✅ Iran allowed India to pass 2 of its LNG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the release of 3 Iranian oil tankers that had been seized by India. The era of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is over. Iran is collecting debts in exchange for sea passage.

Serial Interventionist: Just in the first year of his second presidency, Trump has overseen military strikes on more countries than the entire four-year term of his predecessor, Joe Biden. But now that he is threatening war on Iran, he faces real risks as Iran—unlike the nations he has bombed so far—is anything but a soft state. This article argues that Iran will attempt to give Trump a “bloody nose.” If it does, it will not only mar his presidency but also stem his interventionist impulse. foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/wh…

This is BIG. India has exited Chabahar port after US imposed sanctions on the port. India has paid out its committed $120 m to Iran before sanctions kick in. Iran can do what it wants with the money to carry on operations at the port independently without any involvement from India. Following the renewal of sanctions, the government directors on the board of India Ports Global Ltd resigned en masse, and the website of the state-owned entity tasked with developing and running Chabahar Port was taken down to “insulate everybody associated with the port from potential sanctions”. infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ports-shi…

Afghanistan's neighbors signal opposition to US retaking Bagram base bit.ly/4nMJrGG