The toll of the Regime appears to be catching up with it; not able to put up 100 missiles.  “Iranian response: less than 100 missiles were launched at Israel overnight,” i24, 6-14-25.  Two waves from Iranian territory, mainly aiming for Tel Aviv.

“Two casualties, widespread damage from Iranian rockets | LIVE BLOG,” i24, 6-14-25.

There is another reason, the disruption of losing commanders and for the Iranian representatives not knowing what the negotiating position should be.  “Iran: dialogue with U.S. now “meaningless” after Israeli strikes,” i24, 6-14-25.  BTW, if you wonder why i24, I’m still looking at all news sources, but i24 is one of the very best at this precise moment.  Iranian news is certainly unhelpful in knowing what is happening.  And this article has a section at the end showing how the Regime’s poor decisions over 40 plus years have come home to roost.  “U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in with a sharply worded post on social media. “I gave the Iranians one last chance for a deal. Now everyone is dead, and it will only get worse,” he wrote, warning that further attacks could escalate dramatically unless Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal. Trump criticized Iran’s leadership for failing to secure an agreement: “No matter how hard they tried, they just couldn’t close the deal. Israel knows how to use its weapons.” Still, he left open the possibility of a deal, cautioning that if one is not reached, “there will be nothing left of the Iranian empire.” The flare-up comes after months of stalled nuclear talks, with Iran insisting on the right to enrich uranium domestically, while the U.S. has sought alternative frameworks involving international oversight — proposals repeatedly rejected by Tehran.”  The two Supreme Leaders have repeatedly missed their chances to join the modern and normal world.

“Iran threatens to target U.S. bases in the Middle East,” i24, 6-14-25.

“On IDF’s chart of eliminated Iranian security leaders, Qaani listed as still alive,” i24, 6-14-25.  Apparently the Quds Force leader is not yet dead.

Amazing that Iran folded so quickly.  “Israeli air force achieved freedom of operation in Tehran’s airspace, IDF says,” Axios, 6-14-25.

Fordow.  “Israel’s mission hinges on destroying Iran’s hardest nuclear target,” Axios, 6-14-25.  Israel has attacked the surface but not the deep underground.  Yet.  I predict special forces to blow it up from within, assisted by air.

“Israel urges U.S. to join war with Iran to eliminate nuclear program,” Axios, 6-14-25.  No, the U.S. will not participate in bombing Fordow.  But it will certainly allow Israel to finish the job.  And the U.S. will help defend Israel from Iran’s missiles.

Today will be a long news day.  The actions by Israel overnight are a significant response for Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons and threats, but can also been seen as the result of its radical political terroristic version of Shia Islam that has plagued its neighbors and well beyond.  Note that military chief of staff Bagheri and IRGC head Salami and key Ayatollah adviser Shamkhani were killed by the Israel air attacks and covert operations.  Together those men did not equal the impact of the 2020 killing of Quds Force head Soleimani by then Pres. Trump, but that action began the domino seen in yesterday’s strikes of pushing back against the Regime.  See “Israel hits Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership in unprecedented strikes,” CNN, 6-13-25.

“Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, says IDF spokesperson | LIVE BLOG,” I24, 6-13-25.  All were shot down–in other words, as of June 13, despite Iran’s trying to respond directly, it can’t.  Thus, it is highly likely it will attack U.S. military targets in the Gulf and soft targets in the next days and weeks.

The IDF’s second defensive attacks (the first were primarily against the nuclear program) were to limit the possible shooting of 100s of ballistic missiles toward Israel.  “IDF ‘concludes’ another round of strikes on Iran’s missile arsenal | LIVE BLOG,” I24, 6-13-25.

When reading these stories, a distinct possibility communicated is that a number of Iranian air force generals gathered (several who were reported in the news today as killed) in the middle of the night, they were then trapped in the room, and could have then learned what was about to happen to them.  Remember, at the start of an attack the commanders are often the first to be eliminated.  “Report: Israel Tricked Top Iranian Military Commanders To Gather. A Missile Was Waiting For Them,” Yeshiva World News, 6-13-25; “Report: Israel successfully deceived top Iran air force commanders into convening ahead of strike,” Times of Israel, 6-13-25.

“The Middle East is tense as Israel’s attacks sink hopes for de-escalation,” NYT, 6-13-25.  Let me remind this reporter and the NYT of an important fact—it is hard to escalate if you don’t have leaders.  Ask Hezbollah.  Ask Hamas.  Ask Iran in the time period after Soleimani was killed—he was the Ayatollah’s right hand man (no excuse for the pun).

More thoughts—All Israeli pilots made it back, in both waves.  All Iranian drones shot down.  Iran’s generals were tricked into coming to a meeting (reminds us of the Hezbollah pager attacks).  Air attacks months ago took Iran’s AA offline.  Natanz was; we will find out if Fordow was attacked.  But the Grand Ayatollah is in a corner, and knows nothing other than violence.  Watch for Iran to possibly try to close the Hormuz Straight, which the U.S. will not allow.  In fact, watch for the Supreme Leader to send every ballistic missile he can toward Israel’s cities and bases and again U.S. regional bases.  There are no signs yet of Israel attacks to two major nuclear sites, the underground enrichment plant at Fordow and the Isfahan nuclear fuel site, but that is probably coming.  Citing an earlier story, “Report: Israel successfully deceived top Iran air force commanders into convening ahead of strike,” Times of Israel, 6-13-25.

“An extensive Israeli intelligence effort underpinned the Iran strikes,” NYT, 6-13-25.  Way to go Mossad.  Here are other relevant events that inform us.  “Israel assassinated Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, with a remote-controlled gun in 2020, and assisted when the United States killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Iran’s top security and intelligence commander, in a drone strike the same year. … In 2024, “Israel was able to kill Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political leader, by planting an explosive device in a Tehran guesthouse run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel also deeply penetrated Iran’s most powerful Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, leading to a spate of attacks in 2024. In September, it targeted members of the militia in elaborate, coordinated attacks using pagers and walkie-talkies, killing dozens of people and injuring thousands. It was also able to infiltrate the group’s communications, culminating in airstrikes the same month that killed the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah.”

The map reminds us of the widespread and buried “peaceful” nuclear program.   “Israel’s strikes targeted some of Iran’s most important nuclear facilities,” NYT, 6-13-25.

I asked earlier today if the Quds chief Qaani was eliminated.  It is now being reported he was killed at a Western Iranian military facility.  “Report: Head of Iran’s elite Quds Force killed in Israeli strike,” Times of Israel, 6-13-25.

I24 is reporting on t.v. that Putin has phoned Netanyahu and condemned the attack on Iran.  He must be thinking his supply of drones could be cut.  I-24, 6-13-25.

In case you’re wondering, and amid reports on I-24 t.v. of AA firing near the Supreme Leader’s compound in central Tehran, who takes Ali Khamenei place if he is killed?  Per Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, the Supreme Leader’s successor is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, which consists of more than 80 ayatollahs at present.  In the interim, the country is administered by a provisional leadership council, of Iran’s president, chief justice, and a member of the Guardian Council.  Be aware that pressure from the IRGC and the economic powers it has could distort the selection process.  Regardless, he is alive at present.  See “Iranian Supreme Leader’s 2-word threat to Israel as he vows revenge,” MSN, 6-13-25.

“Iran launches ballistic missiles at Israel, as Supreme Leader vows to ‘inflict heavy blows’,” BBC, 6-13-25.  This started about an hour ago, after 9 p.m. Tel Aviv time.

“Israel’s overnight strike on Iran in maps and images,” BBC, 6-13-25.

“The Real Threat From Iran,” Foreign Affairs, 6-13-25.

The fuel stockpile.  “Much of Iran’s Nuclear Program Remains After Israel’s Strikes. At Least for Now,” NYT, 6-13-25.  “The first phase of the attack did not hit the most likely repository of Iran’s near-bomb-grade nuclear fuel.” … ““The fact that Israel did not bomb a known uranium production facility at Isfahan,” said Jon Wolfsthal of the Federation of American Scientists, which tracks Iran’s nuclear progress closely, “suggests either that Bibi was worried the bombing might cause a radiological incident or that they actually think this will lead Iran to surrender its uranium stocks voluntarily.” The concern about a “radiological incident” is a real one. Bombing the fuel storage site in its current form would not trigger a nuclear explosion. But it could release the fuel into the environment, creating a radiation hazard, essentially turning the Isfahan plant into a dirty bomb.”

The blog author has been traveling for some time, and is now catching up on entries; today we begin posting the news from a couple of days ago that the Regime’s religion of peace has again violated its own pledge.  Then we post about the attacks by Israel and then Iran.  First, “Iran to significantly increase uranium enrichment in wake of IAEA resolution,” I24, 6-12-25.

“Iran Is Breaking Rules on Nuclear Activity, U.N. Watchdog Says,” NYT, 6-12-25.  “The International Atomic Energy Agency declared on Thursday that Iran was not complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, the first time the U.N. watchdog has passed a resolution against the country in 20 years. … The agency also said Iran consistently failed to provide information about undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple locations. Iran had reacted angrily to the prospect of the vote and threatened to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which came into force in 1970.”  (Think about that logic—Iran says it is not trying to make weapons, the IAEA says it looks likely, so Iran responds by saying it will—Iran does not have clean hands in this multi-year drama of its own making).

See “Iran doubles down as US signals Israel could strike despite nuclear talks,” Al Jazeera, 6-12-25.  I believe this is the last news story both Salami and Bagheri are quoted in before being killed.  I wonder where IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani is?  He would have been a target.

“Israeli forces struck the main enrichment plant at Natanz, targeted nuclear scientists involved in Iran’s bomb program, and hit key ballistic missile facilities.” … “Iran has produced enough enriched uranium for nine atomic bombs.” … “Eighty years ago, Jews were victims of a Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be the victim of a nuclear Holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime,” PM Netanyahu announced.  “Netanyahu: Israel strikes Iran to stop imminent nuclear threat,” I24, 6-12-25.

“Senior Iranian military, nuclear officials killed in Israeli strikes,” I24, 6-12-25.  Let me remind everyone that Pres. Trump’s two-month deadline passed (with Iran going through five negotiation talks with the U.S.) before Israel attacked.  See the April 11 entry in this blog.  The U.S. set a 60-day deadline for Iran to make progress on talks over its nuclear program or face potential military retaliation–that two month deadline ended May 19.  Also, this same news story makes the point “The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is in ongoing talks with international counterparts following the cabinet’s decision to “eliminate the threat of Iranian annihilation. … The unprecedented series of strikes — part of Israel’s newly launched “Strength of a Lion” operation — mark a major escalation as fears grow over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and its stated intent to acquire nuclear weapons.”  But I do not write that Trump felt he had to make progress somewhere—tariffs, Ukraine, Gaza, Iran—simply to save face.  It is because Iran is amassing enough material to now make an estimated 10 nuclear weapons.  The inability to get Hamas to release the hostages and inability to get Putin to stop killing civilians was not part of the calculus—the Supreme Leader and the Revolution is.  The U.S. gave a green light.   President Trump would have come to realize the negotiations with Iran were a cover for further HEU (highly enriched uranium).

Notice the ending of this article—that modernity can’t be stopped by the Ayatollah.  “‘Dog Walking Is a Clear Crime’: Iran’s Latest Morality Push,” NYT, 6-9-25.

Bad news for the Regime.  It’s proxy Hezbollah can no longer keep these types of meetings from occurring.  “Lebanon president to visit Jordan Tuesday,” Jordan News Agency, 6-9-25.

“Tehran says it would reduce cooperation with IAEA if anti-Iran resolution passed by agency,” AFP, 6-8-25.

“Think tank: IAEA found Iran conducted, covered up implosion tests key to building nuclear weapon in 2003,” Times of Israel, 6-8-25.

This is all we know, the headline, really don’t know more as Iran hasn’t displayed anything.  “Iran says it obtained sensitive Israeli nuclear documents,” Reuters, 6-7-25.

Also in the Regime paranoid or fake news category, “Iranian TV Alleges Massive Spy Operation Targeting Israeli Nuclear Sites,” RFE/RL, 6-7-25.

“Treasury Sanctions Iranian Network Laundering Billions for Regime Through Shadow Banking Scheme,” U.S. Department of Treasury, 6-6-25.

“Iran orders thousands of tons of ballistic missile ingredients from China – WSJ,” JPost, 6-6-25.  “The shipments, which are expected to reach Iran in the coming months, include ammonium perchlorate, a key component in the solid propellant used for ballistic missiles. … The shipment of ammonium perchlorate is part of Iran’s broader efforts to rebuild its so-called “Axis of Resistance” network. … The new order for ammonium perchlorate … could supply Iran with enough material to produce approximately 800 missiles, one official estimated.”

“Could US and Israel Destroy Iran’s Nuclear Program?  Yep, Here’s How,” Bloomberg, 6-5-25.

“Scoop: Gulf leaders told Trump they oppose strikes on Iran’s nuclear program,” Axios, 5-29-25.  “Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani all told Trump they worry that if Iran’s nuclear sites are attacked, their countries will be targeted for Iranian retaliation. All three host U.S. military bases.”

“Iran May Hold the Key to Trump’s Nuclear Revolution,” Newsweek, 5-29-25.  The Leader won’t allow it, a U.S.-Iran bilateral nuclear relationship, because Iran is literally founded on “anti-America.”  But the article does represent out of the box thinking.  “One proposal reportedly floated by Iranian officials has been that of a regional consortium, a unique arrangement that would see Iran enter into a nuclear fuel sharing group with other Middle Eastern nations, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”

“HISTORIC! First Freight Train From China Wheels Into Iran, Flying In The Face Of American Sanctions,” Eurasian Times, 5-29-25.  “The cargo train arrived at Iran’s largest Aprin dry port, near Tehran, from Xi’an province in China. The rail route between the two countries would cut down delivery time from 30-40 days by sea to just 15 days by land. The Iran-China freight train will travel from Iran to China, passing through Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.”

“Iran’s Christian Heritage,” The American Conservative, 5-29-25.

“Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes southern Iran region, EMSC says,” Reuters, 5-29-25.

A lot of news today.  First, Iran “insists the sticking point of uranium enrichment is an issue of Iranian sovereignty.”  Hey Leader, hey reporter, remember that all negotiations involve giving up and gaining aspects of sovereignty.  “Iranian political analyst discusses latest talks with U.S. on a new nuclear deal,” NPR, 5-28-25.

As this blog predicted.  “U.S.-Iran Talks Inconclusive After Five Rounds,” Soufan Center, 5-29-25.

“Iranian president visits Oman, as Tehran sees ‘new global order is already shaping’,” JPost, 5-28-25.  “Iran is increasingly seeking to be part of this new world order, in which non-Western countries work together against America and the West.”

And this is a key part of the New Order—a nuclear bomb(s).  In fact, this is what this blog has been about, in the context of Iran wants to be a revolutionary state, not a normal country.  “Explosive new intelligence report reveals Iran’s nuclear weapons program still active,” Fox, 5-28-25.  “A new intelligence report claims Iran is continuing with its active nuclear weapons program, which it says can be used to launch missiles over long distances.The startling intelligence gathering of Austrian officials contradicts the [public] assessment of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee in March that the American intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.” Austria’s version of the FBI — the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution — wrote Monday in an intelligence report, “In order to assert and enforce its regional political power ambitions, the Islamic Republic of Iran is striving for comprehensive rearmament, with nuclear weapons to make the regime immune to attack and to expand and consolidate its dominance in the Middle East and beyond.” The Austrian domestic intelligence agency report added, “The Iranian nuclear weapons development program is well advanced, and Iran possesses a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances.” … The Austrian intelligence findings could be an unwanted wrench in President Trump’s negotiation process to resolve the atomic crisis with Iran’s rulers because the data outlined in the report suggests the regime will not abandon its drive to secure a nuclear weapon. … The danger of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism (and its illegal atomic weapons program) was cited 99 times in the 211-page report that covers pressing threats to Austria’s democracy.  … When asked about the differences in conclusions between the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Austrian intelligence report, David Albright, a physicist and founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital, “The ODNI report is stuck in the past, a remnant of the fallacious unclassified 2007 NIE [National Intelligence Estimate]. “The Austrian report in general is similar to German and British assessments. Both governments, by the way, made clear to (the) U.S. IC [intelligence community] in 2007 that they thought the U.S. assessment was wrong that the Iranian nuclear weapons program ended in 2003.”

The Administration has fallen for it again, Iran’s delaying tactics.  “Witkoff, the New York Times cited participants in the talks has dropped an initial rejection of any interim set of understandings on an ultimate deal, in a formula which might fall afoul of Israel and Iran hawks within the US congress.”  Watch, Iran won’t even come to a conclusion on a framework agreement, they are stringing out the U.S. and its president.  See “US mulling interim Iran deal framework to forestall Israeli attack – NYT,” Iran International, 5-28-25.

“Truckers’ strike persists as Tehran’s steps up arrests,” Iran International, 5-28-25.

“Iran threatens to end nuclear talks with Europe after Mandelson comments,” Guardian, 5-28-25.  All he said was that Iran should have zero uranium enrichment.

Never good news when they meet, and when Moscow hosts this group.  “Iran, BRICS countries attend 13th international security meeting in Moscow,” Africa News, 5-28-25.

“Iran wastes as much gas as Spain uses in a year,” Iran International, 5-28-25.  “Iran wastes a staggering volume of natural gas during production and transmission—equal to Spain’s annual consumption or about half of what Turkey or Italy use each year. In regional markets, the wasted gas would be worth over $10 billion per year. It amounts to 40% of the gas used annually by Iranian households. This massive loss stems from underinvestment in gas recovery infrastructure at oil fields and an aging transmission network.” Instead of investing in infrastructure, the IRI spends its money on terror and proxies to spread the Revolution.

“Iran hangs a man convicted of spying for Israel,” AP, 5-28-25.