History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
Shivan Mahendrarajah’s book, The Sufi Saint of Jam: History, Religion, and Politics of a Sunni Shrine in Shi‘i Iran (Cambridge University Press, 2021) explores the history, religion, politics, and architecture of Ahmad-i-Jam’s shrine, located in eastern Iran. Sunni shrine and community have thrived for over 900 years. This is of particular relevance given prevailing assumptions about Iran’s alleged sectarian and intolerant Shi‘i theocracy.
Videos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s life and funeral. The six day event over five cities in Iraq and Iran drew 40–43 million mourners in six cities across Iraq and Iran, making it the largest funeral in recorded history. It is likely to be included in the Guinness Book of Records.
Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s interview with “Iran Talks.” In a 90-minute discussion, he covers a range of topics: Twelve-Day War, duplicitous negotiations with the US, treacherous Arab neighbors, the Ramazan War, and the MOU. In Persian with English subtitles. A summary by DropSite News is included.
On 17 June 2026, Trump signed the US-Iran MOU at Versailles, France, saying, “this was not easy.” The symbolism of signing an “unconditional surrender” at Versailles was evidently lost on the illiterates at the White House. Israelis, to complete the World War I parallel, supplied the anti-Versailles slogan of Nazism by describing the agreement as a “stab in the back.”
A compilation in tribute to the Iranian boys at Explosive Media. A selection of their best Lego animation videos from the Third Imposed War (Ramazan War).
Iran delivered its proposal to US via Pak; only change from first proposal is ending blockade. Iran insists on 30 days to a resolution (US wants 60 days). Trump unlikely to agree; another round of fighting is likely. IRGC training video emerged showing how they strategized about fighting US. CNN investigative report on how Iran wrecked 16 US bases. Includes note on “Iran experts” who say stupid stuff, which accounts for why US walked into the Iranian minefield.
The bombing of the Rafiei-Nia Synagogue in Tehran prompted this brief note, which includes a link to an excellent documentary about Iranian Jews. I will write later about the pending settlement of the Iran War. I will only say that it’s a clear strategic victory for Iran—and resounding defeat for Iran haters!
Trump and Hegseth threatened to send Iran back to the “Stone Age.” However, in the Stone Age (to 4,500 BC), Iranians had thriving civilization; and by the Bronze Age (3,300—1,200 BC), had empires that predated Ancient Greece by 2,000 years and Rome by 2,500 years. The the world has discovered that the Iranians are civilized while savages run the United States.
Is Iran pursuing a “madman strategy”? Or do the generals have a coherent strategy that they relentlessly pursue, while pivoting and/or climbing up the escalatory ladder as circumstances warrant? For, e.g., after the South Pars gas field was bombed by US-Israel?
Nawruz greetings to the ancient Iranian nation being unjustly attacked by barbarians
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