History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
US has surged men and material to the Mideast, but Trump is hesitating on escalating. There have been no attacks on Iran for two days. However, his boss is visiting the White House. Once Netanyahu disciplines his errant employee, the war will resume with great intensity. Meanwhile, Iranian media published the list of US losses of equipment over the past 15-day period.
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.
The war on Iran picked up where it left off on 8 April, with the Iranians denuding the region of US bases, forcing the US to relocate assets to Israel and Europe. The Iranian campaign has been brilliant and will be studied in military colleges.
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.”
“The Iranian missile cities the US could not destroy” article by the Financial Times caused a stir among the unwashed, but (real) scholars of Iran knew that all underground bases were selected on geography and geology, and were impregnable. To adapt Bill Clinton’s slogan, “It’s the geology, stupid”
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).
Trump, having spent a decade insulting Obama over JCPOA, and for sending “pallets of cash” to Iran, is in a vise. He is refusing to concede “strategic defeat” and accept Iran’s terms for peace. Meanwhile, his Israeli master insists that he continue the war, and that more US troops die for Israel. A third round of war is likely. This time, however, Iranian Armed Forces will inflict “catastrophic defeat” on the US.
US bases in West Asia cannot return to the status quo ante bellum without meaningful debates in Congress and DOD on weaknesses of air defenses, vulnerabilities of radar networks, and the exposure of US personnel to casualties. This debate is not limited to West Asia, but implicates US bases constructed to “contain Russia” and “contain China.”
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.
Since the Iran War has become a Sitzkrieg, I am returning to writing about what I love: Iranian history and culture. What were Iranians doing in the “Stone Age”? Inventing fun stuff. The yakhchal (“ice pit”) is from ca. 500 BC. It is a pre-modern fridge.
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