Middle East Defence & Security

[rsemmes]

The US has a plan... Removing sanctions, to everyone.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/removing-sanctions-iran-oil-will-bring-supplies-into-ports-us-energy-secretary-2026-03-20/

Maybe he could impose tariffs on Netanyahu, afterwards, for being naughty...

 

[Arji]

Won't it be awkward if the US removed sanction on Iranian Oil only for the Israeli to bomb Iranian Oil infrastructure after.

 

[Redshift]

Truly shocking. Apparently we're also only now learning that Iran is located right next to a major shipping artery chokepoint where it has the ability to disrupt global trade. This is definitely an unprecedented state of affairs. I can only wonder how Iran managed to quietly move their entire landmass to this crucial position without anyone noticing.

One very famous pro Brexit government MP in the UK expressed surprise at how much trade came through Dover from France , I mean would have thought the English channel was a major source of trade, I mean it's only been in use for a couple of thousand years

 

[hauritz]

For those thinking that ground forces could be inserted on the Iranian side of the Strait of Hormuz. Apparantly this is pretty typical of the sort of coastline they would encounter.

 

[KipPotapych]

What does it even mean “to put boots on the ground to take control of Hormuz”?

 

[swerve]

One very famous pro Brexit government MP in the UK expressed surprise at how much trade came through Dover from France , I mean would have thought the English channel was a major source of trade, I mean it's only been in use for a couple of thousand years

He's now in the Reform (read xenophobic, racist) party.

The really mind-blowing thing about what he said about Dover was that he seemed unaware of how it would be seen. He was so ignorant that he didn't have any idea how ignorant he was. And the Tories made him a government minister - four times!

 

[uguduwa]

Trump Says US Considers ‘Winding Down’ Iran Military Effort

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-20/trump-says-he-doesn-t-want-ceasefire-in-iran-conflict?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3NDA0NDM4OCwiZXhwIjoxNzc0NjQ5MTg4LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQzVJREtLSzNOWUMwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMEQzNzA5RkVDREM0N0I2QThCODYzREJGMUZGQjc5NSJ9.5cIka7JlaHBql2xuNGH23JG7UxrzNmvOFWbnHBWcqVA&leadSource=reddit_wall

While the marines are moving into the region?

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Ordinary Friday night non-sense.
Markets are closed so he's free to do whatever he feels.

 

[rsemmes]

What does it even mean “to put boots on the ground to take control of Hormuz”?

Easy...
Just like in Vietnam, Trump only has to deploy firebases all along those ~500km; and in Qeshm island. Of course, it is going to be a lot easier now, because there is no jungle. Yes, they will have to send patrols to recon the areas between firebases, but that is going to be easier too, because now they will have a lot of radars and drones to do it. Obviously, that will provide Iran with a lot of fixed (and closer) targets, but that is just but a small inconvenience, like making gas at the pump more expensive.
Never mind the topography of the coastline, they will deploy (and supply) everything by helicopter. Well, they could drop some paras first, like in Dien Bien Phu...

Easy for Trump, I mean.

 

[rsemmes]

He's now in the Reform (read xenophobic, racist) party.

The really mind-blowing thing about what he said about Dover was that he seemed unaware of how it would be seen. He was so ignorant that he didn't have any idea how ignorant he was. And the Tories made him a government minister - four times!

And not only Dover...
I remember how surprised they were by, being an island, the quantity of imports (and exports) we were getting through ports; and paperwork.