“US, Iran to convene for 3rd round of nuclear talks in Geneva | LIVE BLOG,” i24NEWS, 2-26-26.  “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: ‘Iran isn’t enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.'”

“Iran could offer billion-dollar energy deal to entice US ahead of nuclear talks – report,” i24NEWS, 2-26-26.  “Tehran aims to turn a high-stakes standoff into a “commercial windfall” for American companies, offering oil, gas, and mineral investments to persuade Washington toward diplomacy over war.”  BTW, I keep seeing in news of all types that war might be coming.  This ignores the 40+ year of war that Iran has been waging against the U.S. (and others).   Sometimes it is more open conflict than others, but Iran has been a belligerent for years.  Sometimes there is open violence.  But the violence against diplomats, dissidents, soldiers, tourists, government employees, naval forces, shall I go on, has been a constant.  The U.S. hasn’t had relations since 1979 of course.

“Iranians Cite Progress in Talks, but a Marathon Session Produces No Deal,” NYT, 2-26-26.  Repeating myself, but not just indicative of the immediate negotiations.  This is a multi-year refusal of the Supreme Leader and the Regime to come to normalcy.  They want the Revolution to continue, it is all they know, it keeps them in power.

Another day, another proposal.  Iran won’t simply give up its program.  Time is running shy.  “Iran to propose to US a temporary halt to uranium enrichment – report,” I24, 2-26-26.  “US negotiators reportedly have demanded Iran must dismantle Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites and hand over enriched uranium, insisting any new deal must be permanent.”

But they never say what that progress is, right?!  “Tehran hails ‘good progress’ in Iran-US talks, technical discussions set for next week,” France 24, 2-26-26.

“Iran’s shadowy chemical weapons program draws scrutiny as reports allege use against protesters,” Fox, 2-24-26.

“7 experts on the risk of a wider war with Iran,” Politico, 2-24-26.

“It’s Time to Confront Afghanistan and Iran About Al-Qaeda,” National Interest, 2-24-26.  “The al-Qaeda terror network operates with impunity out of Iran and Afghanistan. America must lean on both countries’ regimes to bring it to heel. Iran’s nuclear program is at the heart of its ongoing standoff with the United States, but Washington also needs to confront Iran on another key issue: its persistent support for al-Qaeda and its ongoing relationship with the Taliban.”

“Why Iran Will Escalate,” Foreign Affairs, 2-24-26.  This article forgets the argument that the U.S. warned not to punish the protesters.

You heard it here first:  The Regime will not give up anything of consequence.  It will not give up anything/much regarding its nuclear program nor its ballistic missiles.  They would allow the U.S. to attack in response to the killing of Iranian protesters.  The Leader and his henchmen are just trying to stay alive at this point.  But if you read this blog and the news regularly, you already knew this.  See “For Iran’s Rulers, Refusing U.S. Demands Is a Risk Worth Taking,” NYT, 2-23-26.

“Iran: student chant ‘death to Islamic Republic’ as protests continue for 3rd day,” I24, 2-23-26.

“’Hard to see’ Trump continue talks if gaps remain after Iran submits draft proposal on Tuesday, U.S. official tells i24NEWS,” 2-23-26.  “Tuesday’s round of talks understood to be a last chance saloon for the Iranians before a U.S. strike.”

“Binance Employees Find $1.7 Billion in Crypto Was Sent to Iranian Entities,” NYT, 2-23-26.

“Trump Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack,” NYT, 2-22-26.

As a sign of how “off the rails” the IRI government has become, the Supreme Leader’s survival and leadership and succession plan doesn’t even mention the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for selecting a new leader, nor does the NYT even mention the Assembly.  Amazing developments in a regime slated for falling apart, being surgically altered by the strikes, being overthrown by its own people, all the above.  See “Inside Iran’s Preparation for War and Plans for Survival,” NYT, 2-22-26.  Khamenei has “told everyone in leadership roles to name up to four replacements and has delegated responsibilities to a tight circle of confidants to make decisions in case communications with him are disrupted or he is killed.”  Adviser Larijani is “in Mr. Khamenei’s trusted circle, which includes his top military adviser and former commander in chief of the Guards, Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi; Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Guards commander and current speaker of Parliament, … and his chief of staff, the cleric Ali Asghar Hejazi.”  BTW, Larijani is taking the place of Pres. Pezeshkian in essence, see the article for examples.

“Iranian Students Protest as Anger Grows,” WSJ, 2-21-26.  “Students at several universities gathered in large numbers Saturday—the first day of a new academic term—chanting slogans commemorating those who were killed and condemning security forces, according to videos verified by Storyful, which is owned by News Corp, parent company of The Wall Street Journal. The student protests represent the most significant show of public defiance against the Islamic Republic since the mass protests were brutally crushed in January. At Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, students dressed in black shouted “Long Live the Shah,” a reference to Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, who has emerged as a leader of the recent protests. A similar scene played out in another part of the city, at Sharif University of Technology, where antigovernment protesters chanted slogans against the Islamic Republic and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. That protest turned violent, with the students clashing with members of the plainclothes Basij militia outside the university campus, according to videos verified by Storyful.”

With Pres. Trump’s declaration that the Supreme Leader has approximately 10 days (to give up everything essentially, and to move to Moscow), there will probably be slow news the next week or so, as the past week or so.  Remember, the Regime thinks it will last 1,000 years and will become the Shia Crescent across the Middle East.  Its leaders get wealthy, the people must obey and suffer.  Iran will give up very little over the last of the negotiating period, it will hunker down to avoid the oncoming bombings in retaliation for the Jan. 8-9 slaughter of its people.  No other country is standing up for human rights as clearly as the U.S.  (the UK would be wise to allow Fairford and Diego Garcia).  Others are participating, but it will be up to the U.S. team to define which targets it wants to punish the Regime for the January killings.  Those persons, and the Grand Ayatollah, are already in hiding.  It is hard to communicate through message carriers.  Ask Hamas.  And Hezbollah.  See “Trump says world has 10 days to see if Iran agrees deal or ‘bad things happen’,” BBC, 2-20-26.

“U.S. and Iran Make ‘Good Progress’ in Geneva Talks, Foreign Minister Says,” NYT, 2-17-26.  The key to this story is notice that the info comes from the Iranian FM, not the U.S. or anyone else.  Trying to shape the narrative.  It has been somewhat difficult these past ten days or so following what is really happening in the negotiations.  The U.S. is giving Iran a chance, and has the upper hand.  But Iran, as it always does under the Regime, hesitates, hesitates, hesitates, always wanting to hang onto the Revolution.  This means proxies, terror, missiles, the Shia Crescent.  So it should be no surprise they aren’t appearing to really give up anything.

So notice the next story from the WSJ.  “Vance Says Iran Is Ignoring Core U.S. Demands in Talks,” WSJ, 2-17-26.

“Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world,” BBC, 2-15-26.

“US sending world’s biggest aircraft carrier to Middle East as tensions with Iran increase,” The Hill, 2-13-26.

A fair article that makes the point that Iran could attack 11 countries in retaliation.  “The options Mr. Trump has been weighing include military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program and ability to launch ballistic missiles ….  He is also considering options that would include sending American commandos to go after certain Iranian military targets.”  See “As Diplomats Talk, Pentagon Prepares for Possible War With Iran,” NYT, 2-13-26.

“Exclusive: Binance fires top investigators who claim to have uncovered evidence of Iranian sanctions violations,” Fortune, 2-13-26.  If we follow the no-association-with-Epstein rule, there are plenty of companies out there who have also violated sanctions rules.  But this is very large—“evidence that entities tied to Iran had received more than $1 billion through the exchange from March 2024 through August 2025, in potential violation of sanctions laws. The transactions routed through Binance using the stablecoin Tether on a blockchain known as Tron.”

“Iranian state TV airs ‘hit list’ of seven top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu,” Times of Israel, 2-13-26.

“Trump sets one-month deadline for Iran deal,” Middle East Online, 2-13-26.

“Iran’s military degraded by 12-day war with Israel, but still has significant capabilities,” AP, 2-13-26.

Further signs of Iran’s influence waning.  “U.S. Vacates a Key Military Base in Syria,” WSJ, 2-12-26.  Al Tanf, key to controlling weapon flows, etc. from Iran to Hezbollah along the road from Baghdad to Damascus, has been handed over to the Syrian government.  “The militia that the U.S. worked with at Al Tanf has joined forces with Syria’s government. Iran-aligned militias have launched attacks on U.S. forces in Syria in recent years, but those groups were mostly pushed out of the country after the Assad regime fell. Sharaa, a former longtime leader of an anti-Iran insurgency, has said he is determined to keep Tehran’s influence out of the country.”  The U.S. force is not far from Al Tanf, though, redeployed in Jordan.

“Why the U.S. Hasn’t Yet Struck Iran,” Atlantic, 2-12-26.  While this source is reflexively critical of the President, it does make the point that the objective must be clear.  In that vein, the warning was given to not hurt protesters, so those persons are accountable.  The U.S. is not intent on regime change, as it has said and which would require invasion and overseeing a new government—that is up to the people of Iran.  But the U.S. can make their efforts easier with its first and only stated priority to date.

“U.S. Aircraft Carrier Will Be Sent to the Middle East From Venezuela, Officials Say,” NYT, 2-12-26.

“Turkey: US and Iran near compromise on nuclear deal, warns against expanding talks,” i24, 2-12-26.