May3-2026--Iran says it has proposed easing Hormuz restrictions which benefit it and other such things as what it will get upfront...a good agreement would largely end sanctions and ease pressures on Iran's economy... Trump who has almost turned into a softie likely to help Iran but will not remove blockade until Nuclear declaration which most say is the Khomeini fatwa... pirates are generally thought of as good in various parts of the world and various seas... Iran has always had trouble with pirates on the Hormuz
May2-2026--Trump increases tariffs to 25% on European cars and trucks...he said he will withdraw some US troops from Italy (12662), Spain (3814) and Germany (36436)...troops being withdrawn from Germany are 5000…this is a reaction after unnecessary Merz comments...
May2-2026--bypassing Hormuz plans delayed by possibility of a quick easing of the Hormuz or clearing a separate Oman channel... looking at further possibilities to bypass the Hormuz... The gulf states will never like to return to a state of strategic dependence on a narrow strait controlled by an unpredictable neighbour...new pipeline and port capacity has to be built and power grids, water systems and trade corridors connecting the region's economies ... Economics, politics and regional roughneck /diplomatic/political/ethnic rivalries are likely to get in the way... Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have no coastline out-side the Gulf and no alternative to the strait for sea bound oil and gas... Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates both have pipelines allowing them to ship at least some of their output from ports beyond Hormuz and plan more...new pipelines take time and have war vulnerabilities... Things have to be protected... Diversifying energy export supply routes is going to be crucial... For LNG Qatar is by far the dominant producer...the dependency on Hormuz is even greater. The idea of a trans-Arabian gas pipeline has occasionally been floated but never progressed... The distances, political complexity, and cost make it unattractive against LNG ship tankers…a planned trans-Arabian gas pipeline, trucks or a gulf planned rail network...the disruption technically affects oil and gas , refined products as well as aluminium, fertilizer and naphtha exports... Iraq experiments with trucks to a Syrian refinery and Iran using rail bogeys for internal supply... Iran can also build a pipeline to the Gwadar port in Pakistan…they have an empty gas pipeline to the Pakistan border...!puny countries like Pakistan think of increasing reserves... They don't realize that Iran is the troublemaker...and should be forcibly subdued...
A good solution could be another canal through Oman/UAE… Digging is easy and u just need a plan...obviously time is a major factor and everyone just keeps hoping for a saner Iran and USA to emerge from the insanity who should care about the world--- based on a AFP report in the Dawn...
May2-2026--A new proposal from Iran for a deal has been rejected by Trump, although he seems pro Iran on further hostilities...the problem as usual it has no outright declaration on the bomb...and probably no easing of the Hormuz with everyone's right-freedom of navigation...many suggest that demilitarization of the gulf is also necessary as Iranian boats follow no rules and regulations...
May1-2026--Military leaders have presented Trump with a short and powerful wave of strikes agenda to end remaining military assets, leadership and infrastructure in Iran...this in response to the rigidity of Iranian leaders…in response to Iranian propaganda USA to use new weapons like Dark Eagle a 2000km hypersonic missile...while Iran is blockaded the Trump administration had avoided going after key targets...targets could include kharg, a refinery, Simi island, some railway lines and several power stations or switchyards...targets such as leadership are more difficult requiring intelligence and a wider range of buildings bombardment...targets could also include runways, key bridges and some underground structures...while the military maybe ready Trump has been backing out possibly because of munitions shortages...and opposition at home largely based on higher prices/democrats belittling his failures...traditionally presidents go to war with a higher support rating…as most wars have seen presidents ratings fall during war since the Korean War... The US has distanced itself from ground invasions with experiences in Afghanistan and Vietnam and even the militancy infested Middle East
May1-2026--Trumps war powers expire Friday...officials say hostilities are over for now
May1-2026--constable killed in rocket attack on armored vehicle in Bannu
May1-2026--Petrol rises to Rs400 per liter in a working austerity...!
May1-2026--Iran has always been trouble in the Gulf...and people would like to see a Gulf without Iran...
May1-2026--The leaving of OPEC shows that Iran's attacks and closing of the gulf are having effects other than normal...UAE has been angry at Iran's attacks and wants an independent role in production and prices...although it cannot wildly go wherever it wants it is angry that Saudi and USA could not stop attacks on its territory...UAE apparently has spare capacity and will produce to get over a difficult time...setting its own prices and production levels when things get back to normal… It also shows that it might not want anything to do with Iran...anymore… It also has gripes with Saudi over how it dealt with the UAE in Yemen... The UAE had already been stepping away from Pakistan and probably thought that now was the time to break...
May1-2026--The Pakistan prime minister seems to be unable to comprehend things as oil costs jump almost three times to $30-40 billion annually...the mousy Shabaz thinks that austerity is working...! Pakistan having turned against Arabs at this critical juncture seems incomprehensible as many think that they were advising Iran to attack the weak Arab Gulf states... Trump who seems to be backing away to be advised on military options...the options are the same...although Trump refused to attack key infrastructure elements...the blockade is enough as the Iranians may be short of funds eventually as they have few other resources apart from oil...the failed US carriers might have cost the US the war...one carrier being withdrawn as reports emerge of munition shortages...
May1-2026-- Pakistan should subsidize syringes which used to be almost free before this Drap - PMLn - PTI massive pharma price hikes...
