“After Assad’s fall, Iraq may break free from Iran’s grip,” Israel Hayom, 12-25-24.  Like Lebanon’s citizens, the people of Iraq are faced with the decision to go with Iran or go with freedom.  The same for Iraqi PM Sudani.  BTW, this article reports an appearance by Iraq’s Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shiite authority in country, who refused “to issue a religious ruling calling for the disarmament of the militias. The elderly Ayatollah refused the American request, and according to a report in Iran, he also recently declined to meet with a representative of the UN Secretary-General who sought to discuss the same issue.”  Sounds like Sistani, faced with the opportunity to break free from Iran, is choosing poorly.  I hope there’s not corruption involved.

This tells you what you need to know about the temperature in Tehran.  “After backlash, Iran backs down from renaming Tehran street after Sinwar,” Iran International, 12-25-24.