Report: As Its Leaders Fight, Iran May Now Be Coming Apart From Within

Trump ordered military not to conduct strikes in Iran Friday

President Trump directed the U.S. military not to conduct new strikes in Iran on Friday, breaking a nearly two-week streak of daily attacks, two sources with knowledge of the decision said.Why it matters: The president's directive came after he approved daily strikes over the previous 13 days. It is unclear if Trump's order on Friday was a one-off or whether the lull will continue. Trump's decision reflects both his willingness to provide more space for diplomacy and a recognition that — short of a return to major combat operations — the current level of U.S. strikes has reached the limit of its effectiveness. If Trump orders a return to strikes, the U.S. military can mobilize on relatively short notice. The U.S. military is still preparing plans for a possible return to major combat operations, but Trump hasn't given orders to move in that direction, the sources said. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Driving the news: Every afternoon for the last two weeks, Trump has approved strike plans submitted by the military. They were conducted within hours.On Friday, Trump received a similar plan but did not give a green light. Instead, he directed the military not to conduct strikes, the sources said. Shortly after he gave the Friday directive, Trump told reporters at the White House that he has the option of continuing strikes or even escalating them, including "knocking out everything they have." But he made clear that he thinks the "smarter strategy" is to "make a deal" with Iran. "We're talking to [the Iranians] right now. I think they're getting more and more serious as the days go by. We're locked and loaded and ready to go, but we're talking to them," Trump said. Later on Friday, during his remarks at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, Trump said he didn't think Iran is ready to make a deal at the moment, "but I'm willing to listen." State of play: Trump's order to hold fire was given several hours after an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran Friday for talks on a new arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Two regional sources with knowledge of the negotiations said progress has been made in the talks and that an agreement between Oman and Iran could be reached over the weekend. President Trump would then have to decide whether to accept the proposed deal.

Trump's 'dumbest' reasoning set to embroil him in fresh military strike: Dem

An alarmed House Democrat said Saturday that President Donald Trump may consider sending the military into yet another country — and for the "dumbest" reason. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) delivered a scathing rebuke of a new Trump administration report that takes aim at Cuba during a Saturday segment on CNN."Two-thirds of this report is about the '60s and '70s, and all of a sudden they jump to today," Pocan said. "It's so ridiculous. It's probably the dumbest report I've read in my 14 years of being here, and whoever wrote it should be embarrassed."The Trump administration's continued blockade against fuel coming into Cuba has caused trash to pile up in the streets and power outages, CNN reported. The Trump administration carried on the blockade even as it ended a naval blockade against Iran.Pocan was tearing into a report released by the State Department earlier this week that accused Cuba of promoting left-wing extremism in the United States. The Democrat described it as "fantastical" and warned, "This report by the State Department, I think, is setting up a military action."Pocan told CNN that the U.S. campaign against Cuba is largely being pushed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and added that Rubio could be arguing for greater U.S. military involvement."We're already in a quagmire in Iran, but I think this is Marco Rubio's personal South Florida pet project," Pocan said. "He wants us to go into Cuba in a way that I don't think the American people support."

Iran’s leaders at war with each other as hardliners push for wider conflict

Iran's leaders are fighting each other almost as much as they're fighting the West, with some senior politicians scrambling to save US talks while the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leans into the renewed war, regional sources told The Post.

Houthis fire missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to strikes on a Yemeni city

CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said Saturday that they fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to Saudi airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida, in another escalation over vital shipping routes in the Middle East while the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of [...]

Domestic Violence Arrest Smacks Down Anti-ICE Hunger Strike Story

Iran-backed Houthis launch retaliatory strikes on Saudi Arabia

Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced Saturday they fired missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia, claiming retaliation for Saudi attacks on Yemen’s coastal city of Hodeida.  Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the militant group’s spokesperson, said in a social media post that the Houthis executed two military operations “in response to this blatant and criminal aggression” from Saudi…

Live updates: Maine Dems to replace Platner in Senate race; Quiet night in Iran

Maine Democrats on Saturday are poised to announce their nominee to replace Graham Platner in the race to unseat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Former state Sen. Troy Jackson is the likely pick. Platner withdrew his bid earlier this month following allegations of sexual abuse. Meanwhile, President Trump has issued warning after warning to Iran…