# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 83
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1653 "2026-07-23T03:10:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > After that “deal” was made, Iran attacked some oil tankers in the Strait, which cause US attacks to resume. I’m not trying to say it never happened but do we know more about the nature of these attacks? Were they missiles, drones or fast boats? Or were they mines? It would be a shame if three vessels were responsible for restarting a war because they didn’t listen to Iran’s navigational guidance and blundered into mines that Trump repeatedly declared weren’t there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1654 "2026-07-23T13:41:06Z")
Ah, yes. There was a Memorandum Of Understanding that was not binding. Those were the days. “Your side is prolonging the war my side started!” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1655 "2026-07-23T17:30:12Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > I’m not trying to say it never happened but do we know more about the nature of these attacks? Were they missiles, drones Missiles and or drones, not mines. [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5986145-senate-iran-war-resolution/](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5986145-senate-iran-war-resolution/) > Senate Republicans on Thursday defeated a motion to advance a war powers resolution that would direct President Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from hostilities against Iran, even though a growing number of [GOP lawmakers are voicing concerns](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5984536-senate-gop-iran-war-concerns/) about mounting casualties and how long the war has dragged on. > > The chamber voted 47 to 49 on a motion to discharge the war powers resolution out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee… Centrist Sen. [John Fetterman](https://thehill.com/people/john-fetterman/)(Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote against the motion to advance the resolution. > > Sens. [Rand Paul](https://thehill.com/people/rand-paul/)(R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who have previously voted for resolutions to curtail Trump’s authority as commander in chief, missed the vote. > > Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) were also absent. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1656 "2026-07-23T17:56:29Z")
Change “missed” and “absent” to “dodged” the vote for accuracy purposes. Curiously, all Republicants. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1657 "2026-07-23T18:02:46Z")
Trump is said to be about to order an unprecedented level of bombing: > **[Trump says he is close to decision on largest-yet attack on Iran](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/23/trump-says-he-is-close-to-decision-on-largest-yet-attack-on-iran)** > > Escalation would follow oil passing $100 a barrel again and Houthi strikes on Saudi tankers in the Red Sea And Brent is about to reach USD 102. I have to say this is one of the shortest and more victorious wars I’ve ever seen… ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1658 "2026-07-24T12:51:16Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > And Brent is about to reach USD 102. From today’s [Paul Krugman Substack post](https://substack.com/inbox/post/208315004) (you may need a free subscription to read it): > [@Krugman](#): > > This shortage of refining capacity has helped keep crude prices down — why buy crude when you can’t refine it? More important, however, it means that prices of petroleum products to end users are much higher than one would have expected given the price of crude. The chart at the top of this post shows the wholesale price of diesel, which even during the failed cease-fire was far above its prewar level, and is now close to its previous peak. > > The overall “crack spread” — the difference in price between a barrel of crude oil and the price of the products into which that barrel is refined — has exploded, from around $25 a barrel before the war to more than $65 now: > > From the point of view of end users, this is the same as if crude prices had risen an extra $40 per barrel. In effect, the world is coping with the equivalent of $140 oil even though the headline price is “only” around $100. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1659 "2026-07-24T13:03:13Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > From today’s [Paul Krugman Substack post](https://substack.com/inbox/post/208315004) Good information. I had been wondering why gas keeps going up in price lately, even though the price of _oil_ hasn’t been as bad as what we expected it to be. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1660 "2026-07-24T18:18:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > We wouldn’t need such a person if he hadn’t started the whole mess in the first place. The whole mess would’t even be on the radar if he hadn’t pulled out of the treaty with Iran. And it’s all because Trump is a racist moron. He couldn’t STAND the fact that Obama made a good treaty. So ‘Mr. Art of the Deal’ screws it all up and can’t even get an MOU. Or can’t hold to it. So Iran is just saying ‘F’ you. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1661 "2026-07-25T12:10:26Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > We wouldn’t need such a person if he hadn’t started the whole mess in the first place. The whole mess would’t even be on the radar if he hadn’t pulled out of the treaty with Iran. While all true, that’s water under the bridge at this point. We need to fix the mess he made, and we’re not going to do that with him still in charge. Step #1 in fixing something is to _stop breaking it in the first place_. Until then, there’s not much you can do. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1662 "2026-07-25T17:57:34Z")
At this point, IMHO the only way to go back to the _statu quo ante_ vis-a-vis the Strait of Hormuz would be to offer Iran complete lifting of all sanctions and some economic incentives in exchange for them stopping charging tolls for passage, probably an explicit agreement that future attacks will result in Iran blocking the Strait and charging tolls too. Otherwise Iran has no motive to stop charging tolls. I guess the above depends on how much Iran can be hurt by an U.S. blockade, a stick instead of carrots strategy may work too. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1663 "2026-07-25T18:42:49Z")
A ceasefire proposal from the US was conveyed to Iran via the PM of Iraq on July 23rd: > **[Iran rejects US ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi prime minister - report...](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/artc-iran-rejects-us-ceasefire-proposal-delivered-by-iraqi-prime-minister-report)** > > The mediation effort came as Trump was threatening to escalate the war and target Iran's critical infrastructure Iran wasn’t interested in “a temporary deal that left the question of control over the Strait of Hormuz unresolved” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1664 "2026-07-25T19:29:29Z")
What is going to have to happen is a peace deal brokered by a third party, with guarantees from both sides, as neither the US nor Iran can be trusted on their own. It will take _months_ of negotiation (if Trump exits the picture: otherwise, years) before the US will accept this, most of them devoted to the spin that makes Americans feel they were in charge the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1665 "2026-07-26T00:01:11Z")
US military intentionally allowing some Iranian missiles and drones through to save interceptors. > **[U.S. military intentionally allowing some Iranian projectiles through defenses](https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/u-s-military-intentionally-allowing-some-iranian-projectiles-through-defenses-267250757926)** > > Two senior U.S. officials tell NBC News that military commanders are allowing some Iranian missiles and attack drones to get through air defenses amid an effort to preserve the Pentagon’s shrinking supply of missiles to shoot them down. NBC News’... ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1666 "2026-07-26T06:44:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > US military intentionally allowing some Iranian missiles and drones through to save interceptors. Russian roulette except with missiles? The mind boggles. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1667 "2026-07-26T07:01:18Z")
Of course not. They must be making decisions based on trajectory and not bothering to destroy ones that are landing somewhere considered harmless. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1668 "2026-07-26T07:43:59Z")
In Israel, it’s been standard procedure for the entire war to only intercept missiles incoming on a dangerous trajectory, and to allow other missiles to fall and explode in open unpopulated areas. It is public information, announced after every attack, when the all-clear message is sent and people come out of their bomb shelters. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1669 "2026-07-26T15:27:26Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I guess the above depends on how much Iran can be hurt by an U.S. blockade, a stick instead of carrots strategy may work too. “My men will win or they will die. Pompeii’s men have other options.” Iran is hurt by the blockade, but they still have a huge edge in that they and the us both know that Iran is in an existential war and the US’s negative outcomes if they capitulate are either global economic damage from Iranian control of the strait or the embarrassment of having to give reparations. Iran has every reason to think that without their ability to close the strait as well as hit oil infrastructure in the gulf states the US would already have leveled Tehran ot done something else drastic (take out all of their water infrastructure etc). They also have agreed to a cease fire in 2025 that led to the US and Israel attempting a decapitation strike during supposed longercterm peaxe negotiations. They have every reason to think the best way to save their regume is to close the strait and ride out an indefinite economic depression in the hopes that the US blinks first rather than blink first themselves in the hopes that the US doesn’t just regroup and start bombing again. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1670 "2026-07-26T15:42:39Z")
Oh I agree completely with all that, however I think it must be at least noted that there is a possibility that a total blockade by the U.S. could cause a collapse of Iran’s economy. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1671 "2026-07-26T15:48:46Z")
Yes this is true. There’sa possibility of the US is willing to keep the blockade up for years it could even bring the regime down (obviously at extreme humanitarian cost). ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/1672 "2026-07-26T16:02:42Z")
The USA has been imposing a blockade on Cuba for ages now, and Cuba is an island. Cuba, despite the humanitarian cost, has not collapsed yet. At least the government hasn’t. Iran has borders with some of the most expert smuggling countries in the world. And Iran can retaliate where Cuba can’t: where it hurts the world’s and the US’ economy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=82) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=84)