“Iran’s president seeks ‘regional’ response to Israel,” Politico, 9-29-24. Kudos to the NYT for getting this right—Hamas attacked first. Hezbollah attacked first. Israel had to act in self defense to both. See this quote paragraph in the story: “Hezbollah, for decades a thorn in Israel’s side, began launching rockets at Israel after the lethal incursion last Oct. 7 by Hamas from Gaza into Israel. That Oct. 7 incursion led also to an Israeli invasion of Gaza that has so far resulted in the death of tens of thousands of residents of Gaza, as well as widespread destruction.”
He’s indecisive. He doesn’t want to be blamed for mistakes. He has a long history of “triangulation” in which he figures out who to blame and who to side with–this is key to staying in power. And he’s afraid he will die (and there is no absolute knowledge that one goes to Paradise in Islamic thinking). “Iran’s leadership said deeply shaken, divided over response to Nasrallah’s killing,” Times of Israel, 9-29-24. Read the below, widely agreed to across the Middle East and in the West, and then ask yourself if Iran controls Hezbollah. “Two IRGC officials, including a strategist who has been at meetings discussing the response to Nasrallah’s killing, said Iran’s first concern was to help Hezbollah recover from the series of devastating blows Israel has dealt to its leadership and infrastructure. That means appointing a new leader, putting in place a new command structure, and installing a new communications network. After that Hezbollah would be able to plan its retaliation against Israel. Iran will send a senior member of its elite Quds Forces to Beirut via Syria to advise Hezbollah, the two Guards members said.”
Iran has to decide whether it will be a normal nation-state or a revolutionary entity. “Iran’s leadership said deeply shaken, divided over response to Nasrallah’s killing,” Times of Israel, 9-29-24.
Notice that it was a spy not with Lebanese citizenship. “’Iran spy tipped off Israel about Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s location before airstrike,” The Week, 9-29-24.
“Iranian mole helped Israel kill Hezbollah leader – Le Parisien,” Iran International, 9-29-24. But the 80 tons of bombs are not mentioned.
Notice that it was a spy not with Lebanese citizenship. “’Iran spy tipped off Israel about Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s location before airstrike,” The Week, 9-29-24.
“Iranian mole helped Israel kill Hezbollah leader – Le Parisien,” Iran International, 9-29-24. But the 80 tons of timed bombs are not mentioned.
“Iran Is Losing. That May Matter More Than Israel’s Mistakes,” NYT, 9-29-24. While French writes that military success (whether Iran’s or Israel’s) guarantees being the captain of a country’s fate, his piece seems to indicate that our future is not in our control, nor are countries’ futures the result of ideology, economic decisions, good governance, etc. Iran’s losing is not surprising based on why it was created and how it has been run.