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What a stalemate sounds like on September 17, 2026

    Iran International and Al Jazeera reported on September 17, 2026, statements by leaders in the U.S., Iran and Israel (below). Those statements give a good picture of the U.S.-Iran-Israel standoff today. One should take into account campaigning for the upcoming elections with Trump's and Netanyahu's pronouncements. 
        I believe the betting is that Trump will wait until the midterms have taken place before pushing the ‘annihilate’ button. Noting the cry of alarm from Saudi Arabia and the expanding conflict, by then the interceptors supply in the region will be heading toward zero. 

Trump says ‘big decision’ looms on whether to ‘annihilate’ Iran regime 
    “I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” Trump told Axios. 
Iran president says Tehran will not bow to US, Israel 
    Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian: “The United States does not want us to remain independent. Who said America can decide for the whole world and everyone else must obey? We do not accept this and we will not bow.” 
Iran will keep Hormuz closed until Trump falls from power
Khamenei adviser says Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr: “Our fighters will not open the Strait of Hormuz until the criminal Trump and bloodthirsty Netanyahu are brought down from power.” 
Iran military official calls US presence obstacle to regional peace 
Mohammad-Taghi Osanloo, deputy operations chief of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff, at the Xiangshan security forum in Beijing: “Security in the region must be provided by the countries of the region themselves, and extra-regional powers should not control its security initiative and responsibility. Security cannot be bought or imported.” 
Iranian lawmaker urges NPT withdrawal, citing Hormuz closure 
Mohammadreza Sabbaghian Bafghi, a member of parliament’s internal affairs committee: “We must show the same courage displayed in closing the Strait of Hormuz through sound judgment when it comes to withdrawing from the NPT.” 
Russia, China veto US bid to extend UN Iran sanctions Panel of Experts mandate 
(The Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee monitors implementation of UN sanctions on Iran and reports potential violations to the Security Council.) 
Iran thanks Russia, China for opposing ‘politically motivated’ US resolution at Security Council 
Iran’s mission to the UN: “Iran deeply appreciates Russia and China for their consistent and principled positions and decisive actions today.” They “prevented yet another cynical attempt by the United States and its allies to abuse the Security Council for their political purposes.” 
Netanyahu says Israel will topple Iran's regime 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “The desire by Iran and its proxies to destroy the State of Israel has not disappeared. It has simply weakened. We have done most of the work, but there is still work to complete, and we will complete it. We will eliminate Hamas, and first and foremost we will defeat the regime in Iran. We will bring it down. It will fall. We will also deal with Hezbollah, and it too will fall.”

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