It is not surprising, though slow, to see additional countries designate the IRGC. “Australia lists Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a State Sponsor of Terrorism,” Australia Today, 11-30-25.
News flash! “Khamenei: Iran defeated US, Israel in June’s 12-Day War,” JNS, 11-29-25. This is the Quote of the Day, of the Month. Of the Year? It certainly shows intransigence and irrationality. ““In the 12-Day War, the Iranian nation undeniably defeated both the U.S. and the Zionists,” Khamenei said.”
“Iran denies launching ballistic missiles towards Kurdistan region of Iraq – report,” JPost, 11-20-25.
Maybe the Sahand won’t capsize this time. “Repaired Sahand destroyer, floating base join Iranian Navy, state media say,” Reuters, 11-29-25.
Produce the body! We often ask Iran to show its evidence. “Tehran asserts its air defense forces neutralized over 196 hostile Israeli aircraft and drones,” Palestine Chronicle, 11-29-25.
No other country has this problem. Iran has brought this on itself. “Iran boycotting World Cup draw citing visa denials,” AP, ESPN, 11-28-25.
“Khomeini promised free water. Iran is running out of it,” WPost, 11-28-25.
“With Iran’s regime wary of widespread dissent, Tehran women let their hair down,” Times of Israel, 11-28-25.
Way to go WSJ! Reporting important information! 100Ms to Hezbollah through Qatar! “Iranian Funds for Hezbollah Are Flowing Through Dubai,” WSJ, 11-27-25. “Iran’s Quds Force, tasked with supporting the country’s allied militias overseas, has transferred more than $1 billion to Hezbollah since January.”
But Iran won’t address the facts, they only issue broadly denials every time such stories appear in the media. “Iran condemns Australia’s listing of IRGC as sponsor of terrorism as ‘offensive and unjustified’,” ABC Australia, 11-27-25.
“Human rights violations in Tanzania, Iran and Tunisia,” European Parliament, 11-27-25.
No surprise to us. “Iran sent $1b to Hezbollah in four months as water crisis worsens, researcher says,” JPost, 11-26-25. “[T]he regime remains in “complete denial” after the war and is prioritizing regional proxies over basic services.” After the 12 Day June War, “[t]he Iranian leadership “did not get the message,” Sabeti said, adding that because the top echelon survived and stayed in power, officials tell themselves they were hit but “nothing happened” and that they can continue as before.”
“Iran accuses US of ‘bullying’ Venezuela with anti-drug campaign,” AFP, 11-26-25.
“Iran’s Islamic regime weak, but will fight to survive, Ex-CIA officer who infiltrated country says,” JPost, 11-26-25.
Senegal and Uganda are on the hit list of the Quds Force Unit 840. “Iran sought to surveil Israeli embassies in Africa for potential attacks,” Iran International, 11-26-25.
“Iran Guards urge ‘revenge’ after Israel kills Hezbollah chief,” Naharet, 11-25-25. What follows is indicative of the control that Iran has had and wants to continue in another sovereign state, Lebanon. “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called Monday for “revenge” for the killing in an Israeli air strike on Beirut the previous day of Hezbollah’s top military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai. “The right of the Axis of Resistance and Lebanese Hezbollah to avenge the blood of the brave fighters of Islam is unquestionable,” the IRGC, Hezbollah’s main military and financial backer, said in a statement.
Great article—Iran’s doorway to the continent. “Hezbollah’s Drug Empire in South America,” Times of Israel, 11-25-25.
“Iran’s mismanagement in focus as fires ravage 25-million-year-old forests,” Al Monitor, 11-25-25.
Whomever this reporter is and the editor who approved this story, … well, I allow the other side to produce stories and we post them for contrast, even if they contain factual errors (such as the Israel attack in June was “unprovoked”)(the article never mentions the Iranian missile attacks that came first). See “Iran’s Larijani arrives in Islamabad to deepen ties,” Express Tribune, 11-25-25. On a related note, the ET doesn’t show up much on this blog because it doesn’t produce much news, it appears as a mouthpiece. But I do read online that it is the main publication of the Lakson media group and is a partner of the Int’l NYT (the global edition), so maybe there is hope the NYT could reign in this news sheet.
“Iran’s horrible year: How 2025 is pushing the nation to its limits,” Big Think, 11-25-25.
“Trump authorized Saudi crown prince to manage US-Iran dialogue – Al-Akhbar,” Iran International, 11-25-25.
“Iran loses control of the Houthis,” Telegraph, 11-25-25. Don’t let the headline or the comments from the Iranian leaders out of left field fool you.
“Tehran shrouded in thick smog as Iran burns dirty fuel amid energy crisis,” Al Jazeerz, 11-24-25.
“Iran’s Larijani urges direct conflict with Israel after IDF strike kills Hezbollah’s Tabatabai,” JPost, 11-24-25.
“US Says Iran ‘Suffocating’ Own People,” Newsweek, 11-24-25.
“Taps are running dry in Iran. Decades of bade decisions are to blame.” WPost, 11-24-25.
This kind of story reminds me of cartel or gang leader comments after a big arrest. Instead of learning from the lesson, and perhaps taking a different line of work, they decided to dig in their heels. This story is also a reminder that the June War between Iran and Israel (and with the U.S. bombing the three nuclear weapons sites in Iran) has not persuaded the Regime to change its stripes. “Iran security chief says no path left but direct clash with Israel,” Iran International, 11-24-25.
“Can Iran reinvent itself? A fragile charm offensive meets mounting internal strain,” Guardian, 11-24-25.
“Iran is on a suicidal trajectory,” Israel Hayom, 11-23-25.
“Iran’s missile arsenal already approaching pre-June levels,” JNS, 11-23-25.
Surprise, surprise, surprise (Gomer Pyle makes an appearance). “President of Iran Says It’s Forced to Move Its Entire Capital City,” Futurism, 11-23-25.
“Iran’s Lungs on Fire: Wildfires, Toxic Air and the Politics Behind an Environmental Collapse,” NCRI, 11-23-25.
“Iran’s rebuke of Russia, China exposes cracks in its ‘look to East’ strategy,” Al Monitor, 11-23-25.
“Tehran alleges Israel and US attempted to target Khamenei to destabilize Iran,” AFP, Times of Israel, 11-23-25.
“Iran escalates nuclear stand off,” Washington Examiner, 11-22-25.
“Iran Drops the Façade of Tolerance Toward Persian Jews,” National Review, 11-22-25.
“Iran Issues Urgent Plea to ‘Friendly Countries’ as Uncontrollable Wildfires Ravage Mazandaran Province,” Kurdistan24, 11-22-25.
“Iran’s adversaries trying to target Khamenei, intelligence minister says,” Iran International, 11-22-25.
“Israel undergoing an ‘epidemic of infiltration’, says Iran intelligence minister,” Tehran Times, 11-22-25.
A standard news release that typically shows up regularly. “Iran ready to respond to any enemy’s potential threats,” Mehr, 11-22-25. “Relying upon the assistance of the God Almighty, Iran’s army Ground forces would foil all conspiracies waged by enemies through their unity, amity and extreme power of the Iranian armed Forces, the commander underlined.”
Iran feels it has no other choice (well, they could decide to act as a normal country, or even a freedom preferring country like those in the West; hey, Russia could do that, too). This is not something foisted upon Iran by Israel and the U.S. (the headline is deceiving). See “Iran’s Twelve-Day War Has Only Boosted Its Cooperation With Russia,” Carnegie, 11-21-25.
I now have 4-5 stories of this type posted. “Iran’s president calls relocating capital ‘unavoidable’ amid overcrowding and water shortages,” JPost, 11-21-25. “Iran’s president says moving capital from Tehran ‘unavoidable’ due to mounting water crisis,” Washington Times, 11-21-25. But note, there is nothing the government is actually doing to prepare for or even force the move. Typical, and historically consistent, mismanagement. What is it about this particular regime that is so poor at government planning, management, and policy execution?