Month: October 2026

How much of the 2B is counterfeit?  And as the picture alludes, most currency exchangers in Tehran use U.S. currency (who do you trust?).  “Tehran divided over $2 billion plan to prop up rial,” Iran International, 10-7-26.

“Lebanon’s Hezbollah gets $200 million from Iran to help displaced, sources say,” Reuters, 10-7-26.  The U.S. says the story is fake, that Iran hasn’t transferred any funds, but that the story was planted to improve Lebanese opinions about Iran.

“US prepares for possible Iran strikes as mediators await Tehran response,” Iran International, 10-7-26.

“China’s turn to Iraqi crude shows growing impact of Iran oil blockade,” Iran International, 10-7-26.  “Iran loaded no new crude or condensate onto tankers in September.”

“Satellite images show renewed activity at secret Iran nuclear site bombed by IDF,” JPost, 10-7-26.  Referring to Minzadehei.

“Kpler Suspects Gulf Producers Are Paying Iran for Safe Passage,” Oilprice.com, 10-7-26.

“Thousands of trucks held up at Iran’s Bazargan and Rimdan border crossings, official says,” Iran International, 10-6-26.

This story is astounding.  “Former German spy chief arrested in case involving Iran nuclear intelligence,” Iran International, 10-6-26.  “Federal prosecutors said Hanning paid a former BND employee for secret documents and used classified information to prepare an analysis for a foreign intelligence service. Reuters said the employee allegedly supplied around 2,000 documents. ARD, citing joint reporting by WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, said the cache contained “extremely sensitive” reports on Iran’s nuclear program and Russia’s military, as well as information from foreign partner intelligence services.”  Great.  So Russia and Iran had a really good idea of the West’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear program.

Are we surprised?  “IRGC hails October 7 terror attack as one of history’s ‘greatest’ operations,” Iran International, 10-6-26.

“Houthi gains reversed at Bab al-Mandab, but Iran’s leverage runs deeper,” Iran International, 10-6-26.

And here’s the answer, drones.  “Threat of Iranian Drone Attack Prompted U.S. to Pull Bombers From U.K. Base,” WSJ, 10-5-26.  See also “Potential Iranian Drone Attack Led to Exit of U.S. Aircraft From British Air Base,” NYT, 10-5-26.  “Some of the officials said they believed that the plot was loosely modeled on an audacious attack that Ukraine launched against Russia last year when it smuggled drones deep into the Russian heartland and launched them from semi trucks. The attack destroyed or damaged at least a dozen aircraft, including many of Moscow’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers, on runways in Siberia and Russia’s Far North.”

“Saudi and Yemeni Forces Attack to Retake Control of Red Sea Coast,” NYT, 10-5-26.  “The offensive is an effort to wrest control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait from the Houthis, a militia in Yemen backed by Iran.”

“Middle Eastern crude exports excluding Iran exceeded their pre-war average on four days in late September, reaching approximately 19.5–22.5 million barrels a day despite continued tanker attacks. Alternative routes carried around 40% of crude out of the Gulf without crossing Hormuz, compared with 17% before the war, reducing exporters’ reliance on the restricted strait.”  See “US says foreign financial institutions doing business with Iran may be sanctioned without notice,” Reuters, 10-5-26.

It is very unusual that the USAF would so quickly remove secure B-1s from Fairford.  Are there Patriots there?  Is there a present threat from ballistics (of course long-range) from Iran?  “U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats,” NYT, 10-4-26.

“Iran could move shadow war in a dangerous direction, experts warn on back of two possible terror attacks,” Fox, 10-4-26.

“Iran’s new Pars-2 satellite ready to launch,” Mehr, 10-4-26.  Satellite launches are regularly cover for ballistic testing launches.

Will they announce new schools and health clinics?  Water cleaning facilities?  “Iran to increase the range of its missiles, army spokesperson says,” Reuters, 10-4-26.

“Iran delays renewing Hamas financial support over failure to undermine West Bank stability – report,” JPost, 10-4-26.

“Iranian diplomats “kicked out” of U.S. after ignoring order to leave,” Axios, 10-4-26.

“Iran war updates: Yemeni forces launch offensive to seize Houthi-held areas,” Al Jazeera, 10-4-26.

“Iran’s Top Security Official Warns of Dire Economic Crisis,” NYT, 10-4-26.

“Members of 4 Sabotage Networks Nabbed South of Iran,” Tasnim, 10-3-26.  But this Regime-backed news, so we can’t know by itself if accurate.

“Smartwatches on Iran’s security chiefs spark row within the inner circle,” Iran International, 10-3-26.  Really surprising that some IRGC and Regime leaders are still wearing these.  For example, Shamkhani (Day 1 of war) was probably tracked and killed because he had one.  “Smartwatches can transmit location and activity data through GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or a paired phone, and some carry microphones and other sensors.”

“Iran’s currency is getting obliterated as the regime is about to run out of oil to sell and can’t even get its money from customers,” Fortune, 10-3-26.

“Khamenei adviser warns UAE as tensions with Tehran escalate,” Iran International, 10-3-26.

“Two Iranians charged over foiled plot targeting Manchester Jews,” Iran International, 10-2-26.  “Rahman Salehi, 35, and Salam Ahmadyan, 36, were arrested on September 20, on the eve of Yom Kippur, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and charged with preparing or assisting an act of terrorism. Police allege the two men were in contact with a third party overseas who may have been in Iran, though authorities have not publicly established that the Iranian state directed the alleged plot.”  This article lists many of the Quds Force/IRGC activities against the UK.  Remember, this blog is not focused on terrorism, balance of power, U.S. foreign policy, etc., etc.  Since 2018, I’ve been posting news and commentary based on Secretary Kissinger’s observation that Iran was going to have to decide if it would be a revolutionary state or a normal state.  And since 1979, and up to today, the Regime has sided with the desire to spread the Radical Shia Revolution.  We pine for the normal, for its citizens, for the Middle East region, and for our country.

“’They shot on sight’: Amnesty details 2022 protest killings in Kurdish areas,” Iran International, 10-2-26.

“UK-Iranian national arrested over RAF ‘plot’ released on bail: What to know,” Al Jazeera, 10-2-26.

“’They shot on sight’: Amnesty details 2022 protest killings in Kurdish areas,” Iran International, 10-2-26.

“UK-Iranian national arrested over RAF ‘plot’ released on bail: What to know,” Al Jazeera, 10-2-26.

FDD and UANI revealing that Turkey enabling sanctions-defying flights from Iran and shipping anti-sanctions efforts from Iran to Malaysia.  “Trump’s Iran crackdown collides with NATO ally seeking access to America’s prized fighter jet,” Fox, 10-2-26.

“US deploys two more Patriot batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to defend energy sites — report,” Times of Israel, 10-2-26.

“Al-Qaeda is Iran’s quiet backup if the war turns, expert says,” Iran International, 10-2-26.

“Iran-US war latest: Tehran claims it has received official US response to latest offer on ending conflict,” Independent, 10-1-26.

“Iran live updates: Trump says war will be over ‘very soon,’ but offers no details,” ABC, 10-1-26.

“US sends 9,000 troops, third carrier as Trump warns of new Iran strikes,” Iran International, 10-1-26.

“Iran links under scrutiny in separate Flydubai, UK airbase investigations,” Iran International, 10-1-26.

“Iran links under scrutiny in separate Flydubai, UK airbase investigations,” Iran International, 10-1-26.

“Iran readies harder retaliation if attacked as diplomacy faces long odds,” Reuters, 10-1-26.

“Why Iran Escalates:  Tehran’s Strategy to Drive America Out of the Middle East,” Foreign Affairs, 10-1-26.

Here’s my theory, knowing that there were no explosives in the vans and that one of the masked young men called emergency services on the way to the airbase.  I think Quds contacted the men and hired them to set up a warning event.  This event was not planned to blow up the front gate at Fairford or try to get next to a plane and explode the vans, but was a signaling event to warn the U.S. to stop its attacks on Iran.  “U.K.-Iranian Man Arrested in London in Connection to Air Base Incident,” NYT, 10-1-26.

“Iraqi PM sets June 30 deadline for pro-Iran factions to disarm as US coalition withdraws,” I-24, 10-1-26.