Johnson predicts Iran will strike Israel and target key fuel refineries
""whether it's the United States or or Israel, they're going to attack Israel this weekend. Iran will.""
About this episode
Mario Nawfal speaks with former CIA officer Larry Johnson about the risk of renewed US-Iran escalation, shipping disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, and the military signalling they believe is under way. Nawfal reads and discusses statements he attributes to Donald Trump about considering “massive” strikes and using frozen Iranian assets to compensate for shipping damage; Johnson argues such messaging would harden, not soften, Iran’s position. The pair also debate the meaning of embassy staff withdrawals by European states, with Johnson claiming missions would have been given advance warning of impending action.
They focus on US airpower and logistics, comparing payload capacity across B-1, B-52 and B-2 bombers and discussing bunker-buster carriage. Nawfal cites open-source reporting on additional US aircraft deployments, including an E-11 communications aircraft; Johnson claims Iran has already destroyed multiple US radar and satellite communications systems, describing the deployment as a stopgap.
The conversation includes several unverified claims and forecasts: Johnson says the US has already evacuated a base in Jordan and relocated forces to Israel; he predicts Iran will strike Israel and potentially target oil refineries, which he argues would constrain Israel’s ability to sustain operations. Nawfal plays clips of Marco Rubio claiming Iran is seeking a deal; Johnson disputes Rubio’s account and says Washington has violated earlier understandings. The episode ends with Nawfal reporting early, unconfirmed social-media claims of strikes beginning in Iran as the livestream wraps.
Key takeaways
- Johnson alleges Israeli intelligence and CIA-linked actors were involved in the JFK assassination (unsupported).
- Johnson claims Iran destroyed 19 radar and satellite communications systems used by the US (unsupported).
- Johnson says US forces have already been evacuated from a base in Jordan and moved to Israel (unsupported).
- Johnson predicts Iran will strike Israel and may target refinery infrastructure, affecting fuel supplies for military operations (prediction).
- Nawfal relays public reporting on increased US deployments (communications, electronic warfare and bombers) and discusses bunker-buster delivery platforms.
- Johnson rejects Rubio’s claim that Iran is “begging” for a deal and argues US actions have undermined negotiations.