Dire Straits is Not Just a Band

IRAN HAS decided to play red light, green light with the Strait of Hormuz. Less than 24 hours after President Trump announced the opening of the critical waterway, Iran declared it closed again. Further, two Indian flagged tankers reportedly came under fire from Iranian speedboats. This suggests that negotiations between the US and Iran over a peaceful resolution to Operation Epic Fury are simply a stalling tactic by the Iranian regime, perhaps counting on Democrats winning the midterm elections or even the 2028 presidential election. Given the way Presidents Biden and Obama willingly sent billions of dollars to Tehran, you can hardly blame them. We discuss the bind into which Iran has placed China, which gets up to 20% of its oil imports from the Islamic regime – at a deep discount because Iran has few buyers for its oil due to sanctions. This is exacerbated by China’s loss of access to Venezuelan oil. As a result, China has had to suddenly ramp up its purchases of American oil to roughly $10 billion worth per month. In addition, the United States just signed a defense agreement with Indonesia. That nation sits on the west side of the cap, Strait of Malacca, a waterway even more critical to China’s oil imports than the Strait of Hormuz. And to make things more interesting, American oil sails through the Panama Canal, which is now once again under American control, thanks to President Trump. In short, the United States now controls China’s access to about 25% of its oil imports, and has military control over waterways through which about 80% of Chinese oil imports flow, for which the Chinese must now pay full price. This may be President Trump’s way of responding to China’s threats to control American access to critical rare earth minerals. We also discuss the corrupting influence of social media on sharing the gospel. Children now graduate high school so reliant on artificial intelligence that they literally don’t see the need to read anything longer than a menu. So, reading the Bible is a concept that is completely foreign to them. Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, is fighting stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Follow us! X (formerly Twitter): @pidradio | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert | @gilberthouse_tvTelegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunkerSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/pidradio JOIN US IN ISRAEL! We will tour the Holy Land October 11–23, 2026 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! Our 1,200 square foot pole barn has a new HVAC system, epoxy floor, 100-amp electric service, new windows, insulation, lights, and ceiling fans! If you are so led, you can help out by clicking here: gilberthouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to this podcast, our weekly Bible studies, and our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker. The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at pidradio.com/app. Video on demand of our best teachings! Stream presentations and teachings based on our research at our new video on demand site: gilberthouse.org/video! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store/.