Part 2 Anti-Anti-Nazi Barbarian Hordes are Knocking Down ...

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So, for somebody like me who
was kind of gone for the last uh to four days, like what what did I what did I miss from your perspective? Nothing.
Right. So, we're back to we're back to where we were when I left, basically.
Well, look, uh, he issues these threats right before the markets close. Uh, I
think he's doing it kind of in a rage. I don't think necessarily there's a lot of thinking through. I mean, for instance,
there was this threat against Har Island as well. And then he ended up bombing,
but he only bombed the military facilities on the island, not the oil pipelines. To me, it it seems like a
pattern in which we're seeing how he's like trying to find some sort of an escalary option that will turn the
tables and turn the favor of the war back in the US's direction. and he throws something out there and then
folks around him essentially have to talk him down because reality is he does not have any escalatory options that do
not carry tremendous amount of risks and which the risk benefit ratio is just not a positive one for the US. If he had
taken out the oil installations on island, the Iranians would have blown up everything in the Persian Gulf in related to oil. And this was terrifying
for all of the uh other states in the region of course. And we saw that when the Israelis hit pars gas field, the Iranians went really really hard against
several different facilities in the region which has a tremendously negative impact on the energy markets. And what does that do to Trump? It pushes up gas
prices, oil prices, food prices in the US. And that reduces the time Trump has
to try to find um uh some sort of a move that turns the tables on the Iranians.
That turns the tables on the Iranians. The lower he keeps these energy prices,
the more time he has because once the oil prices go up and food prices go up in the US, that's when the pressure from his own base starts to actually get
real. Right now, it is not that particularly intense. So he needs to keep oil prices down and as a result almost all of his escalatory options
actually reduces the time that he has to turn the tables. And last week I was talking to Jeremy and Ma about how on a military level there's you know some
serious kind of asymmetric warfare going on that works to the advantage of uh Iran and we can talk about that later if
if we have time. But it also feels like that's the case economically as well.
Chapter : ‘De facto Sanctions Relief’ for Iran
So, let me put up this post of yours from from yesterday. Uh, you said, "An energy in energy industry insider in Iran tells me the following, and it is
stunning. Before the war, Iran pro produced just shy of million barrels of oil per day and sold it at $per
barrel minus an $discount." What is What is the $discount, by the way, for people?
sThis discount the Iranians have to pay because they're sanctioned. So in order to sell the oil, they have to offer these discounts and you know most of
that is going to the Chinese and the Chinese are making money off of the sanctions because they get the same oil but at a discount and so the is the market price then
the knock you know the knockoff bucks because they're sanctioned.
So [snorts] then then you say today it produces million barrels a day and sells it at the market price of with
only atodiscount. you say and this does not include uh prochemical sales that not only have increased but are now being sold to a larger set of customers compared to before the war. Moreover,
Iran is receiving payments through new mechanisms that bypass the UAE which were set up after the June war. In essence, and this is really important to
understand, Trump and Israel's war has ended up delivering Iran de facto sanctions relief. This this means that Iran is all the less incentivized to end
the war unless the agreement provides Iran with formal uh sanctions relief. So who who saw this coming?
Anyone who was paying attention.
Although this part I have to say I did not see this because I I don't follow the the energy markets closely enough.
Obviously I have no insights into what type of a mechanisms the Iranians have put in place quietly in order to be able
to circumvent not only sanctions but now also the UAE. Mindful of the fact that the UAE is just such an open ally of Israel at this point. By the way, I I got one thing wrong in those tweets,
although the context makes it clear, of course, I'm talking about exports, not production. The production is much higher. It's the exports. Uh, and just as a point of comparison,
exports is what matters because that's what you can is what matters. Exactly. And, uh, one point of comparison is that the Trump administration during the first term was
hoping to push down their sales or their exports to about to hoping that at that point that would cause the Iranian economy to completely crash.
they are now at twice that essentially as a result of these uh of this war. So essentially the war has become a de
facto sanctions relief for the Iranians in a way that really I think has caught the administration offguard because the administration really had no
preparations even for the fact that they would close the straits but that they would close the straits in such a way that they don't close it for everyone.
They actually control the straits. They export more themselves. They allow other countries, India, Pakistan, China,
Russia to be able to get through while they're stopping everyone else unless they negotiate with Thran and come to some sort of an agreement.
Treat, I want to ask you about that a bit because uh the other night, James Mattis, the former defense secretary in the first Trump administration, gave an
address and he actually mentioned uh this issue of ending the war from a US perspective with Iran and control of the straits. uh he said that this would
basically mean that Iran won the war and he also said that there's not really good options in his view of what the US can do at this point. Uh obviously
what's on the table what people discuss at the moment is there's some sort of negotiation with Iran where Iran would at this point extract significant
concessions if the war ended this way or some sort of amphibious landing on southern Iran or capture of Car Island
or other these ideas that have been floated. There's some some troop deployments which ostensibly could be used for that. What would be the
implications of Iran ending the war in control of the straight of form moves in the manner you described both for its relationship with the broader world but
also the other Gulf countries and do you think that that's a realistic possible outcome at this stage? I I don't I think
the more realistic outcome is that the United States would end up negotiating with Iran and the negotiations would put
an end to the war, but it would also open up the straits. It would be very difficult for the United States to just leave this in the manner that it is.
Because again, if the Trump administration just declares victory right now, the Iranians are not going to open up the streets and they're going to
continue to shoot at Israel. They're not done with this war because they need this war to end in such a manner so that it doesn't restart. That means two
things. One, they want the cost to be as high as possible for the United States and for Israel as well as for a lot of other countries to make sure that
everyone concludes this war was a mistake. It should never have been started and as a result it should never be restarted and that you know the end of the war does not end up becoming a
ceasefire that the US and Israel uses just to regroup, rearm and then relaunch the war. that is completely unacceptable
to the Iranians because frankly they can't survive if there's going to be a mowing of the lawn every six or eight months. They can't handle that. Um the
other thing that it means though is that they're not going to agree to ending the war unless they get some form of sanctions relief.
And this is not just because they have leverage. They do have leverage now and they're not going to give it up easily,
but it's also because of the first point. If they end up back in the previous status quo, not only are they
degraded, even though they've managed to establish some deterrence, nevertheless,
the the military, the country as a whole has taken a huge beating in this war.
There should be no doubt about that. But they're also then in a position in which their likelihood of getting some sanctions relief is even less. And as a
result, Iran will be in a state of continuous weakening. from their standpoint, and I think they're correct in this, if they get weaker, all that
does, it ensures that the US and Israel will strike again because it's precisely the perception of Iranian weakness that
led to this idea that there's an window of opportunity to attack Iran. So, they absolutely need that sanctions relief as
part of their deterrence against future attacks. So, I think there's going to have to end up being some form of a negotiation. I find it interesting that
the administration already even officially has lifted sanctions uh by lifting the sanctions on the oil that is
on the water because again the US is in greater need than anyone else of pushing down these old prices. So I think we're
salready kind of open up the door uh entering the territory of sanctions relief as part of ending this war. Will
it be difficult? Absolutely. It will not be easy. But the comparison that we have to keep in mind is that either you lift
some sanctions, you end this war or you continue this war. And if this war continues much further and we get [clears throat] to a point in which
Trump no longer can credibly declare victory to his own audience, all that means is that he no longer has the incentive to end the war because he
can't declare victory. So he's just going to continue go along with this and this will end up some sort of a lower intensity forever war which was be will
be the exact thing that will destroy his presidency and define his presidency.
Yeah, I want to ask you about that point because maybe it's my maybe it's a lack of imagination that I have from living
here in the United States. But it's very hard for me to envision a scenario in which Trump exits this war declaring
victory in such a way where the humiliation is just obvious and on the surface which would be for instance if
you know Iran retains control of the straight of Hormuz with sanctions lifted like even Trump's gift for propaganda
and public relations can't make that look like a victory. So what what is a
world in which Trump clearly loses it because it looks like he's either going into a forever war that destroys his
presidency and maybe the United States empire or he exits this in a humiliating fashion. What is the way to that you
could see that to exit this in a humiliating fashion that is on the surface less obviously humiliating?
So I I I think I may differ with you a little bit, Ryan. I I I have greater faith in that talent that you mentioned in his way of uh saying he can do it. [clears throat] Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Let me put it. I mean, we did a poll last week with the American Conservative and it showed that % of his um voters and we only pulled his own
voters would support him just ending the war and declaring victory. I think there's still another week, two weeks,
perhaps three weeks in which he has the ability of being able to declare a victory and his base will believe it,
which is what matters to him more than anything else. Right. Right.
Um and he can point to things. They definitely degraded the Iranian military. They definitely have destroyed a tremendous amount of things inside of
Iran. He can point to whatever number of people within the regime that they have killed.
um uh he can point to the fact that as part of the deal the Iranians will reopen the straits and he will make a big deal out of that even though of
course the straight was open before the war started. It only got closed because he started the war. Um and they will probably get something on the nuclear
front as well. It's probably not going to be as good as the offer they had in Geneva when Trump rejected it, but he'll probably get something on that front. So
I still think he has that ability to be able to point to a couple of things.
this goes on a couple of more weeks, I fear that he will lose that ability. And once he's lost that ability, then his incentive structures are completely
different. This is part of the reason I worry that the Iranians are going to overplay their hands. That they're going to take this too far to a point in which
Trump actually is not incentivized to end the war any longer because he can't declare a victory, not even to his own base. And I think that would be a huge
missed opportunity because then this very well may end up becoming um a lose-lose forever type of a military engagement.
Chapter : Iran’s Relationship w/ Gulf Arab States
You treat over the weekend there were some statements by Emirati officials which were very kind of pointed towards Iran uh I think referring to Iran as a
terrorist state and uh implying that the end goal of the war should be regime change. And there was also a Wall Street Journal story uh yesterday anonymously
sourced but uh suggesting that some of the Gulf Arab states may be on the verge of actually engaging in direct military
confrontation with Iran in retaliation for Iranian strikes on US military bases on their territory and so forth. Uh it's not clear if that's actually going to
come to pass, but something which there's been increasing discussion of.
How do you see this war changing the relationship between Iran and the Gulf Arab states? Because especially with the Emirati statement coming in public and
sort of being so aggressive, it seems like it's almost crossed the precipice that uh you know inevitably there will be a hostile relationship in the future
will be very challenging given how close they are and the size disparity. But what do you make of these developments visav the GCC states in Iran?
So look, a lot of the GCC states are very very angry at Iran and frankly understandably so. The Iranians struck
them very hard at the very opening phase of this war. I think most people expected that the Iranians would strike US bases in perhaps Abu Dhabi, perhaps
in Bahrain, not in all of them and certainly not uh Oman, although Oman has not received that much of an attack from the Iranians, but still has had some. Uh
so I I think there's an understandable anger on that side. there's more and more evidence that US bases actually have been used to a certain extent uh
[clears throat] in those territories against Iran. Now whether that came after the Iranians attacked or if it came from the outset is not clear to me
if it ended up coming more and more after the Iranians attacked and the Iranians have actually caused a self-fulfilling prophecy and actually pushing these countries in that
direction. I think the Iranians you know they did this because this was all existential for them from the outset. Um
and as a result all type of constraints were more or less lifted. Um it doesn't mean that there not some constraints
left. So for instance um if the Saudis enter the war I can see a scenario in which uh the Houthis will then enter the
war as well and that the reason why the Houthis have been kept out is as a leverage against the Saudis going back in. It will be a very very difficult
position uh for the the Saudis at that point. um if these Israelis or the American side strike at other
infrastructure critical infrastructure desalination for instance or these power grids there's a likelihood that the Iranians will strike it in those uh GCC
countries and they're far far more sensitive to this than the Iranians are both the power grids as well as the
desalination is um uh more vulnerable in those states even in Israel itself is actually that the power um infrastructure is more sensitive so
there's still a lot of extremely dangerous escalatory moves that both sides can make. And this is part of the reason I said going back to what I said
at the outset, Trump doesn't have any great escalatory options because whatever he does, the Iranians can do something that in many ways will be even more devastating. But at the end of it,
where will the GCC and Iran be? I think it will be very very tough for them.
You know, the there had been a warm-up in the relations. Uh that's probably going to be largely wiped out. There's going to be a split within the GCC. some
of the states are going to be of the view that at the end of the day geography is permanent. The US is going to leave the region. We have to find a
way to make some sort of a functioning relationship with Iran. Uh and we need to do one that has far more interdependence than the previous one
did because at the end of the day the vast majority of the investment by the GCC was actually in the containment of Iran through the United States rather
than in engagement. uh just look at the trade for instance or the fact that there was no investments coming from u the GCC states into Iran uh despite the
sound Iranian um normalization for instance but there will be others who at this point will just go you know and and uh invest even further in the American
security basket uh and hope that they can just uh balance Iran they're talking about turning themselves into the next Taiwan or the next South Korea. So I I
think at the end of the day the Iranians also have to be very careful. They have to look for some sort of a stable order after this that is acceptable to them,
acceptable to the GCC and acceptable to the United States. Otherwise, yes, they may have scored some significant points in this war, but the post-war situation
is going to be disastrous for them in many different ways. And treat a last question because I know you've got to run, but what are you hearing from
people inside Iran about the nature of the attack from Israel and the United States on uh Iranian both military and
civilian infrastructure? You know, what is what is taking the most uh punishment and and h how much do we know? Um and
what can we know about, you know, how hard they're getting hit there?
Yeah, look, they're getting hit very very hard. At the same time, Tehran is a massive city.
Um, so you can be in a part of Tehran and and not see any signs of that war except the sounds of course. Um, um,
whereas you can also be in other parts and you know, a friend of mine just told me that um there was an assassination
against a scientist in the building next to where his father lives. So, you know,
it's also very personal for a lot of people because it's really striking them very hard. One person I spoke to yesterday said that people are starting
to come to terms with the idea that this is going to be a long war. Earlier on there seemed to have been a bit of an hope at least an expectation that this
could come to a an end in a relatively quick fashion. But now the you know there tends to be a tendency in which
people are expecting this to actually go on for quite some time. This is part of the reason why a lot of people have gone back to Thran. A lot of people left despite the continuation of the war.
they're going back in because they expect this to be a long war and they're not going to be able to just be outside of uh their city, you know, do not be
able to work etc. for a long period of time.
Right. Well, treat Parsey uh analyst with the responsible institute for statecraftraft and also uh has his own substack now. Everybody sign up. Uh Tria
Parsy um thank you so much for Thank you so much for having me. Really appreciate it. Thanks, Tina.
[clears throat]
All right, that was uh Dr. Treata Parsy.
Again, check him out on Substack. Uh he's he often gets out there on Twitter,
but you know, who knows if uh how long that's going to last and whether whether you're going to be able to catch him there. So, if you wanted his stuff directly in your inbox, I highly highly
recommend going finding that Substack and um signing up for it. Um in in a in a little bit after we talk about um
Cuba, uh Sharif Abdal Kadus is going to uh join us to talk about um the
legendary reporter Hosam Shabbat um who was you know assassinated uh one one year ago today. Um and so I hope people
will um stick around for for that uh that remembrance and and that that honoring of him. Um but yeah, Muzz, uh
Chapter : Is Regime Change in Cuba Next?
once once uh Trump is done with Iran, or maybe he won't even wait until he's done with Iran. Um he's already talking about
regime change over in Cuba. You know, he he he said recently that he said, you know, I'm really on a roll. Venezuela,
Iran, Cuba, he's going to have the honor of doing Cuba. I was uh there from
Friday through uh Monday morning taking a look at um what the conditions are like on the ground there. I was able to
um get access to two two separate hospitals and we can we can talk about that in a moment. Um but the the the
conditions everywhere have are just deteriorating quite rapidly. People who had been there as recently as December
and January said that the said that it was noticeable, you know, how how rapidly things are things are collapsing there. And people who had been going there for many years had said, you know,
there, you know, obviously there's always been a struggle. Well, there's always been poverty, but the the depth of the hunger and despair and seeing
homeless people on the street uh was was something new kind of to the Cuban system since the US has gone now nearly
months and blocking the government um from importing oil. Uh meanwhile, and I I'll I'll throw this I'll throw this up.
Um it was amazing to come back and see what the American coverage of the trip had been. I see this. Here's uh from
Barry Weiss is the free press. Um Cuba's useless idiots. Viral content creators like Hassan and Ryan Grim were invited for a weekend in a blacked out
Cuba so they could preach the glories of La Revolion.
Um content creator. I suppose that's accurate. We're making content right
here, right, M? I mean, never really thought of myself as a viral content creator, but um
yeah, you know, the coverage that we've seen it it's kind of incredible in a way. Um you know, there's this horrifying blockade happening. Uh people
are dying. Yeah. And they it's being reduced to this sort of uh media culture war
issue. uh settling scores with no actual or very limited curiosity or interest in what's actually happening in Cuba uh as
a result of US policy specifically aimed at inflicting harm on the civilian population of Cuba to engender a collapse of the government and
potentially leading as a similar sanctions policy did in Iran uh to a military confrontation uh with Cuba
should they noted to US demands. So you actually went there and saw what was happening in the actual country that people are using as this uh sort of
symbol for you know something very trivial. Can you talk a bit about what you actually saw there? Because there's these blackouts. We've heard reports of uh food shortages, medical shortages.
What was actually taking place in Cuba from what you saw?
And so it's been since roughly the Venezuelan invasion that the US has blocked all oil from getting into Cuba
except it has in February it allowed private businesses to start importing um some some oil. The health system of
course famously is is government-run. Uh so that means that the the health system is unable to import oil. We blocked Russian tankers from getting there.
We've we've um put pressure on Mexico uh to stop them from sending oil to the island and of course we effectively took
over Venezuela and made sure that none of that oil um was getting in either.
Now the Cuba is up now to um because of the Chinese have been um helping with the development of um solar energy and I
interviewed uh one of the professors who kind of o has is overseeing the transition from fossil fuels uh to
renewable energy. She said you know they're up to you know significantly over % of electricity coming from solar power uh at this point and and growing rapidly. one of the, you know,
they were stalled for a long time, but they've had a kind of a breakout over the last couple of years and just in time. Um, because if they did not have
this solar to fall back on, I think the dystopian situation that we saw would be, you know, even that much worse. But
so on on Friday night there about a week ago, there had been a complete nationwide blackout and people would say, well, country, you know, million
Chapter : Blackouts in Cuba
plunged into darkness. It's actually people are saying closer to million now um because of the immense amount of kind of economic pressure being put on
the island and the Cuban government allows people to leave now where for a long very long time you had to kind of
sneak out. Um now if people want to uh expatriate they can you know they can do so and they're going to Paraguay and Uruguay and Brazil and Argentina, Chile,
Costa Rica and to to the United States.
Um and so they it took them about hours and they had the about a week ago and they brought power back. Then on
Friday night there was uh partial blackouts where you know most of Havana uh lost power and I was walking around
uh the city with uh uh Liz Oliva Her Fernandez a reporter for uh US news organization Belly of the Beast. She's
Cuban based in Cuba. uh and and we walked past several hospitals which maintained their power as well as the
homes that were surrounding the hospital compounds and in Cuba because they're so you know serious about their health care system it's often times it's not just a
hospital it's a hospital plus a compound around it uh because they have the more of a holistic kind of approach to health care and she she was saying that the
people who live right next to hospitals now have found themselves in U quite privileged position because
they're protected in the event of of blackouts. People didn't know, you know,
when when they're moving next to a hospital that things would get so bad that this would actually end up being a privileged position. But if you have a
family member or you or you yourself live right next to a hospital, you keep power. So people will then go to their homes if they need to charge their
phones or charge their, you know, they if if they need access um to energy.
That's in the event of a partial blackout. In the event of a complete total grid collapse, then the then nothing can nothing can be protected by
the grid. The grid is designed to to um protect hospitals and hotels, but hospitals first and then hotels second
as the last resort. So, um but but if the entire grid goes down, then generators kick in. And so, and I'll
play this video in a moment. We at the uh we went to on Sunday. So on so Saturday night there's a complete and total blackout at around at night.
The entire country of Cuba. All p all power goes out. Uh it it started kicking back in. Uh it's I just saw a news alert
that it's now back like for the whole island which is impressive like that it know this is you know a complete and
total collapse. Takes a while to to get back but first they turn it back on for the hospitals. So it went out at
Um, I went with a couple of other journalists to um, William Solair Pediatric Hospital in Havana on Sunday
morning and at around a.m. power power kicked back on for them. In between that, they had their uh, they
had their generator running and so they were out for almost uh, they they said it was around hours. Um, and they
knew they had at least hours of generator capacity, but they weren't sure how much beyond that. And as they get lower, then they reach out to the
the ministry uh you know of energy and minds to say look we're we're getting desperately low you know and and the
government prioritizes refilling the the hospital generators but crucially the nurses and doctors have told us there's
Chapter : How Cuban Hospitals Cope
a there's a time between when the power goes down from the grid and the generator kicks in
that can be anywhere from a couple of s to four, five, six, seven uh there you you you never you never exactly know how long it's going to take to completely power back up that moment.
one one doctor Ali Fernandez who will be in the video that I showed he said that moment causes like he's going to be the one that needs treatment because of the
heart attack that he keeps getting when that happens because you have people in various states of you know critical need
of medical attention some of them on ventilators and that if if it's four or five s
between the grid going down and the generator kicking in that can be the difference between life and death for somebody who's on a ventilator. And so
the and the he and the nurses were describing this like foot race like you see the power go out. You you know you
instantly turn on your your cell phone light and then you and then and you sprint to the ventilators uh open up the side compartment and let me put this up.
Uh and then you start hand pumping uh until until the power comes on. It's
it's it's tricky because you know, the the measure the measurement um the measurements have
also gone down. And so, you know, you're talking about a baby that's just a few pounds. Uh and you're and you have to try to calibrate while you're, you know,
under this enormous amount of stress,
you know, how much you're how much to pump. You you don't want to pump too much. You don't want to pump too little. So, here's here's one of the babies.
This is a This is a little boy named uh Eric who's only uh a few months old. Um and this is uh this is Dr. Fernandez and
he's he's describing he's showing us so you kind of lift up the side of the the ventilator there and he's pointing
there to the to the hand pump which which you can see. But you'd have to have know your phone out in one hand so
that you or or your colleague has a phone out shining the light on it so you make sure you find the hand pump. You
also of course want to keep keep a light that's that's Liz Olivo right there. You also of course want to keep a light on
the on the baby as well to make make sure that they're um doing okay. Um, we
also met um a a a nine-year-old who um has brain hemorrhaging and his mother was there with him all night. Uh, she
described um uh she described the situation as less stressful because she had seen the
nurses do it the week before and she knew how competent they were. And also that boy's ventilator luckily um has a
battery. Now the the the monitor that was connected to it did not have a battery. So that went down, but the ventilators kept going because the the
battery uh worked. Um Eric's ventilator there does not have a working battery.
Most of these ventilators are more than years old because of the embargo and because of the inability of the uh
government to be able to import kind of new medical devices. most of what they have is um you know donated stuff that was going to get trashed by a hospital
somewhere else in the world or is a remnant of when there were you know moments of liberalization between the US
and Cuba where they would allow some some devices um to get through. Um I see that I see Sharief is in the waiting room. We can uh uh we can invite him in.
Don't want to make him just hang out in in the back there. But so yeah, I'm as you as you're you as you were uh
watching your you're thinking about that and what what do you think people are still curious about from from like what I saw there?
You know, and I want to be quick so let Sharief get to the very important next topic. But uh very quickly, you know,
from what you saw in Cuba and your discussions you've had and so forth, they're under this tremendous pressure.
What is what the prospects for what what is this developing towards? Is there a prospect of an agreement that would end the blockade and result in some sort of
normalization of ties with the US and Cuba? Is the Cuban government planning to resist? Is there a prospect of resisting and so forth? How do you
foresee this playing out? Because several months into this absolutely crushing blockade.
Uh what how how might this end? You know, I frankly don't know how they would resist if they sent in Delta Force
Chapter : What’s Next for Cuba?
and helicopters and, you know, the the full might of the American military. They have said that they will resist.
They've said that, you know, we have a history of. Now, I think o over time I think it it would be very difficult for the US to, you know, occupy in an old
school kind of fashion Cuba. Um but I think that you know in the initial stages um I don't know I don't know how
they could put up you know a significant fight against such completely mismatched military also people there are are very
very frustrated at at the government as well and also if you like if if you're there like and and c and Cubans for
across the board seem to like very much intellectually understand that the US blocking oil from getting in is the you
know playing the lead role in the complete deterioration over the past several months and the US blockade over decades plays a role. But like anybody,
you know, the government is the one that is closest to them and you're going to take out a lot of your anger at the at
the government um itself. And so I can't imag like it'd be very difficult for them to marshall I think you know massive resistance to a US invasion. Um,
but what that would look like over time, I think, you know, is is is hard to say.
I don't see how the US, you know, does a long-term occupation. But where this goes is anybody's guess because if you
what we saw was dystopian, but not stable either. I deterior deteriorating like I think we're what we saw is on the
downward slope like and it can get it can get significantly worse. Uh you know if if people are you know are accurately
describing how things have gotten so much worse from just from December January to now March if they continue to
stop allowing oil in and there's no energy around the island. There's no telling, you know, how how um how how how how much worse things can get.
It's just no, it's just no way to live.
Like they can't they don't have the they don't have the fuel to pick up the trash. They can't keep they can't keep the lights on. Um they can barely keep
the hospitals powered. like that it's it's difficult to like and what can you do out you know what can you even do in
that in that case um know that would that'll take the what remains of the tourism industry which the US has um has
punished you know in a in a in a big way basically make it made it very difficult for Americans to go over and do tourism but what they did is they they
implemented a rule that says if Europeans go to Cuba they lose the visa-free travel that they have from
Europe to the United States. So, putting this really high cost because if you're a European who would be vacationing in Cuba, you're probably
also the kind of European that likes to vacation in the United States as well.
And so they made it not impossible, but like if you're a European in that situation, you're like, well, I guess I'll just go to Aruba or some, you know,
somewhere else where because it's a real pain for a European to lose their visa-free travel status um to the United States. So they've, you know, they
they've cut out um cut the legs out from under the the key sources of of currency, which are, you know, tourism,
oil. oil was coming in and they would sell some they use a lot of that sell a lot of that abroad to uh enhance foreign
currency and also um the doctor pro doctor's programs around the world. The US has put a lot of pressure on
countries to kick Cuban doctors out um and send and send them back um that was also a source of some currency as well.
So there's basically nothing there. Uh,
and so there's no there's no obvious like opposition. There's no opposition party.
There's no opposition movement. Um, all the opponents are in Miami. Um, so it's not as if there's going to be kind of some organized,
you know, Cubanled regime change on the island. Um, but does the government just collapse?
What? Like that doesn't make sense either. like somebody has to be [snorts]
the one who's going to make the call of like, oh, this hospital needs gas for their generator or we're going to send
engineers to this part to try to get the grid up. Like what? It's unclear what the incentive would be to like topple that for regular Cubans at this point.
So, it it's really a total mystery what you know where this where this goes.
This is unsustainable. like this is going to lead to um death and and uh and
despair on you know on a mass scale if it's allowed to continue even even for a
few more weeks let alone kind of months and god knows years like the Cubans I was talking to were saying this you your guy has three years left
we can't make three years like we don't have we don't have three years of this yeah it's unbelievable it's unbelievable Yeah.
Should we bring Sharif on?
Yeah. So, Sharief um yeah, let's let's bring Sharief back in. Um thank you uh you know so much for taking um some time
to do this. Uh you know, we wanted to take a moment to honor the the life and work of of Hassam Shabbat. Um uh is is
there you and I would encourage everybody to you know go to drop site and read um read the piece that we have
up up there today. Uh how how would you like to start? Um yeah, I just want to remember him.
You know, he was Hamm Shabet was um assassinated one year ago today um in Beta as he was driving in his car. Uh a
Chapter : Remembering Hossam Shabbat w/ Sharif Abdel Kouddous
drone strike targeted him. Um his legs were were blown off his body and he was
killed. um and he was uh repeatedly targeted and repeatedly threatened by
the Israeli military. They basically uh said that they were going to kill him and they did. Uh and the day the next
day after his assassination uh they posted online bragging uh about
his killing and saying don't let the press vest fool you. Hussein was a terrorist. Um, and so this was the level
of impunity that Israel enjoyed in murdering journalists in Gaza because they paid absolutely no price uh for uh
you know now it's over journalists killed and so they're able to uh not only preemptively uh basically say that they're going to kill this journalist
but kill him and then brag about it. Um but Husse was you know a very well-known face in in Kaza. He was a correspondent
for Al Jazer Moves and uh starting in November of he was a contributor
for Dropsite News. Uh contacted him and he was very excited uh to um begin writing for for Dropsite. He said, "I
have so many ideas and stories." Um he was a one of a handful of journalists uh in Gaza that never left the north uh
throughout um the entire genocide. Uh if you remember, one week after the genocide began in October th, um
there was a decree by Israel for all of the million people in the north to flee to the south. Uh and many many people did uh and many journalists did,
but people like Husam Shabet Sharif Abdul Khad Sabah who still is a contributor for dropite news never left
the north. And this was where there was a really um scorched earth killing campaign by Israel. Um and along with
that um journalists were being increasingly targeted and there was um something called the general's plan in
the fall of which was a very brutal uh ethnic cleansing campaign in the very
north of Gaza in Baha and Bhanun and Jabalia. Um and there was only a few journalists there covering it. Hus one
of them. And it was at this time that Israel uh for the first time put six journalists all of them uh with Al
Jazzer uh essentially on a hit list um saying that they were terrorists that they were not journalists that they were
militants and basically saying that they were going to kill them. Um so this was the first time we saw I mean there was kind of a progression of the way the Israeli military would kill journalists.
I mean, we're watching video now. That's Husse with Anastas Sharif, his good friend Sharif, very prominent Al Jazzer correspondent who was killed on August
th um along with five other journalists uh in a strike on Gaza City as they were in a media tent. Um but um
you know in the beginning we saw kind of Israel they would kill a journalist they would either say it wasn't them or they would say it was a mistake that this was
part of collateral damage uh that it wasn't deliberate uh increasingly as we saw that there was uh
no accountability and um the US and and other western backers were allowing this to happen and pretty bad uh coverage by
legacy media of the killing of their colleagues colleagues in Palestine. We saw them then for example say that after the journalist was killed, they would
say that this wasn't a journalist, this was a militant. Um we saw this in the case of Isl
who was killed in August of in an air strike that decapitated him. Um
afterwards the Israeli military said he had received a military ranking from Hames uh I believe in something like that. Mhm.
Um is my was years old at the time.
I mean that's those are the kinds of statements that they're giving.
Um then they then they kind of progressed to this you know basically creating a hit list and so they put these six journalists on the hit list.
Ham was one of them and at the time Hussein said he felt like he was being hunted. Um you know
and Husse of course like all the other journalists was suffering all the things of the people he was covering. Um he was displaced. He told me he was displaced
times. He was exhausted. Uh he was very hungry. He didn't have enough food.
Um he hadn't seen his family. He was the only one of member of his family who stayed in the north. He hadn't seen his family for over days before the the
January ceasefire in the first or the second ceasefire.
Um and he was injured in an Israeli air strike. and he was repeatedly called on his phone by Israeli military officials
threatening him, telling him to go south and he would not go south. He kept telling them, "I'm going to continue reporting." And he did so. Um, and then
yeah, on the on [clears throat] uh March uh rd,
well, it was th for him. It was it was nighttime uh New York time. uh he was messaging with me. Um we had agreed he
would file a story about uh the bombing campaign that had hit uh Bet Hanun a
week earlier after Israel abandoned the ceasefire and resumed its kind of scorched earth genocidal campaign. And so he was writing to me. He said,
"Hhabibi, I miss you. We hadn't messaged in a while." And he sent his uh his
article. Um, you know, I looked it over very quickly and he said, "When's it going up?" He was always very eager to get things published. And I said, "Uh, I need to translate it. I need to edit it.
You know, please just give me some time. I need to go to sleep." And he's joking.
He's like, "I'm going to post it online on Twitter." I said, "Come on, just leave some for drop sites." And he said,
"I'm just kidding with you. I'll put it up." And he was always kind of maintaining this warm and funny attitude despite all of the uh deaths around him.
And uh I sent him a couple of questions that evening. He answered one. Um and then I went to bed and I woke up and
messaged him again and I didn't know that he had been killed. um you know and uh
just um yeah it was very you know obviously shocking and thinking that you know the phone is going off on in on on
his phone in you know maybe the pocket of his legs that aren't attached to his body anymore. Um but then you know hours
later uh I get a message from the same number uh on my WhatsApp.
Uh and it was very shocking to see that alert come up but it said you know Allah may go have mercy on him or mercy on his
soul. Uh and I said Allah who is this and it was his brother Wasam who had taken [clears throat] his phone and seen that we had just exchanged messages. Um,
Wasam is also a journalist and I just want to read what he posted today um on online in a social media post. He said,
"Today marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of my brother, the journalist Hassam Shabbet. He always stood in the face of the enemy with his camera and his free voice, fearing none but God,
bearing witness to the truth until his very last moment." My brother, I lost you before my eyes and I was helpless,
unable to do anything. That moment still lives with me every single day. You were martyed for the sake of truth because
you spoke what had to be said and revealed what they tried to hide. The occupation does not accept the voice of
truth, but it can never silence it. Your words will remain alive and your voice will stay with us. It will never die. May God have mercy on you, my brother,
and grant you the highest place in paradise. You are a hero and you always will be. And those are the words of his brother. And um yeah, we uh you know,
Hassam, like many journalists in Gaza,
um which is almost, you know, kind of very difficult to comprehend, kind of knew that he was going to be killed almost. I mean, he's being openly
threatened. Um and this is not an enemy that you can see. This is just going to be an air strike. And so, can you imagine there's air strikes falling all
around. You don't know which one is coming for you. and to somehow maintain um the strength and the ability to continue to report every day is really incomprehensible.
Chapter : Hossam’s Last Letter
Um but like other journalists he wrote a letter uh to be published in the event of his death. Um and Sharif did this as
well and uh you know it's a very moving letter and I encourage everyone to read it. Um, at the end, his last words of the letter, well, he begins by saying,
"If you're reading this, it means I've been killed, most likely targeted by the Israeli occupation forces." And then he ends with these words. I ask you now, do
not do not stop speaking about Gaza. Do not let the world look away. Keep fighting. Keep telling our stories until Palestine is free.
And so I think it's up to all of us to not let the world look away and not let the world forget Husse
can you talk a little bit about um his his dreams for the for the rest of his life. this was a very young man. Um,
despite his his prominence, the the talent and the grace, you know, he he may have kind of given off the
impression of somebody older and more and, you know, long longer um into his career than than he truly was.
Can you talk a little bit about what he saw for himself um if he had managed to
escape the Israeli assassination attempts?
You know, we we we didn't speak that much about um life after genocide uh
because it was so overwhelming and we're just trying to I think cope with what's happening. Um he he was very young. So
Chapter : Palestinian War Correspondents
was Anastas Sharif. You know, Anis Sharif who had not been a correspondent before. [clears throat] Uh he would he was a producer and he did a couple of
like kind of live shots but unlike Abu Bakr Abad, another drop site contributor. He was a sports journalist.
Um other journalists were like wedding photographers uh like MZ. So you know Mo, sorry. So a lot of these journalists
um were forced to become these war correspondents. Um, Fam had some experience but not much. But he very
quickly emerged as a very clear um he he had a gift. He had a gift of of of reporting online, reporting on camera.
He was just so incredibly brave. um to just kind of every single day uh report,
be on the front line, uh speak with people, and to be able to um continue doing this in the face of such violence
and such death. Uh and to bury so many of your colleagues uh along the way. Um
I knew he loved journalism. Uh he was very excited about it. he um
was excited about the difference between print and you know and TV journalism and uh I would often you know there's always a seesaw back and forth between an
editor and and a jour and a reporter on the ground and so I'm asking him questions and I'm following up and he's asking me why am I asking these questions and I'm explaining things and
double sourcing and and he was kind of very eager to to to learn um um and always very eager to publish do. Um,
but you know, at some point there was an airirst strike in December uh of that killed five journalists
uh I think uh in northern Gaza and I messaged him just to check in on him and you know he he messaged back he said uh
I've come to hate this job um the world doesn't care about us. I forgot the exact quote, but he basically said um
you know we all now just call each other martyrs and saying who's going to be next and it doesn't seem like anyone cares.
So I think he rightly felt that he had they had been abandoned by the world uh because this kept happening and it was
being bragged about and openly talked about by Israel and it just wasn't stopping. um and he's ultimately
assassinated himself. And I think it's shameful uh the way that you know a lot of legacy media covered these these
killings. Uh the New York Times in the coverage of Hussein, it was buried in a larger article and you know some sub
paragraph just to mention um but you know this is a an established journalist who is openly assassinated.
It's pretty it's a pretty big should be a pretty big story.
Um and we saw the same also with the the killing of Anes Sharif who was probably the most well-known face at that point
and one of her even he was part of a willing team for Reuters because he took a photograph of
this massive double air strike in Jabalia. Um, and part of the submission was his photo and the way Reuters
covered his assassination, also an assassination where Israel admitted it the next day and said, you know, I think they may have used exactly the same term, don't let the press best fool you.
Um, they frontloaded the Israeli claims of him being some Hames commander um, in
the headline and in the lead. Um, really really disappointing. Really disappointing. And
just abandoning really I think uh these journalists. This is not the way they we know that you know the these legacy
media outlets can can be outraged uh and we've we saw it in their outrage over the unjust jailing of Wall Street
Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich um by Russia.
And you know, a lot of journalists and a lot of the headlines, if you go back and read them, will say unequivocally, you know, these are trumped up charges of spying that he's imprisoned on. There's no equivocation whatsoever.
Um, and it's good journalism actually covering their colleague. But when it comes to these Palestinian journalists in Gaza,
uh, no, the Israeli military's claims which are not substantiated by any press watchdog group or by the UN or by
credible or even if you look at the claims, they're ridiculous.
um they're [snorts] given they're given that kind of weight. They're like well says this and Al Jazer you know their
employer says this and and it kind of gives does that he said she said thing.
So that also I would say enabled this killing to continue because there's no
uh cost paid by your western backers but there's also no um and part of that reason is because the coverage is
allowing for that to continue um as well. There's no cost paid either in kind of like reputation,
right? Um, so, so yes, I you know, and uh I can't believe it's already been a year and journalists continue to be
killed. I think the last uh there was journalist killed just last week in Gaza or maybe two weeks ago and so this continues to happen.
Um I would just yeah finally say just uh we've compiled uh Hamm's articles on drop sites just on a page uh today and
people can go check them out and uh read his his his reports and I encourage everyone to do that.
Yeah, thanks thanks so much Sharief. You know we we really appreciate this. Thank you.
All right. All right. That was uh Sharifa Abdel Kadus uh my colleague Martaza Hussein. Uh I'm I'm Ryan Grim.
Chapter : Closing: Ryan
On behalf of all of my uh colleagues here, thank you so much for joining us today on our Tuesday morning live stream.

[admin]

Watch Terrifying moment Hezbollah missile struck IDF base filled with soldiers - OPTM
OPTM
Mar 25, 2026

[admin]

Iraq Declares War On U.S? Angry Baghdad Summons Trump Envoy, Declares ‘Right to Respond’ If Attacked
Times Of India
Mar 25, 2026 #IraqCrisis #PMFAttack #MiddleEastConflict

Iraq is facing a dangerous escalation after deadly attacks targeted pro-Iran militias, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). At least seven soldiers were killed, with dozens more wounded, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to summon the U.S. envoy and declare violations of Iraq’s sovereignty. Strikes have hit sites across Anbar province and near Erbil, while Kurdish officials accuse Iran of missile attacks in their region. The Iraqi National Security Council has called the assaults acts of aggression and plans to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council. With Baghdad granting its forces and the PMF the “right to respond,” retaliation could trigger a wider regional conflict involving the US, Iran, and Israel.



Transcript

And in light of the unjustified attacks and the grave violations of Iraqi sovereignty as well as the targeting of
official security apparatus headquarters, the council has decided the following. Firstly, confronting and actively countering military aggression,
specifically those executed by warplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles, drones which target the official headquarters and security formations of the popular
mobilization forces along with other components of our armed forces. This will be done using all available means in accordance with the fundamental
principle of the right to respond and self-defense.
Secondly, the pursuit of those who participate in attacks against security institutions, the interests of citizens
and diplomatic missions, identifying the parties to which they belong, taking the necessary legal measures and executing arrest warrants issued by the judiciary.
The leadership will bear the full weight of responsibility for any delays or dereliction of duty. And it must be
stressed that no individual is beyond the reach of legal enforcement.
In a region already on edge, Iraq is now at the center of a new and dangerous escalation. A deadly strike on a
military site linked to pro-Iran militias has triggered outrage in Baghdad, raising fresh fears that the
Middle East could be sliding towards a broader confrontation.
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Soudani has moved swiftly,
instructing the country's foreign ministry to summon the United States envoy. The message is clear. Baghdad sees this not as an isolated incident,
but as a violation of its sovereignty. According to Iraq's Defense Ministry,
the strike targeted a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces or PMF.
At least seven soldiers were killed and more than a dozen wounded. Earlier reports suggest the toll may be even
higher, including senior commanders. The prime minister and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, his excellency Mr.
Muhammad Shia al-Soududani on Tuesday presided over an emergency meeting of the ministerial council for national security. The meeting thoroughly
reviewed the latest developments of the ongoing war and the military operations currently taking place across the region along with their significant repercussions and potential impacts on
Iraq. is he affirmed that the state say u with its authorities and according to
the constitution is the sole possessor of the decision of war and peace. It will not allow any party or individual to usurp this right and will take legal
action against any entity that acts contrary to that. The meeting reiterated the government's unwavering position concerning fundamental principles and
its rejection of aggression and any targeting of the sovereignty of nations as well as threats to alter their systems of governance and undermine
their national capabilities with an emphasis on a balanced policy of establishing the best possible relations
with its regional and international surroundings and keeping Iraq from being drawn into the hot beds of conflicts and wars. Are the meeting emphasized that
the security agencies are fulfilling their national duties in maintaining security and stability in accordance
with the constitution and law including the popular mobilization forces which constitute a fundamental pillar of our
national security system. It is therefore incumbent upon everyone to ensure the protection of the personnel belonging to this security apparatus and
to prevent any entity or individual operating within this body from acting beyond the confines of the law. And in light of the unjustified attacks and the
grave violations of Iraqi sovereignty as well as the targeting of official security apparatus headquarters, the council has decided the following.
Firstly, confronting and actively countering military aggression,
specifically those executed by warplanes and unmanned aerial vehicles, drones which target the official headquarters and security formations of the popular
mobilization forces along with other components of our armed forces. This will be done using all available means in accordance with the fundamental
principle of the right to respond and self-defense.
Secondly, the pursuit of those who participate in attacks against security institutions, the interests of citizens
and diplomatic missions, identifying the parties to which they belong, taking the necessary legal measures, and executing arrest warrants issued by the judiciary.
The leadership will bear the full weight of responsibility for any delays or dereliction of duty. and it must be
stressed that no individual is beyond the reach of legal enforcement. Thirdly,
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will adopt the specific arrangements required to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council regarding any instance of aggression and
all its subsequent consequences, calling for its immediate cessation and unequivocal condemnation, and will proceed to summon both the American Shajay Defair and the Iranian
ambassador. to deliver to them an official protest note regarding the attacks that targeted the popular mobilization forces headquarters in
Ambar province and other areas and the Peshmerga headquarters in Abil of the Kadistan region of Iraq.
The PMF is no ordinary militia formed during Iraq's war against the Islamic State. It is now officially part of the
country's security apparatus. But within it are powerful Iran aligned factions,
including groups long accused by Washington of targeting American interests in the region.
Iraqi authorities say the attacks did not stop there. Additional strikes reportedly hit sites in Anbar province
and even near Herbiel, the capital of the Kurdish region. At the same time,
Kurdish officials have accused Iran of launching ballistic missile attacks,
killing civilians and security personnel. Iraq's National Security Council has responded with strong
language, calling the attacks acts of aggression. Baghdad now plans to take its complaint to the United Nations
Security Council, signaling that this crisis is no longer just regional. It has global implications.
More significantly, Al Jazera reported Iraq has given its armed forces and the PMF the right to respond. That single phrase could mark a turning point.
Retaliation, if it comes, risks setting off a chain reaction in an already fragile security environment.
This escalation comes against the backdrop of a wider conflict linked to ongoing tensions involving the United
States, Israel, and Iran. Since late February, the region has seen a series of strikes, counter strikes, and
warnings. For Iraq, the stakes are particularly high. The country has spent years trying to rebuild stability after
decades of war and insurgency. Now it risks becoming a battleground once again, caught between powerful allies and adversaries.
News never stops. The world keeps turning and every turn tells a story.
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While everyone is celebrating the US China trade tour, Trump has been quietly doing something else across Asia.
Were once home to the ancient Silk Road connecting east and west?
But who's connecting the dots? Who's decoding the global storm? Welcome to Times of India videos.
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'STATUE OF LIBERTY BOMBED': Iran Drops Shock Missile Attack Video; Vows ‘Revenge’ in AI Clip
Times Of India
Mar 25, 2026 #AIVideo #IranUSTensions #ViralClip

A chilling AI-generated video has gone viral online, reportedly linked to Iranian media, sparking strong global reactions amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. Titled “One vengeance for all,” the clip weaves together haunting visuals from historical tragedies and modern conflict zones, highlighting the human cost of war. It moves through symbolic references to Hiroshima, Vietnam, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gaza, before introducing controversial elements tied to powerful figures. The narrative then shifts to Iran, underscoring civilian suffering, and builds toward a dramatic climax featuring the destruction of a reimagined Statue of Liberty. The video uses stark imagery and political symbolism to convey a message of retaliation and perceived injustice.



Transcript

A chilling new AI generated video has surfaced online reportedly released by Iranian media showing the bombing of the
iconic Statue of Liberty titled One Vengeance for All. The clip has quickly gone viral across social media
platforms, triggering strong reactions worldwide amid ongoing escalation between Iran and the United States.
The video opens with haunting visuals of indigenous lands in North America before shifting to the ruins of Hiroshima. A young child stands amid devastation,
evoking the deadly consequences of the US nuclear attack during World War II.
The montage moves seamlessly from one conflict to another, tracing the human cost of American military involvement in
Vietnam, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gaza.
In each scene, the subjects look up to the sky as if anticipating the next act of retaliation.
In a controversial twist, the video briefly references Epstein Island,
showing the young girl in the shadows of the private estate tied to Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting connections to high-profile US figures.
This adds a layer of political and moral commentary linking the video's narrative of suffering to contemporary scandals and allegations against US elites.
The montage then shifts focus to Iran. A solemn scene in Manab shows a school girl standing in a courtyard. The
Iranian flag behind her. This image references a deadly strike on a girl school in the city reportedly carried
out with tomahawk missiles, highlighting civilian casualties and reinforcing the video's theme of perceived injustices against Iran.
The final sequence delivers the most dramatic imagery. A missile arcs across the sky in a POV shot, cutting through
clouds before striking a modified Statue of Liberty. The statue's head has been replaced with that of Baal, an ancient
deity associated with false worship and moral corruption. The missile strikes, shattering the symbol into pieces,
underscoring the video's central message, revenge and retribution against perceived global injustices.
The video comes amid escalating military tensions. On Wednesday, Iran reportedly launched a cruise missile toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier,
further straining efforts to deescalate conflicts in the Middle East. Also,
hours earlier, Iran also launched missile strikes at Israeli nuclear town Deona.
A massive explosion rocked southern Israel near Israel's nuclear town amid escalating tensions. This followed reports of a missile strike near Dimona,
an area closely associated with one of Israel's most sensitive nuclear facilities.
Dramatic visuals circulating online show a powerful blast lighting up the night sky over the Negev Desert. What makes
this strike particularly significant is its proximity to the Shimon Perez Negev Nuclear Research Center. A site widely
believed to be at the core of Israel's nuclear program. Though officially described as a research facility
located deep in the Negv desert, the Deona complex is among the most heavily guarded and strategically sensitive
locations in Israel. Any strike in its vicinity is bound to raise alarm, not just within the country, but across the region.
This is not the first time Deamona, or what is often referred to as Israel's nuclear town, has come under threat.
Iranian forces had targeted the area just last week as well, pointing to a possible pattern rather than a one-off attack.
The timing of this strike is equally crucial. It comes amid reports that Iran's key nuclear facility at Natan's
nuclear facility was hit again in a suspected USIsraeli air strike. Thrron has strongly condemned that attack,
calling it criminal and vowing consequences. The latest missile launch towards southern Israel may now be seen as part of that response.
This is no longer retaliation. This is escalation on a scale not seen before.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced the th wave of Operation True Promise an operation that has
already seen dozens of coordinated missile and drone barges across the region. And now the targets are some of
Israel's most sensitive. Deona, Tel Aviv, AOT, but this time the battlefield
is expanding. The strikes are no longer confined to Israel. Multiple US military bases across the region have also come
under fire, signaling a widening conflict with no clear limits.
In its latest statement, the IRGC describes this phase as a turning point,
a moment where missiles rained down across multiple fronts. The weapons deployed include advanced IMOD missile
systems and multi-warhead Cotter missile platforms alongside coordinated drone attacks.
According to the IRGC, these strikes hit key locations in AOT, northern Tel Aviv,
and most notably Deona, a city that carries immense strategic weight.
Because near Deamona lies one of Israel's most sensitive facilities, its nuclear reactor zone. And this is not the first time it has been hit.
Just days ago, a previous strike on Deona and nearby Arad reportedly caused over casualties, sending shock waves across the region.
Now, the IRGC says it has struck again,
calling this latest phase a distinct record in the timeline of the war. A claim that signals both confidence and
escalation. But the message is not just military. It is also political.
The IRGC says millions of Iranians have taken to the streets in mass rallies,
showing what it calls unwavering national support, a signal that the conflict is not just being fought on the battlefield, but also in the streets.
And then comes the warning.
The IRGC says it is engaging its adversaries through what it calls impactdriven operations, a phrase that
suggests calibrated but increasingly powerful strikes. And there is more.
According to the statement, a significant portion of Iran's combat forces have not yet been deployed,
including units of the Besiege Volunteer Force. The implication is clear. What has been seen so far may not be the full
force, and if those forces enter the battlefield, the conflict could intensify dramatically. The IRGC warns
that any attempt by its adversaries to change the course of the war will be met with immediate retaliation, a heavy blow delivered in less than an instant,
targeting not just those on the battlefield, but also planners and supporters. This is escalation by
doctrine, a strategy designed to deter by demonstrating capability.
Operation True Promise began after what Iran describes as unprovoked aggression by the United States and
Israel. Since then, wave after wave of strikes have followed, now reaching at least waves, ballistic missiles,
hypersonic systems, and drones deployed across a widening battlefield. The question now is not whether this conflict is escalating. It already has.
The real question is how far it will go.
Because with each wave, the stakes are getting higher.

[admin]

ON CAM: Iran's Advanced New Weapon Shoots Down US F-18 Fighter Jet Over Chabahar Port? Big Claim
Times Of India
Mar 25, 2026 #iranisraelwar #iran #unitedstates

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a U.S. F-18 fighter jet crashed into the Indian Ocean after being struck by what it described as a “new advanced air defense network” over Chabahar in Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to Iranian statements, the aircraft was engaged during ongoing hostilities and went down at sea following the hit. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim so far, and U.S. officials have not responded publicly. Similar claims made by the IRGC in recent weeks have often been disputed or remained unverified.



Transcript

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that a US F-fighter jet crashed into the Indian Ocean after
being struck by what it described as a new advanced air defense network over Chabahar in Siston and Baluchistan province.
According to Iranian statements, the aircraft was engaged during ongoing hostilities and went down at sea following the hit.
However, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim so far, and US officials have not responded publicly.
Similar claims made by the IRGC in recent weeks have often been disputed or remained unverified.
The American military has lost several fighter aircraft in the Middle East during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Earlier this month, Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three fighter jets in what the US described as friendly fire. The US
military has also lost several high-end drones over Iran during the war, and Thrron says its air defenses had shot them down in the country's skies.
Stay too high.
Iran has warned the United States against deployment of ground troops in the Middle East. Iran's parliament
speaker Muhammad Bager Galibbah has said that Thran was closely monitoring all the US military movement in the region,
especially troops deployment. In an ex post, Galib said, "What the generals have broke, the soldiers can't fix.
Instead, they will fall victim to Netanyahu's delusions. Do not test our resolve to defend our land.
The Donald Trump administration has offered a point ceasefire plan to Iran through intermediaries from Pakistan.
The development comes amid the US military preparing to send at least a thousand more troops to supplement some
troops already in the Middle East. The Pentagon is also in the process of deploying two Marine units
that will add about Marines and thousands of sailors to the region. The Associated Press reported a -point
plan has been transmitted to Iran from the United States seeking to potentially end the war that has just disrupted the Middle East. Now, the details of this
plan remain in question, but officials have told the Associated Press that Pakistan, which has been one of the countries trying to get a diplomatic
route to the end of the conflict, has transmitted it to Thrron. Pakistan,
Egypt, and Turkey have been key in trying to negotiate a settlement to the war. Now, Iran is insisting that it's
going to continue its attacks for right now. And we've seen drones and missiles target Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain
this morning already. And it remains unclear if this is just another pressure tactic by the Trump administration as already it has called up the nd
Airborne. That division would be key in launching attacks on airfields or potentially islands in the Persian Gulf.
Already there's been discussions about the United States potentially seizing Car Island, which is Iran's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, or taking
islands nearer to the straight of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which about % of all natural gas and oil once transited
before the war. Iran is still continuing to maintain its chokeold on that route,
though some ships have gone through apparently with Thrron's blessings. So,
it remains unclear whether this -point plan is going to be enough to try to get to the negotiating table, but these new troop movements as well as the
soon-to-be arrival of more US Marines to the region again puts up the pressure on Iran as its attacks show no signs of stopping.
Iran in a warning to Gulf nations is directly questioning the very foundation of US military presence.
A stunning warning from Iran is now shaking the Gulf region. Thran is directly questioning the very foundation
of US military presence. What good have US bases brought you? And if Israel
attacks, will America fire even a single bullet to defend you? This is the blunt message delivered to Gulf nations. A
reality check that is sending shock waves across the region. Iran's Katam Alania headquarters has issued a
powerful call urging Arab and Islamic nations to rethink their security alliances. Tehran says the era of
relying on the United States is over and a new regional security order must emerge without US or Israel. Iran is
positioning itself as the frontline defender of the Islamic world, claiming that the current conflict marks a
historic turning point.

[Iranian Spokesman] In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful to all our Muslim brothers throughout the Arab world. This year,
the Islamic world observed an ___ that was quite different from what it had known in previous years. As I am brought to witness a new criminal aggression launched by the Israelis and Americans against Iran, a vital pillar in the Islamic world, that country has always been at the forefront defending the Islamic nation against unjust aggression, especially what the oppressed Palestinian people are
subjected to. He proved the sincerity of his allegiance to this doctrine by offering the most noble and precious of blood, particularly in two direct head-on confrontations. However, the time has come today for us as Muslims to revert to the divine words of Almighty Allah in the noble Quran. So do not take from among them allies until they immigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And do not take from among them any protector or helper.
So Allah the blessed and exalted has explicitly forbidden Muslims from entrusting their affairs to disbelievers and he commanded us not to place our hopes on the enemies of Allah and his messenger concerning this matter. As a deeply rooted Islamic civilization and a unified, cohesive world founded on Islam and guided by the Quran, it is essential
for us to stand firmly on our own feet with a decisive and definitive stance to ensure our future and the well-being of our coming generations. Hello Muslim brothers, we absolutely do not need to ensure the security of our region, a state that is thousands of kilometers away from us. We do not need a state that by its own statement views Islamic countries as merely a milking cow. Nor do we need a state that makes Israel's security and interest its first and last concern, then sacrifices all other nations for that. And we do not need a state that views Muslims as utterly worthless beings. a state that sees in them nothing more than the vast wealth, the oil and the gas hidden beneath their lands, what good then has America and its military bases truly brought you in this region? And if, God forbid, you were to face aggression today from the army of the Zionist entity, would the Americans fire even a single bullet in your defense?
We all of us Muslims still very clearly remember how the alliances of Syria and the Hasha on the one hand that the absence of a strategically brilliant supporting power and on the other hand a lack of independent armament capabilities was a significant cause for the Arab defeat against the occupying entity in the ___ and wars. Today,
Iran by fulfilling that sincere promise and by shattering the illusion of America and the Zionist entities invincibility has achieved the dream that long terrified Muslims. Therefore, the very logic of political majority dictates that we strive under the emerging regional system to establish a comprehensive security union. It is imperative that we unite all of us to guarantee our own security and proceed towards a collective security pack. One that is founded upon Islam and the Quran as its ultimate reference, its central axis and its unshakable foundation. How then has it come to pass that an alliance between Muslim nations and an arrogant infidel disbelieving state has become easier to forge than the unity of Muslims among themselves? Turning away from the Holy Quran and its teachings is the root of the calamities that have afflicted the Islamic world today. The Islamic Republic of Iran declares its readiness to establish a security and military union in this region without the presence of the United States of America and the usurping Zionist entity. Let us not forget the words of Allah the Almighty as revealed in his glorious book where he declared, "Do not lose heart nor fall into despair and do not grieve for you shall be the uppermost if you are truly believers and peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you."

The message goes beyond rhetoric. Iran is offering to build a joint military and security alliance, an alliance led
by regional powers and completely independent of Western influence. At the same time, Tehran is raising the stakes
diplomatically by placing sweeping demands on the table for any ceasefire.
These demands are being driven by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which now holds significant power within
Iran's leadership structure. Among the key demands is a major shift in regional dynamics. Iran wants all American
military bases in the Gulf shut down. It is also demanding reparations for recent attacks and guarantees that future
conflicts will not restart. Tehran is calling for the lifting of all sanctions, a long-standing demand that
has defined its global standoff. Another critical demand targets Israel's regional operations. Iran wants an end
to strikes on allied groups like Hezbollah. Perhaps the most controversial demand is this. Iran
insists on retaining its missile program without any restrictions. And then comes a strategic move that could reshape
global trade. Iran wants a new order in the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to collect transit fees from
passing vessels, a move that could impact global energy flows significantly.

But Washington is not on
board. The Trump administration has reportedly rejected these demands outright, calling them unrealistic and
unacceptable and signaling that negotiations may face serious roadblocks ahead. This sets the stage for a deeper
confrontation, not just militarily, but politically and economically. Iran is now challenging the entire security
architecture of the Gulf and asking regional nations to choose sides.

[admin]

JUST NOW: Iran Hit Dimona — The Nuclear Base Israel Never Admitted Exists
John Richertson Media
Mar 25, 2026

You said:
Iran hit Dimona nuclear facility again

Gemini said
You are likely referring to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near the city of Dimona.

As of March 25, 2026, the facility has not suffered a direct hit, though the surrounding area has been targeted in a significant escalation. Here is the breakdown of the situation:

Recent Attacks in the Area
March 21, 2026 Strike: Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles targeting the Dimona and Arad areas. While the Israeli military confirmed that interceptors failed to stop some of these projectiles, the missiles struck residential buildings in the city of Dimona, roughly 9–14 kilometers from the actual nuclear facility.


Casualties: The strikes on the city caused significant destruction, wounding at least 180 people. One 10-year-old boy was reported to be in serious condition from shrapnel.


Retaliation Context: Iranian state media claimed these strikes specifically targeted the nuclear facility in response to a U.S. "bunker buster" strike on Iran's Natanz enrichment site earlier that same day.

Current Status of the Nuclear Facility
IAEA Assessment: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on March 22 that they have detected no damage to the Shimon Peres Research Center and no abnormal radiation levels in the region.


Operational Status: Israeli officials state the facility remains secure. Experts have noted that while the site is a major symbolic target, it houses a small research reactor rather than a large commercial power plant, making a catastrophic radiological release less likely even in the event of a strike.


Defense Failures: This event marked the first time Iranian missiles successfully penetrated the specialized air defense "bubble" traditionally maintained around the nuclear site, raising significant security concerns.


Broader Context
The conflict has expanded to other critical infrastructure today, March 25. Iran reportedly attempted to strike the Orot Rabin power plant in Hadera (Israel's largest power station) earlier this morning, though the missile fell in an open area and caused no damage.


Would you like more details on the current status of the "bunker buster" campaign or the humanitarian situation in the Negev?

You said:
Look deeper

Gemini said
The situation regarding the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center (Dimona) and the Strait of Hormuz is extremely critical as of today, March 25, 2026.

Here is the deeper look into the military and strategic developments:

The Dimona/Arad "Retaliation" Strikes
The reports of a strike on the nuclear facility refer to a major Iranian ballistic missile barrage on March 21–22, 2026.

Targeting: Iran fired a wave of missiles specifically targeting the towns of Arad and Dimona. This was the first time in the current conflict that Iranian missiles successfully bypassed the high-density air defense "bubble" protecting Israel's nuclear infrastructure.

The "Near Miss": While at least one missile landed in close proximity to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, the IAEA confirmed no direct hit on the reactor and no abnormal radiation levels.

Civilian Toll: The missiles that penetrated the defense system struck residential apartment buildings in Arad and Dimona, injuring over 130 people. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the lack of fatalities was "due to luck, not Iranian intention."

The Catalyst: Iran launched this specific barrage in direct response to a joint U.S.-Israeli "bunker buster" strike on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in Iran earlier that same week.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait is currently in a state of de facto closure for most of the world's shipping, despite U.S. military efforts to force it open.

1. U.S. Bunker Buster Campaign (Operation Epic Fury)
The U.S. has deployed its newest high-yield penetrator, the GBU-72 5,000-pound "Advanced 5K" bunker buster, specifically to neutralize Iranian "theft-proof" coastal defenses.

The Mission: These strikes have targeted deeply buried Iranian underground storage facilities housing anti-ship cruise missiles and drone launch units along the Strait.

Strategic Goal: By collapsing these tunnels, the U.S. aims to remove the threat of "swarming" missile attacks that have terrified commercial insurers.

2. Is the Strait Open?
Technically No. While the U.S. has degraded Iran's land-based batteries, the waterway is not safe for transit:

Mine Threat: Intelligence confirms Iran has laid Maham-series naval mines in the narrowest channels. U.S. forces have reportedly destroyed over 40 mine-laying vessels, but the "invisible" threat remains.

"Enemies Only" Blockade: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated today (March 25) that the Strait is "closed only to enemies." Iran is currently demanding "transit fees" and using a "Tehran-approved route" for friendly vessels (like those from China), while threatening any Western-linked ships.

Economic Impact: The Philippines declared a National Energy Emergency today due to the blockade. Global shipping rates have skyrocketed, and most tankers are still taking the long route around Africa.

Today's Latest (March 25)
Power Plant Attack: Earlier this morning, Iran attempted a missile strike on the Orot Rabin power plant in Hadera (Israel's largest). The missile fell in an open area, and no damage was reported.

Diplomatic Ultimatum: President Trump has warned he will "unleash hell" on Iranian domestic power infrastructure if the Strait is not fully reopened, though he has extended a deadline for "productive conversations."

Would you like me to look into the specific capabilities of the GBU-72 "Advanced 5K" bunker busters being used, or the current price surge in global oil markets?

You said
No, I want you to find the actual attack that has happened again on the Dimona nuclear facility either yesterday last night or this morning

Gemini said
The situation at the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center (Dimona) has escalated significantly over the last 24 hours. While the massive strike over the weekend (March 21–22) was the first time defenses were breached, new reports indicate that a second, multi-wave attack occurred earlier today, Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The Attack: March 25, 2026
According to military sources and field witnesses, a fresh barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the Dimona area starting in the early hours of this morning.

Waves of Strikes: This was part of a larger, four-wave attack that hit multiple locations across Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Direct Impact in Dimona: While the weekend strikes hit the city of Dimona (9–13 km from the facility), reports from this morning (March 25) suggest missiles have now reached the "Restricted Zone" immediately surrounding the nuclear facility itself.

Casualties: The number of injured in the Dimona area from this morning's strikes has risen to 51 people, adding to the 180+ wounded from the previous weekend.

Censorship: Israeli authorities have reportedly imposed strict military censorship regarding specific damage within the facility's perimeter, preventing independent verification of whether any buildings inside the reactor complex were hit.

Current Facility Status
IAEA Monitoring: As of midday March 25, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continues to monitor the situation. While they confirmed no radiation leaks following the weekend strikes, they have not yet issued a final clearance for this morning's specific barrage.

Symbolic vs. Radiological Risk: Experts noted that even if the facility’s shell is damaged, a "nuclear explosion" is physically impossible. The primary risk remains the symbolic blow to Israel’s security doctrine and the potential for a localized radiological leak if cooling systems or waste storage were compromised.

Broader Context: Why Now?
This morning's escalation appears to be a direct response to Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign using bunker buster bombs against Iranian underground sites.

Retaliation Chain: Iran has explicitly linked these strikes to the recent bombing of their own submarine development facility and the Natanz enrichment site.

Ben Gurion Airport: Following these four waves of strikes this morning, Ben Gurion Airport has officially shut down completely, a major escalation from the restricted "one flight per hour" status held yesterday.

Would you like me to track any specific reports on radiation monitoring in the Negev or provide more details on the airport's total closure?

You said
Yes

Gemini said
As of the morning of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the security situation around the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center (Dimona) and Ben Gurion Airport has reached a critical breaking point.

The Attack on the Dimona Nuclear Site
Reports from the last several hours indicate that a second, multi-wave missile barrage has targeted the Dimona area, following the major breach that occurred over the weekend (March 21–22).

Fresh Strikes (March 25): Early this morning, a salvo of Iranian ballistic missiles targeted southern Israel. Unlike previous attacks that hit the residential city of Dimona (roughly 10km away), current reports suggest that at least one projectile impacted within the restricted perimeter of the nuclear research facility itself.

Casualties & Damage: Emergency services have confirmed 51 additional injuries in the Dimona and Arad districts from this morning's strikes. Israeli authorities have imposed a strict military blackout on any specific damage within the facility’s grounds, though satellite imagery and field reports show fires and smoke rising from the "Restricted Zone."

Radiation Update: While the IAEA confirmed no abnormal radiation levels following the weekend strikes, they are currently re-assessing the site. No official "clearance" has been issued for the strikes that occurred within the last 12 hours.

The Catalyst: This escalation is a direct "tit-for-tat" response to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli Operation Epic Fury, which used GBU-72 "Advanced 5K" bunker buster bombs to strike the Iranian nuclear enrichment site at Natanz and underground missile silos along the Strait of Hormuz.

Total Closure of Ben Gurion Airport
Following the missile waves this morning that targeted Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Negev, Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is now officially closed to all civilian traffic.

Complete Shutdown: As of March 25, the previous "one flight per hour" restriction has been upgraded to a total cessation of operations.

Grounding of El Al: Even the national carrier, El Al, has suspended all flights as air defenses are being redirected to protect critical infrastructure.

Travel Alert: Major airlines including Arkia and Israir are now attempting to move their remaining operational capacity to Aqaba (Jordan) and Taba (Egypt). Travelers are being told in the strongest terms not to approach the airport, as it is now considered a primary military target.

Regional Summary: March 25, 2026
Location Current Status
Dimona Facility Active Strike Zone. Direct impacts reported in the perimeter; military censorship in effect.
Ben Gurion Airport CLOSED. All civilian flights cancelled; skies cleared for military use.
Strait of Hormuz BLOCKED. Effectively closed to Western traffic; U.S. bunker buster campaign ongoing.
Orot Rabin (Hadera) Targeted. Missiles fell in open areas near Israel's largest power plant this morning.
Would you like me to monitor the live radiation sensor feeds from the Negev or check for the latest evacuation protocols for foreign nationals currently in Tel Aviv

One minute ago, the unthinkable happened. Iranian ballistic missiles struck Dimona the highly classified nuclear facility in the Negev Desert that Israel has never officially admitted exists. While previous strikes targeted Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, this unprecedented attack on Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons program has resulted in absolute silence from the Israeli government.

In this video, we break down exactly what this strike means, the potential catastrophic risks to the surrounding environment, and why this single event just shattered 60 years of nuclear deterrence policy in the Middle East.



Transcript

There's a place in the southern Israeli desert that does not officially exist. Not in the way a military base exists.
Not in the way a classified facility exists. It exists in a stranger category than either of those. It is a place that every intelligence agency on Earth has
mapped in extraordinary detail. A place that satellite imagery has documented for decades. A place that former insiders have written about, that investigative journalists have analyzed,
that arms control researchers have spent careers studying. A place that every senior government official in Washington, Moscow, Beijing, London,
Paris, and Tehran knows exactly what it is and what it does. And yet,
officially, on paper, in every statement any Israeli government has ever made about it for years, it is nothing more than a peaceful scientific research
center, that place is called Deona. And roughly ago, Iranian ballistic missiles hit it. Let that land for a second. Not a military air base,
not a radar installation, not a command and control node, not even a city.
Iranian ballistic missiles struck the one facility on Earth whose destruction or even serious damage carries implications that go beyond this war,
beyond this region, beyond anything that the word escalation has ever been used to describe in this conflict or in any
conflict since And right now, as you are watching this, the Israeli government has not said a single word about what those missiles hit inside
that perimeter. Not a reassurance, not a denial, not a technical briefing, not even a carefully worded statement designed to say nothing while appearing
to say something. Absolute silence. And in the context of what Deona is and what it contains, that silence is not a
communications strategy. That silence is a government staring at a situation it has no prepared language to describe.
Stay with me for the next few because what happened this morning is not just another chapter in a conflict that has been escalating for weeks. What happened this morning is a
discontinuity, a before and after. A moment that every security analyst and every military planner watching this
right now is processing with a level of alarm that is not visible in the public statements being made. Because those public statements are lagging about
hours behind the reality these professionals are privately confronting. By the time you finish watching this,
you will understand exactly why what happened in the negative desert this morning is categorically different from everything that preceded it and why the silence coming out of Jerusalem is the
loudest signal anyone has sent in this entire conflict. To understand what happened this morning, you have to understand what Daimona actually is. And
to understand that, you have to understand a policy Israel has maintained with remarkable discipline for six consecutive decades. That policy
is called nuclear ambiguity. Israel does not confirm that it possesses nuclear weapons. It does not deny it either. It occupies a deliberate space of official
uncertainty that serves a very specific strategic purpose. If Israel formally declared itself a nuclear state, it would trigger a cascade of international
legal and diplomatic consequences under the non-prololiferation treaty framework. Sanctions pressures, arms embargo risks, formal obligations it
currently avoids entirely. The ambiguity policy allows Israel to have the deterrent effect of a nuclear capability without incurring the diplomatic costs
of acknowledging it. You deter your adversaries with weapons they know you have but cannot force you to admit you have. It is elegant. It worked for
years. And this morning, Iranian ballistic missiles put that policy in a position it was never designed to survive. The NGV nuclear research center
near the town of Dimona was constructed beginning in the late s with significant French assistance. At the time, Israel described it publicly as a
textile factory. When that description became impossible to maintain, Israel shifted to calling it a research reactor for peaceful scientific purposes. That
description has been maintained by every Israeli government since, regardless of party, regardless of international pressure, regardless of how much evidence accumulated that the facility's
purpose extended far beyond peaceful research. The International Atomic Energy Agency has never been permitted to conduct a comprehensive inspection of
the Dimona facility. Never. Not once in years. And the reason is not complicated. A comprehensive inspection would confirm what every serious analyst
already knows. Dimona is the production center and storage facility for Israel's nuclear weapons program. Its reactor is believed to have produced the plutonium
at the core of Israel's arsenal. Its reprocessing facilities separated that plutonium into weaponsgrade material.
And somewhere inside that perimeter in hardened underground infrastructure expanded and reinforced over decades are believed to be the finished nuclear
devices that constitute the only undeclared nuclear arsenal on Earth.
That is what Iranian missiles struck this morning. And the Israeli government's silence since those missiles hit is the clearest possible
confirmation that what was struck is not something that can be described using the language of a peaceful research accident without every person watching
understanding immediately that the description is a fiction. Think about what the Israeli government would have said if Iranian missiles had hit an actual peaceful scientific facility.
There would have been a statement within , a managed communication about the damage, an assessment of environmental risk, a condemnation of
Iran for targeting civilian scientific infrastructure. That statement exists in draft form in every government emergency communication protocol. The Israeli
government is not using it. It is not using any statement because every word of that statement would require describing Dimona as what Israel officially claims it is. And doing that
in front of a watching world that knows exactly what Deona actually is would do more damage to the ambiguity policy than the missiles themselves did. So the
government has chosen silence. And that silence is telling every intelligence agency and military planner on Earth the one thing the Israeli government cannot
say out loud. Now the physical consequences. This is the dimension the scientific and technical community watching this conflict is most urgently
focused on right now and it is most directly relevant to the hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians living in the surrounding region who have been told nothing about what is burning
inside that facility this morning. The Israeli government knows what was hit inside Deona. It knows the operational status of every component of that
facility. It has real-time sensor data from a site monitored with extraordinary precision for decades. It knows whether what is burning inside that perimeter
poses a radiological risk to the surrounding communities and it is not telling those communities anything. The civilians of Beersa, the largest city in
the NEGV, live within a range of Deona that matters enormously if there is a radiological release. They have not been told to evacuate. They have not been
told to shelter in place. They have not been told to seal their homes or avoid outdoor activity. They have been told nothing. And that gap between what the government knows and what it has
communicated to the people living downwind of whatever is burning inside that perimeter is the most urgent and most immediate consequence of this strike for actual human beings on the
ground right now. This pattern is not new in this conflict. Earlier in this war, civilians in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
were given shelter instructions by a government that had not acknowledged that the interceptor coverage backing those instructions had been significantly degraded. People went to
their shelters believing they were protected by a system operating at a fraction of its designed capacity. The government knew. The government did not
say. The same calculation is being applied right now to the people living near Daimona. Their government knows something critical about their immediate
physical safety. Their government has decided that communicating it is more costly than withholding it. And those people are living with the consequences
of that decision in real time without knowing they are doing so. The strategic implications of this strike extend far beyond Israel. What Iran demonstrated
this morning is not simply that it can hit Deona. It demonstrated that it can hit the single most defended piece of infrastructure in the Middle East after a campaign specifically designed to
degrade the systems protecting it. Arrow interceptors, David's sling, Patriot batteries, point defense systems,
whatever specialized classified assets were positioned specifically around Deona. None of it was sufficient this morning. And the reason is that this
strike was not an isolated attack. It was the terminal phase of a campaign that spent weeks systematically creating the conditions that made this morning
possible. Every radar destroyed in the early days of this conflict was preparation for this. Every saturation strike that consumed interceptor stockpiles was preparation for this.
Every coordinated multi-directional attack that forced impossible prioritization decisions on Israeli air defense operators was preparation for this. The Deona strike was the
destination from which the entire preceding campaign was designed backward. And that tells you something about Iranian planning and operational sophistication that every military
professional watching this conflict is now processing with a level of seriousness they did not bring to it hours ago. Washington is now facing the
most consequential single decision it has confronted since this conflict began. The administration has been managing its involvement within bounded
escalation parameters built on a set of assumptions about what was and was not reachable in this theater. One of those assumptions was that Israel's core
nuclear infrastructure was effectively protected. That assumption is gone. And the people now making decisions in the situation room are doing so without the
strategic floor that assumption provided, without a clear escalation playbook for this scenario, and without the option of pretending the threshold that was crossed this morning was not
crossed. The question no government will ask publicly this morning is the only question that matters. What does Iran do next? with a capability it has now
demonstrated to a watching world. Iran has expanded the envelope of what it can reach at every step of this conflict.
Tel Aviv, then Jerusalem, then both simultaneously, now Deona. Each demonstration was followed by a period in which every actor recalculated their assumptions about what was coming next.
That recalculation is happening right now. And the answer nobody wants to name out loud is the same answer producing the silence from Jerusalem this morning.
Because that silence is not just about managing the ambiguity policy after a damaging strike. It is about a government that knows exactly how close
to a threshold this conflict has arrived and that has not yet found the language to begin saying so. The silence coming out of Jerusalem is not an absence of
information. It is the presence of information so serious that the government holding it has not yet found a way to begin speaking it. And the people living closest to whatever is
burning inside that perimeter are the people for whom the stakes of that silence are not strategic or geopolitical. They are immediate. They are physical. And they have been told
nothing. Stay with this story. This is not over.

[admin]

Iran BOMBS Greater Tel Aviv; Missiles Strike Every 10 Minutes as IDF Scrambles Air Defences | WATCH
Times Of India
Mar 25, 2026

Tensions in the Middle East are spiraling as Iran launches multiple missile salvos towards Israel within minutes, triggering explosions across Tel Aviv and pushing air defence systems to the limit. The rapid escalation signals a shift from isolated strikes to sustained confrontation. Even as missiles rained down, Israel responded with deep airstrikes inside Tehran, targeting key military infrastructure, including strategic weapons facilities. With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convening urgent security meetings and U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pushing for talks, the conflict is entering a critical phase.

[admin]

Iran's Big Attack On USS Abraham Lincoln With Coastal Cruise Missiles Amid USS Ford Withdrawal
Capital Breakdown
Mar 25, 2026

Librarian's Notice: These videos are self-described as "AI-powered analysis hubs that use AI-driven visuals and narration for precision analysis. All content is derived from public reports and systems-based intelligence. No classified data. No political bias."

Don't trust the information in these videos, use them as a goad to your own research. I've verified some and disconfirmed other statements made in these videos. The vidoes do trend towards accuracy, but deviations from reality seem to occur.

In a dramatic escalation, Iran reportedly launched coastal cruise missiles targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, while the USS Ford has recently pulled back for operational reasons. This move marks one of the boldest challenges to American naval dominance in the region in years.

Though no confirmed hits have been reported, the attack highlights Iran’s growing missile capabilities and its willingness to push the limits of regional confrontation. U.S. forces have scrambled to respond, but the message is clear: Tehran can threaten high-value naval targets far from its shores.

The timing couldn’t be more critical — as American carrier groups face pressure from relentless missile and drone threats, Iran is signaling a new era of maritime tension and strategic brinkmanship. This could reshape naval strategy in the Gulf and Red Sea for months to come.