BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF - Blackwater Worldwide

Posted by BW Actual on Jan 16th 2026

Iran

Though Pres. Trump seemed content to take Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's assurances that the regime would not execute protesters at face value, U.S. officials told the UN Security Council that "all options are on the table."
Regional powers - including Egypt, Israel, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia - have reportedly asked the U.S. not to strike Iran out of fears that a U.S. strike would stoke wider conflict and possibly trigger retaliation against their nations as U.S. allies in the region.
The NYT also pointed out that limited U.S. action against the regime could be counterproductive: "the chances are remote that anything short of a major offensive could topple Iran’s clerical rulers."

Venezuela

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed the U.S.'s first sale of Venezuelan oil and said it had raised $500 million - which is 30% more than it would've fetched for Venezuela a month ago, per Wright.
The proceeds were sent to U.S. bank accounts in Qatar - presumably to avoid creditor liens - and fresh cash infusions into the Venezuelan banking system suggest some of the funds have already been transferred onwards to Venezuela.
U.S. forces then seized a sixth Venezuela-linked tanker in Caribbean waters: the Guyanese-flagged Veronica. The vessel departed Venezuela empty in early January, but U.S. officials say it was previously used to flout sanctions - and thus eligible for seizure.
Separately, Venezuela's new president, Delcy Rodriguez, used her first State of the Union address to gently accuse the U.S. of using its "naval blockade" to limit Venezuela's options for selling its oil abroad. Rodriguez nonetheless still seems to be cooperating with U.S. demands overall, despite this complaint.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented Pres. Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal after a cordial but quick lunch together. Machado then spent more time meeting with U.S. senators from both parties.

Gaza

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal on Wednesday, but Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly discounted it as a "declarative move."
Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to stay tough on Hamas and downplay the significance - and permanence - of the ceasefire both sides agreed to.
As a result of Israel's unenthusiastic embrace of the peace deal, the technocratic committee established this week under the second phase of the ceasefire is likely to be hobbled from the start. Arab diplomats say Israel is blocking progress on several steps forward, including the formation of a civil service and police force for Gaza.

South Korea

A South Korean court sentenced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison over his brief declaration of martial law, which temporarily destabilized one of Asia's most solid democracies.
Five years is a relatively harsh sentence for this particular charge, which is one of the lighter charges against Yoon. He still faces a February verdict on more serious charges for which prosecutors have requested the death penalty.

Trade

The U.S. and Taiwan agreed to a trade deal in which Taiwan will invest $250 billion in U.S. semiconductors in return for a reduction in the U.S. tariff rate on Taiwanese goods from 20% to 15%. The island's top export - semiconductor chips - is exempt from these rates and subject to separate national security tariffs under Section 232 instead.