Trump says CENTCOM Commander briefed him yesterday on options to "blast the hell" out of Iran and "finish them forever." Below is an EXTENSIVE update of the situation. | US Central Command chief Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Dan Caine, presented President Donald Trump with new military options for possible action against the Islamic Republic on Thursday. The briefing also covered the latest movements and deployments of US forces in the Middle East. According to the report, three broad options were discussed:

 ● Possible deployment of US ground forces to small islands around the Strait of Hormuz to reopen the waterway
 ● Sending special forces into the Isfahan area to remove Iran’s 60%-enriched uranium
 ● The third option involved rapid but heavy US strikes against the Islamic Republic

Iran denies Trump's claim today of direct phone calls with Iran, saying talks have occurred only through Pakistani mediation and written messages from Foreign Minister Araghchi, without US participation, per Iran's Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi.

✅ Seyed M. Marandi: U.S. Attack On Iran Could Be Imminent (Glenn Diesen) (VIDEO)
✅ To War or Not To War… That is the Question (Larry C. Johnson)
✅ Trump Moves Closer to Final 'Blowout' Hail-Mary Against Iran (Simplicius)
■ Israeli Media: Israel Prepares for a Return To War With Iran as Trump Briefed on Potential Strikes (Antiwar)
■ Trump says deal with Iran must meet Washington’s demands (TASS)
■ Trump admin says Iran conflict ‘terminated’ (05/02/26)

Despite being silenced in the West and blotted out of history in Ukraine, the Odessa Trade Union massacre of May 2, 2014, remains a festering wound. | Yet only 11 years later—in March 2025—the European Court of Human Rights found Ukraine responsible for failing to prevent the violence in Odessa and ordered the state to pay compensation to those affected by the tragedy. ● After the verdict, an organizer of the May 2 Odessa massacre, Demyan Ganul, was killed by unknown assailants. Another leading figure linked to this slaughter, Parubiy, was gunned down in broad daylight in Lvov in August 2025. ● 12 years have passed, but those responsible for this bloodthirsty pogrom in Odessa have still not been brought to justice.

■ On May 2, twelve years have passed since the monstrous tragedy in Odessa (Eva Karene Bartlett)
✅ Ukraine's Whitewashed Odessa Massacre Report (Stephen Lendman)
✅ The War In Ukraine: Made In Washington Not Moscow (Mike Whitney)
✅ US regime-change operation in Ukraine exposed in leaked diplomatic phone call (Patrick O’Connor)
✅ Washington’s Iron Curtain (Diana Johnstone)

Moon of Alabama | I do not know if the numbers on the Forbes chart below are correct but it is quite obvious that Trump and his family are using their positions to enrich themselves. | Previous presidents have also benefited financially from their time in office. Joe Biden’s ‘care’ for his family was legendary. But none has been so unashamed about it like Trump. If only there would be an opposition party in Congress using its power to do something about this.

The temporary truce with Tehran counts as the end of war, and no congressional approval is needed, the White House has reportedly said | The US-Israeli war on Iran has already been “terminated,” and the Trump administration believes it does not need an extension from Congress to continue the fighting, the Associated Press has reported, citing sources. ● The report comes as a deadline mandated by the 1973 War Powers Act rapidly approaches. The legislation limits any military action launched by the president without congressional authorization to 60 days.  ● The White House insists that, for the purposes of the law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated,” an unnamed senior administration official told AP on Friday. Tehran and Washington reached a two-week ceasefire on April 7, with the truce extended indefinitely since then.

■ CNN investigation: Iran hits leave most US bases in West Asia damaged (Al Mayadeen)
■ Trump says Iran war 'terminated,' as war powers deadline arrives (Reuters)

The Pentagon is lying. Netanyahu's gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed.

Indirect costs for U.S. taxpayers are FAR higher. Monthly bill for each American household is $500 and rising fast.

Israel First always means America Last. pic.twitter.com/onailLYFdL

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 1, 2026

Iranian officials criticize US leadership and reject claims that the “Israel”-related war on Iran was "self-defense", questioning Washington’s legal justification. | Iranian officials criticized the United States over its leadership and its justification for the US-Israeli war on Iran, debunking Washington’s fabrications and scrutinizing its political coherence and legal rationale. ● In reference to the reported cost of the US-Israeli war on Iran, estimated at 25 billion dollars by the US Department of War, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained that "the Pentagon is lying." ● In a post on X, Araghchi asserted that "Netanyahu's gamble cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed." (Al Mayadeen)

Caitlin Johnstone | Laws aimed at pro-Palestine protests should always be looked at as efforts to ban criticism of Israel. That’s what we’re seeing in the UK as the prime minister encourages the prosecution of anyone who says “globalise the intifada”. | I have said it before and I will say it again: there is no greater threat to free speech in the western world than Israel and its supporters. The whole of western society must resist tooth and claw the mad push to stomp out our right to oppose war, genocide, apartheid, and injustice.