Iran's Latest Response Shows They're Miscalculating Again - It's Likely to Be a Busy Weekend

RedState 

As we reported on Thursday, President Donald Trump reported that he wasn't going to hit the energy facilities he'd warned the Iranians about to give peace negotiations a little more time. He postponed that target for ten days, but wasn't postponing hitting anything else, as the U.S. continued to pound Iranian targets. 

But his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has been involved in the messaging back and forth with the Iranians, warned them that they should be careful, "Don't miscalculate again." 

Well, it's looking like Iran didn't take the warning and is in miscalculating mode again right now. 

They were reportedly supposed to give a response to Trump's 15-point list on Friday. But instead, they are saying they are putting off a response, according to Reuters Chief National Security reporter Phil Stewart. 

According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official told them Iran had yet to decide on the U.S. proposal because of attacks on industrial and nuclear infrastructure. The official said their response had originally been expected on Friday or Saturday. 

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, one of the people believed to be involved in the exchanges, claimed that Israel had hit a power plant and nuclear targets. 

Israel has hit 2 of Iran's largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S. Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes

Bottom line? They're not trustworthy actors. They lied and denied negotiations were going on when they clearly were. 

The only thing I'm seeing Israel claiming at this point is a hit on a plutonium production site for nuclear weapons, and they don't say anything about coordinating with the U.S.

Trump said "power plant" - he didn't say no nuclear weapons sites. Indeed, that's one of the main reasons for the operation: taking out nuclear sites. So, I don't believe that claim. 

But in any event, it sounds like Iran is trying to buy time with such a response. I think at this point, if this is their response, we are likely to have a busy weekend with the Trump administration going back to the original time plan, which could likely mean some big moves over the weekend. 

U.S. Personnel Wounded in Iranian Strike at Saudi Arabia Base

Townhall 

About 10 U.S. troops were reportedly wounded from an Iranian strike at a base in Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report. 

The paper reported that two soldiers were seriously injured by the strikes at the Prince Sultan air base. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Gives Impromptu Press Conference Departing G7 in Paris

Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes reporters’ questions in Paris, France as he departs the G7 minister meeting for a return trip to Washington DC.  There is a lot of good information in this presser.

Within the remarks and questions, [06:55] Secretary Rubio is asked about recent comments from Ukraine President Zelenskyy who said the U.S. would only give security guarantees if Ukraine gave the Donbas region to Russia.  Secretary Rubio responded, “that’s a lie, and I saw him say that and it’s unfortunate he would say that, because he knows that’s not true.” … “I don’t know why he says these things.”  WATCH:

Making It Official: Trump Signs Presidential Memorandum to Pay TSA Employees

RedState 

As RedState reported on Thursday, President Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he would sign an order directing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to pay Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) workers. 

Since then, the Senate passed a DHS funding measure via voice vote in the wee hours of the morning (with a carveout for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP)). The catch there, of course, is that since the Senate bill differs from the House bill, that throws it back to the House. And — per the latest — the House is not keen on the Senate measure.

No telling when that will ultimately be sorted out, so the president has gone ahead and officially signed the promised order — a Presidential Memorandum titled "Paying Our Great Transportation Security Administration Officers and Employees." 

The memorandum begins with some background, noting the Democrats' role in causing and dragging out the partial shutdown:

As the Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues well into its sixth week, America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point.  This is an unprecedented emergency situation.  Currently, more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers who perform security functions at domestic airports, are not being paid due to congressional Democrats’ reckless decision to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over American citizens and shut down DHS until their demand to prohibit enforcement of Federal immigration law is met. 

Since the shutdown began, nearly 500 transportation security officers have left their positions, and thousands more have begun to call out sick at record rates due to lack of pay.  As a result, security wait times at some airports have reached untenable lengths of three or more hours.  These increased wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within our domestic travel system and has negatively impacted countless Americans.

He sets forth the basis for his order:

If Democrats in the Congress will not act to honor the service of our TSA officers, who are now performing their critical public safety responsibilities without knowing whether they will be able to buy food for their families or pay their rent, then my Administration will take action.  As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.

He then directs the DHS Secretary to coordinate with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director to ensure that TSA employees are paid:

Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits that would have accrued to them if not for the Democrat-led DHS shutdown, consistent with applicable law, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a). 

Once regular funding for TSA has been restored, every effort should be made, as authorized by law, to adjust applicable funding accounts within DHS to ensure the continuation of DHS operations and activities consistent with planned expenditures prior to the lapse.

And Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04) has now confirmed that OMB is already processing TSA paychecks.

Promises made. Promises kept.