“Iran Update, February 11, 2025,” Institute for the Study of War, 2-11-25.

Give praise when warranted, even to the Supreme Leader, because here (they shouldn’t have been prosecuted) a full pardon was deserved.  “Iran pardons journalists who reported woman’s death that triggered unrest,” Reuters, 2-11-25.

Mehr’s version.  “Iran orbited ten satellites in past years,” Mehr, 2-11-25.

“Iran’s Dangerous Push To Become An AI Superpower,” MEMRI, 2-11-25.  “According to findings released by Google on January 29, 2025, Iranian groups are using the company’s Gemini AI chatbot for researching defense organizations to target with hacking attempts, to generate content in English, Hebrew, and Farsi to be used in phishing campaigns, and other purposes.  For Iran, AI is an inexpensive path to power. It is already using it for cyberattacks and influence operations abroad, and to upgrade its drones and ballistic missiles, deploy swarms of unmanned watercraft, surveil and repress its citizens, and control its borders. Alarmingly, it could now be exploring AI’s potential nuclear applications.  …  The most dangerous potential of Iranian mastery of AI is for military uses and nuclear weapons technology. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said in January 2021 that the organization was striving to use the quantum technology it had been developing since 2016 for AI.”

“Iran Sends Warning To Donald Trump,” Newsweek, 2-10-25.  Here are the two quotes to pay attention to, as a revolution is still what the Regime wants.  This blog continually points this out—Will Iran be a normal country or will it be a revolution?  “President Masoud Pezeshkian directly challenged Trump’s policies, accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy. “Trump says he wants dialogue, but in the same breath signs and announces every possible plot to bring the revolution to its knees,” he stated. … Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in the city of Hamadan, reinforced Iran’s stance on sovereignty. “The Islamic Revolution was meant to ensure that no foreigner would dare dictate terms to the Iranian people and leadership.””

“After Assad’s fall, Iran hopes to creep back through Syria’s back door,” Al Monitor, 2-10-25.

“The Current Situation in Iran:  A USIP Fact Sheet,” USIP, 2-10-25.

“Trump’s team worried Iranian spy would shoot down his plane with a missile after told of threat: book,” Independent, 2-9-25.  See also “Iranian threat on Trump’s life was more serious than publicly known, book excerpt reveals,” JPost, 2-9-25.  “[S]ecurity officials warned Trump that Tehran had access to surface-to-air missiles, and they were worried Iran would try to crash his private jet.”  There are ways to get Iran to quit trying to kill American leaders.

I imagine the are not staying at the same accommodations where Ismail Haniyeh stayed last July.  I also imagine they are not staying at the Supreme Leader’s house.  “Iran leader Khamenei meets top Hamas leaders in Tehran, state TV says,” Reuters, 2-8-25.

There are so many dissidents and persons who have left Iran over the years.  “Emboldened by Trump, Iranian dissidents demand overthrow of rulers,” Reuters, 2-8-25.

This is the most important news of the day, but with a twist.  First, it is declaration, again, that the government of Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon(s).  Second, as this blog has regularly pointed out, is a reminder there was never a fatwa by the Grand Ayatollah, either one, that Iran religiously disavowed nuclear weapons.  It is a fiction that there is such a fatwa.  They’ve never shown it, produced it, said where the document is stored, etc.  They do not store fatwas with official numbers like a U.S. presidential executive order, and then you can read the thing.  No, fatwas are on a shelf and are generally known and read.  But here, Ali Hosseini Khamenei says he has issued a fatwa, but no one has ever seen it, including those in his closest circles.  It is a fiction the IRI produced several years ago to make the world believe that Shia Islam would never possess such a weapon.  See “Revoke fatwa against nuclear weapons, Iranian commanders tell Ayatollah,” Telegraph, 2-8-25.

“Iran currency plunges to record lows amid escalating U.S. tensions,” Reuters, 2-8-25.

Well, you can’t have it both ways.  For months the Supreme Leader and his officials have been strongly hinting at talks.  “Iran supreme leader criticizes proposed nuclear talks with US, upending push to negotiation,” AP, 2-7-25.

“Treasury Targets Oil Network Generating Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Iran’s Military,” U.S. Department of Treasury, 2-6-25.  See also “US slaps sanctions on network shipping Iranian oil to China,” Reuters, 2-6-25.

“Iran says Trump’s Gaza proposal follows Israeli plans to ‘wipe out’ Palestinians,” Reuters, 2-6-25.

“Iran calls for OPEC to unite against potential US oil sanctions,” Al Jazeera, 2-5-25.

“Trump Returns to ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran,” Foreign Policy, 2-5-25.

“Syria’s new leader denounces Iran, calling its proxies a regional threat,” NPR, 2-4-25.

“Trump Has a Rare and Short Window to Solve the Iran Problem — Here’s How,” War on the Rocks, 2-4-25

“Iran is the only country in the world to speak up to the U.S., call it by its true names: Leader,” IRNA, 2-3-25.  “Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran is the only country in the world that speaks up to the United States and calls it by its true names. “The difference between the Iranian nation and others is that [Iran] has the courage to speak this truth that America is an aggressor, a liar, deceiver, and colonialist and adheres to no human principle whatsoever,” the Leader said on Sunday. Ayatollah Khamenei was speaking during a meeting with top Qur’an teachers and reciters participating in the 41st International Qur’an Competition. The Leader said Iran’s patience and perseverance against all global arrogant powers during the past 46 years have won the nation comprehensive growth. “Not only did Iran not suffer a blow in this face-off, but it also grew in all fields.” In another part of his speech, the Leader described the victory of the people of Gaza over the Zionist regime and the U.S. as an example of “achieving the impossible.” Before the war, no one would have believed that Palestinians in the small territory of Gaza “would fight against a great power like the United States and emerge victorious,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “But this impossible feat was accomplished by God’s will,” he added.”  Hmm.  So two thoughts.  First, the Leader leads chants regularly that the U.S. is “the Great Satan.”  He’s right that Iran is the only country that does that.  Second, he is giving Allah credit for victory in Gaza.  I guess that is how Allah defines victory, and again, it is only Iran that is saying that Allah claims a victory in Gaza.  If I’m wrong on this, someone please correct me; maybe there are other countries.

Really good news.  “Iran Is Developing Plans for Faster, Cruder Weapon, U.S. Concludes,” NYT, 2-3-25.

The IRGC hired two assassins to kill a prominent Jew in Azerbaijan.  “Iran-Azerbaijan tensions rise over Israel ties, alleged assassination plot,” JPost, 2-3-25.

“Iran, Tunisia stress revival of joint business council,” Tehran Times, 2-2-25.  Danger, Will Robinson.

“Iran secretly building nuclear weapons able to reach Europe based on North Korean designs,” Ynet, 2-2-25.

“Iran unveils new ballistic missile that can reach Israel,” Times of Israel, 2-2-25.

“Iran unveils new generation of Bavar-373 air defence system,” Mehr, 2-2-25.

Don’t cross the Regime.  “Iran arrests former editor of hardline Kayhan newspaper,” Iran International, 2-2-25.