“Iran’s Supreme Leader Shakes Up Air Force,” Newsweek, 12-18-25.

“32 of the world’s 50 most overpumped aquifers are in Iran.”  That alone tells you a lot.  And a great, informative article.  See “After Ruining a Treasured Water Resource, Iran Is Drying Up,” Yale Environment 360, 12-18-25.

“Thousands of Israelis receive text messages from Iranian Intelligence,” Israel Hayom, 12-18-25.

“Who Can Solve Iran’s Many Problems? Not I, Says the President,” NYT, 12-18-25.  “Amid sky-high inflation, water and energy cuts and prospects for a deal with the U. S. dimming, President Masoud Pezeshkian has apparently thrown up his hands. …  He has gone as far as to say that Iran’s problems are self-made — a result of corruption, factional infighting and decades of government spending practices that he described as “what crazy people do” — and not the fault of the United States or Israel. “The problem is us,” he has said in several meetings, including the one with students. This month, Mr. Pezeshkian told provincial governors and local officials to imagine the central government “did not exist” and “solve your problems yourselves.” “Why should I solve them?” he said. “You shouldn’t think that the president can make miracles happen.” … In Iran’s political structure, the president can influence foreign and domestic policies somewhat, but the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, has the final say in all major state matters. Former presidents seldom admitted to being hampered by the system. Not Mr. Pezeshkian. He appears to have no qualms about saying out loud that he is subservient to Mr. Khamenei on contentious foreign policy issues such as resolving the nuclear standoff with the United States. He has also said publicly that he hasn’t been allowed to lift restrictions on popular social media applications such as Instagram, which Iranians now can get access to through virtual private networks, as he promised to do. … For now, Mr. Khamenei has thrown his support behind the president, who has three years left in his term.”  If the president can’t solve Iran’s problems, he can look to the Supreme Leader to actually take responsibility.