Friday, November 6, 2026

Why Were Iranian-Linked Ships Lingering Over The World's Undersea Internet Cables


Why Were Iranian-Linked Ships Lingering Over The World's Undersea Internet Cables
TYLER DURDEN


Brent futures remain below $100 a barrel in early New York trading as diplomatic signals continue to emerge. Markets are betting that the Democratic sweep has raised the odds of a near-term peace deal, which was enough to wipe out Brent's $20-a-barrel war risk premium this week. 

But the US and Iran could still return to all-out fighting as US planners want to wipe out Pickaxe Mountain and disable Kharg Island. 

All this hopium overlooks the fact that the global energy and refining crisis is far from over. Even if the two sides reach a deal, it will take time to replenish depleted stockpiles worldwide.

Another geopolitical wake-up call comes from the Financial Times, which reported this morning that at least four Iran-linked ships lingered over undersea telecommunications cables in the Gulf of Oman in October.

The report cited maritime intelligence firm Windward, which identified three tankers under US sanctions and a small Iranian fishing vessel. 

One tanker, the Celestial Sea, spent more than four hours circling near the 2Africa cable on Oct. 14. The next day, it switched off its automated tracking system while between two cable routes. The fishing vessel lingered over the Europe India Gateway and Transworld cables in the latter part of the month. 

Windward told the FT that the vessels sailed "normally until they reached a specific cable corridor, and only then slowed, looped, turned back, loitered or went dark." The firm said the pattern "fits the profile of mapping the cable routes, or placing charges or mines on them while dark."

Last month, Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said, "Seven major undersea internet cables run through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying all commercial and internet data. We just want [the US] to realize that new targets and new weapons shall be unveiled. And ultimately, we shall sweep the remnants of US power out of the region."


US and Iran near possible nuclear breakthrough as American military buildup continues


US and Iran near possible nuclear breakthrough as American military buildup continues



The United States and Iran are moving closer to a possible diplomatic breakthrough in efforts to end the war, Bloomberg reported Friday, with Tehran reportedly showing new flexibility over its nuclear program. The developments come as Washington continues reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East, preserving the option of renewed strikes against Iran even as negotiations show signs of progress. Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly renewed efforts to acquire advanced Russian S-400 air defense systems, raising questions about Moscow's role in rebuilding Tehran's military capabilities.

According to a diplomat familiar with the negotiations, Iran has indicated a willingness to discuss aspects of its nuclear program that it had previously refused to negotiate. Tehran is examining proposals concerning its nuclear activities presented by Qatar, which is serving as the principal mediator in the talks. Any Iranian concession could represent a significant breakthrough in negotiations that have remained stalled since the collapse of a memorandum of understanding reached in June.

An Iranian official told Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya that Tehran was awaiting concrete steps from Washington to restore confidence between the sides. "Tehran is waiting for practical steps from Washington to build trust. We are open to negotiations that ensure our legitimate demands are met. We are not afraid of threats, but we are committed to regional stability," the official said

Saudi broadcaster Al Hadath also reported a positive Iranian response to the latest diplomatic initiative. According to the channel, Iranian officials "view the mediators' latest proposal positively," while Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has been given considerable freedom in conducting negotiations. The report said no restrictions had been imposed on Ghalibaf regarding the management of the talks.

Iran renews push for Russian S-400 air defenses

As the diplomatic efforts continue, Iran and Russia have resumed negotiations over the possible delivery of advanced S-400 air defense systems, The Telegraph reported. Tehran has sought to acquire the Russian-made systems for years, and Iranian officials are now reportedly optimistic that Moscow may finally agree to supply them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Thursday with Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, at the Kremlin. According to The Telegraph, a senior Iranian official said Tehran was optimistic that Putin would approve the delivery of the long-sought air defense systems.
Rezaei reportedly traveled to Moscow on the instructions of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, carrying a personal letter to Putin. The Telegraph reported that the central request in the letter was for Russia to provide the S-400 systems. The precise contents of the message have not been publicly confirmed.


The renewed negotiations stand in contrast to Trump's assertion that Russia is not helping Iran "at all," although talks over a possible weapons deal do not establish that the systems have been delivered.
Iran has been seeking to rebuild its air defenses after major losses during previous rounds of fighting against the United States and Israel, which destroyed or severely damaged key components of its air defense network. The S-400, one of Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile systems, could help Tehran restore some of those capabilities if a deal is reached and the systems are delivered.
Moscow has offered to sell S-400 systems to Iran for years but has so far refrained from supplying them, partly because of concerns that such a move could damage Russia's relations with Israel and other regional countries. The renewed discussions suggest Tehran is again pressing Moscow to reconsider that position at a time when its military vulnerabilities have become more pronounced.

US aircraft carrier expected in Middle East by mid-November

The emerging diplomatic opening comes amid uncertainty over whether the Trump administration is preparing for another strike on Iran following this week's U.S. midterm elections. American military movements across the region in recent days indicate continued reinforcement of forces and operational capabilities, although they do not necessarily suggest that a decision to launch an imminent attack has been made.
According to an analysis of military tracking data by Israel's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and researcher Stefan Cohen, the United States is continuing to strengthen its regional military presence through naval deployments, military transport flights, aerial refueling operations and intelligence-gathering capabilities. The movements suggest Washington is maintaining its ability to escalate militarily if negotiations with Tehran fail, while also strengthening the defenses of Israel and its Gulf allies.
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YOU WILL GET NO WARNING


YOU WILL GET NO WARNING


128 BANKS ACROSS WESTERN JAPAN JUST WENT DARK AT THE SAME TIME.

Shinkin banks from Tokai west, all the way to Kyushu. A system failure on a Friday afternoon.

ATMs: OFF
Teller counters at 3,430 branches: OFF
Internet banking: OFF
Transfers to other banks: OFF

Fully unavailable. The money is still in the accounts. Customers can’t get it out.

→ 27 banks hit in Kansai and Tokushima alone
→ ALL 8 in Fukuoka prefecture
→ Seto Shinkin cards blocked even at convenience-store ATMs
→ paper “SUSPENDED” signs stuck on ATMs in Osaka


Not a war. Not a bank run. No sign of a hack.

The suspected cause: broken communications equipment at the West Japan Center of ONE shared system that 236 shinkin banks run on.

One center failed. 128 of those 236 banks froze with it.

As of Friday evening in Japan, still NO time given for a fix.

3 days ago it was Paraguay. 3 million customers locked out of Ueno Bank, $380 million of the state pension fund stuck inside.

Now it’s 128 banks in Japan.



Terry James: Iran’s Prophetic Destiny


Iran’s Prophetic Destiny
Terry James


There is constant speculation, even chatter these days, that President Trump will soon order another strike on Iran’s nuclear weapons production areas. Some reports say this will take place before the midterm elections (and at the time this article is being posted, it hasn’t happened; that tells us it won’t happen before the midterms). And some say it will take place following the midterms.

President Trump himself has said in impromptu news gatherings that he will likely strike again following the midterm elections.

There has been much speculation by news pundits and politicos about the whys and whens of such a strike. My own speculation is that such a strike is destined to take place, and it will have severe ramifications to the regions struck, as outlined by the prophet Jeremiah, which we have covered a number of times in these articles.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently spoke to his view of the necessity to deal finally with the Iranian regime. An excerpt of his thoughts is covered in the following news item.

Israel has achieved stunning military accomplishments against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, militias in Syria, and, most notably, against the head of the terror proxy snake: Iran.

These pivotal elections, like the five consecutive elections between April 2019 and November 2022, are again a referendum on the continued governance of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is presenting Israelis with a stark electoral choice: Renew his mandate to capitalize on Trump’s bold endorsement this past week or risk surrendering the strategic gains of a multi-pronged war.

Netanyahu argues that the campaign remains unfinished. Even after the blows that Israel and the United States have delivered together and apart, Tehran, he warns, could restart its nuclear program. He therefore frames Trump’s endorsement as a promise to finish what was started, contingent on his remaining in the top job.

In a wide-ranging pre-election interview with JNS, Netanyahu casts his partnership with Trump as the foundation for an ambitious agenda: to bring down Iran’s regime, further weakening its regional proxies; expand the Abraham Accords normalization agreements with Muslim-majority countries in the region; and prevent the creation of a Palestinian state anywhere within Israel’s current borders. (“Netanyahu to JNS: ‘The only way to guarantee the future of Israel is to remove the Iranian regime’,” Alex Traiman, JNS, RR News, October 22, 2026)

I believe there can be little doubt that this prime minister and this US president fully intend to deliver a blow to this hellish regime. I am convinced they will attempt to do so. And the blow will be catastrophic, especially to the people of the region affected.

To do otherwise would be to make the previous destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities nonsensical and merely an exercise in futility.

Much speculation about the MOAB (“mother of all bombs”) being used comes from some top Trump administration officials. This, of course, is the most powerful weapon in the American military inventory that is non-nuclear in nature.

But decimation to Iran’s nuclear facility is not the same as removal of the regime that has vowed to destroy both the “little Satan” (Israel) and the “big Satan” (the United States of America).

Most observers of geopolitics apparently believe and forecast that it would take a massive invasion of troops on the ground to finally and forever remove Iran’s regime structure. Neither Netanyahu nor Trump is willing to commit to such an all-out ground invasion.

However, more to the point, there is going to be in place during the future invasion of Israel an Iranian regime at least as wicked and hate-filled as the present Iranian regime.

Ezekiel the prophet was given, through Holy Spirit inspiration, the armies of people to Israel’s north that will come to “take spoil” and annihilate God’s chosen people. This will never be allowed to happen, of course, as God Himself will intervene and destroy all but one-sixth of the invading force.

One of the chief members of that force will be the armies of Persia. This, of course, is the ancient name for the region of present-day Iran. So, a regime at least as evil as that in today’s Iran will exist at the time of the Gog-Magog attack outlined by Ezekiel.

Therefore, because of the lateness of the prophetic hour—based upon all of the signals that we are near the end of the Age of Grace—the present Iranian regime seems destined to be part of the Gog-Magog attacking force.

My own view is that the assault will take place very soon after the Rapture of the Church. I believe the man of sin who will become Earth’s last and most terrible tyrant will watch, knowing this force will be defeated by God, then will move into Jerusalem to become that son of perdition.

So, my own take is to watch for a devastating strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, but not for Iranian regime change. Iran’s destiny—that is, Persia’s evil regime’s prophetic destiny—is in God’s crosshairs for destruction!


Iran, Russia, and Ezekiel 38: Is the Stage Being Set?


Iran, Russia, and Ezekiel 38: Is the Stage Being Set?
Video