“Iran’s defense minister travels to Belarus to discuss coop,” Mehr, 3-11-25.
“Iran Update, March 11, 2025,” ISW Press, 3-11-25.
“Iran’s President to Trump: I will not negotiate, ‘do whatever the hell you want’,” Reuters, 3-11-25.
I already advise potential grad students to not attend Columbia until the anti-Semitism and pro-Hamas language and actions and teaching stops. Here is a story that, when you read the quotes, you’ll say the same for potential students of King College’s Jeroen Gunning and the University of Westminster’s Catherine Charrett, and “learning” from Helena Cobban and Rami George Khouri regarding their book “Understanding Hamas: And Why That Matters.” We already understand Hamas, and don’t need to side with a terror group. See “Jews protest launch of Hamas ‘propaganda’ book at London School of Economics,” Times of Israel, 3-11-25.
“Iran Update, March 11, 2025,” ISW Press, 3-11-25.
“China, Iran and Russia hold joint naval drills in Mideast as tensions rise between Tehran and US,” AP, 3-11-25. “China, Iran and Russia conducted joint naval drills Tuesday in the Middle East, offering a show of force in a region still uneasy over Tehran’s rapidly expanding nuclear program and as Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten new attacks on ships. The joint drills, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude oil traded worldwide passes. The area around the strait in the past has seen Iran seize commercial ships and launch suspected attacks in the time since President Donald Trump first unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers. The drill marked the fifth year the three countries took part in the drills.”
Food and other items are once again more expensive, and Nowruz is approaching. “Iran’s coupons and taxes: Giving with one hand, taking with the other,” Al Jazeera, 3-11-25. “Iranian authorities are rolling out an electronic coupon scheme in recognition of the dire economic conditions under sanctions, but they are also hiking taxes across the board to cover budget deficits.” … “Starting this week, low-income and middle-class Iranians are being given up to 5 million rials (just over $5) per person that can be used to buy limited quantities of food like red meat, chicken, eggs, milk, cooking oil, rice and sugar at government prices. About 60 million people are eligible to use the credit.” … “People can buy only 11 items from a list of select suppliers and shops across the country, and the credit purchases are separate from monthly government cash handouts that currently amount to about $4.85 per person.” … “The government’s approved budget for the Iranian calendar year 1404, which starts on March 21, shows considerably increased taxes and costs of services – in many cases much higher than Iran’s current 35 percent inflation rate.” … “Taxes are increasing months after Iran raised the age of retirement for men by two years to 62 and increased the years of service required to receive full pensions for men to 35 from 30. That was aimed at reducing alarming pension fund deficits that have threatened financial sustainability and exerted more pressure on the government. Amid another currency freefall and a lingering energy crisis, the embattled government has also been accused by hardline lawmakers of intentionally devaluing the national currency to make short-term gains.” I wonder in the history of mankind, if any country has so mismanaged vast oil and gas reserves to keep their people poor.
Just ask Panama, Canada, and Ukraine how that’s going for them. Here’s the subject quote by Muhammad Sahimi at UCLA—“While negotiations between Iran and the United States should take place, no self-respecting nation, let alone Iran, a proud nation with 7,000 years of written history, will agree to negotiate if it is asked to capitulate.” See “How Iran quietly buttressed its pledge to not build nukes,” Responsible Statecraft, Muhammad Sahimi, 3-11-25. There are other parts of the article to challenge. “Despite the threat, the fact that he sent the letter is positive. But to bear fruit, it must be backed up by action. The president should suspend imposing the “maximum pressure” policy until negotiations take place and their outcome becomes clear.” No, they have to be forced to talk, they won’t otherwise, that is Iran’s history. Next, “Trump has said that he needs guarantees that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. Iranian officials point to Khamenei’s Fatwa [religious edict] banning production of weapons of mass destruction, as that guarantee. This may not be reassurance enough for the West, but there is already a strong guarantee of the sort that Trump seeks.” Well Dr. Sahimi, show us the fatwa. No else has yet. Finally, “The fact that Iran has agreed to uphold the NPT’s major requirement of peaceful nuclear activities under a binding bilateral agreement with a major world power is legal affirmation of its religiously declared position on prohibition of nuclear arms.” Dr. Sahimi, why does Iran have purify their uranium to such high levels, so far above what is needed for electricity production?
What Iran doesn’t want to see. “Atop Mt. Hermon, Katz says Syrian leader will see indefinite IDF deployment,” Times of Israel, 3-11-25.
