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Iran’s nuclear gamble leaves America one choice — and it can’t be a deal
The strategy of the United States toward the Islamic Republic has crossed a threshold that marks the definitive end of a half-century of Western hesitation.
In a landmark White House news conference, the President — flanked by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth — dismantled the long-standing policy of “managed stability” in favor of a strategy aimed at the regime’s structural collapse. By confirming the systematic dismantling of the clerical security apparatus, highlighted by the death of IRGC Intelligence Chief Majid Khademi in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, and signaling an end to the regime’s unhindered control over strategic corridors like the Strait of Hormuz, the administration has moved past the failed diplomatic cycles of 1979 and 2009.
While mediators may continue to offer the ‘off-ramp’ of short-term ceasefires, history warns us that for the mullahs, such deals are never a bridge to peace. They are a tactical survival mechanism designed to shield a nuclear breakout. As this new era of clarity unfolds, the lesson remains: leaving any part of this clerical structure in power, even in a state of ‘negotiated’ weakness, is not a resolution — it is merely a stay of execution.”
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We must confront the reality that the regime precipitated this crisis as a calculated breakout strategy. According to March 2026 intelligence assessments, the leadership manufactured regional chaos to serve as a shield for their final sprint toward a bomb. The latest IAEA reports are chilling: the regime possesses over 450kg of 60% enriched uranium — enough for nine to eleven nuclear weapons — with a breakout time now measured in days. For a clerical elite that views a nuclear weapon as their only ticket to longevity, military strikes on infrastructure are only a temporary fix if the regime’s core remains intact. If any part of this structure is left in power, they will find a way to rebuild the weapon.
History provides a roadmap for how clerical power is systemically displaced — and it is never via a polite deal. Even the most powerful secular rulers have fallen for the trap of the clerical off-ramp. Napoleon Bonaparte and Benito Mussolini both attempted to tame religious institutions through concordats, only to find that the clergy’s institutional memory and divine mandates outlasted their secular authority. True secular sovereignty was won in France and Turkey only through the dismantling of the clergy’s political and institutional monopolies.
In Iran, this clerical structure is not limited to those in turbans; it includes the mullahs in suits — the commissars and generals who remain fervently committed to the theocratic path. They have swallowed the national infrastructure, leaving no internal mechanism for reform. A clerical elite does not evolve; they relinquish power only when it is structurally stripped from them. The mullahs are students of this history; they know that in a secular republic, they don’t just lose a seat at the table — they lose the table entirely.
For a theocracy, a deal is a tactical pause. They have observed the North Korean model with envy, learning that a nuclear shield is the only guaranteed deterrent against Western-led regime change and a permanent tool for coercive power projection across the region. Historically, the mullahs have repeatedly sacrificed Iran’s democracy and independence to protect their own position — from securing kickbacks in 19th-century British monopolies over Iranian infrastructure to siding with the Shah to crush the 1906 Constitutional Revolution.
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Growing up in Iran, many in the diaspora learned a cynical proverb: “A mullah will barter any sacred principle for a qeran — the smallest of coins.” For the IRGC, the stakes of a transition are existential. Because they control the country’s major industries and shadow markets, any shift to a secular state would mean the total loss of their accumulated wealth, social stature, and legal immunity. They have every incentive to keep a nuclear sword over the international community to shield their corruption from domestic revolt and project strength abroad.
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To understand the mullahs is to understand the concept of Heroic Flexibility. This is not moderation; it is a survival strategy rooted in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (628 AD). In that pivotal moment, Prophet Muhammad signed a lopsided, ten-year peace treaty with his enemies from the Quraysh tribe in Mecca to buy time for his community to grow in strength. Today, the regime hijacks this legacy for a bait and switch, offering temporary concessions to relieve pressure while waiting for geopolitical winds to shift.
Ultimately, the Islamic Republic cannot be managed; it must be dismantled. The only path to a stable Middle East and the world is to support the Iranian people in toppling a regime that has held them hostage for half a century. This requires a strategy that pairs the total economic isolation of the clerical and IRGC apparatus with the current military pressure. The UAE’s recent push for the coalition to continue the campaign until the regime is decisively weakened offers a historic opportunity. By using the war to defang the IRGC’s enforcement structure and severing the financial arteries that sustain their repression, we create the necessary vacuum for the Iranian people to reclaim their sovereignty.
The mullahs are not looking for an off-ramp; they are looking for a nuclear shield to ensure their own survival. As long as the clerical structure remains, the bomb remains. We should stop providing them a lifeline to build it.
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Taylor Frankie Paul says she’s leaving the Mormon church amid ‘hell on earth’ domestic violence scandal
Taylor Frankie Paul is letting her followers know that she is leaving the Mormon church after her “hell on earth” domestic violence scandal that completely rocked her world.
On Easter Sunday, Paul took to Instagram to share a video montage of moments of sadness, reading the bible, reaching out to friends and family since her season of “The Bachelorette” was canceled due to a domestic violence incident with Dakota Mortensen, her ex-boyfriend and father of her son.
“The last 40 days felt like hell on earth. Through every panic attack I prayed for strength as I could feel my body breaking down and out from the distress of it all. And HE sent just that in various ways along with so many undeniable signs saying ‘I am with you’ which I can’t wait to share that part,” Paul captioned her post.
She continued, “I’ve prayed since I was young and never strayed away because I believe he wants us to ask for help especially during our lowest points. However, instead of just asking I switched over to thanking him at the end of each day no matter how low I felt.”
On Paul’s Instagram post, fans sent their love and well-wishes to the reality star.
“You have been so incredibly strong these last few years with every single obstacle you had in your way. You should be so very proud of yourself Taylor. Sending you so much love, prayers, and hugs!” one user wrote. Another added, “We love you Taylor.”
Paul’s co-star, Jessi Draper, commented on her post: “I love you ❤️ you’re the strongest person I know.”
On her Instagram story, Paul shared a message with her followers, informing them that she was leaving the Mormon church.
“Born and raised Mormon (LDS) and I’ll always have love and respect towards it. I’ll even continue to go with my family at times, with that being said, it’s time to detach myself from it,” Paul wrote, adding a broken heart emoji.
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“I strongly believe in Christ, God, the bible, the divine,” she continued. The “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star added that she believes praying can come from inside of a church or on the bathroom floor.
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In March, Paul was accused of her third domestic violence incident. The first domestic violence incident resulted in charges against Paul, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in August 2023. Video of the incident was shared earlier this month by TMZ, and soon after, ABC announced that it would not be airing Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette.”
A spokesperson for Paul previously told Fox News Digital, following the cancellation of her season of “The Bachelorette,” “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
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“There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives,” the spokesperson continued. “Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Paul, 31, shares two children — Indy, 8, and Ocean, 5 — with ex-husband Tate Paul, and a 1-year-old son, Ever, with Mortensen. The recent domestic violence incident with Mortensen resulted in Paul temporarily losing custody of their son, Ever.
In a statement to Fox News Digital last month, a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television said, “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family.”
Fox News Digital’s Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.
Spring has sprung — and it shows! From muddy patios to moldy cushions and brown patches of grass, the remnants of winter are hard to miss. Get your outdoor spaces back in shape with tools like pressure washers, grill sprays and gutter wands, all starting at just $9.
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READ MORE: We found the best grill deals for your next cookout
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Add extra lighting to your outdoor space with this 100-foot string of lights. The shatterproof, vintage-style bulbs stand up to the elements while adding a touch of style. A heavy-duty wire boosts durability for long-term use.
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Whether you’re removing mildew buildup from the side of your house or clearing a muddy patio, a pressure washer like the Greenworks electric model comes in handy. It has a 35-foot cord that reaches every nook and corner of your home or yard. The four nozzles adjust pressure and give you a more direct stream for tougher messes.
Original price: $349
A Westinghouse gas pressure washer is ideal for larger areas, including whole-house cleaning or longer decks and fences. The 25-foot hose is plenty long for most tasks, and the nozzle is powerful enough to blast through years of grime.
READ MORE: Get your lawn ready for spring with these tools, starting at $21
Original price: $49.99
Salt, ice melt and sand leave lasting stains on your driveway, patio and deck, but 30 Seconds outdoor cleaner quickly washes away buildup and mold and starts working instantly. There’s no pressure washing needed — just soak the surface, wait up to a minute and rinse away the residue with your hose.
Original price: $39.49
Battling weeds is an endless endeavor, but this puller tool reaches down under the plant to get it — roots and all — for good. All you need to do is line up the puller with your plant, push down and lean back — no bending necessary.
Original price: $37.45
Scrape away the mess winter left behind in your gutters with a telescoping cleaning wand. It attaches to your hose and tilts up to 180 degrees, giving you a custom angle to blast away debris. Made from a lightweight, non-corrosive material, it’s built for long-term use. Plus, you’re already spending less than normal with the wand now at 39% off.
Original price: $75
This kit gives you everything you need to repair patchy grass. Made for early spring, it combines seed, nitrogen and mulch to repair thin or bare spots in both the sun and shade. Attach the Lawn Vitality fertilizer bag to your hose for lush, healthy-looking grass.
READ MORE: Make garden upkeep easier with these garden accessories
Original price: $699.99
A robotic pool cleaner saves you hours of scooping leaves out of your pool. It packs the power to cover up to 1,600 square feet, with four modes that handle pool walls, floors and the top waterline. The fine mesh filter catches messes you can’t, from sand to algae, leaving your pool ready to use.
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Original price: $39.99
Your biggest ally for spring cleanup is a tough hose. It doesn’t get much more durable than this stainless steel option. The material is nearly impossible to kink, and the wide range of lengths (35 to 175 feet) lets you customize the hose to your yard size.
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items sent to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.
The family of a mother of two and coffee shop owner from Oakland who disappeared shared an update about the missing woman’s status on Sunday.
“During this holiday weekend, Amy’s friends and supporters have continued their efforts to review hours of video footage, searching BART stations and surrounding streets, and distributing flyers throughout the East Bay,” said an Easter Sunday message from Amy Hillyard’s family. “We are also thankful for the local media who have helped keep Amy’s story visible and in the hearts and minds of the community.”
The family posted the message to a dedicated webpage for Hillyard, 52, who disappeared at around 2 p.m. on March 25. Nearly two weeks later, her whereabouts remain unknown.
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“While this is a day traditionally centered on hope and renewal, our hope remains steadfast: that Amy will be found and brought home safely,” the family said Sunday. “We ask the public to continue sharing Amy’s information, remain vigilant, and report any tips to the Oakland Police Department. Every effort matters. Every lead counts.”
Hillyard is considered “at risk” due to an undisclosed medical issue.
She is a mother of two, and the co-owner of Farley’s Coffee Shop in Oakland.
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Last week, her family asked residents in Cleveland Heights, Lake Merritt, the Lakeshore District and Crocker Highlands to check home surveillance systems for any signs of Hillyard.
“The search to bring Amy home continues, and we remain hopeful,” family friend Sarah Wachs told Fox News Digital last week. “We’ve had hundreds of people come together to look for Amy.”
Wachs told Fox News Digital Hillyard is dealing with a health condition that may leave her disoriented and in need of help, but declined to share further details to protect her privacy.
Hillyard is described as 5-foot-4 and about 120 pounds with blonde hair. Police recently clarified she was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, light blue jeans and white sneakers with a black stripe, updating an earlier description of different clothing.
The Oakland Police Department said there were no new updates as of Monday afternoon.
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