The Saleh Desk analyst Tamir Morg assesses that Iran has launched attacks on merchant ships in the southern Strait of Hormuz lane near Oman, aiming to enforce protection payments from vessels. The assessment holds that Tehran concluded President Trump is weak and will escalate demands unless the US demonstrates resolve.
A fresh analysis published Sunday morning by Tamir Morg of the Saleh Desk channel now explicitly states that Iran perceives President Trump as weak — framing the escalation around Hormuz as a direct test of U.S. resolve. The analysis, posted hours after the channel's earlier assessment at 20:37 Jerusalem on Saturday, claims Tehran concluded that a measured U.S. retaliatory strike signaled weakness, not restraint, and warns that 'the extortion and humiliations will only worsen' unless Washington demonstrates resolve.
As The Zioneer first reported at 20:37 Jerusalem Saturday, the initial Saleh Desk analysis assessed that Iran had begun attacking merchant vessels in the southern Strait of Hormuz lane near Oman to enforce protection payments — effectively turning the sea route into a toll checkpoint. That same hour, The Zioneer separately reported a second commercial vessel struck by an Iranian drone off Oman, with CENTCOM vowing to protect shipping. The new analysis amplifies the motivational claim: what was presented as an inference Saturday evening is now stated as a direct assessment of Tehran's view of Trump.
This analyst's opinion sits within a broader recorded escalation. The Zioneer reported on June 10 that President Trump warned of sustained daily strikes, and on June 11 that U.S. strikes were prioritizing freedom of navigation in the Strait. A June 21 bulletin quoted an Iranian negotiating team member warning bluntly: 'You will pay at Hormuz — that is final.' The current analysis interprets the U.S. response to date — including the limited scope of strikes — as having emboldened Tehran.
This remains an attributed assessment from a single analyst channel, not a confirmed operational or intelligence report. Morg's claims about Iranian decision-making — specifically the conclusion that Trump is weak — are not corroborated by any official U.S., Israeli, or Gulf source at this hour. Whether the protection-payment campaign is coordinated state policy or opportunistic localized action also remains unverified.
3 developments
- Developing301 analyst: Iran sees diplomatic win and U.S. hesitation, pushes brinkmanship on Hormuz
- DevelopingIranian Telegram source says Tehran is leveraging Hormuz pressure on Trump
- DevelopingUS strikes prioritize Strait of Hormuz freedom of navigation, sources say
- StrongAnalyst: US strikes on Iran failing to force surrender, Tehran retaliates against Gulf allies
Source and signal
- Internal intake