Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

En Israël, la presse redoute un accord fragile avec l’Iran et des concessions américaines

LE FIGARO : REVUE DE PRESSE - Entre doutes sur l’application réelle d’un éventuel compromis et interrogations sur les intentions de Washington, les grands quotidiens israéliens décrivent une séquence incertaine, révélatrice des tensions stratégiques en Israël.

L’annonce par Donald Trump de possibles négociations avec Téhéran a immédiatement suscité une vive prudence dans la presse israélienne. Plus qu’un espoir de désescalade, éditorialistes et correspondants décrivent un moment d’incertitude stratégique, dominé par une double crainte : celle d’un accord impossible — ou, pire, d’un compromis imparfait, mal appliqué et obtenu au prix de concessions américaines.

Dans Yedioth Ahronoth, quotidien centriste parmi les plus influents du pays, le correspondant diplomatique Itamar Eichner souligne d’abord le scepticisme des responsables israéliens quant à la faisabilité même d’un accord. « Les Américains ont présenté aux Iraniens un projet en 15 points. À première vue, il semble irréalisable. Pourquoi les Iraniens céderaient-ils sur tout ? », rapporte-t-il en citant une source israélienne. Un tel texte reviendrait, selon elle, à « un accord de reddition», impliquant «la suppression du programme nucléaire, l’abandon des missiles et l’arrêt du financement des organisations alliées ». » | Par Stanislas Poyet Correspondant à Jérusalem | mercredi 25 mars 2026

US Is 'Negotiating with Itself,' Iranian Military Says | BBC News

Mar 25, 2026 | The US is "negotiating with itself", a spokesman for the Iranian military said.

The comments came after President Donald Trump insisted Iran wants a deal "so badly" - saying on Tuesday that Iran gave the US a "very big present worth a tremendous amount of money".

The US has also handed over a 15-point peace plan, unconfirmed reports said. It includes Iran dismantling nuclear facilities, in exchange for lifting of sanctions.



If this isn’t proof that dementia has set in, I don’t know what would be! — © Mark Alexander

Trump Says War Is Won and Blames Hegseth for Conflict in Iran

Mar 25, 2026 | The most revealing part of President Donald Trump’s latest comments about the war with Iran isn’t the strategy—it’s the impulse behind how he talks about it. In a single stretch of remarks, he managed to do two things that rarely coexist comfortably in serious statecraft: casually assign credit for the start of a war and publicly narrate supposed diplomatic progress that the other side insists doesn’t exist. If nothing else, it underscores a defining trait of his leadership style—an inability to keep sensitive matters contained.


Iran will not negotiate with the Trump regime until the terms are right. The powers-that-be in Iran are determined to end this war, when it ends, on their terms., not Trump’s. That means to say that they want the US out of the Middle East, they want US bases closed. They want to put an end to US influence in the region. What Trump says is all show. As always, he's talks 'BIGLY'. — © Mark Alexander

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Why Iran Won't Negotiate with the United States

Mar 24, 2026 | The U.S. has backed down from threatened strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, citing “constructive talks”. Tehran has denied any dialogue took place. Professor Mohammad Marandi explains where Iran stands.

Netanyahu Panicked and Fled, Abandoning the People | Douglas Macgregor

March 24, 2026

U.S. Is Said to Have Sent Iran a Peace Plan

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The 15-point proposal, sent via Pakistan, reflects the Trump administration’s eagerness to find an offramp from the conflict as it grapples with its economic fallout, according to two officials briefed on the diplomacy.

The United States has sent Iran a plan for ending the war in the Middle East, according to two officials briefed on the diplomacy, reflecting the Trump administration’s desire to find an offramp to a conflict that has deeply rattled the global economy.

It was unclear whether Iran was likely to accept the plan, sent via Pakistan, as a basis for negotiations, or whether Israel, which has been bombing Iran together with the United States for four weeks, was on board with it.

President Trump, speaking on a day in which Iran sent waves of missiles across the Middle East, said Tuesday that negotiations to end the war were already taking place and that the Iranians would like “to make a deal.”

Iran has maintained publicly that no negotiations are happening, but speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said not only that they were occurring but also that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were involved.

Mr. Trump cast Iran as a nation so near military defeat that it had little choice but to negotiate, but the Iranians made clear on Tuesday that they could still lash out across the region. Its missiles targeted Israel and Iraq, and Persian Gulf nations also reported new strikes — despite claims by American and Israel officials that the Iranian ballistic missile program has been severely battered.

The Israeli authorities said a direct hit in Tel Aviv caused extensive damage to at least three residential buildings. At least six people were treated for injuries in Tel Aviv, according to the national emergency service. Iran War Live Updates » | Gabby Sobelman, Yeganeh Torbati, Natan Odenheimer and Erica L. Green | Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Straße von Hormus: Iran verlangt Millionengebühren für Durchfahrt

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Der Iran verlangt von Handelsschiffen offenbar bis zu zwei Millionen Dollar für die Durchfahrt durch die Straße von Hormus. Auch für nach dem Krieg sind Sanktionen angekündigt.

Der Iran erhebt nach Informationen von Bloomberg auf einzelne Handelsschiffe, die die Straße von Hormus passieren, Transitgebühren von bis zu zwei Millionen US-Dollar pro Fahrt. Die Zahlungen erfolgen demnach informell und auf Einzelfallbasis – eine Art inoffizielle Maut auf der weltweit wichtigsten maritimen Energieroute, durch die normalerweise rund ein Fünftel des globalen Öl- und Gashandels abgewickelt wird.

Einige Schiffe hätten die Gebühr bereits entrichtet, berichteten mit der Angelegenheit vertraute Insider gegenüber Bloomberg. Weder das genaue Zahlungsverfahren noch die verwendete Währung seien transparent. Das iranische Außenministerium reagierte zunächst nicht auf Anfragen – auch wegen staatlicher Einschränkungen der Telekommunikation. » | Lea Brüggemann | Dienstag, 24. März 2026

US Plays with Total War Insanity | Patrick Henningsen

Mar 24, 2026 | The Iran War is a multi-decade history of step-by-step escalation to get to total war and the peak of the strategy is around the corner. Today I'm speak with Patrick Henningsen, American journalist, geopolitical analyst, and founder of 21st Century Wire.

Saudi Leader Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a “historic opportunity” to remake the region, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | President Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia at the White House last year.| Credit...Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according to people briefed by American officials on the conversations.

In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said.

Prince Mohammed, the people familiar with the discussions said, has argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also views Iran as a long-term threat, but analysts say Israeli officials would probably view a failed Iranian state that is too caught up in internal turmoil to menace Israel as a win, while Saudi Arabia views a failed state in Iran as a grave and direct security threat.

But senior officials in both the Saudi and American governments worry that if the conflict drags on, Iran could deliver ever more punishing attacks on Saudi oil installations and the United States could be stuck in an endless war. » | Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt | Reporting from Washington | Tuesday, March 24, 2026

This Is Mass Murder!

Pref Jeffrey Sachs calls a spade a spade!

Iran Has a Message for Trump

Iran says US troops dare not approach.

De Riyad à Dubaï, la hantise des monarchies du Golfe face à l’extension de la guerre contre l’Iran

LE FIGARO : REPORTAGE - L’Arabie saoudite, le Qatar et les Émirats arabes unis redoutent un durcissement des frappes iraniennes et font tout pour ne pas être amenés à intervenir militairement contre Téhéran.

Pour la première fois depuis le début de la guerre, les téléphones portables ont émis une alerte : « Nous sommes face à une menace, mettez-vous aux abris. » En ce mercredi soir 18 mars, le conflit se durcit au royaume d’Arabie saoudite, jusque-là relativement épargné par les frappes iraniennes. Mais l’alerte résonne quelques minutes après une énorme explosion, ressentie au quartier diplomatique de Riyad. Aussitôt, c’est le branle-bas de combat dans cette ville dans la ville, où sont installées la plupart des ambassades et résidences attenantes. Direction les abris souterrains. Les interrogations fusent : drone ou missile ? Dix jours plus tôt, des débris de drones étaient déjà tombés dans la cour de l’ambassade américaine, sans faire ni blessés, ni dégâts.

L’alerte levée, une vingtaine de minutes plus tard, entre domestiques asiatiques et chats siamois, les diplomates quittent leurs refuges. De premières informations parviennent via les services de renseignements américains. Une batterie de missiles Patriot, installée non loin d’un supermarché, aurait intercepté un drone dont les débris seraient tombés près du ministère de la Défense.

Une demi-heure passe avant qu’un nouveau message strident retentisse sur les portables. Une nouvelle menace, accompagnée d’un nouveau séjour aux abris. Au total, il y en aura quatre au cours de la soirée. Quelques heures plus tard, alors que le calme est revenu, un point de la situation tombe : la défense aérienne saoudienne a intercepté et détruit 21 drones et un missile balistique dans les régions de Riyad et des provinces de l’est du pays, où sont les puits de pétrole.

Les zones ciblées étaient bien le quartier diplomatique, avec deux drones interceptés au-dessus, les provinces orientales avec plusieurs drones neutralisés et la base aérienne de Prince Sultan, à une centaine de kilomètres dans le désert au sud de Riyad. Au-dessus de celle-ci, un missile balistique a été intercepté, et des débris sont tombés sur la base, déjà pilonnée plusieurs fois, où un soldat américain avait été tué et plusieurs blessés. Ce sont les frappes les plus lourdes, depuis le début de la guerre. » | Par Georges Malbrunot envoyé spécial à Riyad, Abu Dhabi et Dubaï | lundi 23 mars 2026

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Monday, March 23, 2026

Iran Warns It Has ‘Special Plans’ for Israel Tonight

THE TELEGRAPH: Iran warned of “special plans” for Israel and its allies tonight as it denied that negotiations with Washington were under way.

Sources close to the regime said that the plans – probably referring to missile and drone strikes – would “completely remove the hope of negotiations,” Iranian state media reported.

It is the latest sign from Tehran that it does not intend to bow to Donald Trump’s threats against its energy infrastructure if it does not agree a peace deal.

The US president earlier claimed that there had been “very strong” peace talks with Iran. He insisted that the two sides could be close to a deal and floated the idea of helping to run the country.

But Tehran dismissed his comments as “fake news” and officials have consistently said that no negotiations are taking place.

Iranian sources also told the semi-official Fars news agency that it would not open the Strait of Hormuz until the US completely withdrew, evacuated its Middle East bases, paid compensation and provided the regime with guarantees not to attack again. » | Robert White. Iona Cleave. Benedict Smith, US Reporter | Monday, March 23, 2026

Chas Freeman: Trump Back Down - Armageddon Postponed?

Mar 23, 2026 | Ambassador Chas Freeman discusses Trump backing down instead of carrying out his 48-hour threat of destroying Iran's energy facilities. Iran's threat to destroy the energy and desalination plants of the Gulf States appears to have deterred the US, yet Armageddon has only been postponed as there is no off-ramp. Ambassador Freeman was a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, earning the highest public service awards of the Department of Defense for his roles in designing a NATO-centred post-Cold War European security system and in re-establishing defence and military relations with China. He served as U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm).

Sunday, March 22, 2026

“Strait of Hormuz Will Be Closed Completely!” Iran Warns After US Threat | APT

Mar 22, 2026 | Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned of severe retaliation if U.S. threats against Iran’s energy infrastructure are carried out.

He said Iran could fully close the Strait of Hormuz and target energy, power, and IT infrastructure linked to Israel and U.S. interests across the region.

Zolfaghari stated that facilities in countries hosting American bases could also become targets. Emphasising Iran’s readiness, he said any attack would trigger a broad response aimed at American economic interests. He added that Iran does not seek war but will act decisively to defend its national interests.


Strait of Hormuz Open, Except for US and Its Allies

Iran Ambassador says Iranians will defend themselves.

Donald Trump Warned Against ‘Last Option’ of Iran Power Plant Strikes | Sir Robin Niblett

Mar 22, 2026 | “He does not want this to go as far as it would go if he were to obliterate Iran’s power plants.”

Trump threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants may trigger severe retaliation across the Gulf and global economy - making it a step even Trump likely wants to avoid, says foreign affairs expert and former director of Chatham House Sir Robin Niblett.


L’Iran fait peser une menace cataclysmique sur l’accès à l’eau douce des pays du Golfe

LE FIGARO : La mise hors service des sites de dessalement d’eau des pays du Golfe serait dramatique pour les habitants de la région désertique.

Les quelque 9 millions d’habitants de Riyad devront-ils abandonner en urgence la capitale saoudienne brusquement privée d’eau ? À Doha, au Qatar, la population doit-elle redouter la mort ou des maladies par manque d’eau potable ?

C’est la menace que brandit désormais Téhéran. Donald Trump a averti qu’il frapperait les centrales électriques iraniennes si le pays n’ouvrait pas le détroit d’Ormuz dans les 48 heures. L’Iran a riposté qu’il attaquerait alors les infrastructures énergétiques et « vitales » de la région, en particulier les installations de dessalement. Le président du Parlement iranien, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a averti sur X que ces infrastructures pourraient être « irrémédiablement détruites ».

Quelques installations de dessalement ont déjà été touchées, sur l’île iranienne de Qechm près du détroit d’Ormuz, où le site a été visé par les États-Unis, affirme Téhéran ; et dans l’État insulaire de Bahreïn. Les dommages sont restreints, pour l’instant. Mais, l’envoi par l’Iran de quelques missiles ou drones ciblant précisément les grands sites de fabrication d’eau potable de ses voisins, créerait une situation dramatique. » | Par Armelle Bohineust | dimanche 22 mars 2026

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Related.

Tehran Is Defiant After Trump Threatens Power Plants

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump said that he would “obliterate” Iran’s electricity plants if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran dismissed the ultimatum as its missiles hit southern Israel, including near the country’s main nuclear research center.

Fresh threats between Iran and the United States to attack critical civilian infrastructure risked imperiling millions of people across the Middle East, as President Trump warned that he could target Iranian power plants and Tehran vowed that such attacks would lead to retaliation against vital energy and water facilities.

Iran dismissed Mr. Trump’s ultimatum that if the Strait of Hormuz — the vital oil shipping route choked off by Iranian strikes — were not fully reopened by Monday night, the United States would strike Iranian power plants. Tehran said the strait would be “completely closed” if its energy infrastructure were attacked, as it launched new missile attacks on Israeli cities.

Iranian missiles hit Dimona, a city eight miles away from Israel’s main nuclear facility, and the nearby city of Arad on Saturday night. More than 10 people were seriously injured and dozens more sustained minor injuries, underscoring Tehran’s ability to inflict damage despite three weeks of devastating airstrikes by the United States and Israel. More than 2,000 people have been killed across the region, mostly in Iran.

The escalating threats to attack key infrastructure increased the potential for civilian danger as the war entered its fourth week.

Just days after he warned Israel against targeting Iranian energy sites to avoid an escalating cycle of counter-strikes, Mr. Trump said late Saturday that the United States would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants — which millions of Iranians depend on — within 48 hours if the strait were not reopened.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, an Iranian military spokesman, vowed that his country would strike infrastructure used by Israel, the United States and American allies — including desalination plants that are a lifeline for much of the Middle East. Iran War Live Updates » | Aaron Boxerman and Pranav Baskar | Sunday, March 22, 2026

Iran erklärt: Straße von Hormus ist offen – außer für Schiffe von „Feinden“

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Die Straße von Hormus sei weiterhin passierbar, erklärt der iranische Vertreter bei der UN-Seefahrtsorganisation. „Feindliche“ Schiffe seien allerdings ausgenommen.

Eine Passage durch Straße von Hormus bleibt nach iranischen Angaben möglich, mit Ausnahme von Schiffen, die mit „Irans Feinden“ in Verbindung stehen, wie die iranische Nachrichtenagentur Mehr auf Telegram mitteilte. Das habe der Iran in einer Stellungnahme an die Internationale Seeschifffahrts-Organisation (IMO) erklärt, hieß es.

Der Schiffsverkehr durch die Straße von Hormus ist aufgrund des Iran-Kriegs stark eingeschränkt. Die strategisch wichtige Handelsroute ist für etwa ein Fünftel der weltweiten Öl- und LNG-Transporte von zentraler Bedeutung. Die weitgehende Blockade hat weltweit für steigende Energiepreise gesorgt. » | Anika Schlünz | Sonntag, 22. März 2026

Iran-Krieg: Spanien friert die Mieten ein: Spanien beschließt wegen des Iran-Kriegs einen Mietenstopp. Das milliardenschwere Entlastungspaket gegen die Kriegsfolgen führte zuvor zu massivem Streit in der Koalition. »