Larry Johnson: "ENOUGH!" - Vice President JD Vance SLAMS Netanyahu's Government in Heated Rant

[00:00:05]Hi everybody. Today's Thursday, June 18, 2026, and our dear friend Larry Johnson is here with us. Welcome back, Larry.

[00:00:13]>> Man, every day, boy, you're gonna >> Exactly.

[00:00:17]>> You're just going to have to rent me a room at at your place. And >> you may come to Brazil.

[00:00:24]>> Yeah.

[00:00:25]>> Do it together.

[00:00:26]>> That'll be That'll be easier.

[00:00:28]>> Yeah. You're you're going to enjoy it.

[00:00:29]By the way, in Florida, it's too hot right now, I assume.

[00:00:34]>> Well, yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's uh the seasons are reversed, you know, since you're down there south south of the Ecuador.

[00:00:42]>> Yeah.

[00:00:44]Larry, let's talk about the repercussions of the MOU. Last night, we were talking about the content, and here is the repercussions coming out in the United States and in Iran as well.

[00:00:58]And today we had JD Vance talking with the press basically reporting onou and answering the questions. One of the question was related to one of the reports on Axio which says that Netno is fuming somehow because of MOU.

[00:01:17]So here is what JD Van said but I think the fight is so serious right now. the way that Israelis are putting pressure on the Trump administration. Here is what JD Vance said.

[00:01:35]>> I don't want to get into hypotheticals that could torpedo the deal because I think the president's expectation is that all of our friends, the Israelis, the Arabs in the region, we're going to work together and actually see this deal to completion. Now, I saw the Axios report uh you know that that that Netanyahu is fuming. That's not reflective of the conversations that I've had with him, but maybe he's saying something to somebody else that he's not saying to me. What I will say, and this does bother me, is that you've seen people within BB's cabinet who have come out and attacked the deal and in some ways very personally attacked the president of the United States. And I guess my message to them would be twofold. Number one, Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time and he happens to be the head of state of the world superpower. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world. And the second message I would give to some of those cabinet members, BB to his credit has not gone down this path, but to some of these cabinet members in Israel who are attacking the president of the United States, the other thing that I would say is that over the last 3 months, 2/3 of the defensive weapons that have protected your homeland have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump. And anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in. Thank you all.

[00:03:15]>> Man, that was a huge huge sort of statement by JD Vance. I think the most powerful statement so far when it comes to the situation in Israel.

[00:03:28]>> Yeah.

[00:03:28]>> And we were talking about it. How do you find it, Larry, the way that you know these these these people are getting serious about what's going on?

[00:03:37]>> Yeah. No, look, it it's it's the truth.

[00:03:40]Israel, Israel is acting like a, you know, an entitled spoiled child and that they can say anything they want, do anything they want uh to Donald Trump with no repercussions.

[00:03:55]And, you know, Trump, I think, is finally getting, you know, fed up with it. and said, "I don't I don't have to put up with this." Uh, so um, you know, that's really it it's going to that was the veiled threat, but then in a private conversation, they can make the threat quite direct that, you know, if you do if you do not cooperate with us, if you do not pull your troops out of southern Lebanon, if you don't stop attacking, we're going to pull all support. Uh already I know that uh what's called the air combatant command for uh central command is working frantically right now to start bringing all of the US aircraft that deployed to Jordan and to Israel uh and to any other bases in in uh the the Gulf. They're they're pulling them all back. So, as those start to leave, that's going to also drive home the message to Israel that, you know, you're on your own. We're not, you know, if you want to continue starting a fight, go ahead, start a fight. But we're not with you.

[00:05:03]>> Larry, your understanding of because it's not JD Vance. It's about Donald Trump himself as well. He came out said you're going to go after Hezbollah.

[00:05:14]You're not going to bomb the building, the whole building, the whole apartment building, you know, killing everybody just to get one of two commanders or forces of Hezbollah, >> right?

[00:05:25]>> Where where were they before? Are they getting more reports or Donald Trump somehow was isolated before? Did they know what what's going on or he's changing his sort of rhetoric?

[00:05:38]>> No, no. I mean, they they knew what was going on before. They've just decided to distance themselves from Israel. It's real simple. And the the Israelis, frankly, I think are shocked by this.

[00:05:50]They didn't expect this. They go, "Hey, we thought we were buddies."

[00:05:56]Nope. Not not anymore. Uh, you know, that that party's over.

[00:06:03]>> Yeah.

[00:06:06]It's not about Israel, Larry. They're using their podcasters in the United States. the Zionist podcaster Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro. You go, let's Ted Cruz. You see Ted Cruz coming out and talking, you know, going against the MO.

[00:06:24]By the way, MOU doesn't mean anything, >> right?

[00:06:27]>> To be honest.

[00:06:28]>> Well, the reaction is too harsh in my opinion.

[00:06:33]>> Well, nobody's listening to them anymore anyway. I I mean, you know, Leven's audience is shrinking. Ben Shapiro's audience has shrunk and and and candidly, I think some of that went into the calculations of Donald Trump, recognizing h these guys aren't all that popular after all. And so, we can uh we can probably uh they're going to have to pay attention to us more or we can ignore them because it's not like they got a giant giant audience.

[00:07:07]JD Van said twothird of the weapons they have used basically talking about the missiles they use on their fighter jets and the interceptors came from the United States. It means came from the United States during the war or before the war or >> I think it's I think it doesn't matter.

[00:07:28]I mean it's just you saying >> total US support it to twothirds of what Israel uses comes from the United States. Just leave it. I think leave it at that.

[00:07:38]>> But my understanding is all of them come from the United States. I'm talking about are they producing interceptors?

[00:07:44]Are they produced David Sling and and and the Iron Dome?

[00:07:50]Yeah. I mean, Israel does produce >> Patriot Patriot Pack Three.

[00:07:55]>> Yeah. Well, but that's what that's what JD that's what JD Vance was referring to. If you if you look if you look at all if you total up all of the armaments that the Israelis are using then he's saying 2/3 of those are coming from the United States. But that means still Israel Israel is building or providing one-third for itself.

[00:08:16]You know what's so amazing about what's going on right now is not only the Republicans who are, you know, totally those people who are Zionist, but you see Democrats are coming out against, you know, the deal. They were criticizing Donald Trump for this war and right now they're attacking him because he's making some sort of deal.

[00:08:40]>> Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean again this it's not a surprise they're they're also bought and paid for by Israel.

[00:08:48]You know most members of Congress are taking money from Apac when one of the few who didn't was Thomas Massie and you know that lesson has been learned by some other members. they figure well don't you know don't go up against the Israeli dollars but that but the p you know public opinion is changing and and at some point uh you know I think Israel recognizes I would say the writings on the wall they they don't have a strong future in the United States with the American public >> I think something huge is happening Larry in the United States visly Israel and what's going on considering the relationship between the United States and Israel because if I were to mention the most Zionist, you know, the Secretary of State of the United States, I would say Anthony Blinken and Hillary Clinton, the most Zionist or or Mark Pompeo, by the way, would be one of them. And I have never thought that one day we we're going to hear this sort of, you know, objection on the part of, for example, Hillary Clinton when it comes to Israel. And she said, I don't know if you saw the latest interview she had, >> she's just criticizing the way Israel is behaving, >> right?

[00:10:07]>> And it's something new. When she goes that far, it means a lot in my opinion.

[00:10:13]Here is what she said, Larry.

[00:10:16]Well, you're absolutely right. When I was secretary, it was a constant uh you know theme by uh Netanyahu and his then government, the then defense uh minister Ahood Barack, the former prime minister.

[00:10:33]>> It was relentless. It was a constant push. You know, I remember um >> what would he say to you?

[00:10:41]>> What >> what would he say to you? He he would basically say um we need we need to uh you need to support us in attacking Iran. And back then this was you know 2009 to the end of uh 2012.

[00:10:59]We had more capacity than Israel did on several fronts uh to uh do that. Um, and so there was a a constant argument, uh, that we would have and and you know, I remember one day, um, I was on the phone for hours with A-hood, with BB, with others, you know, and they would say things like, you know, our planes are on the tarmac. And I'd say, well, good luck. I mean, great. Um, why are you doing this?

[00:11:28]>> Where else would planes be other than in the tarmac ready to take off? Yes. Um, although they'd be in the hanger, but they were on the tarmac. Um, and you know, you would you would say things.

[00:11:41]>> So, you're saying you were they were you were you were being played >> all the time. All the time. I mean, >> by an ally that receives an enormous amount of aid.

[00:11:52]>> Well, of course. And look, BB's been upset.

[00:11:57]>> Yeah. This is I I think these sort of interviews are huge when you remember the history of these people and the way they were talking about Israel. Just one month ago or two months ago, I I listened to one of the her interviews.

[00:12:13]She was totally supporting Israel. She wasn't, you know, she didn't want to mention genocide, what is going on in Gaza's genocide or something. Right now, she's going against Israel and the way Israel is behaving. I think they somehow perceive how serious was the war against Iran in in the West Asia. That's why they're coming out and saying this is the end. Are you going to be trapped or are you going to you you're going to save yourself from what Benjamin Net or Israel wants you to do.

[00:12:46]>> Yeah. I mean, yeah, it appears to be what she's saying. you know, I it's it's significant, but I don't think it's that significant simply because it's not going to be widely heard, you know, uh people like you and me that follow the news closely, yeah, it's we'll say, "Oh, man, that's that's huge." But the average person out there still they won't pay attention to her. But I, you know, I think it it has to be taken as there is a shift. Um but but it's still not it's not as important a shift as needs to take place because again you're seeing that there's a lot of Trump is coming under a lot of criticism bipartisan criticism for striking this deal with Iran.

[00:13:30]So that if if it was, >> you know, if he's actually being celebrated, >> that would say that, you know, that actually the the worm has turned against Iran. But not it's not the case that it's almost like why are we abandoning our closest ally? That kind of thing.

[00:13:48]>> But what is the main sources? What is the main reason of this criticism in your opinion? Nothing has happened so far. There is a document out there >> and the only thing that has happened last night was at midnight they lift they lifted the sanction on Iranian oil and energy sector which they were selling it before this war start.

[00:14:11]>> Yeah. But which I I'm not sure I'm funny which who was saying what.

[00:14:16]>> Yeah. What is the main reason for these people to go after the Trump administration?

[00:14:22]You you you say that they're >> the main reason is >> they think they're abandoning Israel.

[00:14:29]The these politicians who've been bought and paid for by Israel see this as abandoning and betraying Israel.

[00:14:36]>> That's it's not complicated, dude.

[00:14:40]>> What do they want from administration for Israel? What what is what is the solution then? Are do they really want to get back to war to to They they don't they don't have why do you think they'd have a solution?

[00:14:55]And why do you think that they're thinking rationally about this?

[00:15:01]I mean, can you give give me any evidence that they've ever thought, you know, showed that they've thought this through and have a coherent thought? No, it's just it's just simplistic nonsense.

[00:15:13]You know, they I see people, yeah, we should have gone in on the ground. Okay.

[00:15:17]I mean, even guys with military experience and you go, "How the hell is that?" Explain that one to me. Explain.

[00:15:25]It's like there was just a report I saw I got a friend sent me a report saying that the uh the Kurds have now they're launched an invasion into northern Iran.

[00:15:35]And you know, and I'm thinking that's got to be a bogus report. number one, because to do that, the Kurds would have to have a logistics chain. And I mean, we're talking a lot.

[00:15:50]If they if they're going to invade Iran with any kind of force at all, you've got to have a way to get them resupplied with food, with water, with ammunition, and you need to have a medical evacuation plan that's able to work. If this is large scale, there's no way in hell they've got that. Absolutely no.

[00:16:13]And they can they launch a raid and attack a a town or village on the border of Iran? Sure. And but to try to actually come in and occupy territory uh in Iran and keep it, they'll be wiped out within a day or two. They simply cannot. they don't have the ability to sustain themselves because it require, you know, it requires a lot of logistics behind it. That's what these people don't understand. You know, most people just, you know, they're the ones who think that the chicken that they eat at, you know, they go buy a chicken at the their local grocery store and they think that's how the chicken actually exists.

[00:16:53]They don't realize it was once a b a living bird walking around and it had to be slaughtered and then cut up and then butchered in a way so they can finally put it into a plastic styrofoam wrapper and put it in a freezer.

[00:17:10]>> Yeah. The reason I'm asking this Larry is that let's assume the United States let's assume Donald Trump doesn't come out with this memorandum of understanding. What is the alternative for them?

[00:17:23]>> Well, what what wait? It's already out.

[00:17:26]So, what do you mean that would not come out with it?

[00:17:30]>> No, I would say because these people who are against So, what is the alternative for that forou these people?

[00:17:40]>> Well, there's Why do you think that they would assume there's an alternative?

[00:17:46]>> So, staying in the fight, it means that Donald Trump said it. I think the main reason was mentioned yesterday by Donald Trump that we are four v we are four weeks away from you know the oil reserves four weeks away to be totally depleted >> right >> so this is the main reason so what if is there any sort of communication between the Trump administration and these people >> again you're dude you're think you keep talking as if these people are rational people that they're logical that they're saying that they're sitting there and weighing the facts and then go, "Oh, heavens. Yeah, we we don't have the military assets to do this and if we continue down this course of action, we're going to face an economic catastrophe." Yeah, we we've got to we've got to move away from the military side and go towards trying to fix the economic side. They're not thinking that way.

[00:18:42]So, don't Yeah. I'm saying don't assume that they're thinking that way because they're not.

[00:18:48]They're doing just the opposite.

[00:18:51]You know, they don't think there's any consequences to be had here. That's what's that's what's sort of truly shocking about all of this.

[00:19:00]>> Yeah.

[00:19:00]>> Um Fox News, by the way, is playing totally in the hand of the Israelis right now.

[00:19:08]They're somehow managing.

[00:19:10]>> Yeah. Yeah. Are you surprised by that?

[00:19:12]>> No, at all. But they were supporting Donald Trump. I mean that good god it's been that way for you know 26 years. So that's like that's like being surprised and god I was looking at my male dog and he was licking his balls. Yeah that's what male dogs do. Okay.

[00:19:34]Do you think Israel would go, you know, would go to some are they going to do something stupid in your opinion?

[00:19:44]Because two things I think recently we've learned from Laura Lumer and Napali Bennett in Israel.

[00:19:51]>> They were both of them were talking about 911 is coming to the United States. Is Islam is going to do some sort of operation in in the United States that that can you know totally change the whole situation with what's going on in the West Asia. A false flag something like that.

[00:20:09]>> Okay. And why would quote Islam do that in the United States?

[00:20:15]>> I don't know. The way why are they on the border of Iran in the northern in Iraqi Kurdistan? The new group is ISIS was formed by the British by French.

[00:20:28]They are at the border of Iran in Iraqi Kurdistan, right?

[00:20:31]>> They just two weeks ago they they came to power. They said we are here. We are we we want to in invade Iran. The same people can do something.

[00:20:40]>> Yeah. Good. Let let them invade. How do they do Do you understand what it takes to sustain an invasion?

[00:20:49]I I mean, you know, that means you're moving forward in what? Walking or in vehicles? If they're in vehicles, they got to have gasoline or diesel to be refueled to keep going. Where are those fuel tanks coming from? Do they have they already prepositioned and assembled those vehicles? There's no way that they could do that without Iran knowing about it because Iran's got the Russian and Chinese intelligence showing them that.

[00:21:15]So that, you know, that didn't happen.

[00:21:18]This is this is just, you know, more misinformation from the West to try to, you know, distract, frighten, whatever. But uh the Kurds do not have do do the Kurds have the ability to launch attacks across the border into Iranian territory? Yes. But only what you it would be called a raid.

[00:21:40]Just a temporary go in kill some people, set some things on fire, and then run away. What we're talking about is do they have the ability to go in with a with a say 5,000 men and occupy an area and defend it and prevent Iran from controlling that area. No, they do not have that ability. Uh they're being trained by the CIA. That that right away tells you that they don't have that ability. CIA has a has a very good track record of [ __ ] these things up.

[00:22:14]the perception on the part of Iranians.

[00:22:16]Larry, before coming to this live, I told you that Iranian supreme leader, he just issued an anal a statement today saying that he didn't feel good about.

[00:22:29]So he gave the permission to the Iranian president to sign it and see what would happen with. But basically when he puts that this sort of statement out it means that he he doesn't feel good and it means that some part of the governments are not happy with what's going on.

[00:22:50]>> Mhm. Yeah. I'm sure there I'm sure there is some division in Iran about it.

[00:22:55]>> Yeah.

[00:22:56]>> So but the are they going to walk away from the agreement or they going to stick with the agreement?

[00:23:01]uh they've you know they they'd be foolish to walk away from it now because they've got the United States uh every they had they established five red lines and those red lines were relief of sanctions unfreeze assets lift the blockade acknowledge the ownership uh the the authority of Iran over the straight of formoose and end the fighting in Lebanon. So those are all conceded in that document. Now the is the Israelis haven't stopped the the attacks in southern Lebanon. So now it's a matter of is Iran once that agreement is signed again tomorrow once they or put it into effect tomorrow then Iran's in a position where it can launch attacks into southern Lebanon against Israeli positions to support Hezbollah because that agreement says it is now Iran's obligation to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. on >> says that in the first paragraph.

[00:24:13]>> It seemed last it seems last night Iran wanted to hit some targets in Israel.

[00:24:19]And >> I'm not talking about hitting targets in Israel. I'm talking about hitting Israeli targets in Lebanon.

[00:24:28]I don't know what were the I assume that they wanted to hit some targets in Israel in northern part of Israel but serious negotiations serious talks are happening between the two sides that we're not aware of in my opinion correct behind the scene >> the coordinating what's going on between Israel and Lebanon that's why you see J Vance coming out talking this way Iran wanted to attack Israel last night which could have been you know the end of Mou and Whatever is happening between the two sides.

[00:24:58]>> Uh-huh.

[00:24:59]>> Do you see that happening? The management happening in the United States between the United States and Israelis.

[00:25:05]>> What do you mean the management?

[00:25:06]>> Management to withdraw Israelis from Lebanon. Well, the the I all the United States can do is ask and then threaten as as uh uh JD Vance did that, you know, we we can pull with pull off all the recall all of these planes and other assets we've deployed on your behalf if you don't comply. They could do that. Uh we'll see if we'll see if Trump does that. He's I mean he's under now enormous pressure to back away, but it also looks like he was he was given enough warning. uh the other day about what was um coming economically that he had zero interest in facing that and and that's why he's insistent okay we got to get out of this.

[00:25:56]Let's assume you're you're part of the Trump administration. What would you say to the to JD Vance or Donald Trump himself in order to manage the situation with Israel and manage the situation by the way in the United States which we know is totally against?

[00:26:12]>> I call Israel up and say look you your your troops need to be withdrawn by you know you know 12 hours from now.

[00:26:22]uh and if they're not, we are going to immediately suspend uh spend aid and recall all of our uh assets, including the air defense assets that we've deployed to your country.

[00:26:34]>> Yeah, I play, you know, just play hard ball that way.

[00:26:38]>> Do you think that he's >> will they do that? I don't know. We'll see.

[00:26:43]I can make the case that uh Trump would be disincined to do that, but he's you know uh it it appears that the information the briefing he got over the weekend about the severe crisis that's going to unfold if they don't get the straight open and get oil flowing that it's going to be a real problem. I I don't think he was exaggerating that. I think he was being absolutely honest about it.

[00:27:12]Then do you think the president has that sort of power?

[00:27:17]>> What sort of what sort of power?

[00:27:20]>> The call that you mentioned calling Benjamin Edna on Israel is you're going to do this unless I'm going to do that and I'm going to punish you this way.

[00:27:29]Mhm.

[00:27:29]>> Is that in the power of the president of the United States with the current sit conditions that we are we know what's going on in the United States and how Congress is supporting by the way the Israeli agenda.

[00:27:43]>> Well, I think Trump does have it in his power to do some of that and then there's also the possibility that he'd get push back from senators that they would might even, you know, try to impeach him. Uh but again I I don't think that Donald Trump Well, he said it yesterday. We don't have to imagine. He said we're out of oil in 4 weeks.

[00:28:08]>> Yeah.

[00:28:09]>> So that's that's that's why he's doing this. He got they got someone got to him, got the message, and said, "Okay, we've been lying to you. We've been uh convincing you that everything's okay."

[00:28:20]And it's not okay. It's it's we're we're at it. We're facing an emergency situation. if we don't get this straight open and get the get oil start to flow.

[00:28:32]And and so that's why that's why he he agreed to the Iranian position, not because he thought the Iranians were right. His balls are in a vice and and Israel doesn't have the leverage, the the fear of the economic collapse of this economy.

[00:28:52]I mean, because if that happens, Israel's screwed anyway because the United States isn't going to have extra money to send to Israel.

[00:29:01]>> Do you think instead of putting politic political pressure on Israelis, which we know is totally dependent on Congress, can the United States put some sort of economic pressure on Israel without, you know, that because that I think purely is dependent on the Trump administration. It's less related to the Congress. Is that possible? Instead of going >> well, so what do you mean?

[00:29:30]>> I I would say putting some sort of, you know, is about Turkey, >> other countries who are somehow helping Israel in the whole process, saying you do this, I'm going to ignore what you're doing.

[00:29:44]>> Yeah.

[00:29:44]>> And it's not and Congress can not can do nothing about it.

[00:29:49]Well, co Congress Congress has limited, you know, it can act annually with appropriations and fail to provide money or um, you know, not appropriate money. But so the power really lies with Trump in turn in terms of how to limit access to the aid and and withdraw aid as as he can. Now, Congress, you know, Congress gets into the role as in terms of during the appropriation process, but they can they can't really come in right now and mandate spending unless that money's already been appropriated for that activity.

[00:30:33]I see the move of the Trump administration as so as though it's so for them it seems so it's so important 2028 Larry >> and you know it's all about the oil oil reserves it's about the economy it's about the the stock piles of the United States these are two important factors by the way the economy and the stockpile and the third factor would be 2028 which is so important for the for for the administration.

[00:31:07]>> Well, it it may be too late. You know, Trump uh Trump's actions I were primarily driven to allow oil to start flowing back through the Persian Gulf and to get that oil to basically get the 20% of oil that has been taken off the market back on the market.

[00:31:29]Now the problem is it is not like going to the faucet in your kitchen turning the faucet on and water immediately runs out. In this case there is no faucet that he can turn that's going to make oil immediately start running out of the Gulf. You do have oil that are on Iranian tankers that are headed out of the Gulf. But where are they headed?

[00:31:54]China.

[00:31:56]So that's not necessarily going to help the West. the shortage in the west.

[00:32:00]That's number one. Number two, the you got other other foreign tankers that are not under the control of Iran sitting there in the Gulf ready to move except the fear of mines and the fact that insurance companies will not allow them to move for fear of hitting a mine and being sunk. So that that insurance process is going to be held up until such time or the the insurance process will delay those ships from sailing. Um so how long will it take the to clear the Gulf of mines? In April, somebody from Pete Hex says Department of War testified before Congress that take up to six months.

[00:32:48]So they said, "Oh, so July, August, September, October, November, December, we're all through a new year, six months from now."

[00:32:58]So it's possible that that oil won't get flowing for six months. Then you got to raise the question, did are the were any of the wells damaged? And the oil terminals where the oil is pumped into these ships, were those damaged? Have they been repair repaired? Uh and then on on top of that you'll get um uh you know the ships themselves are mechanical condition having been sitting doing nothing for 3 months just at anchor.

[00:33:30]Are the ship's engines still good? Can they function? So it just one complication after another just means that although Trump signed this, oh yeah, we got to get the oil flowing. It ain't going to flow. And so there are going to be some real problems facing them.

[00:33:48]During the press conference that JD Vance had, he was asked about the 2028 presidential election and the reporter asked him, "You said you're not going to be part of that." He was just where did I say that? It was like this >> and it seems that he's serious. I think his point of attacking Benjamin those those people in the in the Nadio administration is that you're not going to ruin my 2028.

[00:34:20]I'm here to do it because he knows that if something if they get the United States involved in this endless war, it's not the two years is nothing in my opinion with the war in the Middle East.

[00:34:31]>> Right. Right.

[00:34:32]>> You you remember the war in Ukraine started. We were talking about in six months it's going to be one year and we we're approaching five years of war in Ukraine, >> right?

[00:34:42]>> So that's the recipe for disaster for JD Vance in my opinion.

[00:34:48]>> Yeah. Well, I I think JD Vance, according to Robert Barnes, has basically recognized he he he's got no future.

[00:34:56]His political future is pretty well sealed. Um and and I think he's content with that. But he's going to do he's going to do what he can to keep this war from expanding. And and that's exactly what he's done, which is driving the u the neoconservatives and the pro-Israel crowd just absolutely nuts. It's making him crazy.

[00:35:23]>> I I really believe that who's going to be the candidate on the part of Democrats for 2028? Kla Harris.

[00:35:31]>> No, no, no, no. I mean, Harrison Newsome won't be It'll be somebody else.

[00:35:36]>> Who? There is nobody to be able to capture the boo.

[00:35:40]>> Oh, right. Right. There's no There's nobody that you see obvious right now.

[00:35:45]Um, could Josh Shapiro out of Pennsylvania step up and become a viable candidate? Yeah, maybe. Um, how about Ro Kana of California?

[00:35:56]Possibly. You know, there's >> Roana, he's going to be strong.

[00:36:02]So there, but there are a number uh you know that's that's just too far out. Uh because it' be either for the Republicans are going to say it's going to be either JD Vance or Marco Rubio.

[00:36:16]Yeah.

[00:36:19]From Iranian sources, Larry, we've learned that Saudi Arabia in the in the first in the first five or after five days or six days of war when the war started on February 28th, they contacted Iran and they said, "We have nothing to do with what's going on.

[00:36:41]>> We don't want to be part of this fight."

[00:36:43]You remember how many times it was reported on Wall Street Journal, New York Times that Saudis are pushing for the continuation of the war, hitting Iran harder. And they were talking behind the scene with Iranians that we are not we're not doing anything here and they're just because I was asking you and other people on this podcast, what's going on with Saudi Arabia? What why are they pushing for the continuation of this war? because we heard nothing from them.

[00:37:14]>> Well, yeah, but how could you interpret that as evidence they're pushing for the continuation of the war?

[00:37:22]>> No, because of the news. It was in New York Times Wall Street Journal. They were reporting that Saudi Arabia is pushing for the continuation. That's why >> but but again look at the source that's sources New York Times, Washington Post, American sources. Did you see any Saudi sources being quoted?

[00:37:42]>> They were silent. That that's why we were somehow we were speculating if Saudi Arabia is doing this or that because they were silent. They didn't say anything those days.

[00:37:53]>> Well, it's clear it's clear there were diplomatic contacts going on between the Saudis and Iranians and they were publicizing it.

[00:38:02]And uh you know I wouldn't be surprised if they worked out an accommodation that uh Iran could happily bomb uh the Prince Salad uh air base just provided they you know shied away from civilian casualties.

[00:38:19]So, you know, this um we've we've seen so much misinformation about Iran over the last three months. And now this week, when we get down to the actual truth, it came out.

[00:38:33]you know, what Iran leaked about the document on uh Tuesday turned out to have been much closer to the truth than what the US was leaking than what was being leaked to Bloomberg yesterday.

[00:38:50]Yeah, the reason I mentioned that is today JD Van said GCC countries want to invest in Iran.

[00:39:00]And I think the whole program is that because of the reality of what has happened in this rate of Hermos. They want to get closer. They want to get more involved with Iranian economy. make more ties with the Iranian economy in order to diminish the threat or any sort of war if something happens because they know Israel is not going to change its behavior. Sooner or later they're going to fire at each other, Iran and Israel.

[00:39:25]So they want to make some sort of deal with Iranians to somehow ensure them that they're not going to be part of the fight on behalf of Israel or facilitating the Israeli attack on Iran.

[00:39:37]Uh so go ahead.

[00:39:40]>> Well, I just said we've seen we've seen evidence that uh Qatar at least has been working quietly behind the scenes. In fact, there's some report it was claimed that um initially that Iran destroyed the natural gas facility at uh what what is it Raz Leafon uh in in Qatar. But in fact, they may not have because they coordinated and cut a deal with Qatar in advance.

[00:40:09]So if that's true, uh that that adds a whole uh new dimension to things.

[00:40:17]>> So it seems to me that point of $300 billion being invested in Iran is totally some sort of concept of GCC countries, basically Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It's not this is not coming from the United States, >> right?

[00:40:34]>> And the United States just added its name to the to the point that they're going to be there and managing and they want to know what's going on with that fund, that in sort of investment in Iran.

[00:40:46]Is that your perception?

[00:40:48]>> Yeah, I mean look, the United States is getting shut out of the Gulf.

[00:40:54]It is, you know, the talk like one of Iran's demands is that the with US withdraw troops from around from around it. Well, they've already done that actually in part, not because they were reacting to that agreement, but because their base got destroyed. They hadn't have any place to left to stay, so they had to get out.

[00:41:18]Yeah.

[00:41:22]that that's going to be I think if they decide to go to get close I don't know if you you've seen the American official one of the American officials telling one of the these mainstream news outlet I don't remember it was if I'm not say Wall Street Journal they reported that the fifth fleet and naval fleet of the United States in Bahrain was totally destroyed and they see no option of getting back there maybe They go to Oman or somewhere else.

[00:41:53]>> Right. Right. Yeah. No, I mean they're done. Uh they still call it the fifth fleet headquarters, but it's just a name only. There are no personnel there uh of any consequence. And where where else are they going to go? They had to go to Oman or back to Florida.

[00:42:13]>> Just imagine you're sitting in Qatar.

[00:42:15]You're sitting in Saudi Arabia seeing what's going on with American bases.

[00:42:21]Yeah.

[00:42:21]>> What what what do you have to to pursue in >> Well, again, the the they thought they thought this was sort of a sure deal that uh if you get with the United States, you man, you got protection.

[00:42:35]Doesn't get any better than that. You know, Uncle Sam's got your back.

[00:42:40]And then it turns out, oops, no he doesn't.

[00:42:45]You got You don't have Uncle Sam there uh helping you.

[00:42:51]Lori, have you heard from that guy from Pakistan?

[00:42:56]Because I think what what is he saying about, you know, the security architecture of the region?

[00:43:04]>> Well, he was saying that the uh there was the Chinese and Pakistanis learned there was going to be an assassination attempt against Arachi and Galifar, Galibbah.

[00:43:18]um that the actions and that's one of the reasons they moved this signing ceremony from Geneva to uh Birkenstock which is a a facility a property that's owned by uh the one of the emir of Qatar so it is well protected and um so you know we'll see you know they think that's going on and they've warned both Pakistan and and China have warned Israel uh that If they proceed with something to try to assassinate, there will be severe repercussions against them.

[00:43:56]>> That's how it's just mind-blowing.

[00:44:03]A diplomat in Europe is something new.

[00:44:08]>> I I have never seen such a thing happening >> to Iranian officials. They did it in Syria. You remember that >> Iranian consul in Syria. But I have never seen that happening in Europe.

[00:44:19]Well, not in Europe, but they've, you know, and I don't know where they are planning to carry this out, but they they've been warned to, you know, if you do it or, you know, expect some real repercussions.

[00:44:34]Lori, do you see Europe doing or because Donald Trump was at G7 summit and talking with various European officials or leaders or may all of them together because they were together and >> was there any sort of discussion about how Europe can may play some sort of role in what's going on in the West Asia or they he simply doesn't care about you? There there have been some comments and again I'm not sure if they were sparked by Trump. Uh the French reportedly said that they had deploy a mind sweeper to help clear up mines and um you know get things back to normal.

[00:45:13]Uh I I don't see though a widespread endorsement in the European community of the Iranian uh government. I think they still want to classify the government as a regime, something that needs to be dispensed of eventually.

[00:45:31]But Europe, we know in thisou it says Iran going to do that. If there is some sort of demining operation, it's going to be Iranian side doing that and nobody's allowed to go there.

[00:45:47]>> Mhm.

[00:45:48]>> So that's that's out of discussion for >> Yeah. So yeah, we'll see right now. So, it is uh like uh 2:00 in the morning uh almost uh 2:30 2:30 a.m. in the morning in Tan.

[00:46:07]And so, most of the same people are in bed getting some sleep and um they've got to make a decision whether they're going to travel to Geneva or or not. And it it's up, you know, they're putting pressure on the United States to do further pressure on Israel. I don't know if that that'll work. And if it doesn't, you know, it there are a variety of, you know, Iran can stay home or uh Iran can get permission to carry out attacks on Israel. You know, United States may not come out and formally announce it, but they'll give the wink and a nod and a nudge and let that happen. So, you know, this there are well the the the thing that Donald Trump signed yesterday with Peskian uh is just it's more like a letter of intent.

[00:47:04]And the intent you can say has some good objectives to it, but there are a lot of ways and pitfalls and and exits along the way that could destroy this thing.

[00:47:16]>> Yeah.

[00:47:18]Here is Larry Iranian side by the way they have reported that Iranian delegation is not going to go to Switzerland because of the what's going on between Israel and Lebanon. That's going to be problematic for Iranians and I think they're getting a lot of pressure. As you mentioned, Iran people are not happy. Some part of the society is not happy with the case of Lebanon.

[00:47:45]They see if they back down on the case of Lebanon, it's going to be, you know, it's going to be so damaging to Iranian position.

[00:47:55]>> Mhm.

[00:47:57]And >> well, no, they they they they could still travel to Geneva. They just informed the United States. So, we're going to attack Israel. We're going to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon to because they're being attacked by Israel.

[00:48:17]That's simple, you know. It's that simple. I think they could do that as but they're not, you know. So, uh, there's this is far from a a done deal, as I've said all along.

[00:48:30]>> Trump said that Russia and China didn't help Iran. They were neutral during the war.

[00:48:37]>> Yeah.

[00:48:38]>> All right. Good. Yeah, it's good to know. It's not true, but it's good to know.

[00:48:44]>> He's so positive, by the way. It's good for the future.

[00:48:47]>> Yeah. You know, he has the he creates his little fantasy world.

[00:48:53]But but you know both both Russia and China were quite active and in fact it was Arachi that just went to uh talk to Russia there >> uh over the weekend I believe before before everything was agreed to just to get Russia's input.

[00:49:14]G7 invited Brazil and UAE, two members of BRICS to the summit.

[00:49:21]>> Mhm.

[00:49:22]>> What does that mean in your opinion? And are they going to are they trying to manipulate BRICS? Are they trying to >> I I don't think that they didn't offer membership. They said, "Hey, you can come attend." And Brazilian said, "Oh, great. That's what we need. Just go sit through another meeting.

[00:49:42]Um yeah no I think the the G the G7 is actually it's it's time has passed the the the BRICS countries alone constitute more of the world economy than does G7 there was a time when G7 was the dominant player but no longer >> Larry great pleasure as always I think that everything is so fluid and we cannot go.

[00:50:16]Yeah.

[00:50:16]>> Because before the MOU coming out, we say let's >> let's see what is inou right now. MOU is out and we are we have more doubts even than we had before.

[00:50:27]>> Correct. We'll say hey we'll see what what tomorrow brings.

[00:50:31]>> Yeah, exactly. Tomorrow is JD Van said by the way today he said he doesn't know if tomorrow the meeting gonna happen.

[00:50:39]And I think that's there is some sort of communication behind the scene between the two sides.

[00:50:44]>> They got they got to work out the Israel problem first.

[00:50:48]>> So, >> all right, my friend. I will see you in a few hours. It'll be >> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:50:52]>> about 12 to 14 hours with Miranda. Huh.

[00:50:56]>> Yeah. Yeah. Let's see. Yeah.

[00:50:58]>> That'll be at that'll be at 10:30, right?

[00:51:02]>> Yeah. It's going to be at 11:00 a.m.

[00:51:04]>> Oh, 11:00 a.m. Okay. Make sure >> make sure I got that right. And we'll we'll see you to God, you know, this week is just blitz by. Holy smokes.

[00:51:16]>> So, all right, my friend. Later. See you, Larry. Bye. Bye. Bye.