
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya says "I trust the science" on childhood vaccines
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that "I trust the science on vaccines," despite previous comments from Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about childhood vaccines. Amid the growing measles outbreak, Kennedy has now said parents should vaccinate their children against the disease.
14:18
https://youtu.be/XgrJl7YsEU8
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/08/09/sunday-combat-dr-jay-bhattacharya-vs-margaret-brennan/
>>24918890. God she is a bitch!!! Rude as hell.
>>24918841. That makes sense
BELOW THE BELT: Abdul El-Sayed Takes a Nasty Shot at Trump’s Marriage After President Shares an Image of the Islamo-Marxist with His Wife(VIDEO and PHOTO)
By Cullen Linebarger Aug. 9, 2026 3:40 pm
Islamo-Marxist Michigan DemocraticSenate nominee Abdul El-Sayed decided to take a personal shot at President Trump’s marriage on Sunday after getting triggered over one of his pointed Truth Social posts.
El Sayed appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with host Jake Tapper to discuss his victory in last week’s primary election, along with questions regarding how he is going to unite the party in the future.
But the interview took an ugly turnwhen Tapper brought up a post by Trump that seemed to outline what he felt the stakes were for America should El-Sayed get into the Senate.
In the post, Trump shows himself and First Lady Melania side by side and compares them to El-Sayed and his wife, Dr. Sarah Jukaku, who is in a hijab.
The President appears to be at a high-end reception while El-Sayed and his wife are at a restaurant.
The comparison was posted with the caption: “Two VERY DIFFERENT America’s.”
LOOK:
When confronted with this by Tapper,the notoriously thin-skinned El-Sayed responded by making a ridiculous and nasty claim about Trump’s marriage to the First Lady.
“Actually, Sarah and I like each other. I don’t know about the First Lady and the President, but, from what I have heard, it’s a bit of a rocky road,” El-Sayed told Tapper.
The liberal Tapper, of course, does not bother confronting El-Sayed about this wildly inaccurate claim.
WATCH:
Donald and Melania Trump have been married since 2005 and share an adult son, Barron. No credible outlet has revealed any turbulence within their marriage.
By all accounts, they are quite a happy couple.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/below-belt-abdul-el-sayed-takes-nasty-shot/
SHOCK VIDEO: More Than 30 Shots Fired at Home of Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger’s Communications Director
by Cristina Laila Aug. 9, 2026
More than 30 shots were fired at a Georgia elections official’s home shortly after midnight early Thursday morning.
Three suspects fired shots at the home of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s Communications Director Robert Sinners.
Shocking surveillance video shows three suspects firing more than 30 shots at Robert Sinners’ home on Wellington Street SW in Atlanta.
Sinners(? Is that his name?) was asleep in his bed next to his fiancé at the time of the shooting.
Nobody was injured.
“We are still confused why 30 shots hit our home last night,” Robert Sinners toldWSB-TV.
“Scariest thing we’ve ever had happen to us,” he added.
Police pursued the suspects and exchanged gunfire with them.
Two suspects, Jermaine Howard, 29, and Gregory Vaughn, 26, have been arrested. A third suspect is still on the loose.
The motive for the shooting is unclear. The charges against the suspects has not been disclosed.
WATCH:
Fox 5 Atlanta reported:
Two men are in custody after police say they exchanged gunfire near the Atlanta Beltline early Thursday morning, sending bullets into a nearby home.
The shooting happened shortly after midnight on Wellington Street SW. Witnesses flagged down arriving officers and reported seeing two men firing guns toward the property. Bullets also struck a nearby home.
Police then spotted two men matching the witness descriptions walking nearby. When officers approached, both men ran, prompting a short foot chase before officers detained them.
Authorities identified the men as Gregory O’Neal Vaughn, 26, and Jermaine Darcel Howard, 29. Officers recovered a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition from Howard. Police confirmed both men face multiple pending charges and noted that preliminary evidence shows the shooting was not politically motivated.
It was later revealed that the home is occupied by Robert Sinners, who works for Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, as his communications director. Sinners was asleep inside the home at the time with his fiancée. Sinners spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta about the experience.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/shock-video-more-than-30-shots-fired-georgia/
In-N-Out Shooting Hero Reveals What He Said to Make the Wicked Gunman Cry and Spare His Life
by Cullen Linebarger Aug. 9, 2026
One of the young heroes who confronted the In-N-Out gunman has revealed what he said to save his life and also make the monster sob.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, 24-year-old Chad Williams killed three people and injured several more after opening fire at an In-N-Out last Saturday.
Surviving bystanders were filmed running away and screaming in the parking lot.
Williams later turned down a nature trail and fatally shot himself.
On Friday, Police released chilling video footage of the event. These included a compilation of clips from surveillance and body camera footage.
At one point, Williams ran into 17-year-old Braxton Steube, a Dick’s Sporting Goods employee. Steube had helped customers exit the store through the back to escape danger.
Staring the shooter in the face, Steube engaged in conversation with Williams. The gunman then walked away and ended his own life.
In an interview with KMTV on Saturday, Steube revealed what he said to save his own life.
He also noted he made Williams cry in the process.
“I said, I have a family,” Stuebe explained. “I said, you don’t have to do this. I’ll tell you whatever you want. I’ll do anything.”
“He started to like tear up a bit,” Stuebe continued. “It seemed like, and kind of just got emotional, it seemed like. And he said to me, just get away from me, man. And a stuttering voice, like as if he was crying.”
Stuebe recalled that Williams fired in his direction but missed. Williams then continued down the trail.
Jordan Salinas, one of the heroic armed bystanders who returned gunfire during the described his own encounter with the gunman in an on-camera interview last week.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/n-shooting-hero-reveals-what-he-said-make/
WATCH: White House Shares Abdul El-Sayed Highlight Reel:Defund Police, Transform Supreme Court, Wealth Tax, Abolish ICE, Impeach Trump, and More
By Jordan Conradson Aug. 9
The White House on Sunday shared avideo compilation of Abdul El-Sayed’s most radical stances showing his Communist campaign for exactly what it is despite his attempts to distance himself from the Democratic Socialists of America.
As seen in the clip, El-Sayed has called for defunding the police, equating it to “disinvesting in the means of incarcerating someone or killing them on the streets.” He’s also called for term limits on Supreme Court justices, giving each President three appointments to the high court, and expanding the court.
Wealth taxes to “disincentivize the accumulation of wealth,” abolishing ICE and opening the border, giving illegals drivers’ licenses and welfare, impeaching Trump, and banning fossil fuels are all on his agenda. “F*ck ICE,” he’s said.
This is straight from the DSA’s playbook.
However, El-Sayed, who won his primary race last week, has denied that he is a socialist, but he’s attended and spoken at at least six DSA events over the years, according to Fox.
“I’m not technically or practically DSA,” he claimed in an interview last month. “I am not somebody who is a socialist. I believe in capitalism; I just believe that capitalism has to be regulated.” He’s also been described as “a longtime friend of Detroit DSA” during a 2019 event where he was photographed with Socialist Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
Just this morning, El Sayed was seen on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he defended Communist influencer Hasan Piker’s comments, blaming cancel culture and “gocha politics” for the controversy stemming from them.
The White House shared the video on X, writing,
A vision for two very different Americas.
The communist Far Left Democrats, like Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, are a direct threat to America and the very values that define our nation.
This echoes a recent post by President Trump, in which he contrasted his vision for America with a photo of himself next to his wife, Melania, alongside a photo of El-Sayed with his wife, who is wearing a hijab.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/watch-white-house-shares-abdul-el-sayed-highlight/
Abdul El-Sayed Advocates for Sharia Law in the U.S. — Compared Oklahoma’s Anti-Sharia Amendment to the Trail of Tears and Oklahoma City Bombing
by Jim Hᴏft Aug. 9, 2026 6:00
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed wants Americans to believe that opposition to Sharia in state courts belongs in the same historical indictment as some of the darkest crimes ever committed on American soil.
That is not a paraphrase invented by his opponents. It is the unmistakable thrust of his own remarks.
Speaking to the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in October 2022, El-Sayed declared: “You can’t understand a Sharia ban without understanding the Trail of Tears.”
He then invoked white supremacy and said the “same exact forces” were behind Native American removal, the destruction of Black Wall Street, the Oklahoma City bombing and Oklahoma’s attempt to bar courts from considering Sharia law, according to the Washington Free Beacon’s report and video.
WATCH:
Abdul El-Sayed Advocates for Sharia Law in the U.S. — Compared Oklahoma’s Anti-Sharia Amendment to the Trail of Tears and Oklahoma City Bombing
(https://rumble.com/embed/v7brj9s/?pub=4
This is not subtle. This is not “defending religious freedom.” This is obscene political propaganda that places a medieval legal system, complete with hudud punishments, unequal rights for women and non-Muslims, and apostasy rules, into the same category of victimhood as genuine American tragedies.
El-Sayed insists that bans on Sharia stem from bigotry. Yet Sharia, as practiced in Iran, Afghanistan under the Taliban, and other regimes, systematically subordinates women, criminalizes apostasy and blasphemy, and rejects the foundational equality of the American constitutional order.
El-Sayed has denied that imposing Sharia is his goal and claims allegiance to the separation of church and state.But his 2022 performance at CAIR reveals the instinct: treat any legal firewall against Islamic law as illegitimate and rooted in “white supremacy.” That instinct matters when a candidate is one election away from the United States Senate.
On May 13, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government held a hearingentitled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution: Part II.”
While news of the hearing largely focused on Marco Hunter-Lopez, it took place as part of a larger initiative led by Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX),who established the “Sharia Free America Caucus” late last yearto address what they see as a danger to American civil liberties.
The broader session centered on the perceivedthreats posed by the increasing influence of Sharia law in the United States, particularly concerning civil liberties, foundational principles, and republican governance. Additionally, the hearing examined the potential conflicts between Sharia-based institutions and federal law as well as the Constitution.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/abdul-el-sayed-advocates-sharia-law-u-s/
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett Weighs in on the Condition of the Economy, Warns Against Socialist Policies
By David Greyson Aug. 9, 2026
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett was on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream to talk about the condition of the economy.
Hasset explained that the economy is doing well and that wages are up. He also said that people are still feeling the economic strain of inflation under the previous administration.
With some polls showing Democrats potentially gaining in the midterms,Hassett warned that DSA candidates’ policies would be very destructive to the country.
“Let’s talk about a couple of polls. On the condition of the economy, what folks told us is 76 percent of them say it’s fair or poor, and when we asked about their personal financial situation, the largest number came in from those who report they are falling behind,” Bream said.
“When can Americans expect relief?” Bream asked.
“We’ve already seen that real wages under President Trump, which is wages after inflation have gone up about a thousand dollars for the typical American middle-class family, and about four thousand dollars for the typical manufacturing worker or construction worker,” Hassett said.
“The prices went up so much under Joe Biden, we totally understand why people are still frustrated when they go to the grocery store,” Hassett continued.
“The bottom line is that if you want to have higher welfare for American people, that you need factory construction, you need lots and lots of job creation, and machine purchases,” Hassett said.
“We’ve got 83,000 or so people building new factories in the US because of Trump’s economic policies, and we’ve got the highest investment data that we’ve ever seen,” Hassett continued.
“As those factories turn on, then we are gonna have more construction jobs, more manufacturing jobs,” Hassett said.
“It’s promising and it sounds good for the future. People right now do not feel the benefits of that just yet,” Bream said.
“Our polling also shows us this, that when we asked folks, which political party will do a better job? They give a 9-point advantage to Democrats on the economy, 10 points on inflation and prices, 22-point advantage on income equality,” Bream said.
“Do you think there needs to be more of a message of empathy? We understand that you are struggling out there,” Bream asked.
“People absolutely are feeling legitimate problems when they go to the grocery store, which are problems that were created because of the runaway inflation of the previous administration,” Hassett said.
“Did anyone ask those people like, how do you think the economy is gonna work if it’s run by socialists? How do you think it’s gonna be if the government gets to run all the stores, and tell you what the price of everything is? What are you gonna do when the stores like in every socialist country, are all empty? Are you still gonna think that Democrats are the right choice for you?” Hassett asked.
Watch:
Fox News Sunday
@FoxNewsSunday
WATCH: Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett on polls "did anyone ask those people 'how do you think the economy is going to work if it's run by socialists?'"
https://x.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/2086459987405193474
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/national-economic-council-director-kevin-hassett-weighs-condition/
ABC’s Jonathan Karl Confronts AOC with DSA’s Radical Platform: Abolish Police and Prisons, Amnesty for All Illegals… — AOC Says Americans Are Not Interested in These “Academic Debates”
by Jim Hᴏft Aug. 9, 2026 5:40 pm
What a wild response.
ABC News host Jonathan Karl confronted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Sunday with the radical national platform published by the Democratic Socialists of America—and AOC’s first instinct was to change the subject.
During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Ocasio-Cortez confirmed that she remains a member of the organization’s New York City chapter, although she distinguished it from the national organization.
Karl then read through some of the national DSA program’s most extreme proposals:
Defund the Defense Department and close American military bases overseas
Abolish the police and prison system
Grant amnesty to every immigrant in the United States
Replace the president and Supreme Court with bodies subordinate to Congress
Abolish the United States Senate
Place major corporations and essential industries under public ownership
These are not Republican talking points. They appear in the DSA’s own published national program, “Workers Deserve More!”
So how did one of America’s most prominent democratic socialists respond?
She pivoted to President Donald Trump, Iran, grocery prices and rent.
AOC then dismissed the dispute over dismantling core American institutions as an “academic debate,” claiming voters are more concerned about lowering their bills and being able to visit a doctor.
Jonathan Karl:
I was looking through the DSA program—and this is the national program. I’m sure you’ve seen the document; it was adopted just a few months ago. But some of the positions here: defund the Department of Defense, close overseas military bases, abolish the police and prison system, grant amnesty to all immigrants in the U.S., replace the Supreme Court and executive judiciary with a chosen by lower and lower Congress, abolish the Senate, public ownership of corporations and essential industries.
I mean, those are some positions that you’re gonna be hearing a lot about this fall from Republicans.
AOC:
Mm-hm, mm-hm. And I think we’re also gonna be hearing a lot about Donald Trump’s commitment to getting us into a reckless war in Iran—yeah—his collaboration with big companies to make sure that everything from groceries to rent stays sky-high.
And I think that people are less interested in these academic debates, and they’re more interested in how we’re gonna bring their bills down and make sure that they can afford to see a doctor.
A national political organization wants to abolish the Senate, eliminate police and prisons, nationalize major industries and fundamentally rewrite the American system of government, and AOC initially waved it away as an academic exercise.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported on the DSA program in June, detailing its calls to abolish the Senate, subordinate the executive and judiciary to Congress, close overseas military bases and establish public ownership of major corporations and industries. Read that previous report here: “The Official Platform of the Democratic Socialists of America Includes Abolishing the Senate, the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and More.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/abcs-jonathan-karl-confronts-aoc-dsas-radical-platform/
JUST IN: President Trump Announces New White House Counsel
by Cristina Laila Aug. 9, 2026
President Trump announced on Sunday thatthe amazing and brilliant Will Scharf will replace Dave Warrington as White House Counsel, effective September 1.
Will Scharf, a former federal prosecutor,is currently serving as the White House Staff Secretary.
Trump said WillScharf will also serve as Assistant to the President.
Dave Warrington, who served as Trump’s White House Counsel since January 2025, will be going back to the private sector.
Full statement from President Trump:
It is my Great Honor to announce that, effective September 1st, Will Scharf will become Assistant to the President and White House Counsel, replacing a man,David Warrington, who has done a truly outstanding job as White House Counseland, before that, for my Presidential Campaign. David will be going on to the Private Sector.
Will has done an amazing job in his current role as White House Staff Secretary, andhas also served as Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission.
I know Will well! He previously represented me in numerous cases, including at the Supreme Court, during the Biden Administration’s corrupt and illegal campaign of Weaponization.
He also previously served as a Federal Prosecutor, worked as an attorney in private practice, clerked for two Federal Appeals Court Judges, and was a top student at both Princeton University, and Harvard Law School.
Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law. Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Will Scharf served on President Trump’s legal defense team in the presidential immunity case that made its way to the US Supreme Court.
In July 2024,the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump has absolute immunity for his core Constitutional powers.
Former presidents are entitled to at least a presumption of immunity for their official acts.
The Supreme Court ruled there is no immunity for unofficial acts.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/president-trump-announces-new-white-house-counsel/
NORAD Fighter Jets SCRAMBLED After Two Aircraft Breach Restricted Airspace as President Trump Attends LIV Golf Tournament in Bedminster, NJ
By Jim Hᴏft Aug. 9, 2026 5
President Trump was attending the LIV Golf tournament at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club on Sunday when North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was forced to scramble F-16 fighter jets after two general aviation aircraft entered temporary restricted airspace.
According to NORAD,the F-16s safely intercepted and escorted the two civilian aircraft out of the restricted zone. The temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) were in place specifically because the President of the United States was on site.
NORAD declined to speculate on whether the pilots simply ignored the rules or made a “mistake,” stating that determination is up to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The command reminded pilots that they are required to check FAA Notices to Airmen(NOTAMs) and temporary flight restrictions before every flight. The White House did not immediately comment on the incident.
The dramatic interception was captured on video by X user @JoeyGoomba,who showed an F-16 fighter jet closing in on what appeared to be a small Cessnanear Jefferson Township, just outside Bedminster.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/norad-fighter-jets-scrambled-after-two-aircraft-breach/
Ken Paxton on His Senate Race in Texas, Blasts His Opponent James Talarico, “This Guy is Hiding his True Views That He Has Held for the Last Ten Years in the Texas House”– (VIDEO)
By David Greyson Aug. 9, 2026
Texas AG and US Senate Candidate Ken Paxton was on “Sunday Morning Futures” with host Maria Bartiromo to talk about his race against left-wing Democrat James Talarico.
Being a midterm election,the polls show a close race between the two candidates.
“This is a state that President Trump won. Why is this race so close, and what are you doing about it?” Bartiromo asked.
“It’s a different environment. Midterm elections are always challenging. They have been challenging in the past,” Paxton said.
“We’re gonna win this. We have to win this for the country. We have to win this for really, holding on to the US Senate,” Paxton said.
“How important is the Texas race in terms of the Republicans keeping the majority in the Senate?” Bartiromo asked.
“I don’t think they can hold on to it unless we hold Texas,” Paxton continued.
Paxton blasted Talarico for his extreme views andexplained that the media is not being honest about his record in the Texas House of Representatives.
“Obviously, this guy is hiding his true views that he has held for the last ten yearsin the Texas House,” Paxton said.
“There are literally hundreds of things that he’s said similar to which you already posted, and those are the things we need to let voters know,” Paxton said.
“The mainstream media, as Trump would callthe fake media, they are not exposing his real record,” Paxton continued.
“He’s got a lot of money coming in from California and other liberal states, so he had $30 million. When I finished my race, I had zero. So, we are trying to get help from all over the country,” Paxton explained.
“Tell me about the Republicans in the Senate. Are they helping you right now? Are you in touch with Senate leadership?” Bartiromo asked.
“They have been very supportive. I’ve talked to Senator Thune. I’ve talked to Senator Scott, and many others. Been very supportive. They are planning on spending money here is my understanding. I don’t control that. We can’t necessarily coordinate with them,” Paxton said.
“We need help now because James Talarico has been spending 3 or 4 million dollars a weekon TV for the last month. So, I want to compete. I want to be able to tell people exactly what he believes because I am convinced when Texas knows that, know those issues and know what he actually believes, he will not be elected in the State of Texas,” Paxton continued.
user avatar
SundayMorningFutures
@SundayFutures
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Texas AG and Senate candidate @KenPaxtonTX joined @MariaBartiromo and responded to accusations of voter fraud in the closely watched Texas Senate race.
🗣️ “I vote at the same place for over two decades.”
Paxton pushed back on the allegations and accused his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, of hypocrisy over questions surrounding Talarico’s own voter registration.
📺 Watch the full exchange below:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/ken-paxton-his-senate-race-texas-blasts-his/
Iran names price to reopen Strait of Hormuz. 1/2
Sun, August 9, 2026
Iran is demanding financial compensation for the war before it reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a last-minute concession that dampens hopes of an imminent deal.
Speculation had been building for days that an agreement was emerging that would restore safe passage in the vital sea lane, following direct negotiationsbetween Oman and the Islamic republic.
But Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister,said that while a deal was close, reopening the strait would depend on other conditions.
He said this would include US compensation in the form of reparations to Iran for the war.
Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, the secretary of Iran's top national security body, listed other demands, such as stopping "aggression" against Iran's proxy groups in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Yemen.
It is not clear what form that would take as the US is not known to be engaged in any action against Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis, although it could refer to a demand that the US lean on its regional partners to cease hostility with the terror groups.
The extra demands suggest growing Iranian confidence that it can squeeze more concessions out of Donald Trump.
The US was already obliged to pay compensation under the June memorandum of understanding.
Although the terms left some scope for interpretation, the document was taken by the West as guaranteeing free passage of vessels through the strait without having to pay tolls, although Iran framed the agreement as giving it a degree of management of the passage.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, it wasclaimed that Mr Trump had privately raised the prospect of walking away from the Iran war without a nuclear deal.
US officials told the Wall Street Journalthat the US president believes that once the Strait is open again, America can surveil any future nuclear activity from afar and take action if needed.
This would represent a major about turn and a break from the most fundamental aims and justification for going to war.
Iran began attacking commercial ships again at the beginning of July.
It has been reported that the emerging deal would hand Tehran some control of incoming shipping into the Gulf, perhaps even the payment of tolls, which would represent a major concession by Mr Trump.
Tehran appears to want to control shipping in the strait as well as wider commitments in its favour by the US.
On Sunday,Mr Araghchi attempted to heap further pressure on the White House by saying that Iran would not negotiate directly with the US until it addressed its "violations" of the June memorandum of understanding.
"We will not forget the crimes of the enemy, nor will we pass over the unjustly shed blood," he said.
It came as there was a further report of a commercial ship being attacked.
A tanker affiliated with the state oil company of the United Arab Emirates was struck by a missile on Saturday, the Gulf kingdom said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/iran-names-price-reopen-strait-094223936.html?
2/2
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a vessel had caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile but the fire was put out and there was no reported environmental impact.
US Central Command said on Saturday it had allowed more than 30 ships through for humanitarian aid since the current blockade started. US forces have turned away 53 ships, disabled two vessels and boarded two others, Central Command said in a statement on social media.
Prices of food and other necessities have increased rapidly in Iran since the conflict began in February. At a news conference on Saturday, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, blamed the US for causing difficulties in importing basic goods.
Mr Trump threatened over the last 10 days huge strikes on Iran but then backtracked on the basis, he said, that a deal was close.
In the meantime there have been a number of reports that the US has significantly depleted its arsenal since the war started in February.
The Washington Post has reported that the Pentagon is pressing defence contractors to increase the rate of its weapons production to fill the shortfall.
Steve Feinberg, the US deputy defence secretary, reportedly wrote to leaders of the defence industry on Wednesday setting a deadline of 21 days to submit plans to "drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production capabilities".
Last week, CNN reported that US officials said that the US had burned through four-fifths of its high-altitude Thaad interceptors and around half of two of its main varieties of Patriot interceptor missiles.
On Sunday, Yemen's Houthi rebels, a terror group aligned to Iran, said they had attacked an oil facility in the south-west of Saudi Arabia.
Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, said they targeted an Aramco refinery in the city of Jazan with a drone. The attack was in response to Saudi drones breaching Yemen's airspace over the provinces of Hajjah and Saada, he said.
Mr Pezeshkian met Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader, around the start of the president's third year in office in late July, state media said on Sunday, and a paramilitary leader promised footage of Mr Khamenei in the future.
Mr Pezeshkian has given differing accounts in recent weeks about his access to Mr Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he succeeded his father in the role in March.
On July 21, the president said interactions with the supreme leader were "increasing day by day", but in early August he said communicating with Mr Khamenei was "very difficult".
The late July meeting covered military affairs and the economy, including securing resources, managing foreign exchange and energy use, as well as economic ties with foreign partners, according to state media.
Mr Khamenei was reportedly seriously injured in the Feb 28 strike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei on the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran.He had also kept a low public profile before becoming supreme leader.
Qasem Qoraishi, the deputy of the Basij Organisation, said onSunday that footage and other documentation showing Mr Khamenei among the public and out in the streets, as well as in meetings with armed forces commanders, would be released in the future.(bullshit!)
Mr Qoraishi said the footage would "once again bring disgrace upon the enemies and detractors of the Iranian people". The comments appeared aimed at countering speculation about Mr Khamenei's health and lack of public appearances.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/iran-names-price-reopen-strait-094223936.html?