History, Religion, Politics, Culture, and Travels in the Islamic World
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.
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.
Report that Russia is providing ISR to Iran is poppycock. China is Iran’s trusted partner. China has 9-10x satellite fleet of Russia. Tehran knows Kremlin is untrustworthy and could turn off the switch in the middle of a war. A roundup of my essays on Iran-China cooperation in space-based intelligence technologies
In 4Q25, PLA parked two “Signals Intelligence” (SIGINT) satellites over Mideast to harvest electronic emissions. MizarVision images that caused an internet stir are from China’s Jilin-1 imaging satellites and released by Beijing to message US and Israel that China is watching, and therefore, Iran is watching every move they make.
Elon Musk’s shutdown of Starlink prompted me to as ask, “why are Russian soldiers using Starlink? Don’t they have satellite-based comms?” Yes and no. Russia has systems for “Command, Control, and Communications (C3), but no satellite-based network comparable to USA’s and China’s prolific and multifaceted networks used for C3 and ISR.
Iran has access to China wide-ranging satellite network. The network delivers all-weather, day and night imaging (stills and video), SIGINT, and real-time updates on locations of aircraft and vessels. Real-time ELINT is indispensable for successful strikes.
China’s satellite network provides Iran with 24/7/365 coverage and real-time updates: SIGINT, terrain mapping, telemetry; radar, optical, and infrared all-weather/day & night imaging, allowing Iran to precisely strike Israeli and U.S. targets. No China, no “boom, boom, Tel Aviv!”
Iran, courtesy of Trump and Netanyahu, has achieved nuclear ambiguity. Its nuclear sites and 408kg trove of highly-enriched uranium survive. Mossad/CIA spies (“IAEA inspectors”) have no physical access to sites; CCTV at every site is off. Iran’s nuclear program, formerly the world’s most open and inspected program, has gone black.
Analysis of SM-2, SM-3, SM-6, PAC-3, and THAAD interceptors used (10/23 to 08/25), costs, and remaining stockpiles. If Iran enters round two of the Iran-Israel War holding nuclear deterrence, Iranian missile barrages can pound Israel into capitulation.
The Euro Troika is threatening to “snapback” UN sanctions on Iran. But Tehran has a history of combatting pressure with pressure. What are Tehran’s options?
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