“UAE carried out dozens of airstrikes on Iran alongside the US and Israel during war – report,” 5-29-26.

Notice that the military questioned the president’s authority.  It is not that Iran has changed, this military-led status was hand-in-glove with the previous Supreme Leader for three decades.  It is only with the absence of a supreme leader, a weak president, an absent religious class, and cornered leaders that the IRGC is really emboldened, taking on more and more power as it has been allowed to do so over the past 20 years especially.  See “Internet partially restored in Iran following presidential order,” i-24, 5-26-26.  “NetBlocks confirms early signs of life on digital networks after record-breaking 88-day blackout, but media affiliated with the IRGC questioned the gov’t legal authority to lift restrictions.”

“Internet fully restored in Iran following historic 88-day nationwide blackout,” I24, 5-26-26.  But it is spotty and doesn’t work well.

We still haven’t seen him.  Or a photo.  “Khamenei vows Israel’s annihilation as Hezbollah steps up attacks: why now?,” Iran International, 5-26-26.

“Iran Talks Bog Down Over Nuclear Program and Sanctions Relief,” WSJ, 5-25-26.

What about Iran?  Trump proposes the following to join the Abraham Accords.  Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan.  The U.S. is the only country that can lead and propose such an altering situation leading to future peace in the Middle East.  What about Iraq and Kuwait and Oman?  “Trump says Iran deal should include additional countries joining Abraham Accords,” AP, 5-25-26.

“Iran’s Foreign Ministry accuses the US of violating the ceasefire after strikes in southern Iran | LIVE BLOG,” i24NEWS, 5-25-26.

“Trump, after signaling deal was imminent, says he will not ‘rush’ deal with Iran,” Politico, 5-24-26.

They won’t get it.  They’ve attacked Qatar.  “Iran demands access to $12B in Qatar funds as precondition for US MoU,” Iran International, 5-24-26.

“US President Donald Trump is “50/50” on reaching a deal with Iran or resuming strikes | LIVE BLOG,” i24, 5-23-26.  “Iranian parliament speaker says “our armed forces have rebuilt during ceasefire, are ready to ‘crush’ US is Trump ‘acts foolishly’ and restarts war”.”

Iran continues to string this out.  For days, months.  Really, years.  “US, Iran close to 60-day ceasefire extension deal – FT,” Iran International, 5-23-26.  “The United States and Iran are close to extending their ceasefire by 60 days under a framework that would gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch discussions over Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, the Financial Times reported citing mediators and people briefed on the talks.”

The Quds Force wants to kill one of the most well-known women in the world, and of course Pres. Trump’s daughter.  “Ivanka Trump targeted in Iranian assassination plot: Report,” Washington Examiner, 5-23-26.  Another assassination plot.  There have been hundreds against multiple countries.

“Iran Mediators Race for Deal to Head Off Looming U.S., Israeli Strikes,” WSJ, 5-22-26.

“U.S. prepares for new military strikes against Iran,” CBS, 5-22-26.

“US sanctions 9 Lebanese officials for shielding Hezbollah and blocking disarmament efforts,” i-24, 5-21-26.

“How China and Russia Can Exploit the Iran War,” Foreign Affairs, 5-20-26.

“Middle East: Iran says any new attack will widen war,” DW, 5-20-26.

Iran may try to charge “protection fees” for subsea fiber-optic cables crossing Hormuz.  “Iran finds a new weapon beneath Hormuz,” Iran International, 5-19-26.

Do not be confused by this possibility.  He was under house arrest and was opposed by the Supreme Leader.  And the article says he was “consulted.”  Apparently the U.S. and Israel believed Ahmadinejad would cooperate and would be accepted enough by the IRGC.  “Early War Goal Was to Install Hard-Line Former President as Iran’s Leader,” NYT, 5-19-26.

“How Iran Got to the Nuclear Threshold on the Watch of Three U.S. Presidents,” WSJ, 5-19-26.  “Tehran expanded its atomic program after Trump quit the 2015 nuclear deal and then accelerated its work under Biden. … Iran’s leaders have long insisted that they weren’t working on nuclear weapons. Iran isn’t currently enriching uranium and would need to recover fissile material that is buried under tons of rubble if it wanted to sprint to a bomb. But experts, including the U.N.’s atomic agency, have long assessed that Tehran was developing the technological option to develop a nuclear arsenal. With much of Iran’s pre-war leadership dead, Washington is grappling with the possibility that the country’s new leaders may be even less disposed to compromise. Iran still has 10 tons of enriched material, including enough near-weapons-grade material to fuel almost 11 nuclear weapons. It has an unknown number of centrifuges, which are the machines for enriching uranium. Despite Israel’s killing of numerous Iranian nuclear scientists, Iran retains the know-how to start enriching again and probably, experts say, to undertake most key steps for building a nuclear weapon. The U.S.’s biggest concern centers on Iran’s nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium that is enriched to 60% purity. But Iran also has about 440 pounds of 20% enriched uranium. Those materials could be enriched up to 90% weapons-grade material in weeks. Civilian nuclear programs generally rely on low enriched uranium. Iran was the only nonnuclear-weapons country to produce 60% enriched uranium before last June’s attacks.”  Remember, this is a conscious choice of the Regime.  It wants the protection nuclear weapons provide, and the cover for whatever it wants to do on the world stage:  terrorism, Shia Crescent expansion, the spread of the Revolution.

“Iran at a Historic Crossroads: Persian Legacy, Shiʿi Ideology, and Realpolitik,” SPME, 5-18-26.  Great for asking “What exactly constitutes “Iranian interest,” and who defines it?”  In short, “This lecture argues that Iran cannot be understood through the conventional dichotomy of ideology versus pragmatism. Rather, Iranian policy emerges from the interaction of multiple and often competing logics: Iranian-national legacy, Shiʿi political theology, revolutionary institutionalism, security doctrine, economic pressure, geopolitical adaptation and encounter with the West.”  Note that the Regime is the decision maker, and that we don’t blame what happens in Iran on Saudi Arabia, China, the United States, Israel, Iraq, etc.

“Iran at a Historic Crossroads: Persian Legacy, Shiʿi Ideology, and Realpolitik,” SPME, 5-18-26.  Great for asking “What exactly constitutes “Iranian interest,” and who defines it?”  In short, “This lecture argues that Iran cannot be understood through the conventional dichotomy of ideology versus pragmatism. Rather, Iranian policy emerges from the interaction of multiple and often competing logics: Iranian-national legacy, Shiʿi political theology, revolutionary institutionalism, security doctrine, economic pressure, geopolitical adaptation and encounter with the West.”  Note that the Regime is the decision maker, and that we don’t blame what happens in Iran on Saudi Arabia, China, the United States, Israel, Iraq, etc.